Experience the Joy of Genealogy
Family History and Indexing Specialists, John and Shirley Johnson, have a particular love of genealogy work and the people they serve at the Family Search Center (FSC). They’re eager to help individuals in the community discover more about their family line and connect with those who have passed on. Here, they share why genealogy and family history work is for everyone.
Shirley and John Johnson.
Q: Who can do family history work?
A: Anyone can do Family History, especially if they have a sense of belonging to a family. To do it correctly takes dedication to follow instructions and determine the accuracy of the data—which is much easier to do than people think at first, and we are here to help.
Q: What have patrons experienced when they visit the Family History Center?
A: Patrons who have found information for members of their family have experienced joy and a sense of accomplishment. They experience a closeness to those particular family members and a desire to do more and find more information about them.
Q: When people start delving into their family history what's been their reaction?
A: I think the most common reaction is that they are amazed by their ancestors, such as war heroes or the part they played in the military actions, the way they lived, their pioneer treks, ocean immigration, every day trials, etc. That knowledge can be quite inspirational.
Q: Why love family history work?
A: Family History isn't just going to cemeteries or courthouses. It's the stories you learn about your grandparents, about their childhoods and everyday lives, how they came to live where they did or have the jobs they did. When you carry that farther back to your great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents and begin putting their records together, you begin to really know them and feel a kinship with them and get excited to find out more about them. It's such a joyful feeling when you find that elusive ancestor, you'll find it hard to stop and go to bed!
Sandra Stepp works on her family tree.
Q: Tell us of a time you witnessed the impact genealogy work has had on a novice coming to the Family Search Center for the first time.
A: A community member patron began to come in to research her family history. Using our resources she found information on an entire family cemetery, including members of her husband's family buried there, and was able to get information for replacement headstones. She was given an award by the county for her efforts.
Q: What are the personal benefits to knowing your family history?
A: Family History gives you a sense of belonging. We can get to know our ancestors personally by learning their stories and trials. Through Family History work we draw closer to our Savior whose atoning sacrifice extends to all people.
Q: Do you know someone who will be willing to share about those benefits?
A: Yes, Jim Hauser of the Bedford 1st ward (congregation) shared the following story:
Jim Hauser
“I never knew my Grandfather Hauser. He was alive for the first 12 years of my life but we didn’t know where he was. I was trying to learn more about him by doing family history and had collected documents on him to get to know him better. I had found him in U.S. Census records but had really only looked at the first few columns: name, age, birthplace.
One day I read the whole line for him on the 1930 Census, Columns 30 and 31 asking, ‘Were you a Veteran and Which War or Campaign?’ The answers were ‘YES’ and ‘PHIL.’ That was a surprise. I had no idea what ‘PHIL’ was. It turns out my grandfather was in the Philippines just after the Spanish American War. We never knew that. From that bit of information, I was able to get his military record and learn more about him. I was able to find when and where he died. He was buried in a pauper’s grave with no marker. Just by finding ‘YES’ and ‘PHIL’, I was able to proceed and get a military marker erected for him.”
Q: For a person just starting out, what's the easiest thing to do?
A: Start by building your own family tree with the information you know, your parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents. Then use sources available through FamilySearch.org and partner sites to document the information. Don't forget to record memories, stories and pictures on FamilySearch as they come to you, and they certainly will come! Visit the Family Search Center and learn how to do all of this, then you can do it from home.
Come visit the Family Search Center! We can help you get started on FamilySearch.org and connect to your family or show you how to index other people’s records so family members all over the world can find their ancestors.
Above: Inside the FSC at the Hurst Stake Center Building. Here, you will have free access to many programs that can help you reach your goals.
The entrance to the Family Search Center is located on the north side of the Hurst Stake Center.
4401 NE Loop 820
North Richland Hills, TX 76180
Walk-ins Welcome. Hours of operation:
Tues. 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wed. 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Thurs. 6:00–9:00 PM
Sat. 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
For questions or to request one-on-one help, please contact Family History and Indexing Specialists, John and Shirley Johnson.
The Hurst Stake also hosts Family History Training classes twice a month. To receive notifications for these classes, please send a request to the Johnsons. If you would like to browse and view recordings of previous classes, click here.
