From 2017-2018, I had the opportunity of serving a Family History mission at the Sandy Remote Operation Center (affectionately called a ROC), one of many ROCs located throughout the world. Missionaries serving at a ROC, prepare records for FamilySearch, to “Hasten the Work of the Lord”. Remote Operation Centers prepare records to go out to many thousands of volunteers who index the records, making the information available to those who are seeking to find their ancestors.

Before these records can be indexed, the digital images must be prepared for the indexers. This is where the ROC missionaries come in. They examine records from many sources, make sure they have usable genealogical data and organize them into Batches for indexing. Some of these images come from the microfilms stored in the granite mountain vaults near Salt Lake City. Over the years FamilySearch has been converting the microfilms to digital images so they can be indexed. There are missionary camera teams (not ROC missionaries), called camera capturers out on location throughout the world, digitally filming records to preserve them. ROC missionaries examine the images for clarity, in a process called post processiong audit (PPAs). Once these records are organized they are added to the FamilySearch data base, where they can be indexed.

Anyone who is interested can go to web indexing from the FamilySearch website (click indexing, then web indexing on the drop-down menu) on a computer, or on the FamilySearch app on their mobile device, and index the record. Web indexing has simplified and made indexing more user-friendly.

As the reputation and use of FamilySearch has grown, governments and organizations have enlisted their aid in preserving records for their use. These special projects are only indexed and reviewed by ROC missionaries. Since the work is done by church volunteers (ROC missionaries) FamilySearch also has access to these records, eventually the records are searchable through Familysearch.org. Projects the Sandy ROC are currently working on that fit into this category are: Samoa Vital Records another is Puerto Rico census records. There are ROC specific records that are processed only by ROC missionaries, Many of these records contain sensitive information or time deadlines. Records such as US-Marriage project, War registration records, School Census records and census records of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, have been carefully organized, batched, indexed and reviewed by ROC missionaries before you ever see them.

Now when someone asks you where that record you are indexing came from, you will know that it went through the hands of a ROC missionary. If you are interested in a Church Service mission, consider being a Family History Missionary at a ROC near you. This mission has blessed, and continues to bless my life. I highly recommend it to anyone who would like to serve. –Elaine Hardman

Anyone interested in learning about mission opportunities or curious about what goes on at a ROC, can call; 801-255-2145 Elder or Sister Lee can answer your questions or take you on a tour.