Note to my readers: This is yet another post about Family History, but I promise that if you take the time to read it, you won’t ask for your 5 minutes back.
As most of you know, I am a recently self-described Accidental Family HIstory NInja. Apparently FamilySearch recognized this, and decided to send me a personalized invitation to take a survey. I feel very special that they would reach out to me like this. I’m sure I am one of the very select few who have this weighty responsibility.
I decided to do my best to help them out – because they are good people doing a hugely important work, and doing a fantastic job. After I completed the survey, they thanked me. They are nothing if not polite.
Now I am feeling a bit guilty, because at the end of the survey, I think they might have asked me if I had any suggestions to make the FamilySearch experience better, and I left it blank. How irresponsible of me!
To make up for my laziness, I have created some suggestions for the good folks at FamilySearch, which I think could really enhance the entire family history process. I had to dig deep because I am actually impressed with the way things already work. Because I know that saving souls is hard work, and one of the most important things we can do.
• Note to the team at FamilySearch: Feel free to use any or all of these at your discretion.
New Tools
The existing tools on the site are great:
But I would like to suggest a few more. Here they are, with a brief explanation for each.
1) Not So Fast Warning
This would consist of a very complex algorithm to determine if the user is entering something completely idiotic into the database – without citing any sources. (For example: A marriage date for a man and woman who haven’t been born yet, etc.)
In such cases, the system would send a small electrical current to the keyboard of the user, alerting them to their error. The shock would need to be strong enough to make the point effectively, but weak enough to not cause complications in some of our seasoned patrons’ pacemakers. (Think of it a retribution for poor attribution.)
2) Hello? Hello?
Some people reserve ordinances and then never, ever do anything with them. This alert would serve to give them a gentle reminder by sending them texts, emails and recorded phone messages to their home and cellphones every hour, 24/7, 364 days a year. The message would simply say. “Release the Hostages!” and they would get the message until they release the names back into the system where the work they have squandered for years can actually be performed. (I’m guessing I might have some support on this one from people on the other side,,,)
3) Crash Prevention
A sophisticated system such as FamilySearch has the ability to monitor how long a specific user has been on the site. This pop-up alert would serve to remind people who have jobs and kids that it is time to shut it down, walk away, and go to bed! (See associated link.) Possible upgrades could include monitoring caffeine consumption through retinal scans.
4) Déjà Vu Alert
This alert would be triggered when the user looks at the exact same census record more than 8 times within the same hour, thinking it is a new, different document. (This is my personal request, because I’m driving myself crazy.)
5) Positive Reinforcement
When someone is adding names and doing a really good job, it might be nice to have a gold star pop up on their screen Who doesn’t like gold stars?
And finally, a suggestion that could really change the face of Family History as we know it. Currently, there are different icons and descriptions to let us know where an individual name is in the process. It currently looks like this:
I think if we could add and track just one more status, it would be nothing short of wonderfully awesome. Here it is:
Wouldn’t that be great?
I have great confidence in your abilities, but even I acknowledge that this one might take some time to figure out.
I guess until you do, we will have to continue to keep powering our work with hope, and faith.
Thanks for all you do!
There is a work around for reserved ordinances that have been reserved F-O-R-E-V-E-R.
Create (Add new person) the same person in FS with all pertinent information. Ignore the pop ups that state that there are possible duplicates. Reserve the ordinances for the newly added person and do the work. Then, after all work is done and reflected in FS, merge the newly added person with the actual person in FS. I only use this if the reservations are VERY old. But, it is a method. We have a person in our ward who is in charge of the FS web site. He says that the brethren are very close to allowing the release of very old reserved ordinances. My 2 cents.
I love this post!
I think this is my favorite post yet. I agree they should add those, they would be very helpful. I especially like the “accepted” notification suggestion.
Have not read any of your posts yet where I wanted to ask my time be refunded. Keep up the good work. I will be sure to let you know if I ever do want a time refund. 🙂
I am constantly irked by the addition of information where the source is Family Search with no other details. Now if there is enough detail to add the information….why can’t Family search cite the source?
