Does the thought of genealogical research feel overwhelming to the members of your ward? Family history work does not have to be a daunting task filled with endless scrolling and confusing records. By planning engaging family history activities, wards and stakes can inspire members to connect with their ancestors in incredibly meaningful ways.
The embedded document below outlines the perfect organizational structure and activities for your local unit. It provides a comprehensive guide for ward leaders, detailing how to run effective meetings and track real progress. By implementing these strategies, your ward will become a powerhouse of temple and family history work.
Organizing Your Ward Leadership
A successful temple and family history effort requires a dedicated team of ward leaders. The ward council ultimately oversees this sacred work within the boundaries of the ward. To be effective, the leadership organization should include members from both the Elders Quorum and Relief Society presidencies.
It is also crucial to involve the youth in this leadership structure. The team should include an assistant from the Priests Quorum and a presidency member from the oldest Young Women’s class. Together with the ward consultants, this team can coordinate temple prep classes and teach essential research concepts.
Running an Effective Coordination Meeting
To keep the work moving forward, the leadership team should hold a regular coordination meeting. This meeting can be held in person or remotely, but it should last a maximum of 30 minutes. During this brief time, leaders should focus heavily on discussing how to help specific ward members.
The agenda should prioritize helping those who have been baptized within the last year, new move-ins, and individuals currently taking missionary lessons. The team can also review their progress toward the ward’s annual goals.
Setting Meaningful Ward Goals
Wards and stakes should establish clear, actionable goals to encourage participation. For example, a stake could encourage all members to index at least one batch during a specifically designated month. Another great goal is to encourage all ward members to establish a FamilySearch account and add their first four generations.
Leaders can also make specific assignments to meet with recent converts and their families to start their engagement with the work. Hosting a stake fair is another excellent way to promote involvement.
Tracking Success with Stats and Reports
How do you know if your goals are actually working? Leaders can utilize LDS tools and reports to review the stake and ward statistics over the last three years. These reports reveal how many members are actively logging in, participating in activities, and submitting names to the temple.
20 Fun Family History Activities
If you want to get your ward excited, the document provides 20 amazing, simple ways to get involved. Members can hold a Family Home Evening centered around this topic, or simply work on resolving the blue hints on their FamilySearch tree. Other ideas include attending the temple for your own ancestors, reaching out to extended family, or creating a biography of a loved one.
Take a few moments to review the 6-page document below to see the full list of fun ideas! You can also check out our previous post on Writing a Personal Journal, which is listed as activity #18. For even more inspiration, be sure to visit the official RootsTech website to view thousands of incredible classes!
