Comparing In-person and Online Experiences at RootsTech

My In-Person Experience at Rootstech
 Several Years Ago in 2015

There is no comparison for Me
Physically I am no longer able to travel. I use a walker. My knees give out even using that walker. I've lost 80 lbs since the photo of 2015. The walker is smaller, I am smaller, my budget is smaller, and so the Online experience is FABULOUS!!!!!

FOR EXAMPLE:

While watching a Main Stage Performance, I cried, learned new things and began asking myself questions that I'd never thought of before today. Like, There is now a Foster Care app for finding family members (I used to befriend a fostered girl for several years, who eventually found her parents, married and now has children):

 or when world reknowned photographer Me Ra Koh sponsored by Sony told her story with the most exquisite photos that I've ever seen, said "Shadows define light" and "Our story is Worth Everything!" and the "world is desparate for authenticity, it rang true! She and her team ask close relatives about the person who is to be photographed, then they arrange the session and tell that person how the others described them. And the resulting photo revealed a unique voice or rather captured resilence, that continues to inspire. I have had photos taken that did that same thing for me and my grandson.

 

RootsTech2023 and away we go!

Finding Christ's Help in Solving the Puzzle

The serious theme for RootsTech 2023 is "Uniting" people, traditions, stories, memories, technology, innovation, communities and families.

Faith, identity, place and grace-- our stories may be our own, as we connect and belong, shared stories can unite us all. Sister Susan L. Gong said, ""the stories we preserve (in any format) and share through generations can have a lasting impact on our hears and minds."

"I hope," she continues "that we will each make an effort to discover our own family stories, record them and to share them with our children and grandchildren. I hope that we will all gain greater understanding and appreciation for the struggles, courage, faith and sacrifice of those who have gone before... and I pray that we will live lives of goodness to honor their memories and show thanks for the gift of life they have given to us."  

The FUN theme of this week of "Uniting" includes sharing other activities that engage children, youth, young adults and even other luke-warm Latter-day Saint members who view this work, and I quote: it's like "watching paint dry,"

Let's put Jesus Christ back into the center of our focus and allow Him to help us. 

Let's Come Unto Christ

Try writing in a journal, scrapbook, or create any other record of your personal or family history in your favorite format (formats could be paper, digital, audio, etc.)

● Digitize family photos or otherwise preserve heirlooms/memorabilia to share with future generations

● Tell family stories

● Make a family recipe or keep a family tradition

● Learn about the places or time periods of your ancestors’ lives

● Add sources or memories to FamilySearch’s Tree

● Interview a relative

● Study family history-related doctrine or church history (family proclamation, temples, Elijah, etc.)

● Attend the temple

● Babysit for someone who is attending the temple

● Work on your own worthiness in order to attend the temple

As President Gordon B. Hinckley used to say, just "DO IT," and I say do it with a S.M.I.L.E.

SHARING

MEMORIES

IS 

LAUDABLY/LAUGHINGLY

EXCITING

Memories are Like Wind Wolves

What is a Wind Wolf?

     In the Autumn of the year, the tall grasses dry to a soft golden brown in California's Wind Wolves Preserve. As the steady breezes ripple over the fields of grass, it creates the soft waves that the Native Americans call wind wolves. They say it is the spirits of those animals who once lived and ran over these very fields.

Our fondest memories are like these Wind Wolves, they run softly through our minds bringing back those treasured feelings we want to experiernce over and over again.

     I created this paper sculpture measuring about 3 feet wide, from 13 sided shapes designed by Hank Goebel in 1975 for the Downey Museum of Art's annual Introductions exhibit. In 2007 I received permission from his daughter to use these "Hank Shapes" for my own art. She worked at the Wind Wolves Preserve. It was here that I heard the story of the Wind Wolves and was inspired to create this sculpture in his memory. 

     This year's RootsTech2023 will focus on "Sharing Stories" using all of the digital technologies available to us including social media, such as FaceBook, Instagram and now Marco Polo. 

     The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has announced it's theme for the year:

Your Memories Can Live Forever on FamilySearch

The Three Day Assimilation Rule

The Three Day Assimilation Rule

 I wrote this post originally in 2013 and am updating it in 2017

  I leaned while homeschooling my daughter that it took about 3 days for some new concept or topic or principle to "sink in." This was a very important discovery. That a teacher could try to cram more about a certain concept, topic or principle into non-hearing ears and an uncomprehending mind the next day. But no learning would happen. This would cause complete frustration with herself, thinking what a terrible teacher she was, because the student simply didn't "get it."

     However, after three days, the student herself would begin to talk about that new concept or topic or principle!!! With understanding. It wasn't because the teacher had given the lesson over and over again (like I'd once thought was the case) but it just needed time to germinate quietly in the dark recesses of her mind.

     This past month has been such a period for me.

     RootsTech 2013 completely blew my mind. It turned my thinking upside down... and I needed time to assimilate what I learned. This is the reason that I have not posted here recently. I had gone up to the event with very specific goals and each day drove my scooter around and talked with the most amazing, inspiring people. I collected stories of how God's hand was seen in their lives as they did their "genealogical thing." I also attended fabulous Keynote speakers, along with presenters who were at the top in their fields within the genealogical community. Many of these were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They seemed to shine among their peers. They were looked up to and respected for being innovators. They had fabulous stories to tell and told them well.

