Experts Teach Tricks Of The Trade At Family History Fair

By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress

How can you use online tools to research ancestors? What can your DNA tell you about your identity and where you came from? How can you use historical events to energize your family history?

All of these questions, and many more, were answered at the Family History Fair hosted by the Logandale Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, March 9.

More than 150 eager genealogy aficionados gathered at the Logandale Stake Center for more than three hours of workshops, demonstrations, instruction and discussion. The fair brought together nearly a dozen experts from across the west to present 18 different workshops on a variety of geneaology and family history topics.

“This is a wonderful group of presenters that are assembled here today,” said Logandale Stake Family History Consultant Marvin Leavitt who helped coordinate the event with his wife Patricia. “Each one of them has an amazing expertise in the field that they are teaching. It is a great opportunity for people to come and learn.”

The event began with a brief address from keynote speaker Loretta Evans, a well known speaker and writer in the area of family history research. Evans spoke of the importance of a general remembrance of family and background to a healthy society. She explained that an Emery University study had asked a group of children a series of questions about the lives of their parents and grandparents. They then performed a series of psychological tests on the children.

“The tests found that the children who knew the most about their families and background were the most psychologically stable and more resilient in facing challenges,” Evans said.

Evans added that she has personally been strengthened by learning stories of challenges faced by her own ancestors.
“It gives me courage that if they could do hard things then I can too,” she said.

“I hope that each of you will share your stories with your children and descendants,” Evans added. “Then they might know that they can face challenges as well.”

After the opening meeting, fair-goers were free to choose classes that they would attend over the next three hours. The time was divided into three sessions with eight different workshops to choose from in each session.

At the end of the sessions, a luncheon was provided to all that were in attendance.
Leavitt was pleased with how well this year’s fair went.
“I have been very happy with the presenters that have come this year,” he said. “They have not only been very knowledgeable about their topics, but I think their presentations have been interesting and entertaining. It has been very enjoyable.”
Leavitt said that this is the sixth year that this Family History Fair has taken place. It’s purpose has always been to encourage local residents to take an interest in researching their family history, he explained. And apparently it has worked.

“It is interesting, the Stake Family History Center is open and running all year long, but after this event each year we always see a spike in people coming in to the center,” Leavitt said. “That is encouraging to us.”

The Logandale Stake Family History Center, located in the Church Building on St. Joseph Street across from Moapa Valley High School, is open weekly on Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. All local residents are welcome to come during those hours and receive assistance with family history work.

In addition, the Las Vegas FamilySearch Library is open Mondays and Fridays 9am to 5 pm; Tuesdays thru Thursdays from 9am to 9pm and Saturdays from 9am to 3 pm. This facility is located at 509 S. 9th Street on the corner of 9th and Clark in Las Vegas. All are welcome.