On my desk sits a photograph of my great-grandmother, Stathoula Zaharaki. Her somber face and penetrating eyes implore me daily to seek after my ancestors, one by one. Imagine my joy when I found her name in the Town Register of Mystras, Greece , with enough information for Temple work submission!

Then, imagine my frustration as I went through the arduous, 16-step process to prepare and clear her name for temple ordinances ¹. Although I was thrilled to do this work for my great-grandmother, I was not thrilled with the TempleReady process. “There has to be a better way,” I thought.

And now, there is! The new FamilySearch—currently being rolled out to temples throughout the world—has vastly simplified the temple name submission process from 16 to only 5 steps. Moreover, the names can be prepared at home, or on any computer with internet access.

What Is New FamilySearch?

“New FamilySearch is the online TempleReady replacement and basic family tree manager,” explained Paul Natua, Manager of Public Affairs for FamilySearch.

It is the program alluded to by President Gordon B. Hinckley in his opening remarks at October 2005 General Conference:

In response to President Hinckley's concerns, new FamilySearch is specifically designed to help eliminate the duplication of temple work. After you have cleared the name of an ancestor, you can choose to have the ordinances performed at a temple or you can “reserve” the name and take personal responsibility to have the ordinances completed. After one of these choices is designated, the name cannot be cleared by anyone else. “People in families with a long history of church membership appreciate the reduction in duplication,” said Mr. Natua.

New FamilySearch is:

• A replacement for TempleReady as the method for preparing names for temple ordinance work
• A program designed to help eliminiate the duplication of temple work
• An instrument to increase research collaboration between family members
• One resource for the Church's family history records. It is a compilation of LDS Membership Records, the IGI (International Genealogical Index), Temple Ordinance Records, Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource File, Name Extraction records and uploaded gedcom files.

New FamilySearch is not:

• A replacement for accurate, thorough family history research
• A replacement for PAF (Personal Ancestral File) or other genealogical software programs

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“People who are new to family history love that they can go online and immediately begin to build their family tree,” said Mr. Natua. “And those who have been diligent researchers appreciate how easy it is to clear names for temple work.”

Here's How It Works:

1. From your personal computer, add or find your ancestor at new.FamilySearch.org

2. Select an individual or individuals for which temple work will be performed

3. Print an ordinance request form and take it to the temple

4. At the Temple , your form will be processed and temple cards will be printed

5. After the temple ordinance is performed, FamilySearch.org is updated the same day

That's it! Usually, you will be able to see the ordinance work just completed for your ancestor by the time you arrive home and log into FamilySearch.org.

As a bonus, you no longer need to worry about losing printed temple cards or physically distributing them to others who will assist with ordinance work. Because your ordinance form is stored within the new FamilySearch database, you need only log into your account, reprint your ordinance form and take it to a temple where new cards can be created.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to process names using new FamilySearch, you must reside in a temple district that uses new FamilySearch. If you are not in a new FamilySearch temple district, you must continue using TempleReady until receipt of notification that the program has been actived in your temple. For more information, contact your ward family history consultant, High Priest Group Leader, or local Family History Center .

There is Work For Us to Do!

When you find an ancestor on new FamilySearch, you will see all of the records in the system relating to that person.

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Because many databases have been compiled into one, there can be duplicate records for your ancestor. Therefore, prior to clearing his or her name for Temple work, you will need to “combine” all of the records related to that particular ancestor into one “folder.” From your personal computer, you will log into FamilySearch.org, identify your ancestor, find his or her duplicate records, and move them into your ancestor's specific folder.

One of the more troubling aspects of older databases such as Ancestral File or Pedigree Resource File is the inability to correct or update erroneous information. In new FamilySearch, you can edit or delete information you submitted. You can also add another opinion and “dispute” information submitted by others.

This feature has generated great enthusiasm among users. “ I love the way that I can correct mistakes on the information I provided previously when I had very little to submit on my ancestors,” said Gloria Larravide, a ward family history consultant and volunteer at the Washington DC Family History Center. “I'm grateful to be able to make updates and share the information that I am finding.”

One of the most exciting aspects of new FamilySearch is the ability to communicate and collaborate with other people working on the same family lines. As you view information about an ancestor, you will see the name of the submitter of that data on the same line. When you click on the submitter's name, his or her email address or other contact information will appear. With this feature incorporated into the program, it is easier for people to work together to identify and verify the most accurate information for their family members.

A Worldwide Rollout

Currently, access to new FamilySearch is restricted to Church members and Family History Center consultants. It is currently in use at 90 temples and is being rolled out to a few temple districts at a time, with the expectation that all temples will be utilizing new FamilySearch in 2009.

“We also hope to make the online family tree manager available to the general public next year,” related Mr. Natua. This means that people worldwide will be able to add their family trees and collaborate with other researchers; however, only LDS members will be able to access Church membership and temple ordinance information.

“I feel that new FamilySearch is reflecting the gathering of Israel ,” commented Sister Larravide. “It's exciting to contemplate the scope of this global project.”

New FamilySearch prompts us to change our thinking

In essence, we are preparing a record to present to the Savior—a record of His people in which we, as individuals, are one of many. (D&C 128:24 ²)

As we move forward in our family history and temple work, let us heed the words of our Prophet Thomas S. Monson:

“How grateful I am for the temple ordinances which bind us together for all eternity. I emphasize how essential is the work we do in the temples of the Lord for our kindred dead.” ³

The TempleReady 16-Step Process: ¹

At Home:

At the Family History Center:

At the Temple:

At Home:

2 “…let us present in his holy temple…a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation.” (D&C 128:24)

3 “Constant Truths for Changing Times,” Ensign, May 2005.