FamilySearch – The Family History Guide Blog

October 10, 2026

Will Genealogy Survive AI?

Note: This article appeared previously in the Genealogy’s Star blog site. https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/genealogies/submissions?f.collectionId=10000130 AI’s rapid advancement is caused by three factors: raw compute increases, algorithmic efficiency improvements, and “unhobbling” processes. In the current super-accelerated decade, we enjoy a 10,000x AI performance boost every four years, making it likely that AI will exceed top human experts by 2027. There are good arguments...

artificial intelligence/FamilySearch/Research Comments: 0

September 11, 2026

10 Ways to Survive Using the FamilySearch.org Website

Note: This article appeared previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. FamilySearch.org can seem overwhelming at first glance. Yet just as the saguaro cactus thrives in a harsh desert, you can adapt and master the platform. Here are ten practical survival suggestions for navigating the FamilySearch Family Tree and uncovering your ancestors. Much like packing a full canteen before trekking...

FamilySearch/Navigation/Research

September 5, 2026

Understanding FamilySearch.org’s User-Owned Trees

Note: This article was published previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. This blog post is basically a transcription of my online class for Sunday, 30 August 2026 from the BYU Library Family History Center. The narrative audio transcription has been edited by Google Gemini. The video recording of the class will be available on the BYU Library Family History Center YouTube...

FamilySearch/Research/U.S. Research

August 1, 2026

Online Fake Genealogy – Surname Scams

Note: This article was published previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. To legally and legitimately claim an authentic Tanner coat of arms, a researcher must trace their direct, unbroken male line back to a specific ancestor who was officially granted or recognized as bearing those arms by an official heraldic authority. Because there is no authentic, traceable lineage of my...

FamilySearch/Research

April 25, 2026

The Main Challenges of FamilySearch Full-text Search, Part Three

Note: This article appeared previously in the Genealogy’s Star blog site. https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/full-text These instructions about using simple Boolean Algebraic symbols for doing full-text search are a reminder that when you are using AI you are talking to a computer, not a person. If I started a set of Rules for AI in Genealogy, I would put this statement as the...

artificial intelligence/FamilySearch/Research

April 12, 2026

The Main Challenges of Full-text Search, Part One

Note: This article was published previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. Three of the major online family tree/data base websites have implemented AI based full-text search and to some degree, handwriting recognition in the last three or so years. FamilySearch.org’s offering is called “Full Text Search” and includes handwriting recognition. The Full Text Search is available for free to...

artificial intelligence/FamilySearch

December 15, 2025

RootsTech 2026 Bonus and Benefits

Note: This article appeared previously on the Genealogy’s Star blog site. https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech RootsTech 2026, the largest genealogy and family history conference in the world, is scheduled for March 5-7, 2026 online and in person at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah. Meanwhile, by visiting the website, you can enjoy and learn from the following activities and learning opportunities. ...

FamilySearch/RootsTech/What is new at The FHG

September 28, 2025

Full-Text Search and FamilySearch Records

At the end of August, FamilySearch released full-text search as a feature on their main website. In a nutshell, full-text search enables you to search for keywords in the actual text of the record, even if the record has not yet been indexed. Previously, unindexed records could be quite difficult to work with due to large amounts of scrolling or...

artificial intelligence/FamilySearch/Technology/What is new at The FHG

September 6, 2025

What I Learned from 1418 Consultations for FamilySearch

Note: This article has been updated to reflect that FamilySearch consultations have not been discontinued. During the past five years, I have scheduled 1418 online consultations for FamilySearch.org. These consultations originated from the Salt Lake City FamilySearch Library website. There were dozens of people volunteering to respond to the consultation requests, mostly Church Service Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of...

Country Research/FamilySearch/Learning/Training/U.S. Research

August 10, 2025

FamilySearch Improved Merge Experience

Note: This article appeared previously in the Genealogy’s Star blog site. One basic fact about online family trees is their propensity to create duplicates. This apparently stems from the belief by each family tree contributor that their work is somehow unique and completely accurate. When this belief in uniqueness and accuracy is extended to the large online family tree websites,...