Family History Week held at BYU‑I
- posted: 06 Mar 2007
- scrollcampus@byui.edu
Family History, isn’t it about time? The Religion Department, co-sponsoring with the Family History Center, held Family History Week last week to help students become familiar with resources available to them on campus while attending BYU‑Idaho.
Under the direction of Doug Ladle, Family History director and religion administrator, workshops were held last Tuesday and Wednesday to inform and teach students about the doctrine of why Family History,
the resources available on campus and how to start family history.
Last summer, Ladle was called by the Religion Department to coordinate the Family History program on campus after the two previous family history faculty retired. Ladle began implementing a new model and curriculum to teach family history on campus.
As part of the new model, Ladle began teaching the doctrine behind family history and of its importance in conjunction with going to the lab once a week. He did this so students have a why for what they are doing in the [family history] labs. We want to teach them the doctrine,
Ladle said.
The Family History Center, located on the second floor of the David O. McKay Library in the East wing, is not just available to students taking classes but to anyone who wants to walk in and learn how to do their family history.
After returning home from his mission, Matt Hartvigsen, a junior, from Rexburg, set a goal to do his family history once a week.
Thanks to the ward family history I was able to get started, because I didn’t know how to get started,
Hartvigsen said.
Service Missionaries and lab assistants are available to help anyone in the lab with questions.
Zane Jacobson, a junior from Idaho Falls, has worked as a family history lab assistant for over three years. He teaches students taking the family history class who come to the lab each week.
I have over 300 students come through every week,
Jacobson said.
While beginning to learn family history, Jacobson said students sometimes have misconceptions that everything is already done or they aren’t going to find very much when they come. He said, once they learn how to do it, they realize there is still a lot to be done.
Sister Diane Miller, Family History Director, got involved doing her family history over 20 years ago. After putting her last child in school, [her] friend said,
let’s go and play,
so [they] did and went and did [their] family history.
I want students to get excited about doing their own family history,
Miller said. I want them to know it’s not boring; it is not just for old people.
Family History Week concluded Wednesday with a fireside by President Kerry Webb, first counselor in the 3rd Stake, about miracles in family history.
Elizabeth Blumell, a junior from Rosemary, Ala., currently enrolled in the family history class said, I like the class because it teaches us how to do family history and the doctrine behind it and its importance. I am learning it’s a necessity to do it; it’s not just a hobby. The more you do it, the more your testimony will grow and the more you will find your identity.
There are many resources available to students. Those starting for the first time can go to www.familysearch.org to receive research guidance and answers to questions. Once that has been exhausted, other search engines are available. 
