Locate your family and find where they fit in

by Beverly Black
Blanding Utah Family History Center Director
When Kevin S. Hamilton, Executive Director for the Family History Department, finds himself sitting by a stranger on an airplane or at a meeting, he asks them, “Where is your family from?” Then as the conversation progresses, he takes out his phone and helps the person find their family online on Family Search.
There is a movement across the whole world for people to find their family and where they fit in. Working on family history is the fastest growing hobby in the world.
QUESTION: Do you have to be a member of a certain religion to sign up for a FREE FamilySearch account? Absolutely not! Around 5 million people sign up for a free FamilySearch account each year, lately. Just log on to familysearch.org to activate an account.
What is a Family History Center? There are branches of FamilySearch and the Family History Library. They provide resources for research and study of genealogy and family history.
A typical family history center offers you:
• A computer or device to use as you search for ancestors.
• One-on-one support from a real person when you have questions or get stuck.
• Special access to genealogical websites that may not be available to you from your home.
There are two family history centers located in San Juan County. One is located in Blanding at 200 South Main and the other family history center is located in Monticello at 347 North 200 West.
As of September 2018, there were more than 5,100 FHCs in 140 countries (FamilySearch Wiki).
You are invited to come and find your family and see where you fit in.
The Blanding Utah Family History Center reopened to the public on March 1.
It’s open Monday from 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m., and Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m.
Call 435-229-0558 for a special appointment.
The Monticello Utah Family History Center is open each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, check out the Blanding Utah Stake Family History Center Facebook page.