--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Summerhays, R. B. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 30 number: 12 published: 1927-10 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "R. B. Summerhays, “The Genealogical Society of Utah,” *Improvement Era* 30, no. 12 (October 1927): 1104–1106." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera30012unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera30012unse start_page: 1104 end_page: 1106 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1927-10) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera30012unse publication_year: 1927 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1927, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Genealogical Society of Utah THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH By R. B. Summerhays, Secretary The Genealogical Society of Utah was established primarily as an aid to temple work, its chief function being the gathering, clas- sification, and tabulation of genealogical information to be used by' those engaged in the performance of vicarious ordinances for their dead kindred. To gain this end its founders determined that it should have a three-fold purpose, and provided for its functioning powers in its constitution and by-laws as follows: "The objects of said corporation are benevolent, educational and religious, and not for pecuniary profit; benevolent in collecting, compiling, establishing, and maintaining a Genealogical library for the use and benefit of it members and others; educational in disseminating information regarding genealogical matters; religious in acquiring records of deceased persons in connection with ordinances of the religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as that religion is understood in the doctrine and discipline of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and set forth in the revelations of God. It is not necessary to explain in detail the wonderful growth of the library itself in its acquisition of books, and the organization of its personnel, both in the office and the library, to give kind and helpful assistance to those who present themselves personally for aid. This phase of the work grows on one as he takes advantage of the opportunities afforded for those who have the time and inclination to conduct their own researches. The reader is invited to study the results of genealogical research achieved by Archibald F. Bennett, as manifest in his article published in the Utah Historical and Genealogical Magazine, for July, 1927. Its religious and educational functions should be understood by all, for it is in these departments that it performs its greatest service. Inasmuch as the responsibility of "seeking after our dead" rests upon each individual member of the Church, and because the rights and privileges of each person must be carefully and sacredly safe- guarded, the gathering and tabulation of genealogical information and its arrangement in proper shape for vicarious temple service becomes an exceedingly intricate and complex problem. One has but to consider the complex nature of the relationships of the human family, and take into account that an ordinance once performed need not and should not be repeated, to realize that genea- logical proceedure must have centralized and intelligent supervision. The frequent change of surnames; the kinship of the female side that gives rise to the perplexing question of associate family relationships; the wide separation of people interested in the same GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH 1105 surname and their ignorance of one another's activities, are but a few of the vexatious problems that are met and that must be overcome if the Saints are to pursue their genealogical activities economically and without duplication, either in genealogical research or temple or- dinance work. To this end there has been established in the Genealogical So- ciety of Utah a Temple Records Index Bureau and a Genealogical clearing house. The former to render service in checking all work that is sent to the temples under the headings of baptisms and en- dowments, and the latter to make available to all interested persons an economical and efficient means of gathering and tabulating their genealogies and depositing them in the library of the Society to be accessible at all times and related by cross-reference and inter-indexing to all allied families1 whose information is also deposited. It is also a means of notification to benefit those who can be appraised of the activities of other persons interested in the same genealogical activities. The methods employed by the genealogical clearing house are explained in articles published in the Genealogical Magazine and may be obtained on application to the Genealogical Society of Utah. Suffice it to say that by means of its "patron's order blank," "surname envelope," and other adjuncts to the books themselves, an economical and comprehensive method of securing names for or- dinance work has been established. The Saints themselves, however, should engage in research work outside the ,library. They should gather the information of their own immediate ancestors, and seek in every way to interest other members of their families to join with them in family and surname capacities, under the organized titles of Surname Genealogical Or- ganizations, and Family Genealogical Organizations. Thus the work will be carried on with greater facility and less expense. The society has provided blanks for research and instructions how to organize so that all may participate in this important activity intelligently and receive instruction wherein their information is lack- ing. Family record books for recording the family history and group- ing the genealogy of the living in a simple manner are available, as well as the well known individual temple record books. Explanation for their use is published in the front of each book, so that all can purchase them in confidence of intelligent use. Simple forms are provided for gathering genealogical information. They are so arranged as to meet the requirements of the Latter-day Saints, but divested of all marks of the Church so as not to discourage people who are prejudiced against the Church from sending their information when requested to do so. When information is thus gathered it may be submitted to the Genealogical Clearing House and, for a nominal sum, recorded in the clearing house records. Here it is tabulated in what is called a 1106 IMPROVEMENT ERA surname book, in family groups and inter-indexed to associate families to enable the pedigree to be read in any direction from beginning to end on the straight lines or to associate family line. A detailed alphabetical index serves readily to locate any name in the books so that all interested persons can have ready access to their data by calling at the library, or they may have transcript copies at any time at a nominal cost. But interest in genealogical work will not be manifest until people are converted to temple work, and sense the responsibility of carrying it on. There is an exception in case of those who gather family his- tories for the interest of the work itself but this attitude has been assumed more largely by people outside the Church than by its members. To arouse interest in temple work, the Society has organized, throughout the Church, genealogical committees, both in the stakes and wards. It j.s the duty of these committees to visit in the homes of the people and teach them the principles pertaining to this important department of Church activity. To supplement this activity and give life to the work, genealogi- cal conventions are held locally in the stakes. The convention work covers the temple work, genealogical departments, and class work in record-keeping. Drills in the theory of temple work are also con- ducted. Instruction is given in the library to those who apply. For general instruction no charge is made, but instructors' are provided for those who desire extended instruction in detail. For this service a nominal charge is made. Thus the society is fostering its educational activities, and mak- ing available to all interested people a knowledge of these things that they may learn under intelligent supervision how to conduct their activities in the most efficient and economical manner. Thus the background is laid for personal service in the House of the Lord, that all may be prepared to present themselves at the temple fully equipped to carry on as the Lord would have them do. To encourage a temple attitude, junior and senior temple ex- cursions (the former for baptismal and the latter for endowment work) are fostered by the stake committees, with the aid of the ward committees. Many interesting excursions have been conducted to the edification and benefit of the Saints who participated. Thus in the home, in the convention, by instruction through publication and by letter, there is being disseminated for the benefit of the Saints such information as will enable them to enjoy to the fullest their activities in behalf of their dead, and receive the individual development that will accrue therefrom.