Thanks to the dedication and zeal of LDS members around the world, genealogy has come to the attention of many. While everyone’s reasons for practicing genealogy are different and one certainly need not be a LDS member to trace one’s family history, there is little doubt that the practice of family research would be much difficult without the contributions of so many LDS members over the years who have but the painstaking pieces together.
When tracing one’s Mormon ancestry, it is important to keep in mind that the modern day Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was built by a variety of men and women from all walks of life who literally came from around the globe. Your Mormon ancestors very well may include some of the founders of the church, Americans, as well as a variety of people who converted to Mormonism after speaking with missionaries in their home countries. Today the LDS church is one of the largest in the world and that is largely due to the concentrated efforts of generations of missionaries.
While many converts chose to remain in their homelands, many others made the decision to sail for the Unites States and ultimately travel across the vast plains in order to gather together in what was known as the time as the Utah Territory.
Regardless of where or how your ancestors settled; however, you will find that the Mormon church contains an exhaustive supply of resources to assist you in the process of tracing your family’s Mormon genealogy. Around the world there are more than 3,000 local family history centers, open to both LDS members and non-members, with a wealth of resources to make the process of tracing one’s family history easier and simpler.
As with any genealogy project, it is important to educate yourself as much as possible about the history behind the people so that you will have a better idea of where to look for your ancestors and understand the paths they took. This is especially true in the case of tracing Mormon genealogy, as the history of the church itself and the persecutions Mormons faced during the time, often dictated the decisions they made and ultimately where they settled. Understanding demographical information such as common family sizes and common family names can also prove to be invaluable in helping you to track down your ancestors.