Stories were the Theme of RootsTech 2013

     My goal of collecting stories was right in line with the overall theme of RootsTech. I had even had cards printed to pass out to people, encouraging them to contact me with their stories. On this card it said, Beverly E. Field, author of Elijah's Warriors. Of course I told people, there would be no book until I had collected the stories. The stories are coming, however, now I know there will be no book.

What!!!! NO BOOK?

     Yep, no book. My target audience was to be young teens. I wanted to show them how God's plan was unfolding and that they were His young warriors using the genealogical technology needed to move His work forward, They would be responsible for  finding records, indexing those record collections, identifying specific individuals and then providing the necessary ordinances for all of those who have ever lived anywhere upon the earth. This means ALL who ever lived in China, Russia, Australia… everywhere. That means the youth of those countries will be Elijah’s Warriors. The young native speakers of every language will have to learn how to read OLD manuscript writing in ancient mandarin, historic Spanish, and so on. They’ll have heavenly help, of this I can share my testimony about.     

NO BOOK BECAUSE OUR YOUTH DON’T READ BOOKS ANYMORE!!!! 

They watch 5 minute fast paced YouTube visual stories. Maybe…just maybe  they might read an E-book on their Kindle, woops the young don’t DO Kindle’s do they? In reality they want short quick burst of infusion before they go on to their next task; they want TWEETS, they want a continuing FB conversation one sentence at a time. NO BOOK.

Mini RootsTech Conferences All Over the World

     RootsTech FamilySearch speakers told of how there are to be Regional RootsTech Events in several countries this year. Then maybe 60 such RootsTech Conferences in 2014. If the youth in American don’t respond to this call the youth of the world, will. The cultures of China have left the burden of their family stories on only one or two children because of bans on large families.

UPDATE 2017

    I've lived through several of these Regional RootsTech Events in my own town and the organizers, just didn't get the difference between a regular Family History Conference and a RootsTech one. They'd invited local experts instead of using the pre-recorded 1 hour sessions by world renowned experts presented at RootsTech. This past February, our stake even scheduled "their" Discovery Day on the same day as RootsTech's Discovery Day in Salt Lake. What did I choose to watch at home on my computer? Salt Lake's experts of course. I must say here, though, that everyone who attended the local event absolutely loved it and learned a lot. But it was not a RootsTech Family Discovery Day.

MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF THE LEMONS

     

The Three Day Assimilation Rule

The Three Day Assimilation Rule

    I learned while homeschooling my daughter that it took about 3 days for some new concept or topic or principle to "sink in." This was a very important discovery. That a teacher could try to cram more about a certain concept, topic or principle into non-hearing ears and an uncomprehending mind the next day, but no learning would happen. This would cause complete frustration with herself, thinking what a terrible teacher she was, because the student simply didn't "get it."

     However, after three days, the student herself would begin to talk about that new concept or topic or principle!!! With understanding. It wasn't because the teacher had given the lesson over and over again (like I'd once thought was the case) but it just needed time to germinate quietly in the dark recesses of the mind.

     This past month has been such a period for me.

     RootsTech 2013 completely blew my mind. It turned my thinking upside down... and I needed time to assimilate what I learned. This is the reason that I have not posted here recently. I had gone up to the event with very specific goals and each day drove my scooter around and talked with the most amazing, inspiring people. I collected stories of how God's hand was seen in their lives as they did their "genealogical thing." I also attended fabulous Keynote speakers, along with presenters who were at the top in their fields within the genealogical community. Many of these were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They seemed to shine among their peers. They were looked up to and respected for being innovators. They had fabulous stories to tell and told them well.

Talking at lunch with people from FamilySearch and other attendees

Stories were the Theme of RootsTech 2013

     My goal of collecting stories was right in line with the overall theme of RootsTech. I had even had cards printed to pass out to people, encouraging them to contact me with their stories. On this card it said, Bev Field, author of Elijah's Warriors. Of course I told people, there would be no book until I had collected the stories. The stories are coming, however, now I know there will be no book.

Bev Field author of “Elijah’s Warriors”

   BEEinthedesert.blogspot.com 

bevfieldinaz@yahoo.com

What!!!! NO BOOK?

     Yep, no book. My target audience was to be young teens. I wanted to show them how God's plan was unfolding and that they were His young warriors using the genealogical technology needed to move His work forward, They would be responsible for  finding records, indexing those record collections, identifying specific individuals and then providing the necessary ordinances for all of those who have ever lived anywhere upon the earth. This means ALL who ever lived in China, Russia, Australia… everywhere. That means the youth of those countries will be Elijah’s Warriors. The young native speakers of every language will have to learn how to read OLD manuscript writing in ancient mandarin, historic Spanish, and so on. They’ll have heavenly help, of this I can share my testimony about. 

    

NO BOOK BECAUSE OUR YOUTH DON’T READ BOOKS ANYMORE!!!!

