None Strategy

Perhaps you are the first convert to the church in your family, or maybe no one in your family has ever worked to find ancestors to take to the temple. It may seem a little daunting or discouraging even to try and get started. The truth is, you are closer to success than you think. Using the "None" strategy, you can quickly organize what you do know about your family story. As you work to add this information to FamilySearch, you will very quickly begin to find ancestors to take to the temple.

Just Start With What You Know

Get a Cardboard Box

The framework of every family story can be found in your memory and in the basic documents lying around your home

President Boyd K. Packer once said:

"Get a cardboard box. Any kind of a box will do. Put it someplace where it is in the way, perhaps on the couch or on the counter in the kitchen—anywhere where it cannot go unnoticed. Then, over a period of a few weeks, collect and put into the box every record of your [family story]."

Talk to Your Relatives

After you have gathered all of the documents around your home, there may still be some gaps in your family story.

You can fill those gaps most of the time by simply asking your extended family what they know. The amount of information that your family has may surprise you.

Remember, the Spirit is preparing the way for this work to be completed. Many people in and out of the church have felt compelled to trace their family stories.

Use the My Family Booklet

Begin using the information you have collected to fill out the My Family Booklet.

Use the online My Family tool to connect the work that you've done to the global family tree. You may connect immediately, or you may have to use the "Some" Strategy to go further back in your tree.

The "None" Strategy focuses on quickly getting your family into the global family tree in order to discover temple ordinance opportunities. Watch the video below for a brief overview.

"None" Strategy Steps

Fill out the My Family booklet.
Go to FamilySearch.org and sign in.
Click on Family Tree > Tree in the menu.
Begin adding information about yourself, and your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents.
Click on Temple > Ordinances Ready.
Then reserve available ordinances for your family members.
If you have problems or are unsure about what to do, go to FamilySearch.org/help.