Till we meet again! Today, March 4, was the last day of RootsTech 2023. We will miss seeing you in person, but we hope that during the conference, you felt more united and also inspired by the keynotes, classes, and your interactions with others. There are so many of us working together in all capacities, bringing together communities and generations. We hope that you will continue to enjoy the RootsTech 2023 content online all year long and share it with your friends and family. Please come back to visit often! If you weren't able to join us for the conference today, here's a recap of RootsTech Day 3.
Many RootsTech attendees were thrilled to have a chance to see the beloved actor, Sean Astin, on the Main Stage—and even in person—during today's General Session and the meet and greet afterwards. Sean spoke powerfully about the power of being grounded in our own identity and shared his recent and past experiences with coming to know his family history. He shared greetings from his daughter, a genealogy enthusiast, and got in-character to share some family-oriented insights from beloved characters like Sam Gamgee. As Sean said, "...Being at the end of the great quest, the most important thing is your family and tilling your own soil."
After Sean's address, we were surprised with two special guests: Adassa, the voice behind the Disney character, Dolores (from Encanto) and Chad Truman, from the Nashville Tribute Band and Truman Brothers group. Adassa was treated with a special genealogy reveal and shared with us her gratitude and delight in coming to know her ancestors. Then together, Adassa and Chad performed a beautiful musical number hailing to this year's RootsTech theme.
Later in the day, Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Sister Susan Lindsey Gong, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke on the Main Stage. They shared their experience of embarking on a personal journey to their homelands of Ireland and Hawaii. While in their families' homelands, Elder and Sister Gong saw where their ancestors were buried and honored their lives. Sister Gong even met a cousin in Ireland from a branch of her family that stayed behind when the rest left due to the Great Hunger.
Speaking of uniting families of the past, present, and future, Elder and Sister Gong also invited us to share our family stories with our children, so that they can grow a love for family history.
This last day of RootsTech 2023 also featured more of our sponsor highlights, such as Storied, as well as classes designed for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Today's Trending Videos
Don't want to feel like you're missing out on the best content at RootsTech? Here are the top trending videos of the conference so far.
Family Discovery Day
Day 3 of RootsTech featured a variety of in-person activities in the Expo Hall to celebrate and encourage learning about your family. Participants of all ages took part in Family History Twister, filling out a RootsTech Leaf for an ancestor to attach to a giant family tree, and learning how easy it is to upload a memory to FamilySearch from your mobile device. Attendees even had the opportunity to try out our Selfie Station and add another memory to FamilySearch or social media.
Our Top Picks
If you're not sure what sessions to watch, here is a list of some of our favorites you won't want to miss.
What Is RootsTech?
RootsTech is a place to learn, be inspired, and make connections through family history. This conference is hosted by FamilySearch and sponsored by other leading genealogy organizations. We have hundreds of expert classes, tips and tricks videos, and inspiring stories that can help you experience family history like never before. We hope to see you at RootsTech 2024 for another unifying experience!
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