Liz on LDS
Tracing LDS Ancestors
taught by Liz Snow May 2013
blsnow99@gmail.com
IMPORTANT RECORD SOURCES:
1. Early Church Information File
2. International Genealogical Index- (IGI)- extracted records only. (Many UK, and Scandinavian Parish Records extracted)
3. LDS Membership Records
4. LDS Temple Registers and Heir Indexes
Record Source
**(NOTE: not in order of importance)
Description
Website
Cost
Mormon Migration
Lists of Mormon immigrants who crossed the ocean to arrive in Utah
http://mormonmigration.lib.byu.edu/
Free
Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel
Lists of each LDS pioneer company between 1846- 1869
http://history.lds.org/overlandtravels/home
Free
Early LDS
Gives biographical, and pedigree info on people. Also gives info on places.
http://www.earlylds.com/
Free
World Vital Records
Contains 15 LDS record databases
http://www.worldvitalrecords.com
Free at FHC
Fold3
Has Utah Territorial Case Files and Mormon Battalion Pension Files
http://www.fold3.com
Free at FHC
Ancestry.com
Has 9 LDS databases
www.ancestry.com
Free at FHC
FamilySearch.org
Has many historical databases
www.familysearch.org
Free
Mormon and Their Neighbors
Has biographical information. Index with reference to source.
http://www.lib.byu.edu/digital/Ancestry//
Free
§ The Winter Quarters Project
§
Information about people who stayed at Winter Quarters or surrounding settlements
http://winterquarters.byu.edu/
Free
§ Tracing Mormon Pioneers
Tips and Links for searching LDS Pioneer ancestry from Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, and South Africa to Salt Lake City, Utah.
http://user.xmission.com/~nelsonb/pioneer.htm
Free
§ Trails of Hope: Overland Diaries and Letters 1846-1869
Journals, pictures, maps and other resources about the LDS pioneer journey.
http://overlandtrails.lib.byu.edu/
Free
§ Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah, Part 1
Short Bios and some pictures of Utah Pioneers
https://www.books.familysearch.org
Free
§ Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Online searchable encyclopedia dealing with LDS topics and people
http://www.lib.byu.edu/digital/Macmillan//
Free
§ Mormon Missionary Diaries
Scanned LDS missionary diaries from several localities
http://www.lib.byu.edu/digital//mmd/
Free
§ Early Church Information File
Card Index of Early Church Members
Description: https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Early_Church_Information_File_(ECIF)
Free- index online
Card Index:
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2078505
§ IGI
Extracted Birth and Marriage Parish Records (no burials included)
Search Community Indexed Only for this record set
https://familysearch.org/search/collection/igi
Free
§ LDS Membership Records
Membership records
https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/LDS_Membership_Records
Then go to FHL catalog at https://www.familysearch.org
Free
§ Church History Library and Archives
Many Church History and LDS members records
http://churchhistorylibrary.lds.org
Free
§ Perpetual Emigration Fund Records
Names of People indebted the the Emigration Fund with their year of immigration.
http://phc.supchapters.org/files/2011/02/PEF-List-of-Names-1850-18771.pdf
Free
§ Tracing LDS Ancestors
Research Outline in .pdf at BYU Family History Center
http://net.lib.byu.edu/fslab/researchoutlines/NonGeographic/TracingLDSFamilies.pdf
Free
§ Daughters of the Utah Pioneers
Histories and Pictures of People who crossed the plains between 1846-1869. Index only online
http://www.dupinternational.org/
Free
§ LDS Church Census Records
Bishop’s Reports- 1852-1853 only in Utah.
https://dcms.lds.org/view/action/ieViewer.do?dps_pid=IE744294&dps_dvs=1368118559259~42&dps_pid=IE744294&change_lng=en
Free printed index online.
§ LDS Church Census Records
Church wide- Began 1914, then 1920 and every 5 years until 1960, except 1945 during WWII. Alphabetical by Head of House.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/show?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fcatalog-search-api%3A8080%2Fwww-catalogapi-webservice%2Fitem%2F126146
Free, on FHL microfilm
§ LDS Temple Registers
Give relationships of proxy
Look in FHL catalog under temple name in keyword search.
https://familysearch.org/catalog-search
Free
§ Nauvoo Databank
Compiled in Nauvoo, many early church info and records before Utah.
Handout for Description:
http://uvtagg.org/classes/dons/dons-nauvoodatabank.html#about
Free at Mapleton FHC.
