Worldwide Indexing Event: Are you in?

 I received compensation in exchange for writing this blog post.  Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own.

Family history?  Indexing?  Why are they so important?  Do I seriously have time to add something else to my plate? If I add it to my plate will it really even make that much of a difference?  These are all questions I ask in my head every time I hear about indexing or family history even.  

I have heard many people's stories about how indexing/family history has been an amazing experience for them.  They talk about how they have found family members that have been "missing" from their family tree. I also think it is amazing to know where you came from and everything that your heritage entails.  However, even with all these reasons to do it I still haven't touched it. 

The last 2 years there has been a Worldwide Indexing Event.  Every year I want to be a part of it, but every year I haven't done it for some reason or another.  This year is different.  This year I will be participating in it.  Honestly, it is the first time I will have indexed and I can't wait to get involved.  

I have set up a time and I am going to stick with that time.  I am going to do as much as I can to make a difference.  I can't wait to start experiencing this for myself instead of only hearing it through stories.  I can't wait to learn more about it and actually dip my toes in.  Who knows?  I might even become hooked like many people become after trying it.  

So do you want to know more about it and join the event?  Of course you do!  

Here are some details about the event and why it is even an event:

From July 15-17, FamilySearch International will sponsor the third annual “Worldwide Indexing Event,” bringing 72,000 people from around the globe together online during a 72-hour event to save the world’s records by making them searchable to the public.  

During the 72-hour indexing period, volunteers participate by downloading the FamilySearch software and completing as many names as they would like.  Anyone with a computer and internet connection can join.   

Volunteers have made over one billion historic records searchable online since FamilySearch introduced online indexing in 2008. The demand for indexed records continues to grow as millions of historical records worldwide are added every year. To join 72,000 teammates in saving the World’s records, visit https://familysearch.org/worldsrecords. 

FamilySearch International 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. FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources free online at FamilySearch.org or through over 4,921 family history centers in 129 countries.

On the website it talks about what indexing is and why its so important.  Here is how they explain indexing, but they have a fun interactive way for you to learn about it online, if you want to check it out.  Its so fun that my daughter has done it a few times.  

Here are the steps:

1. Before the internet was around there would be priests and clerks that would write down all the births, christenings, marriages, and deaths by hand of everyone on the earth.  
2. Nowadays there are genealogists that go into the churches and recover these historical records. 
3. Volunteers then take pictures of the documents and put them online. 
4. Since the computers can't read the written text, that is where people like you and me come in.  We type the records in so computers can understand them. 
5. Once the computer understands those records they are now searchable.  So people can find their ancestors.  That is pretty amazing! 

After learning more about it I am so excited to get involved with this.  I am so excited that I am actually doing it.  The even better part is my husband is doing it to with me and many of my family members.  We are going to hold each other accountable.  

I can't wait!  I would love for you to join with me as well.  Just like I wrote above.  You can do as little or as much as you want.  Every little bit counts and helps!  Happy indexing!