Author: ldsnews

Users can explore family ties, memories, and traditions with this free online experience. SALT LAKE CITY, UT (10 June 2026)— FamilySearch is launching a new free online experience that gives visitors the chance to explore possible family connections to 20 famous historical soccer players from around the world. It is available exclusively online now through 19 July at FamilySearch.org. Discover Famous Soccer Relative Connections Designed with a global audience in mind, the experience is available in 11 languages and is tailored for users in Latin American and European languages, making it easier to access a custom Family Tree, view world soccer…

FamilySearch expanded its free online archives with over 102 million new records from 22 countries, significantly broadening access for family history researchers worldwide. This update includes nearly 88 million vital, church, and probate records from the United Kingdom, nearly 12 million civil and church records from Mexico, and more than a million civil and church records from both Belgium and the Philippines. Other countries with significant record additions include the following: To ensure the accuracy of updates, FamilySearch takes time to compile new record update reports. Dates of when a collection was published may not coincide with the date of…

FamilySearch honors family discovery for Juneteenth with online class SALT LAKE CITY, UT (1 June 2026)— FamilySearch International invites audiences to celebrate Juneteenth with a live webinar that honors freedom, family, and discovery. Marking the 10-year anniversary of the Freedmen’s Bureau Project, this free webinar shares how an online community effort continues to lead to remarkable family history discoveries for those whose ancestors were enslaved. The webinar—“Found Together: The Kingstree 435 Story”—will showcase how a descendant of enslaved ancestors recently discovered an obscure transportation record from the Freedmen’s Bureau Project.The document identified 435 freed slaves who moved from South Carolina to Texas following…

FamilySearch has expanded its free online archives, with more than 256 million new records from 27 countries. Additions include 48 million vital records from England and Wales, 37 million residence records from the United Kingdom, 9 million civil registrations and church records from the Philippines, 4 million civil and church records from Italy, and 7 million vital, military, immigration, and census records from the United States. Other countries with significant record additions include: To ensure the accuracy of updates, FamilySearch takes time to compile new record update reports. Dates of when a collection was published may not coincide with the date…

Free familySearch Webinars: May 2026 SALT LAKE CITY, UT (4 May 2026)—This month, FamilySearch International offers free webinars for those with Irish ancestry, as well as fun artificial intelligence (AI) and heritage travel hacks to enrich your family discoveries. The webinars are offered live and on demand. Learn more at RootsTech.org. If your roots trace back to Ireland, you can celebrate and learn more about your Irish ancestry from three FamilySearch Library Irish research specialists. Everyone can learn a few new hacks for unleashing the power of AI in your family discoveries. Led by experienced genealogical experts, FamilySearch webinars are designed to support all interests and skill…

It’s easy to imagine that when God wants to communicate something, He simply reaches out to Church leaders to let them know. But the history of the Restoration demonstrates that revelation is a process of seeking to know God’s will and is most often received after pondering and pleading. This is true for prophets and for each of us. President Russell M. Nelson urged us all to “stretch beyond [our] current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation.” Here are a few principles that will help you as you study the unfolding of revelation, both in the Church and in your…

The early Saints had a close-up view of Joseph Smith and the Restoration. They witnessed the miracles—translations, healings, and visions. They also saw the challenges, mistakes, and failures. They learned to follow the prophet with “patience and faith.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “Be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with.” Elder Holland called upon us to be “patient and kind and…

Faith in Jesus Christ is vital to our pursuit of answers to life’s most challenging questions. We often think of faith as a strong belief. But faith is more than belief. It involves trust, confidence, and loyalty. When we have challenging questions or concerns, we can always turn to Jesus Christ. Our faith will grow as we listen to His words, follow His teachings, and strive to love others the way that He loved. President Russell M. Nelson taught that “peace can come to your soul as you build faith in the Prince of Peace.” Here are some things to remember: Key…

Long before Joseph Smith knelt to pray in the Sacred Grove, he had laid the foundation for his spiritual growth. He spent many months attending worship services, reading the Bible, and participating in family prayers. He talked to his family members, including some who were skeptical of organized religion. Joseph had to work to find answers to his questions. Ultimately, God answered Joseph’s prayer. But the First Vision did not answer all Joseph’s questions. For Joseph, seeking answers was a lifelong pursuit. Today, information about the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is more accessible than…

Leaders and Scholars Unite in ACLARS Conference in Kigali, Rwanda From the 17th to the 19th of May 2026, in Kigali, Rwanda, the 13th annual ACLARS (Africa Consortium for Law and Religion Studies) convention was held focusing on “Law, Religion, and Youth in Africa.” Presenters and attendees of the conference came from countries throughout the African continent, and from as far away as England and the United States of America. Representing the Church was Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, General Authority Seventy and President of the Africa Central Area. Professor Kofi Quashigah from Ghana Law School, conference chair and president of ACLARS, began the…