“I think the app brings people to family history who otherwise wouldn’t have come to family history,” said Wendy Smedley, FamilySearch marketing manager. “You can do many of the same things on the mobile app as you can on a desktop computer or laptop. The app feels less intimidating. It’s intended for people who want to do something quickly.”
Since its launch in July 2014, more than 4 million users have downloaded the free Family Tree app. Serving as a mobile companion to FamilySearch.org, the app is part of FamilySearch's efforts to create a simplified experience for people to build, view, preserve, and share family history stories.
Todd Powell, FamilySearch Senior Product Manager, shared, “This app allows people to engage in family history when they have just a couple of minutes, on the go. Thanks to its handy access and convenient usage, it’s the relative ease and availability of having the app with them at any time they want.”
Family Tree App Features
Felvir Ordinario, FamilySearch manager in the Philippines, spoke of how the mobile app would greatly benefit the Filipinos as they work on their family history. He said, “In the Philippines where smartphone usage is very high and ever-increasing, the Family Tree app has immense potential to help people get engaged in meaningful activities related to family history.”
Here are some of the features available on the app:
- Pedigree Chart. When opening the app, the user is shown their pedigree charts. They can then add in names and information of their family members as they build on their family tree.
- Record Hints. FamilySearch regularly compares users' ancestors’ profile information with old and new records to see if there are any possible matches. These possible matches show up as record hints that can help people find records without filling out search forms or looking through record collections.
- Ordinances Ready. For Latter-day Saints, this feature notifies them of temple ordinances that are available to be performed for their deceased ancestors.
- Relatives Around Me. Based on the information of their individual trees, users can click on this feature to see if they are related to people within a certain radius. This feature requires participants to have at least two generations in their trees to create a connection.
- Map My Ancestors. Using GPS technology, users can log in and access a map to discover where ancestors lived and died, including cemeteries where they are buried, depending on their location.
The Family Tree App is available on both iOS and Android. For more information on the app's features, click here.
Blessings of Family History Work
For Tess Mejia from the Tarlac Philippines Stake (diocese), using the Family Tree App gave her and her family a greater sense of connection. She shared, “The app keeps us connected with our family. It is a great tool to help our children appreciate their ancestors. It is our hope that in the future, our grandchildren will also find joy from the memories that we preserve for them through the app.”
Jenny and Joel Plucena from the Baguio Philippines Stake highlighted how the app builds on people's common interest in families: “People always get excited about family connections, and that is why the app is very appealing. The Family Tree app is an excellent tool for connecting with everyone, [even with people of different faiths].”
About FamilySearch
FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. It is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since 1894, FamilySearch has worked with archives, libraries, and churches in over 100 countries to facilitate economical access to records that help people find their ancestors.
Every month, over 3 million people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. These records and services are available online at FamilySearch.org, or through over 4,600 family history centers in 126 countries, including the renowned Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.