Free family history classes at BYU

PROVO, Utah — A variety of free family history classes begin Jan. 11 at the Family History Library in the BYU Harold B. Lee Library. Professional instructors from BYU's family history department will teach on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Classes begin between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

\"We have classes that start at the very beginning — on how to turn your computer on and how to spell your last name all the way up to those who are serving as consultants in the ward,\" said Steven Klauser, a family history service missionary.

The classes on \"organizing\" are great ones, according to Klauser. \"People have all kinds of family history in their homes and they just don't know it. We can show them how to dig out those letters from Aunt Mabel and the books and the pictures and organize it — even how to scan (the photos) in.\"

Several courses were recommended by Klauser, including Kelly Summer's course, \"Beginners: Basics and Documentation,\" and \"FamilySearch.org for Beginners\" by Steven Ehat.

\"(Ehat) is one of the best. He can really really show you how to do research,\" he said.

Classes can also teach people how to prepare information to submit to the temple.

FamilySearch indexing is a popular class on the fourth Sunday of each month. Stakes and wards use the center's classes and resources to reach indexing goals.

\"There is one stake at BYU,\" Klauser said, \"that made a commitment last year to do over 250,000 names, and they exceeded that commitment. And now there are three stakes that have made that commitment — and they actually raised their numbers.\"

Those student stakes have arranged to have students come in the fourth Sunday of every month and do the indexing on computers in the library's computer lab.

If wards or stakes want to offer classes on indexing, the library prefers they bring their own instructors. To schedule group classes or to request an instructor if needed, call 801-422-6200.

Preregistration is not required, according to Klauser, \"unless you are bringing a group.\"

There are about 50 different classes being held quarterly in several categories:

• Family history basics

• Organizing
• Computers
• Research helps
• U.S. research
• International research
• Temple submission
• Training for consultants