A Call to Arms (and Hands and Fingers!)
By Michael Judson of FamilySearch
Article Summary:
Article Summary:
- The need for indexed records in non-English languages has grown significantly.
- Stake indexing directors in English-speaking stakes are requested to help in several ways.
- FamilySearch announces a new non-English indexing initiative for English and non-English speakers.
- New projects and training materials will soon be available in French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.
FamilySearch.org offers well over three billion searchable records to help English-speaking Church members find their ancestors. This bountiful supply of family records is helping to fuel an unprecedented increase in family history and temple work in English-speaking countries.
Would it surprise you to know that this is more than 20 times the number of searchable records available on FamilySearch.org for all other languages combined?! In some languages and for many countries, there are no searchable records on FamilySearch.org at all.
Can anything be done to help our brothers and sisters around the world receive more indexed records so they can more easily find their ancestors and take their names to the temple? More important, is there anything you can do to help make this blessing available to Church members in other countries? The answer to both questions is a resounding “YES!”
Computers, the Internet, and indexed records are gifts from our Heavenly Father, given to hasten His work in our day. Where these tools are readily available, the work is increasing accordingly. Where they are not readily available, the work is severely hindered despite valiant and diligent efforts on the part of Church leaders and members.
Would it surprise you to know that this is more than 20 times the number of searchable records available on FamilySearch.org for all other languages combined?! In some languages and for many countries, there are no searchable records on FamilySearch.org at all.
Can anything be done to help our brothers and sisters around the world receive more indexed records so they can more easily find their ancestors and take their names to the temple? More important, is there anything you can do to help make this blessing available to Church members in other countries? The answer to both questions is a resounding “YES!”
Computers, the Internet, and indexed records are gifts from our Heavenly Father, given to hasten His work in our day. Where these tools are readily available, the work is increasing accordingly. Where they are not readily available, the work is severely hindered despite valiant and diligent efforts on the part of Church leaders and members.
Encourage returned missionaries who speak Spanish, Portuguese, or French to offer their time in indexing and or in teaching others about the language. How You Can Help
(Your Stake Indexing Leader received this information. How can you help this person by offering your time?
There are undoubtedly those in your stake who speak a non-English language with native proficiency. These individuals may be indexing already. If so, please encourage them to continue indexing as much as possible in their native language. If you know of people in your stake with native language skills who are not indexing, please do all you can to encourage them to begin indexing.
In addition, we ask that you do the following:
(Your Stake Indexing Leader received this information. How can you help this person by offering your time?
There are undoubtedly those in your stake who speak a non-English language with native proficiency. These individuals may be indexing already. If so, please encourage them to continue indexing as much as possible in their native language. If you know of people in your stake with native language skills who are not indexing, please do all you can to encourage them to begin indexing.
In addition, we ask that you do the following:
- Please make your stake leaders aware of the need for indexed records in non-English languages so they can encourage members with skills in other languages to consider indexing. Then help these members become productive indexers.
- Consider other members who have had significant training in a second language. Returned missionaries are prime examples of individuals who may possess the necessary skills or who can develop the necessary skills to index effectively in a non-English language. Please ask your stake leaders to include this group among those who should be considered for a special invitation to index.
- New training materials will soon be available for members who lack skills in non-English languages. Inform your priesthood leaders of this training, and encourage them to invite any who are willing to learn how to index specific types of records in another language. (See below for more details.)
- Encourage your English-speaking volunteers who are not comfortable indexing or learning to index in other languages to continue indexing and arbitrating English records. The need for English records is not diminished by the increasing need for records in other languages.
There Is Something We Can Do
In pioneer times, those who lacked the means to emigrate were blessed by a revolving trust known as the Perpetual Emigration Fund. Endowed by those with means and perpetuated by those who, in gratitude, repaid what they could to help other needy immigrants, the fund ultimately enabled thousands of people to gather to Salt Lake City, Utah.
In our day, a similar fund provides loans that allow eligible individuals to receive an education. The Perpetual Education Fund has given thousands the means they need to learn and then earn their way to a higher standard of living. These inspired examples of creative problem-solving show what is possible when one group is blessed with an abundance and a sincere desire to help.
If we view the lack of searchable records as a form of poverty, it is easy to see how those who have been blessed with an abundance of technology and non-English language skills can make a powerful contribution to helping their brothers and sisters in need.
In pioneer times, those who lacked the means to emigrate were blessed by a revolving trust known as the Perpetual Emigration Fund. Endowed by those with means and perpetuated by those who, in gratitude, repaid what they could to help other needy immigrants, the fund ultimately enabled thousands of people to gather to Salt Lake City, Utah.
