The SUP most likely will never have as many members as the DUP, Lott admits. Women, he said, not only are more apt to join groups and be interested and involved in genealogy-type activities, but they also generally live longer. Father Time continues to steal SUP members on a regular basis.

"Because of the age of our members, there are people departing on the other end," Lott said.

And younger men, he added, are often too preoccupied nowadays with family, work and church obligations. Then there are those who just aren't hogwild about their pioneer past — not that that's going to discourage the SUP from trying to lure them to carry on the tale-telling torch.

"There's a lot of competition nowadays," Lott said. "Lots of younger people aren't interested in their roots. We are, and we think they ought to be."

Although women as young as 18 can be admitted into the DUP society, Johnson said the group ranges from women in their 30s to women in their 90s. Belinda Kerig, 38, is the youngest member of her Salt Lake chapter of the society by about a decade.

"I think it's kind of an old woman thing to do, but I thought they needed some young blood," Kerig said. "I don't think you need to be old to learn about pioneers."

Despite the age difference, Kerig said she enjoys the society, especially since she had her first child two years ago and felt the need to understand her heritage. Kerig also grew up with her mother being involved in the DUP and even hopes her 21-month-old daughter will one day join the group.

One of the main reasons Kerig did not get involved when she was younger was because she was too busy to attend meetings. That time commitment is one of the main obstacles to getting younger women in the society, Johnson said.

Same goes for the younger men who are more likely to play video games or coach little-league teams than make a memorial to their direct ancestors.

"We wish there were more," Lott said. "It's a lot harder with (younger) men who are working with families and other commitments to devote themselves. It's easier to get middle-age and older."

Group policies

All members of the DUP are expected to compile the genealogy of their ancestors for the society's history department and give lessons at monthly meetings about their families.

"It's not just a social club. If they want that, they can go somewhere else," Johnson said. "We have a responsibility to research our ancestors."

Another stumbling block to recruiting larger numbers of young women is the strict admittance policy to the society. Each applicant must prove her lineage through documents, showing she is directly descended from a pioneer who was in Utah between 1847 and 1869.