Medford Oregon Stake
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Discover, Gather, Connect
The FamilySearch Center is located in the southeast corner of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 2900 Juanipero Road in Medford. During open hours, knock on the outside door and it shall be opened unto you.
Tuesdays in the FamilySearch Center
Week 1--
10-1: Carolyn Depp* and Larry Doll, Dutch and German Research
7-8:30 pm: Tiffany Dunn, Getting Started with FamilySearch
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Week 2--
10-1: Carolyn Depp*, Dutch Research
7-8:30 pm: Cecily Spencer, FamilySearch and Digitizing Media Files
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Week 3--
10-1: Carolyn Depp* and Larry Doll, Dutch and German Research
7-8:30 pm: Jill Ditty and Kathy Delli Gatti, Ancestry.com, French and Swedish Research
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Week 4--
10-1: BJ Woodcock, Indexing; Carolyn Depp*, Dutch Research
7-8:30 pm: Ward Leader Training with stake consultants
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Week 5--
10-1: Carolyn Depp*, Dutch Research
7-8:30 pm: Cecily Spencer, FamilySearch and Digitizing Media Files
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*Carolyn's areas of expertise are extensive and include (but are not limited to) research in the Netherlands; the Dutch language; research in Belgium; research in New England and the Illinark (areas of French settlement including parts of Arkansas, Illinois, and Louisiana); and collecting and writing stories and personal histories.
Quick Links:
Ideas for Families and Groups
Hours of Operation
Promised Blessings
Some Reassurance
Training Videos
Sign up to Volunteer!
Resources at the FSC include:
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Personalized help with your family history
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10 computer stations, 4 with double monitors
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Printer and scanner connected to FamilySearch
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Wireless printer available for phones and laptops
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ScanSnap for instant scanning of up to 40 photos or double-sided documents
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ClearClick converter to digitize videos and home movies
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Device for converting cassette tapes to digital format​​
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Kits for conducting various group FH activities
Family History for Individuals, Families, and Groups
Youth Nights, Activity Days, and Other Group Gatherings
To reserve the FamilySearch Center for your youth group or other group meeting, call Cecily at 541-531-7893.
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Skill Builders: Step Up Your Family History Game!​
To schedule a class or to request training for yourself or a small group, send an email to or_medford@familyhistorymail.org and we will gladly accommodate your learning goals! We offer classes for on a variety of subjects, including:
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Basic FamilySearch skills
Introduction to Ancestry
Advanced Ancestry Skills
Using Ordinances Ready to Prepare Names for the Temple
Recording Memories on FamilySearch
Basic Research Skills
Breaking Through Brick Walls
Using the Research Wiki
Using the 1950 Census
Classes for Ward Groups: First the Hearts, then the Charts!
Schedule a class to strengthen relationships and deepen connections with family, both living and dead. Choose from the topics below or identify other areas in which you'd like more instruction or inspiration. If desired, we can help plan and conduct an event for your ward or group that will help you discover the joy of gathering Israel!
To schedule an event, call 541-531-7893.
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Day of the Dead Celebration
Finding Strength in Our Ancestors
Building Zion 5 Minutes at a Time
Fun Family Activities on FamilySearch
Gathering for Grandparents
Fun in the 50s: Celebrating the 1950 Census
Create a Meaningful Family History Summer Plan
Celebrating our Noble Mothers/Fathers
Food, friends, and Fun: You Are What you Eat!
Writing Stories, Preserving Memories
Making Temple Attendance More Meaningful
Family History Escape Room​​​
Friday Night Date Nights​
What fun we have had exploring Germany, France, Scandinavia, England, and Ireland! More date nights may be coming. Watch this space for information about upcoming events. We hope you'll join us--or plan your own date night!--to discover regional research tips, history, culture, language, games, traditional refreshments, and lots of fun!
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Family History Is For Everyone!
With a little planning, family history activities can become a fun and natural part of your family's life.
For more ideas, check out the FamilySearch Discover Center here or The Family History Guide here.
Hours of Operation​
Come visit us during open hours on Tuesdays 10-1 and Tuesday evenings 7-8:30.
Youth nights and other gatherings by appointment.
Please call Cecily to schedule an event at 541-531-7893.