BYU Immigrant Ancestors Project
Database of Immigrant Records that is growing daily.
http://immigrants.byu.edu/
Free
BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy
Many links and resources
https://familyhistory.byu.edu/Pages/Home.aspx
Free
BYU Family History Library
Links to LDS resources
http://lib.byu.edu/sites/familyhistory/subject-list/#latter-day-saints
Free
FamilySearch Research Wiki- Utah Pages
Maps and boundaries of Utah wards to 1930
Go to each Utah County page and click on Church Records
https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Utah
Free
Patriarchal Blessings
Can get copy of blessing for direct-line ancestor only
Or
Look at card index for all Patriarchal Blessings. Listed alphabetical by surname.
To order copy of blessing: https://apps.lds.org/pbrequest
Look in FHL Catalog for entries:
Index to Patriarchal blessings, 1833-1993- (Doesn’t give parent’s names.)
Index to Patriarchal blessings 1833-1963- (Gives birth date and parent’s names.)
https://www.familysearch.org
Free
Missionary Index
Card gives name, mission, date set apart and/or returned, and birth date. Listed alphabetical by surname.
Look in FHL Catalog for entries: Missionary record index, 1830-1971 https://www.familysearch.org
Free
Helpful Hints:
a. Search one generation at a time.
b. Search for entire family, not just your direct-line ancestor.
c. Look for indexes.
d. Watch for spelling variations on names and places.
LDS Record Selection Table
1. If You Need:
2. Check First:
3. Then Check:
Baptism date
Membership Records
Genealogy
Biography
Priesthood Records
Missionaries
Obituaries
Biographical sketches
Biography
Obituaries
Genealogy
History
Priesthood Records
Birth date and place
Membership Records
Biography
Priesthood Records
Missionaries
Patriarchal Blessings
Military Records
Census
Temple Records
Children
Census
Genealogy
Obituaries
Membership Records
Biography
Crossing the ocean and
crossing the plains
Emigration and Immigration
Biography
Genealogy
Obituaries
Membership Records
Periodicals
Colonization
History
Newspapers
Death information
Vital Records
Membership Records
Obituaries
Newspapers
Biography
History
Periodicals
Emigration and Immigration
Divorce
Genealogy
Membership Records
Biography
Obituaries
Emigration information
Emigration and Immigration
Genealogy
Biography
Colonization
Obituaries
Periodicals
Family history or genealogy
Genealogy
Biography
Temple Records
History
Military Records
For Further Reading
Historical background
History
Historical Geography
Periodicals
Living relatives
Genealogy
Biography
Obituaries
Census
Newspapers
Maps
Historical Geography
Colonization
History
Marriage information
Vital Records
Membership Records
Temple Records
Biography
Genealogy
Obituaries
Newspapers
Missionary service
Missionaries
Membership Records
Biography
Obituaries
Genealogy
History
Occupations
Biography
Obituaries
Genealogy
Newspapers
Military Records
(Cont.) 1. If You Need:
2. Check First
3. Then Check:
Parents
Genealogy
Membership Records
Temple Records
Biography
Missionaries
Patriarchal Blessings
Patriarchal blessings
Patriarchal Blessings
Biography
Genealogy
Photographs
Biography
Genealogy
History
Physical description
Biography
Genealogy
Military Records
Place-finding aids
Historical Geography
Colonization
History
Archives and Libraries
Places of residence
Biography
Membership Records
Directories
Census
Obituaries
Priesthood Records
Colonization
Missionaries
Previous research
Genealogy
Temple Records
Biography
History
Periodicals
Priesthood ordinations
Membership Records
Priesthood Records
Temple Records
Biography
Genealogy
Record-finding aids
Archives and Libraries
Periodicals
For Further Reading
Spouses
Membership Records
Temple Records
Biography
Genealogy
Obituaries
Military Records
Temple ordinances
Temple Records
Membership Records
Genealogy
Biography
Wards/branches attended
Membership Records
Directories
Census
Biography
Priesthood Records
Missionaries
Historical Geography
History
Ward/branch boundaries
Historical Geography
History
Colonization
Biography
Genealogy
To view this table with links to wiki pages view: https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/LDS_Record_Selection_Table
Sources for this handout:
Tracing LDS Ancestors: https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Tracing_LDS_Ancestors
FamilySearch Research Wiki: https://www.wiki.familysearch.org
