January will be a Red Letter month at the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Jamestown. The church will be receiving an eagerly-awaited computer that will link its genealogy library to that of the Mormon Church in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"The library in Salt Lake is considered the best in the world. An overwhelming amount of information will be available to local people," beams Karen Snyder, member of the committee for the open house to be held at the church on Sunday.
The open house, to begin at 7 p.m. at the church building at 851 Forest Ave., will be one of a great many being held at the same time in Mormon churches throughout North America. Mormon leaders planned the event to promote fellowship and to give the public an opportunity to become better acquainted with church members and programs. Churches throughout the nation will receive a satellite broadcast from Salt Lake City at 8 p.m.
People attending the local open house will be able to see the growing genealogy library and displays on church programs.
"Of all the genealogy libraries I have visited, this the best I've seen. For a city this size, it is outstanding," says Mrs. Snyder
The local church's family history department has been developing computer tools to assist with genealogical research for more than a decade. Family Search, the church's automated system of family history information, has programs that can be used on personal computers and files taken from the church's temple and family history computer files.
Wilbur Ling, library director, notes that information is distributed on compact discs, each of which can store about 320,000 pages of text.
Among helpful features of the system is the fact that computer automatically provides cross-references from subjects typed into it to subjects used in the catalog. For example, "wills" are listed in the category "probate records." The catalog provides names of counties and states if the user only knows the name of a town.
Ling notes that the Key Word search helps users reduce the number of records they need to consult. It is possible to search quickly for specific words, phrases or dates in lengthy records. When the Surname search for a published family history is used, the catalog supplies phonetic equivalents of that name. Printouts can be made of information on computer screens.
The Locality search helps users find records form places where their ancestors lived.
It is expected that the new computer will be operational early in 1991.
"The collection of microfilmed records of the Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints represents the equivalent of more than four million printed volumes of 300 pages each," says Ling.
More than three-fourths of a million rolls of microfilm have been accumulated by the church and several thousand new rolls are processed monthly.
The Mormons' interest in genealogy is a result of their concern for the family. Mormon families gather genealogical data about their ancestors so that they can take part in "sealing" ordinances which they consider essential to unite families in an eternal family chain. Before "sealing" ordinances can be performed, members of families must make certain of names, dates and places.
In order to make records available to families who needed to identify their ancestors, the Latter-Day Saints launched a microfilming program in 1938. Today the church's genealogical society has the most comprehensive genealogical program ever created, notes Ling.
The Mormons' genealogical storage complex is in the Granite Mountain Records Vault, high in the Rocky Mountains.
Positive prints of each roll of the collection are housed in the Genealogical Society Library in Salt Lake City. Several hundred microfilm reading machines are available for the public. Thousands of printed family genealogies around the world are found on the library's shelves, plus histories of towns, counties, states and countries. More than 128,000 genealogical volumes in the open stacks are available to the public. Four hundred new volumes are added each month.
Through an inter-library loan system, people living in the areas of the Genealogical Society's branch libraries, such as the one in Jamestown, have access to the main library's microfilm collection.
Mrs. Snyder notes that special microfiche tapes can be ordered for use at the library. Examples of these are census reports and nautical logs that list the arrivals of ships.
"There is a lot of interest in genealogy in the Jamestown area. Many people come who are working on personal histories. Forms for genealogical research are available at a nominal charge," says Mrs. Snyder.
"There are nearly 300 feet of protective granite above the vault's laboratory and office area, and 700 feet of granite above the six vault storage rooms," says Ling. Three tunnels lead to the storage area. The door in the center tunnel weighs more than 14 tons.
Microfilm is processed by the newest techniques in the vault's laboratory. Film sent in by field photographers is inspected to ensure quality.
Five volunteer librarians, including Catherine Storey, who was trained at the genealogical library in Salt Lake City, assist people who wish to use the library for both beginning investigations and advanced research. In order to accommodate the growing number of visitors, the genealogy department has expanded its hours. The library is open free of charge from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Hours by appointment may be arranged by individuals and groups.
Mrs. Snyder encourages everyone interested in genealogy to use the library for research. "The more people who come, the more hours we will be open and the more equipment we will get," she says.
Visitors at the open house will learn not only about the growth of the genealogy library but also about the growth of the Mormon Church.
When the church was organized in New York State April 6, 1830, it had only six members. Today there are more than seven million members.
Much attention is given to family and individual development.
"The church emphasizes education and operates numerous schools, colleges, seminaries and institutes of religion. It maintains a vital welfare system, a unique missionary program, and worldwide organizations for men, women, youth and children." says Mrs. Snyder.
She notes that the church's impressive growth has come about largely because of its energetic missionary program, which covers the United States and many other countries in the free world.
"Every year thousands of young men and women and retired couples voluntarily accept calls to become missionaries for up to two years," says Mrs. Snyder. Missionaries usually serve at their own expense, but they often receive financial assistance from family or friends. After completing their responsibilities as missionaries, they return to college or vocational pursuits.
Mrs.. Snyder notes that doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and medical technicians also serve as missionaries in developing countries. The Mormon Church's expanding health service program emphasizes preventative health care.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does not have professional clergy. Lay members chosen as regional and local officers serve on a volunteer basis.
headquarters for the church are in Salt Lake City. General authorities of the church are led by the church president, who has two counselors. These three leaders compose the "first presidency." Next in line of authority is the Quorum of the Twelve apostles.
At the local level, the church is governed by a bishop and two counselors. In the Jamestown ward, Evan C. Miner is presiding bishop. John Ling and Bruce Smith are his counselors.
All church members may vote on all the officers nominated and the administrative proposals presented by local or general presiding authorities.
"The basic unit of the church is the family. The church teaches that marriage is sacred," says Mrs. Snyder. Most church programs are family oriented.
"The church has encouraged each family to hold weekly family home evenings to study principles of good living and to counsel together about family matters.: says Mrs. Snyder.
For more information about the local church and programs, call Wilbur Ling at 358-5622.