They watch 5 minute fast paced YouTube visual stories. Maybe…just maybe  they might read an E-book on their Kindle, woops the young don’t DO Kindle’s do they? In reality they want short quick bursts of infusion before they go on to their next task; they want TWEETS, they want a continuing FB conversation one sentence at a time. NO BOOK.

Others are pondering this same dilemma: How to Attract the Next Generation

Now What Do I Do?

Mini RootsTech Conferences All Over the World

     RootsTech FamilySearch speakers told of how there are to be Regional RootsTech Events in several countries this year. Then maybe 60 such RootsTech Conferences in 2014. If the youth in American don’t respond to this call, the youth of the world will. The cultures in China have left the burden of their family stories on only one or two children because of bans on large families. They will take up the cause for their families. Our missionaries will find those young people who will be China's warriors for Elijah. They may even be found in California or some other land where they have immigrated. They will recognize the Lord's work and will join in a great army of volunteers who are prepared and educated, with skills to do this work.

DO I ENCOURAGE THESE YOUTH THROUGH SHORT VIDEOS?

IS THIS MY CALLING?

DO I HAVE THOSE SKILLS?

SHOULD I ENLIST OTHERS TO HELP ME?

     James Tanner learned this same lesson at RootsTech and is at this moment preparing his own short videos on topics of personal interest.

Are Videos My Voice? 

     Is my contribution the one I was working on called FamilySearch: The Game? This concept of a board game was one that I designed while living on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands and in Guadalajara, Mexico and even had presented to Deseret Books pre-2000. With no encouragement, or sponsors, it still sits in my files. Of course, the video game had just taken hold and all board games became less popular. Family games such as Monopoly, etc. became individual games played on computers, Playstations, etc. Joshua Taylor,a RootsTech presenter, said it is a small step from board game to video....so who knows. All I know, is that one of my gifts is visual creativity and I would demand quality. I don't know where this gift and my passion for family history will coincide. I guess it's still a gestation question.

     

    

     

Happy 100th Birthday Arizona! Happy Valentine's Day!

Today was Amazing!!!

          Arizona celebrated it's 100th birthday today. President Taft signed AZ into statehood as the 48th state. The celebrations have been going on for several days and culminated today.
          Happy Valentine's Day to all those who love and are loved. My family shared sweet treats with grandchildren, our daughter and her husband. What a delight. My former visiting teacher brought over four cupcakes that she and her daughter baked and decorated, saying, "I've been thinking of you a lot and just wanted to let you know." The night before special ward friends brought us a dinner of delicious grilled salmon and chicken and rice soup. It is so special to be remembered.
          My husband and I knew a very special girl from our Palo Verde Ward experience in 2006 through 2008 when we moved to Picture Rocks. Her name is Taylor Lancaster. She entered the foster care system right after we left and was placed with a Ms. Snow in our Picture Rocks Ward. That placement let us get to see Taylor every Sunday and reconnect. We just loved this young woman. She then ended up in a different location just over a year ago and we grieved that we would never see her again. Serendipity occurred today. I went to the Snow's home for a visit with a friend. I hadn't really talked to Ms. Snow since Taylor left so when she told me that she'd finally met Taylor's new foster mom she told me she'd given her our phone number. When I returned home after the visit, I received a call from Taylor!!!!! How wonderful to get an update, get her email and to be able to keep in touch with her. She'd never left our hearts or prayers and now we can stay in touch. Love it.

        AND IT SNOWED!!!

          When my friend came to pick me up to go over to visit the Snows she told me it was snowing as she came over the pass from Tucson. If you look at the background of this blog you will be looking down the road that goes over the pass into Tucson. There were golden flowers carpeting the ground there over the weekend. I have lavender and yellow wildflowers growing in my backyard. Although I live in a little dip lower in elevation and we seemed to only have rain and hail, the mountains in Saguaro National Park West were delightfully dusted with snow. It was beautiful. But I suspect it got the wildflowers and probably killed the chance for a brilliant spring like the ones shown here. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

        Thoughts About Writing a Story

         When an amazing day happens, it should be remembered. Why not write a story. Whether it is just one simple paragraph or a one page "spotlight focus" on a family member, treasured family experience or like my special day today with it's Serendipity of Snow and old friends, family and sweet treats, we just have to take the time to DO IT! Then place it in our Book of Remembrance. We could write a longer story about ourselves (autobiography) or about an ancestor (biography) tying in to a common theme. Here are some simple guidelines to remember:
1.  Review Sources -- Choose what is to be left out
2.  Pick Out Themes -- Service, economics, achievement, holidays
3.  Assess Personalities and Character
4.  Tell the Story -- Narrative is best when selective
5.  Look for Causes -- Why things happened or Serendipitous occurrences
6.  Look for Motivation -- Reasons behind peoples behavior
7.  Bring Out Spiritual Lessons -- Bear your testimony
I hope you will take the time to record a special story that will delight you descendants one day in the future when they read it. I wish my grandmother had written about her life. I would so treasure it. So write short and in your own voice, using your own personality and it will be a TREASURE.