You are all so very entertaining…I was trying to get the temple work completed for a friend of mine and saw a hold by a relative, when I wrote to the person it turned out he was deceased also, but luckily the letter reached another relative who was able to release the hold and I was able to have my friend’s work completed and have him sealed to his spouse. I’m guessing that the person who has someone on “reserve” doesn’t even realize it. When I found out the names I had submitted had automatically been reserved to my name, I was shocked and confused. Thankfully I have been able to get the names down to a handful now. Yes, it would be wonderful if there were a few more restrictions on the sealing to parents before parents are married etc. I really don’t want to end up as my own grandma…
My grandmother was an avid researcher. She crossed the veil in 2001. Unfortunately, life has continued on and it took me more than 10 years to finish going through her records. I discovered that she had about 100 names that were reserved and processed, but the cards were lost. It took me doing my own research and realizing that the moniker on Family Search was probably her. I contacted Family Search and they transfered all of her work to my account and ….ta da…I had over 100 people to spread out to my cousins and brothers. I have to wonder how many of those millions of undone reserved ordinances were reserved by people who no reside on the other side of the veil and nobody knows it. Maybe that is an algorhythm that needs to be worked out. When an LDS.org log in has that last date filled in, an email goes out to the decendants with the list of work in waiting…then asks what the family wants to do with it.
Leah M…you sound just like a comment my mother would make…and you have the same first name and initial no less. You gave me pause and made me smile for a minute (with a tear) she crossed the veil a little over a year ago.
That makes me smile so much Cav Pilot!! All the best to you!!
Totally with you on all the sourcing comments! However, on the flip side of the whole ‘hostages’ thing, I have reserved some people for the very reason that I have not confirmed sources, or that the info I do have may be iffy. We also have the responsibility to do correct work, especially given the phenomenal sources available. I respect my ancestors enough to do that for them. I do review my reserved list on a regular basis and either do the work myself or release it, as guided by the spirit. And BTW I do index as well!!
I’m mostly irked by people who are confident enough that they print out the cards, and then never complete the ordinances.
Oh yeah, I agree that is completely irksome and irresponsible!
Oh that would be awesome! There are some of my ancestors that I’m just not sure about . . .
Ilove the new icons you want to add, I try not to only go to 1 source but as many as I can find. A friend of mine showed me 2 other websites FreeReg.org.uk and FreeCen.org.uk. I would like to see icons for all the FH websites on FS. I love this Blog thank you.
Loved the humor. And believe me, this is vital after spending hours and hours doing research…finding a large family of “cousins” and not being able to stop in the middle of the family…….kids, it’s cereal for breakfast again tonight!
Thanks and keep ’em coming!
Be still, my heart! After your first FH post, I told you my main FH peeve, and said I’d tell you the others some day. Today I thought you’d read my mind… from afar, yet. You forgot the one abt people who make changes and have no contact info, but other than that, you really covered the bases. And I say AMEN!!!
I have angst about all those reserved names, too. I am doing descendancy research, which are all very distant cousins (common ancestor may be 6 generations back). So I send all of the names to the temple file. Yesterday I added 36 people (118 ordinances) to Family Tree and there is no way I can do all those myself or find enough other to do them in order. I find that within about 3 months all the ordinances are complete. Now, how many of the reserved names are on cards that someone lost? Or the person that reserved them died and no one knows about them even existing? Or they were passed to another person and got lost. I would like a 5 year deadline or something so that after that time the person would be notified (if they could be found) that they were being released on a certain date and to respond with information. But I have heard that same answer from FS for years. Since there is no time in heaven, I hope those people who are reserved will understand and have patience with us all.
Amen! I’d like to see some kind of expiration deadline on reservations also. Prior to the expiration, the holder could be sent appropriate communication (email, etc.) to let them know that the reservation was going to expire. It would be nice to have them choose to 1) release the work immediately, 2) renew the reservation (and if this option is chosen, have to “accept” a pop-up message reminding them of the importance of the work and that if they cannot do it to allow others to do so if possible). This would allow those who have names on hold for legitimate purposes to easily renew those reservations but would also put some of those “casual” reservations (you know the ones — those where someone comes home all charged up from church after a lesson or talk on family history, grabs a bunch of waiting ordinances, and then losing steam never comes back or thinks of them again) back into the system so that those waiting on the other side can get their work done.
Great post, thank you!
