Genealogy Chat

Hi Nina It's actually a breakaway group from the main mormon religion that still practice polygamy. 'regular' mormons only have one wife (and I'm sure my husband thinks that's one too many sometimes :) This is still a common mistake people make! Joanne

Have to say that although I am highly amused at the woman who purportedly gave birth at 104 according to the LDS site the Mormons do a wonderful job in terms of preserving historical records. A Pacific Island had all its Govt. records destroyed in a cyclone recently and along with the Govt records went the Church records of BMDs - so no-one could even prove they were married let alone baptised or buried. The LDS had visited the island and microfilmed records and later presented the people with a complete bound record for the future. A wonderful gesture greatly appreciated by the people. Marlene

Hi Everyone. I've just returned home from work and have to add my "two cents"; hope you don't mind me carrying on, Christine. My dad volunteered for the LDS for several years (we aren't members). He did so because he is the type who likes to volunteer and because he had such an enjoyable experience. He couldn't say enough about the LDS members and the non-members; they were almost all wonderful people. I am a volunteer with Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts and we hold our adult meetings at our local LDS church. I have been attending meetings for several years and without a doubt every single LDS person whom I've met there is a truly wonderful person. I could carry on and on, but won't bore you (any more than I may have already done). :~) I can't say enough good things about members of the LDS church -- they are very sweet, caring, helpful people. To top it off, if it wasn't for the LDS church, I wouldn't have half the genealogy information that I have. :~) PS Rosemary, I have to agree with you about the errors on the LDS site. I've found parish records to match exactly with my families' records. However, I supplied information to a distant relative, that hadn't been confirmed and it has been posted on the site. So, in the future if I find that the information I gave the lady is wrong, the incorrect information could have been spread to quite a few people. I've also found errors that others have given the church. I trust the parish records; I am leary of records that individuals submit.

Hi I have been reading this thread with interest. I have Mormon relatives, they started in 1850 when my gg grandfathers brother went to Utah Daniel Sumsion. It was through his granddaughter Nellie Sumsion that I have a lot of letters from our relatives over here. They are only copies but I am so pleased to have them. Even have letters written by my g grandparents. Nellie worked in Salt Lake city Library up to about 1930, she use to write to members of the family over here which must have taken weeks for a reply, she was helping start the family centre. We have a book which has her in it. It doesn't worry me but they are recording our family just I am pleased about. Irene

Kath Thanks for your kind words. I wasn't sure whether to put my reply on or not as I thought some people might 'blacklist' me for being a mormon so it was reassuring to read your message. Some people have weird ideas about mormons so glad you shared your experience with us! I'm just a normal 31 year old married 'young' woman with 2 gorgeous baby boys (1 yr old and 3 yr old). Hope everyone else who has friends/family who are mormons feel we are kind and helpful too and not at all odd! ! Joanne

Hi Joanne Just wanted to say that although I'm not a church goer myself, I have found that all the mormon families I've come across have been lovely, family orientated people, and the mormon church as a whole do great work for those of us who are interested in family history, even if it is only a hobby for some of us and not quite so important as it is to your church members. Thanks a lot - the Family History Centres are brilliant. Kath

Hi I'm a mormon and want to reassure you that there is nothing sinister about the work we do! As you are probably aware we believe in life after death and that families can be together forever. When a couple are sealed it is the same almost the same as a marriage except that the 'til death do us part' is omitted and the marriage will continue in heaven. However, when we do the sealing on behalf of people who have already died (as in your ancestors case) the person who has died is able to accept or reject the work that has been done, so noone is forcing anyone into anything. So basically if you don't believe in life after death then you'll just think we are being 'silly', and if you do believe in life after death you needn't worry as everyone has their own agency and can choose to accept or reject the work done for them. We don't aim to offend anyone! Hope this clears up the confusion. We really are nice, honest! I'd be happy to answer any other questions anyone may have. Joanne

Thankyou Anne i thought i was doing somethig wrong....i'm still not used to this site.... Regards Christine.

Thankyou Anne i thought i was doing somethig wrong....i'm still not used to this site.... Regards Christine.

Christine - do you have enough information, or would you like me to ask my cousin who belongs to the Church of Latter Day Saints? Joy

Christine, I think your name only appears black to you. So you can't email yourself! It looks green to me. Anne

Hello Rosemary I think your right....just out of interest, have you any idea why my name is in black not green whenever i post a question(message)...Christine

Hello Rosemary I think your right....just out of interest, have you any idea why my name is in black not green whenever i post a question(message)...Christine

Hi Everyone, Its all a bit silly really isn't it. We have a modern day member of our family in USA who is a Mormon and LDS and she has sealed almost all of us 'enblock', It is only a concept in someone else's mind. I just find it faintly amusing and a little bit sad that they are so insecure that they find the need to seal us. She sends me religious tracts ,which I never read. The only one who gets annoyed is my son, aged 43, he says" how dare someone who I don't know and have never met decide what they think will be my future, albeit after death with out consulting me" But as I said ,it is only in their minds. It does no harm and keeps them happy. I do wish though, from a geanologists point of view that they woild be a bit more accurate in their research, there are some glaring errors in our tree alone.NEVER RELY ON LDS FOR YOUR INFO.

Many Thank's Lisa Hope you sleep (Have slept)well Christine.

Hi Christine: My dad photocopied quite a few "Mumford" records for me, even though there weren't any known connections. We found out several years later that "James Mumford" was my ancestor (one of the records my dad had copied) and that he had been sealed by someone in the State of Idaho, I believe (it's late here and don't want to take the time to look it up). The lady had submitted her paperwork in 1955ish, hence the 1950-1970 or so dates. Perhaps your ancestor was sealed between the year 1956-1970 and it was done by a distant relative. My Mumfords are from Canada and we didn't have any known American family; however, someone in the States sealed James. I now think that a branch of James' family settled in America. I am almost certain that if you go to an LDS Centre that you can obtain information about the person who submitted the original records. Unfortunately, you might have the same luck that I am having -- chances of my lady still being alive are not too good. Good luck, Lisa. PS It looks like my gggrandfather's cousin's or uncle's descendants did the sealing, so it doesn't necessarily have to be a close relative. I have to work tomorrow (today) so I have to go now. Please feel free to email me with any questions about the LDS.

Hello Lisa I think he was sealed...it gave me his name DOB.....DOD... The film No. Title Sealings for the dead,couples and children...1956-1970???WHY THESE DATES I WONDER.....My mother was his only child....so it was not her ....my Grandmother never known,Possibly his other sibblings?.....Christine

Hi Christine: Here's a very abbreviated explanation from the LDS site: "Sealing, Latter-day Saint A term referring to priesthood ordinances performed in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that make it possible for family relationships to continue after death." My dad used to volunteer for the LDS Church and he was told that in order for family members to stay together "forever", that they would have to be "sealed". I believe this is one reason why so very few Canadian records can be found on the LDS site -- because Canada refused to allow the LDS to copy church records, thus not giving them access to sealing people who are not of their faith (I was given that explanation a couple of years ago -- don't remember who told me). My Mumford ancestor is "sealed" even though we are not from the LDS Church; I'm assuming the person who "sealed him" was from the church and thought she was helping the family by sealing him with his cousin's families (this doesn't bother me in the least). Christine: Was your grandfather sealed, or did you just wonder what it was?

Geoff ...Found & read ...but not the answer

THANKYOU JOY