One of the most exciting announcements at RootsTech last week was the introduction of FAMILYSEARCH LABS which allows family history lovers to try out new FamilySearch “Experiments” that are still being developed and refined. You can access FamilySearch Labs on the right-hand side of your main FamilySearch page. Some of the electrifying innovations include:

• FULL-TEXT SEARCH, powered by AI, which can, at the present time, search US Land Probate Records (1630-1975) and Mexico Notary Records (before 1900) by keyword. For example, I searched for my 4^th great grandfather Francis Hedrick and found the deed where his father deeded him the family’s land in Washington, Indiana in 1844!  Try it at https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/help-search/.

• FAMILY GROUP TREES where you can form a family group and create a shared tree with your living family. This will allow you to see the information, Sources and Memories of the living members of your family that you have invited to join your family group. You can have the same experience using the TOGETHER app now available for iphones—Android coming soon! You can start your own Family Group Tree here: https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/family-group-tree-pilot/family-group-trees-pilot-help-and-learning. 

• PROFILE QUALITY SEARCH allows you to find common mistakes and inconsistencies in your family tree. This function is available in English for ancestors born between 1800 and 1920 and born in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. I tried this out on my great-grandmother Georgina Fellows and discovered that her Profile Quality Score is “High.” You can access this function at https://www.familysearch.org/en/help/helpcenter/labs/article/person-data-scoring-prototype.

• FIND HELP WITH AI SEARCH allows you to ask a question and get information from the Help Center, Wiki, RootsTech, and other sources. For example, I asked “How can I research Stoke-by-Clare, Suffolk, England” and the AI came up with six different research strategies for me to try. It also gave me a direct link to the Stoke-by-Clare genealogy page on the FamilySearch Wiki. https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/help-search/.

On each of these new “Experiments” pages there is a feedback button where you can give suggestions to the engineers to improve these new programs.  

RootsTech also included many sessions of special interest to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

• “What’s New at FamilySearch for Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2024” included information about a new program called Family Name Assist which allows priesthood leaders to help new members and youth to take a close family member’s name to the temple baptistry. It can be viewed at https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/whats-new-at-familysearch-for-members-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-2024?lang=eng. 

• “Finding Ancestors in Latter-day Saint Ward and Branch Records” showed members how to access membership information indexed from selected church records 1837-1973 and also how to access ward and stake record images from the Church History Library. You can watch it at https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/finding-ancestors-in-latter-day-saint-ward-and-branch-records?lang=eng. 

• President J. Russell Ballard’s moving session which highlighted his family and his family history and was filmed for Family Discovery Day shortly before his death. You can access it at https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/family-discovery-session-2024-president-m-russell-ballard?lang=eng. 

These are only a few of the more than 500 new sessions available to help us find our ancestors. And, you can access them for free at RootsTech 2024!  https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/   

“When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us. We feel part of something greater than ourselves. Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple.” – Russell M. Nelson

– Marianne Bates, Consultant, Granite FamilySearch Center