Promised Blessings
As we participate in family history and temple work today, we also lay claim to healing blessings promised by prophets and apostles. These blessings are also breathtakingly amazing because of their scope, specificity, and consequence in mortality. This long list includes these blessings:
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Increased understanding of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice;
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Increased influence of the Holy Ghost to feel strength and direction for our own lives;
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Increased faith, so that conversion to the Savior becomes deep and abiding;
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Increased ability and motivation to learn and repent because of an understanding of who we are, where we come from, and a clearer vision of where we are going;
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Increased refining, sanctifying, and moderating influences in our hearts;
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Increased joy through an increased ability to feel the love of the Lord;
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Increased family blessings, no matter our current, past, or future family situation or how imperfect our family tree may be;
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Increased love and appreciation for ancestors and living relatives, so we no longer feel alone;
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Increased power to discern that which needs healing and thus, with the Lord’s help, serve others;
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Increased protection from temptations and the intensifying influence of the adversary; and
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Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole.
“Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing”
Elder Dale G. Renlund
You will find not only protection from the temptation and ills of the world, but you will also find personal power—power to change, power to repent, power to learn, power to be sanctified, and power to turn the hearts of your family members to each other and heal that which needs healing.
“Family History and Temple Blessings"
Elder Dale G. Renlund
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I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead. And I urge you to help other people identify their family histories. As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives.
“The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn"
Elder David A. Bednar
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No work is more of a protection to this Church than temple work and the family history research that supports it. No work is more spiritually refining. No work we do gives us more power. No work requires a higher standard of righteousness. Our labors in the temple cover us with a shield and a protection, both individually and as a people.
“The Holy Temple"
Elder Boyd K. Packer
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As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I promise that if you look beyond the bonds of time and mortality and help those who cannot help themselves, you will be blessed with more closeness and joy in your family and with the divine protection afforded those who are faithful in His service. [Each of you] will find joy and be blessed in every other aspect of your life as you fulfill the obligation that has been sent from heaven to participate in the sacred work for the dead.
“The Joy of Family History Work"
Elder Quentin L. Cook
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While temple and family history work has the power to bless those beyond the veil, it has an equal power to bless the living. It has a refining influence on those who are engaged in it.
"Generations Linked in Love"
President Russell M. Nelson
Some Reassurance
The greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today:​ THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL
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“You were sent to earth at this precise time… to help gather Israel. There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth.”
"Hope of Israel," 2018
President Russell M. Nelson
President Nelson related a story about his own great grandfather, A.C. Nelson, who had passed away but who came back to visit President Nelson’s grandfather one night in a dream. Speaking of family history documents, A.C. said, “The paper you gave me, my son, is dated wrong. But it makes no particular difference. Correct records are kept here.” Sister Nelson responded, “I can’t tell you how many times that statement from your great grandfather has helped me with my family history research. With your great grandfather’s statement ringing in my ears that correct records are kept on the other side, I do the very best I can and then move on.”
Rootstech 2017
President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy Watson Nelson
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Parents and leaders, please help your children and youth to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. But do not overly program this endeavor or provide too much detailed information or training. Invite young people to explore, to experiment, and to learn for themselves.
"The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn"
Elder David A. Bednar
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Family history is more than genealogy, rules, names, dates, and places. It is more than a focus on the past. Family history also includes the present as we create our own history. It includes the future as we shape future history through our descendants. A young mother, for example, sharing her family stories and pictures with her children is doing family history work. Like partaking of the sacrament, attending meetings, reading the scriptures, and saying personal prayers, doing family history and temple work should be a regular part of our personal worship. The response of our youth and others to prophetic invitations has been inspiring and proves this work can and should be done by all members at any age. Everyone--everyone--can do this!
“The Book"
Elder Allan F. Packer
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If you hesitate in this adventure because you doubt your ability, remember that discipleship is not about doing things perfectly; it’s about doing things intentionally. It is your choices that show what you truly are, far more than your abilities. Even when you fail, you can choose not to give up, but rather discover your courage, press forward, and rise up. That is the great test of the journey. God knows that you are not perfect, that you will fail at times. God loves you no less when you struggle than when you triumph. Like a loving parent, He merely wants you to keep intentionally trying. Discipleship is like learning to play the piano. Perhaps all you can do at first is play a barely recognizable rendition of “Chopsticks.” But if you continue practicing, the simple tunes will one day give way to wondrous sonatas, rhapsodies, and concertos. Now, that day may not come during this life, but it will come. All God asks is that you consciously keep striving.
“Your Great Adventure"
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
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Training Materials and Resources
Goal 1: Create a FamilySearch Account and Navigate the Family Tree Screen
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Goal 2: Add a Story, Memory, Photo, or Document to Your Family Tree
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Goal 3: Print a Family Name Card to Take to the Temple
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Goal 4: Learn How to Index
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Goal 5: Add Ancestors to Your Family Tree, Beginning With Four Generations
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