RelativeFinder.org is a fun family history experience for families, adults, and youth. The software program helps users find how they are related to famous people in the United States and the LDS Church and to European royalty. That’s not all! The program also allows you to set up groups to see how members of the group are inter-related. You can even set yourself up with your own deceased ancestor group. Within your own group you can see how you are related to each cousin and how you may be related through more than one ancestor. You will need an Internet connection and a FamilySearch Account for the website to work with FamilySearch Family Tree.
There is one caveat to keep in mind. All relationships depend on accurate information in FamilySearch Family Tree. The computer connects what it sees in FamilySearch Family Tree—good or bad. Sometimes finding errors is not such a bad thing. It may motivate users to make corrections.
The primary use of Relative Finder is to see how the user is related to famous historical figures. Family history centers can use this to hold a special historical-themed event to help engage people. For example, you could hold an event connected with a famous date in history, such as July 4, and invite people to come see if they are related to signers of the American Declaration of Independence.
Ward Accounts
Several family history center directors have found success setting up ward accounts. To do this, choose the heading Groups. To form and name your ward group, click Create. As a side note, it is helpful to use your town and state along with your ward name, since some wards have very similar names.
Use a simple password that will be easy to remember. Anyone in your ward with a FamilySearch Account can join your ward group by going to https://www.relativefinder.org, logging in, choosing a group, and then joining. In the search box, enter the name of your ward, and join using the shared password. Or invitations can be sent by sharing the invite URL displayed on the Manage groups screen. Remember to send the password with the invitation.
Once they are in the program, ward members can see how they are related to one another. Directors are finding that this activity encourages members to set up accounts and to get excited to learn about their ancestors and how they are related to friends and neighbors. Send out an invitation to ward members through your ward Sunday bulletin or your ward online newsletter. Include the group name and password, or include the URL invitation and password. Members needing extra help to get started can come into the center for assistance.
Relative Relationships
Have you ever wondered how you are related to a distant descendant for whom you are doing temple work? Relative Finder has a solution. Set up a group of your own. To do this, follow the steps below.
- Go to the heading labelded Groups.
- Click Create, and form a group named something like “Sally Jones’s Cousins,” using your own name.
- Once you've created your group, go to the Groups link.
- Click Manage.
- Choose the cousin group you recently created.
- Find the heading labeled “Add a Deceased Person.”
- Add the descendant’s Personal Identification number (PID) from Family Tree. This will add the person to your group.
- Click View All Relations.
- From the headings, click Relation to Friend.
- If you want to see how the descendant is related to famous Americans, famous members of the Church, or European royalty, click View Ancestors.
This same cousin group could be shared with family members working on common lines. After family members join the group, similar to joining a ward group, they can add deceased cousins for whom they are completing temple work or research. Shared temple work information could be added to the group so that everyone could see how that particular cousin is related to the group creator or to a common ancestor.
Friend Connect
Another option is for two friends to connect immediately with a temporary session using the Connect tab. Help screens are also available for each option.
Relative Finder is an engaging activity for all ages to enjoy. Spend some time this month setting up a group and experimenting with how you can share your love for your ancestors with someone in your ward or family. This program can inspire a new beginner to find an ancestor, taking that ancestor’s name to the temple, and then teaching someone else to do the same.
