On Friday, March 1, thousands of young adults gathered at the Salt Palace Convention Center in the heart of Salt Lake City for the RootsTech Young Adult After-Party hosted by FamilySearch.
In its second year, the event not only aimed to inspire a love for genealogy but also to bring young adults together in a wholesome atmosphere. Attendees experienced a night filled with meaningful connections, live music and dancing, engaging games and activities, food vendors, and a celebration of Puerto Rican heritage through a unique family tree service project.
The evening kicked off with a message featuring Elder Kevin S. Hamilton and Sister Kristin M. Yee from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leadership, who set the tone for the night with a message of hope, family ancestry, and service. Attendee Micah Harman, a family history consultant in his local congregation, described the experience as “phenomenal.”
Words from Elder Hamilton and Sister Yee resonated deeply with the young adults, emphasizing the significance of learning about our past and serving our ancestors. Sister Yee conveyed, "Your efforts may seem small . . . but by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." She continued, “By collectively doing these small things together tonight, the Lord can bring about great things.”
Elder Jorge M. Alvarado and his wife, Sister Cari Lu Alvarado, also shared a message on stage about their Puerto Rican heritage and building confidence through exploring new activities. They also introduced the service project of the evening and a goal to add more than 1,000 names to the Puerto Rico family tree. Afterwards, a special video message from Elder Ulisses Soares played on the screen.
For those who attended, the event left a lasting impression. Young adult attendees reflected on participating in the Puerto Rican family tree service project with other young adults, feeling impacted by the opportunity to work together to help many people.
Reed McRae shared his initial hesitation, “I’m not the best at family history. That’s the one thing that always takes a back seat.” As a nod to his own mother’s Puerto Rican roots, Reed emphasized, “She’ll be happy to hear we helped out.”
Young adult David Arce touched on the memorable speed-dating activity as an opportunity to see individuals “not just as a date, but [as] daughters of God.” Attendees described the activity as a chance to step out of their comfort zones. “Meeting people with our same morals, goals, and desires” was the highlight of the speed-dating event, David shared. “[It helps] to know that we’re not alone.”
Attendees also took to the main stage floor to dance with friends and party to live music, including hit band 19 Miles Per Hour. That wasn't the only live music at the RootsTech After-Party, though. As participants used FamilySearch in real time to expand Puerto Rican family records, a live Puerto Rican band played traditional music like cumbia, salsa, and merengue. There was even a bachata dance lesson, and young adults paired off to learn the steps and celebrate.
Micah Harman, who attended RootsTech in its entirety, urged other young adults to participate in the event. “Come out. Experience it. Meet people in a casual setting. Experience the spirit that comes with learning how we can better serve our ancestors,” he encouraged.
As Micah expressed, the RootsTech After-Party is not just any gathering; it is an opportunity to celebrate our past, connect with our roots, and build meaningful relationships. Come next year, and experience what the event has to offer!
What Is RootsTech?
RootsTech is a place to learn, be inspired, and make connections through family history. 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. Visit our on-demand learning library, or make plans to join us for our next virtual or in-person conference event.
