Just Beginning? Let's start with you!

So, you think you are interested in our family history? Well, hold on to your hats because a couple of things are going to happen!
-First, you will find that the Spirit of Elijah is growing by leaps and bounds within you as you search and find and just can't quite get enough. It's kind of like CSI but without the blood and the lives you save, are saved for eternity.
-Second, You'll learn things about your relatives that you would never have guessed. The infamous ones as well as the famous ones.
-Third, never ever set up your family history stuff on the kitchen table. When people are hungry, you have to clean it all up because they think they have to eat every darn day!!!

Now we'll get you started. Begin by gathering together, in any kind of a container, all the documents you have on yourself. Organize them into some kind of chronological order. Greg's go like this (he has priesthood ordinations so that is why I chose him): Birth Certificate, Blessing Certificate, Baptismal Certificate, Aaronic Priesthood Ordinations to Deacon, Teacher and Priest Quorums, Elder Ordination Certificate, Mission Call, Marriage Certificate, and all other Priesthood Ordination Certificates.

You'll notice that these are all certificates. They are what is called "Primary Sources". In family history your best and most accurate sources are always the primary source. The concept is that in order to do temple work, we are trying to identify this one person as an individual. From time to time there may be a minor mistake on a primary source, but these happen less often because the record is made at the time these things happen, and are witnessed (and signed) by someone who was actually there.

Sometimes you'll find that there just isn't a primary source (this usually happens when you get a few generations back, and the reason is that often people were born or died and no certificate was created ie. births at home, etc.). So, something like a newspaper clipping, a family bible entry, a journal entry is the best that you have available. These are ONLY used if you have done the research and KNOW that there is no primary source available.

The problem with some Secondary sources is that say you have an obituary, those are usually written by a family member at the time of death, so the death date and place is going to be accurate, but the other information may not be since relatives can be too upset to check records and they may be trying to remember off the top of their heads, thus some things may not be correct. Checking with other sources is important in this case. But I have wandered off a bit, lets get back to you.

After you have gathered and organized your primary sources, gather secondary sources, such as newspaper articles, copies of family bible pages, etc. any item where you are mentioned. Anything that tells about something you did. Again, arrange those in chronological order (in a file folder behind all of your certificates). Next include your journals behind the file folder once again in chronological order. As you go along you may even find more items to add, but at this point you have alot to show for your life so far. Now, you are ready to do that for your spouse and children as well.