Love the post btw! Very creative. Thanks for the laugh!
Re: reservations – maybe FS should take them back and hold them hostage until the reservists do some indexing! There are currently 384 projects to choose from and over 24 million records waiting for arbitration. This work needs attention, too.
I was recently infected by the family history bug too. Your suggestions are perfect! Especially “release the hostages”!
Awesome as always! Love you blog!! 🙂
Re: reservations. I have half a dozen relatives reserved, but their next of kin hasn’t given ms permission to perform the work. So I’m being the placeholder until that time comes.
Before I knew you could reserve work, my father-in-law gave the names of my grandparents to his ward. That was like a stab in the gut. I really wanted to do that work myself, now I’ll never be able to.
AuntSue
My mother does genealogy work on her computer early every morning. She gets frustrated when she gives cards to family members and they don’t get the work done. Maybe we need a POKE to help them remember to go to the temple.
I just emailed it to many of the managers (responsibly used BCC). At the very least you’ve made the day for some of us =)
Someone not related to our family sealed a cousin as a brother to my Dad. Even after I had left a note and then contacted them about the mistake. I just shrugged…I always liked him, now hes an Uncle. They really do thier best, and the Lord works stuff out. Thankfully.
I love you. I mean, I already thought I loved you, but now you’ve reached into another realm and touched it as only you can. Thanks for the inspiration!!!
I like this new realm. 😉
Concerning #2 Hello?Hello? “The intent of reserving names is to allow a reasonable period of time for individuals to perform ordinances for ancestors and collateral lines. There are currently 12 million names and millions of corresponding ordinances that are reserved. Many names have been reserved for years. Ancestors who have been found are no doubt anxious and thrilled when their names are cleared for ordinances. They, however, may not be very happy when they have to continue to wait for their ordinances to be performed.” (Elder Richard G. Scott “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, October 2012 General Conference) 12 million names reserved! Release the hostages indeed!
If you’re alert and paying attention (in tune) when you do the work you’ll often be very aware that the work is accepted. And it’s way better than any icon on a computer screen.
You’re no fun at all.
I know everyone is trying to do their best but a women cannot be married to a child that died! People please check for death dates and list you sources. And about those hoarders, please let my people go (where have I heard that before). I have ancestors waiting over 7 years for their work to be done so I can’t further their work!!!!! So frustrating. These are great ideas but the best is “ACCEPTED”. Good insite as always.
I have come across reserved work several years old. Just call FS and let them know.
^ indeed, if you call support they can get it sorted out.
There could be good reason for the reservation. Like I need/want my moms permission to do my dad’s work. And if anybody dares to call FS to release his name and do his work…. Ever seen Taken? Yeah
Calling FS and asking for the reserved ordinances to be released will NOT do you any good. Some of mine have been reserved since the year 2003. I have tried to contact those persons who have reserved the ordinances, to no avail. The answer I continually get from FS is: We understand the problem and FS is working on making a decision about the many incompleted ordinances, soon. Soon has now become over 6 months. Hopefully before I die, the ordinances will be released.
I would like to suggest to Ancestry.com that they make information unviewable to others until backed up by a source. Even if its your own grandmother, and you attended her funeral, you should still have a source to back it up.
I have watched enough TV to know that just because there was a funeral doesn’t mean someone actually died…
And according to certain politicians and their followers some birth certificates can’t be trusted either. There’s just no way to win is there?
A funeral program is considered a source. So is first hand knowledge. Like if you knew them. Oral reports of items from living family members that knew them are considered viable sources.
110% agree. I 2nd the idea and vote you be in charge.
To your excellent list I’d like to add the “Hold Your Horses” and “Troll Alert” tools. Hold Your Horses pops up when someone seals a couple before their baptism, confirmation, initiatory, and endowment ordinances have been done. Troll Alert pops up when you are entering names on your family tree and someone unrelated to you is reserving them before you can tell your family members about the names so that they can reserve them. Not that I have personal experience with a troll who needs to hold his horses or anything. Grrr…..
So very true, that!
that is a great idea my dad who is not dead just had all his work done and sealed to my mom who he divorced in 1969. plus be honest if you have not gotten living family members ok do not do the work.
The accepted buttons would totally ROCK!
Love the accepted icon!!!!