Assisting Members to View Ordinances in New.FamilySearch.org

28 June 2009

To: Family History Consultants and Family History Center Directors in Selected Stakes in Utah and Idaho

The Church is currently updating the computer systems that are used to record completed ordinances in the temples in Utah and Idaho. This update will be completed by the end of July, and after that time recorded ordinances will no longer be added to the International Genealogical Index (IGI). The system update in the temples is an important step in preparing to introduce the new.familysearch.org Web site in Utah and Idaho. Until members have access to new.familysearch.org, they should continue to visit a family history center to prepare names for the temple.

Members who access the IGI and cannot yet use new.familysearch.org will be instructed to meet with a family history consultant or visit a family history center to view newly recorded temple ordinances or determine whether or not temple ordinances have already been performed for deceased ancestors. We encourage you to use the features of the new.familysearch.org Web site to help members who want to verify whether or not ordinances have already been performed for an ancestor or to prepare ancestral names for the temple.

Directors and Consultants Signing In to New.FamilySearch.org to Help Someone Else

Family history center directors and consultants can help members to use the new.familysearch.org Web site by signing in as a helper for them. A family history consultant can add or update information about the member’s ancestors as if the member was doing it personally. Here are the steps you will use:

· Sign in as a helper for the member.

· Search duplicate ancestor records to ensure temple ordinances are needed.

· Select the ordinances for each ancestor needing temple work.

· Print the Family Ordinance Request.

Consultants should remain with the member while signed in as a helper for them.

The member will take the Family Ordinance Request to the temple. The temple will use the Family Ordinance Request form to print the temple ordinance cards for the member.

Instructions on how to use the helper function can be found in lesson 9 of the New FamilySearch online course that is available to consultants on the Training and Resources tab in the Help Center. To view the lesson:

· Sign on to new.familysearch.org, and click on the Help Center link.

· Click on the Training and Resources tab.

· In the Training & Other Helpful Resources section, click on the E-Learning Courses link.

· Under the Family History Consultant–New FamilySearch Instruction section, click The New FamilySearch.

· Click 9: The Helper Function, and view the information from that lesson.

Adding a TempleReady Submission File

Center directors and consultants may help members who have created a TempleReady submission file to upload the information into new.familysearch.org and print a Family Ordinance Request form that the member can take to the temple. The temple staff will scan the barcode on the Family Ordinance Request form and print the temple ordinance cards for the member. You will need to sign on as a helper for the member in order to use this feature.

When a member brings you an existing TempleReady submission file, you can use the following steps to create a Family Ordinance Request form:

· Sign in as a helper for the member.

· Upload the TempleReady submission file.

· Click the Temple Ordinances tab, and then select the desired names and ordinances from the Reserved List.

· Create and print a Family Ordinance Request.

Note: When uploading a TempleReady disk to create a Family Ordinance Request in new.familysearch.org, take note of all names in the TempleReady submission file, and ensure the full list of names appears on the Family Ordinance Request. There is a known problem where records with non-standardized place-names are not being processed by the new FamilySearch. Click here for details on this issue.

Illustrated instructions on how to upload a TempleReady submission file into new.familysearch.org and create a Family Ordinance Request may be viewed by clicking here. Additional information is available for you in the New FamilySearch Utah and Idaho Release section of consultant.familysearch.org.

If you have questions concerning helping someone else use the new.familysearch.org or on adding a TempleReady submission file, please contact FamilySearch Support.

Sincerely,

FamilySearch
support@familysearch.org

Toll-free: 1-866-406-1830