Role and Responsibilities
A family history center director works with priesthood leaders and the Family History Department to maintain a facility that allows center staff to help members identify their ancestors and qualify their names for temple ordinances.
For New Directors
- Contact FamilySearch Support to inform them that you are a new director. They make sure you are set up to view all the director resources, introduce the resources to you, and answer any questions you have. For their contact information, see the Quick Start Guide below.
- Quick Start Guide: This document helps new directors understand their calling and quickly learn what to do.
Core Training for Your Calling
- Handbook 2, section 5.4: Read the section from Handbook 2 that outlines the duties associated with temple and family history work.
- To Turn the Hearts Guide and Videos: Study a resource guide and watch a series of documentary-style videos designed to act as a supplement to Handbook 2.
- The Doctrine of Temple and Family History Work: Learn the doctrine of the turning of hearts and the blessings of temple attendance.
- Family History Center Operations Guide: View a guide for all family history center directors and staff in the United States and Canada.
- International Family History Center Operations Guide: View a guide for all family history center directors and staff outside of the United States and Canada.
- Using the Helper Function of Family Tree: View a guide that helps you use Family Tree in behalf of another person.
Why We Have Family History Centers
The primary purpose of a family history center is to help members fulfill their divinely appointed responsibility to qualify their ancestors for temple ordinances. However, centers can also assist priesthood leaders in the work of salvation by providing experiences that help individuals feel the Spirit. These experiences can strengthen new converts, reactivate members, and interest investigators. Community patrons are also welcome to use the resources available at centers. Family history centers provide members and community patrons access to:
- Family history resources.
- Classes and workshops.
- One-on-one assistance.
Resources
The following materials are available to help you serve:
- Plan for Family History Centers (Open House 2011): View a presentation given at the 2011 open house in Salt Lake City by Norm Albiston about the purpose and plan for centers.
- Keeping Your Center Relevant in a Changing World (Open House 2012): View a presentation given at the October 2012 open house in Salt Lake City by Norm Albiston about how centers can remain relevant in a changing world.
- Operating an Effective Family History Center: Read how a center can become more effective in helping members and other patrons.
- Supplemental Instructions for Large Multistake Family History Centers: Review instructions for large FamilySearch libraries.
- Member and Leader Services (MLS) User Guide: Instructions on using MLS for large FamilySearch libraries that have their own Church Unit Checking Account.
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