In our day, a similar fund provides loans that allow eligible individuals to receive an education. The Perpetual Education Fund has given thousands the means they need to learn and then earn their way to a higher standard of living. These inspired examples of creative problem-solving show what is possible when one group is blessed with an abundance and a sincere desire to help.
If we view the lack of searchable records as a form of poverty, it is easy to see how those who have been blessed with an abundance of technology and non-English language skills can make a powerful contribution to helping their brothers and sisters in need.
For Those Willing to Learn to Index in a Non-English Language
FamilySearch has long recommended that indexers work only in their native language or in languages in which they have near-native proficiency. An exception to this policy exists in cases where individuals have had special training from FamilySearch that qualifies them to index limited types of records in a language they do not generally speak or read. This is the case for a number of people who have been trained to index post-1875 Italian birth and death records. If you have volunteers who are involved in this effort or others like it, please encourage them to continue.
For others who are willing to learn how to index non-English records, FamilySearch indexing is pleased to announce an expansion of its language training program. Beginning in August 2015, formal training from FamilySearch representatives will be available to help English-speaking volunteers learn how to index specific types of records in French, Spanish, and Portuguese, in addition to the existing Italian training program. Trainers and training locations will be announced later. Please work with your priesthood leaders to invite all who are willing to receive this training.
If you have language experts in your stake who can be called to assist in this work, you are welcome to use the materials to establish your own training program at any time. As always, basic indexing instructions and project instructions are to be closely followed, and stake or ward indexing leaders should stay in regular touch with volunteers to ensure the quality of their work.
Thank you for your continuing efforts to hasten this part of the Lord’s work! Additional communication will soon be provided on this subject through the SID newsletter and in the upcoming SID webinar. With the Lord’s help, your efforts, and those of your volunteers, lives will be blessed, and the pace of the work will hasten significantly around the world and on both sides of the veil!
FamilySearch has long recommended that indexers work only in their native language or in languages in which they have near-native proficiency. An exception to this policy exists in cases where individuals have had special training from FamilySearch that qualifies them to index limited types of records in a language they do not generally speak or read. This is the case for a number of people who have been trained to index post-1875 Italian birth and death records. If you have volunteers who are involved in this effort or others like it, please encourage them to continue.
For others who are willing to learn how to index non-English records, FamilySearch indexing is pleased to announce an expansion of its language training program. Beginning in August 2015, formal training from FamilySearch representatives will be available to help English-speaking volunteers learn how to index specific types of records in French, Spanish, and Portuguese, in addition to the existing Italian training program. Trainers and training locations will be announced later. Please work with your priesthood leaders to invite all who are willing to receive this training.
If you have language experts in your stake who can be called to assist in this work, you are welcome to use the materials to establish your own training program at any time. As always, basic indexing instructions and project instructions are to be closely followed, and stake or ward indexing leaders should stay in regular touch with volunteers to ensure the quality of their work.
Thank you for your continuing efforts to hasten this part of the Lord’s work! Additional communication will soon be provided on this subject through the SID newsletter and in the upcoming SID webinar. With the Lord’s help, your efforts, and those of your volunteers, lives will be blessed, and the pace of the work will hasten significantly around the world and on both sides of the veil!
In Wisdom and in Order
King Benjamin counseled that giving should be done “in wisdom and in order,” saying, “It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27). Rather than an “all hands on deck” request for non-English indexing help, a more prudent call is for “the right hands.” Please understand that volunteers who are willing are not enough—these must be willing volunteers with sufficient language skills or those who have received the right kind of training.
To accomplish this work in an orderly fashion, FamilySearch is targeting Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian in 2015 and, in June, will launch specially identified beginning indexing projects in each of these languages, along with specially prepared training materials. These materials will be available to stake indexing directors shortly after the stake indexing director webinar on June 16.
King Benjamin counseled that giving should be done “in wisdom and in order,” saying, “It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27). Rather than an “all hands on deck” request for non-English indexing help, a more prudent call is for “the right hands.” Please understand that volunteers who are willing are not enough—these must be willing volunteers with sufficient language skills or those who have received the right kind of training.
To accomplish this work in an orderly fashion, FamilySearch is targeting Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian in 2015 and, in June, will launch specially identified beginning indexing projects in each of these languages, along with specially prepared training materials. These materials will be available to stake indexing directors shortly after the stake indexing director webinar on June 16.