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Family History Ideas for Young Men and Young Women

Family History Ideas for fulfilling the "Duty to God" and "Young Womanhood Recognition" requirements

NEW July 8, 2005*** This booklet was prepared by Doris Bateman with the assistance of Stacey Johnson and Cindy Bateman for use with the youth of the Ben Lomond Stake, North Ogden, UT. This booklet is not copyrighted and you may use it or adapt it according to your needs. But it may not be sold or used for profit. This booklet was adapted from an excellent one made for Primary children called "Turn Your Hearts." "Turn Your Hearts" was prepared by Dawn Bushman of Tempe Stake, Arizona.

Click here to view or download Turn Your Hearts for Youth

Family History Ideas for Scouts

Scouts can earn a Genealogy Merit Badge. You can be the one to help them.

See our Scout Page

Young Women Value Project Ideas

1. Extract records through the Extraction Program.

2. Do Family History Research and find names of your ancestors and enough information to submit their names for temple work. If you live close enough to a temple, arrange to do the baptisms.

3. Write your life history or the life history of an ancestor such as your grandmother.

4. Gather photos of your ancestors and scan them into the computer and attach them to your PAF database.

5. Extract records from an older cemetery to preserve the records that may be lost over time. Print in book form or on CD and give copies to the local library, the local FHC, and local historical and/or genealogical society so that people will have access for their research.

6. Make a Scrapbook of family photos and memories that are important to your family. Include a pedigree chart and Family Group Sheet.

7. If your family has a large family history database, check all of the names in the Ordinance Index. Record the dates of work that has been done. Submit the names of those that are ready and need their work done. If you are close to the Temple, arrange to do the baptisms for those you submit.

8. Gather family recipes from members of your extended family. Include a small picture of the person whose recipe it is. If there are family traditions that include a recipe, tell about them by the recipe. Try to find recipes that have been handed down from your grandmothers. If you need extra recipes, find heritage recipes from the region or country that your ancestors came from.

Family Home Evenings that meet YM/YW Requirements

NEW Jan 24, 2004

  • FHC Correlation Chart for Familys with Youth
  • View or download the lessons on our Family Home Evening Page

    Activity Ideas

    Young Women in Excellence

    Consider using the theme "Your Heritage". Have each of the girls (or a group of girls if you have a large number of young women) find a story about a grandmother or some other ancestor that is an example of one of the YW Values. Have the girls come dressed as their ancestor and present the story and the value that it represents. Continue the heritage theme with the other talks given by leaders. Sing a song from Pioneer times. Serve a Pioneer type refreshment. You can use a recipe from one of the girl's ancestors if someone has one that is appropriate. Decorate with quilts, artificial campfires, and/or heirloom look alikes.

    Youth Conference

    Center your youth conference around a Pioneer theme. There are many ways to go with this.
    A pioneer trek the most obvious, but not always the most convenient.

    A hike with a service project of cleaning the trail, followed by Dutch oven dinner, and square dance. A hillside is a wonderful place for talks and a testimony meeting.

    Preparing names for a temple trip

    This activity is an on going one that needs parental support. Ideally you should start at least 6 month in advance unless you are in the Salt Lake Valley. Films take a while to be brought into the the Family History Centers when ordered. The idea is for each Young man or Young Woman to be able to find at least one name they can take to the temple for baptism. It is even better if the whole ward is involved in supplying names and helping each other with the temple work.

    1. Introduce the group to Family History. Give them a How Do I Start booklet.
    2. Have them fill out as much as they can of their pedigree and Family Group sheets. If they have a computer have them use PAF. They will need to get some help from their parents and other relatives.
    3. Take them to the Family History Center and show them how to order films, etc.
    4. Encourage them in their research and schedule an occasional Activity Night to help.
    5. Hopefully they can all find someone to take to the temple for baptism.
    6. Schedule a group trip to the temple closest to you.

    It is important to allow enough time for the youth to have success. This is not a project that you can do in one night.

    To submit ideas, send an email to FHC@ohanasoftware.com

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