buildzion.com

One of the best ways to introduce youth to new.familysearch.org is to find ancestors who are ready for temple baptism. One way to do this is to create a list of persons sealed to a spouse but still not baptized -- as though the original temple work focused only on one spouse while forgetting the other. The steps left are essentially 1) verify that temple work is still needed and 2) check for duplicates. 

To prepare this list in advance, a family history consultant or parent can use this website to learn how. The family history consultant will need the last 5 digits of your membership record number (temple recommend number) and full birthdate to download your family tree and search through it.

Even though it appears the baptism may have been skipped, most likely it has already been done--you will be cleaning up your family tree by combining duplicate records in other family trees. You wll be merging records so that your family trees combine--thus preventing duplicate temple work.

On occasion you will find someone whose temple baptism really has been skipped. One spouse will have all of the temple ordinances done, and the other one will only have the one ordinance. The official church policy is to just go ahead and do the baptism for that second spouse if there is enough information. That sealing won't have to be re-done. 

Steps to work on the "Sealed but not Baptized" list  

1. Obtain the list: A parent gives the last 5 digits of the temple recommend number (or membership record number) to the family history consultant along with birth date and name. The family history consultant will download the family tree (perhaps 9 or 10 generations) and create the list of ancestors who are not baptized.
2. Create Login: If this is the first time logging in, the parent or youth creates a LDS username and password at ldsaccount.lds.org (the same username will work at any lds.org website, for example: lds.org/tools).
3. Log in at new.familysearch.org.
4. If this is the first time visiting, click "Me and My Ancestors" to view your family tree. Each name shows a symbol such as a green checkmark (meaning temple work complete), a green arrow (temple work needed), or yellow yield sign (information needed). Click the arrows to move around in the family tree.
   
   Now you are ready for your list:
5. Click the Search tab at the top.
6. Next click Search By Number
7. For the "Person Identifier" number enter the person's ID number (use copy and paste)
8. Step 1: Is the baptism needed?
   1. Look for a green checkmark (completed) or a green arrow (work needed) by the person's name
       This example shows the "green arrow"
       
   2. Click "LDS Ordinances" near the bottom, left corner to see what ordinances are needed:
              This example shows baptism  "Ready"
      (click image to enlarge) 
9. Step 2: Is there a duplicate record?
   1. Before clicking to do the ordinance, check if this person is also in another family tree
   2. Click "Possible Duplicates"
           In this case, we see at least 2 duplicate records
      (click image to enlarge)  
       
   3. Check the box near the names you think might be duplicates, then click "Compare in More Detail"
   4. Follow the steps to decide if your record is for the same person in another family tree.
   5. It might not be easy to know if your record is a duplicate. You can skip names if they are not clear, or you can search for more information at www.familysearch.org. Sometimes when the baptism status says "Needs More Information" you can check the name at  www.familysearch.org for the birth date or death date.
   6. For a video tutorial about this step: video tutorial.
10. After combining the duplicate records check again if the baptism is still needed. If not, that is OK -- your time was not wasted because you are cleaning up duplicate records which will prevent duplication of temple ordinances later.
11. Perhaps 90% of the time, duplicate records will show that the ordinance is done; however, on occasion, the temple baptism is still needed. Reserve the ordinances to do the baptisms.
12. Step 3: If no duplicate -- Reserve the ordinance
    1. Go back to the tab "LDS Ordinances" and if desired, click the link for "This individual needs temple ordinances. Click here to do them"
       
    2. Check the box for the name desired (if not checked already) and click the Continue button near the bottom.
    3. Read and agree to Church Policies, which is short.
    4. At this point, you might be asked to search for duplicates again. It is worth checking a 2nd time.
    5. After this, you will be asked if you want to reserve the name to do the ordinance yourself.
    6. If you accept, you will see that name listed in the tab for "Temple Ordinances" 
               
13. Step 4: Print the Temple Ordinance list for your temple trip
    1. When you have enough names for a temple trip, go to the top tab "Temple Ordinances" and click "Print or Reprint Request". Take this sheet of paper to the temple and give it to a worker there; they will give you the blue or pink temple cards for the ordinance work 
    2. Note: You only need to print one document with all the names (not one document per name).
    3. Q & A: What if you want to reserve it for someone else, like a cousin or other family member? You can click "unreserve" in your list of reserved names and then give the ID number to the other family member so that he or she can reserve it.

1. Visit  usfamilytree.com to find out what countries your ancestors are from. Use the "Origins Breakdown" chart.
2. Visit lds.org/fhy for videos for youth who have empty spots in their family tree so they can find missing ancestors.
3. Visit createfan.com for a printable nine-generation wall cart. This fan chart can also be used to find empty spots for researching at www.familysearch.org.