Learn at the Center. Serve in your ward.
Follow a focused path to find family names, build family-history skills, prepare to serve as a consultant, or help your ward participate in gathering Israel.
The complete purpose
The tools on this page help you find possible family names. The larger purpose is to prepare those names carefully, complete temple ordinances, and help someone else do the same.
Choose among a four-generation FamilySearch scan, a guided 20-minute challenge, or a twelve-generation Virtual Pedigree search.
Compare the three methods 02PrepareConfirm the person and family relationships, review available records, and follow the messages and requirements shown in FamilySearch.
Continue in FamilySearch 03CompleteReserve or share eligible ordinances as appropriate, then help see that the temple work is completed—not merely discovered.
Continue in FamilySearch 04ServePractice the process yourself, then guide patrons and ward members so they can continue their own family-history work with confidence.
Learn, practice, and teachThe tools are not the finish line. They are different ways to begin a journey that leads toward completed temple ordinances and greater confidence serving others.
Focused name-finding tools
Begin every member experience with Rescue Me and its simple four-generation search. Move to Virtual Pedigree when the member wants to find thousands of names, is comfortable with a more advanced process, or the closer family tree produces few opportunities.
Start here · simple and guided
Rescue Me
Most members can understand the process and begin finding and sharing names within minutes. A consultant can work beside a member—or guide a computer-challenged member after the member signs in to their own FamilySearch account.
How many ancestors can you rescue in 20 minutes?
Used by Rescue Me · four generations
Family Ordinance Opportunities
The Blue Fan Chart is the FamilySearch tool used during Rescue Me. It scans four descendancy generations and keeps the first member experience focused and approachable.
Use when needed · twelve generations
Virtual Pedigree Training
Use VP for a computer-confident member who wants to find thousands of names, or when Rescue Me and the closer generations produce few names. Its broader descendancy scan reaches across twelve generations.
If your tree stops early
The Blue Fan Chart can only show opportunities along family lines connected to you in FamilySearch. If those generations are incomplete, building that connection is your best first step.
Begin with yourself, your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Confirm the people and relationships already in your tree.
Use family information and available records to add missing ancestors carefully, checking for existing people and possible duplicates.
Once the family lines are connected, open the chart again. More connected generations give the tool more opportunities to review.
Additional resources
Use these supporting tools when they fit your next step.
Learn · Practice · Serve
The Center’s learn–practice–teach model helps patrons and consultants gain confidence, use the skill with their own family, and guide someone else without taking over.
Learn a clear method and recognize where it fits in the complete temple-service journey.
Complete the steps yourself so you understand the decisions, questions, and possible obstacles.
Help another person learn the process and leave prepared to continue independently.
Training library
Use approved FamilySearch learning materials, expert presentations, and Center resources to strengthen your own family-history skills—or the way you help someone else learn.
Open the complete learning library