Three Things You Need To Know About Ancestry

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There has been lot of confusion around the partnership between Family Search and Ancestry and how it all can work to our benefit.  I don't know what we'd do without these FS bloggers.  They just take it to the next level by explaining all the changes and how to navigate through them so nicely.

November 18, 2014 By Debra Woods

If you haven’t taken the plunge and started an LDS account at Ancestry.com, here are three reasons you might consider doing so now. An LDS account gives you access to features not available to general Ancestry.com users.

1. Import 4 generations from Family Tree

You don’t have to start from scratch! Once you have used the partners’ link on FamilySearch to set up an LDS Ancestry.com account, you can create a new family tree and import your data from FamilySearch with the click of the mouse.

1. Log in to your Ancestry.com account, hover your mouse over the Family Trees menu item on the top horizontal menu.
2. From the drop-down menu, select Import tree from FamilySearch.
3. Name your tree.
4. Decide if you want others to be able to view your tree.
5. Click the Save button.
6. The program automatically imports four generations into your Ancestry.com Family Tree.

Now that your tree has been imported, it appears in the drop-down menu under Family Trees. You will notice there are two ways to view your tree. In the Family view, the layout of your tree is vertical, with you at the bottom and spreading out upward from there, generation to generation. In the Pedigree view, the layout is horizontal with your record on the far left, spreading out to the right, generation to generation.

Two little icons you will notice on person records are very helpful:

The Ancestry Hints leaf in the upper right corner of the individual record indicates that additional information at Ancestry.com is available that may match this person. In the profile for this person, there is a tab showing the details of the Ancestry Hints.

When you click on an individual in Family or Pedigree view, more of their details appear in a pop-up window. Look for the little tree icon in the bottom-left corner. This indicates the person is connected to FamilySearch.org. In profile view, this same tree icon appears with the status of temple ordinance work for this individual.

2. Exchange Details with Family Tree

From this point, you can extend further on any family line by adding an individual to your Ancestry.com tree and then connecting that person to FamilySearch.

You will be given a list of possible matches to choose from before making the connection. Using the FamilySearch ID is a more exact way to match records.

3. Submit Names for Temple Ordinances

Once a person is connected to FamilySearch, you can see his or her ordinance status and determine if additional research is needed. Click Request–View ordinance details.

You will be able to compare and update details between the two records.

Once you are ready to continue with ordinance request, you will be redirected to the person’s Ordinances tab on FamilySearch. From there you can reserve ordinances as usual!