A
Guide To Mormon Family History Sources by
Kip Sperry
For those not familiar with Mormon history, I will humbly try and explain. Shortly after its creation, members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints were referred to as Mormons. This term, which is held dearly by members of the L.D.S. faith, (especially when it is used in reference to Mormon Pioneers) was derived from The Book Of Mormon. This book, written upon sheets of metal, is a sacred record of peoples in ancient America. One of the prophet-historians who compiled most of the book was named Mormon. Hence the name.
Around A.D. 421, the last of the Nephite prophet-historians Moroni, the son of Mormon, sealed the sacred record and buried it in a hill. This hill is located in what is now known as New York state. In 1823 this same Moroni, then a resurrected personage, visited the latter-day Prophet Joseph Smith and delivered the engraved plates to him. Soon after Joseph Smith translated these plates into what is now known as The Book of Mormon.
Mormons believe the Bible is a sacred record of Jesus Christ written by old world prophets, they also believe that the Book of Mormon is a second witness, a sacred record of Jesus Christ written by ancient new world prophets. Mormons do not believe that the Book of Mormon is more important than the Bible, however, they believe that both books together, with out a doubt, testify to the truth that Jesus Christ lives, and that he is the Savior to all mankind.
If interested and you would like a Free copy of the Book of Mormon www.mormon.org
A Guide To Mormon Family History Sources by Kip Sperry
Never before has the wide array of Mormon family history sources been gathered into one comprehensive and easy-to-use guide. The nine chapters and two appendixes breaks down and explains Electronic Databases, Websites, Microfilm Collections, Indexes, Types of Records, Historical Background, Newspapers, Migration and Emigration and Immigration Records.
This book is for anyone wanting to use L.D.S. resources. Since the first day of organization on April 6, 1830 the L.D.S. church (Mormon) started creating vast genealogical and historical records, including many non-L.D.S. records. The Family History Library, downtown Salt Lake City, holds the largest genealogical research collection in the world with over 2.4 million rolls of microfilmed records, 742,000 microfiche, 310,000 books, 4,500 periodicals, over a thousand electronic resources , maps, and other resources. Names of over 3 billion people are found among their records.
The Library's vast collection includes biographies, cemetery records and gravestone inscriptions, national and state census schedules, church records, city directories, computer databases and CD-ROMs, court records, family histories, county and other local histories, immigration records, and passenger lists, indexes, land and property records, probate records, L.D.S. temple records, tax records, vital records, and many others.
This book helps break down and simplify the process of sorting and sifting through these extensive records.