Comments on: What was happening in the Church when you were born?

By: Ray

Ray — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:11:58 +0000

I think posts about how to do family history research would be wonderful.

By: Mark IV

Mark IV — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:19:37 +0000

I second Tatiana’s idea.

By: Tatiana

Tatiana — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:17:45 +0000

Wow, Ardis! That’s so good of you to do the family history lessons. I’m very serious. Thanks so much.

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 19:33:41 +0000

Ardis:

I based my Church membership figure on the Church Almanac. I think the ticker crossed 3,000,000 about four or five years later.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:51:57 +0000

Tatiana, I’ve put your grandmother’s date on the list and will see what I can find, although pre-1900 and outside the mountain west will make it a hit-or-miss thing as far as church records go. Don’t know without looking, though, do we?

And while there must be lots of places on the net to find beginning genealogy lessons, how about we get a class going here at Keepa? If something in a lesson were puzzling, the problem could be discussed and cleared up via comments. We’ll start with the most basic basics, and gear it toward people starting from scratch who need to get their first four or five generations down, ready for temple ordinances when the time is right.

I hope you’re serious, Tatiana, because I’m excited about the idea. We’ll start this week — of course, with the nature of the Internet, anybody can join us at any time.

(Before anybody asks, I do not — cannot — offer to do personal research. That will be up to you. But I can explain research principles and give suggestions and help you figure out how and where to find the answers yourself.)

By: Tatiana

Tatiana — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:56:40 +0000

My mother’s mother was born in Pickerington, Ohio in 1893. I’m curious about what was happening in the church then and if she would have ever had a chance to meet any missionaries. I daydream of what my life would have been like had she been the first in our family to join the church, rather than me. If you can easily find out that kind of information, I’d be fascinated to learn it, (and learn how to learn it too). Keepapitchinin is such a cool place!

Also, if anyone knows where there’s a writeup of family history 101, how to do family research, I’d love to read that too. I’ve been a member for 7 years but after mom told me in no uncertain terms that I was not to do any baptisms for her or her family (or for dad!) I’ve been discouraged and haven’t really pursued my family history work as I should.

By: Michelle Glauser

Michelle Glauser — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:49:27 +0000

What a great (and generous) idea. I’m not sure anything interesting was happening about the time when I was born, but maybe I can find something out from your offer. I’ll think some more about it and email you.

By: Ray

Ray — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 01:42:39 +0000

Great idea, Ardis. I sent you an e-mail. I won’t embarrass myself by trying to answer the questions.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:21:29 +0000

Some of those are a safe bet, Steve (especially the BYU ban!), but I’m guessing there were only half as many church members — I think I remember when the ticker kicked over to 2 million, which would have had to have come four or five years later. Now I’ll have to look it up to see how (un)reliable a childhood memory could be.

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:57:53 +0000

I’ll take a stab at this. My birth year is 1965:

David O. McKay was Church President.

The newest Apostle at the time was a young Thomas S. Monson.

The Church was reemphasizing Family Home Evening.

The Oakland temple had been dedicated just a few months before (1964).

The Beatles had arrived in America just a year before (1964)–I had to include that. As a response, in 1965, BYU temporarily banned rock music.

Church membership was 2,396,000.