Merge Accounts
I am strongly opposed that Living Spouses cannot add each other. It creates way too much more work to even connect us in any way. Is there any possible way that we can get this changed so that Living Spouses can add each other without having to add so many more steps such as creating copies of basically everything? I also don't want to have to wait until my wife and I are deceased and then our kids can go in and make the corrections. Way too much hassle and work. Can we please somehow get this changed? I'd really like to be of more help to my wife and her family because much of my family history work appears to be sufficiently completed and in the works; but my wife's family work on the app has only recently started as my wife and her immediate family are the first members of the church in their family.
I don't understand why this can't be a thing especially since we can prove our wedding and sealing dates. At least have there be an option for us to be able to submit verification such as our Record Numbers, dates of ordinances, mission if we served, wedding license, which temple we got sealed in, and other stuff like this.
Comments
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Robert
Welcome to the "Community.FamilySearch" Forum.
I am just another 'lowly' User/Patron ...
[ And, I happen to be a member of the Church ... ]
I understand where you are coming from ...
But ...
That Said ...
You NEED 'to take a few steps back'; and, consider the WHOLE "Picture" ...
There is much that NEEDS to be considered ...
And, 'Yes', it does "Create" very much work, unfortunately, that is necessary, whether we like it or not ...
Perhaps, you DO NOT fully understand the whole 'concept' of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' ...
Just for starters ...
And, just in case ...
Here an old 'standby' of mine, that I have previously proffered on occasion ...
Most new (and, some old) Users/Patrons DO NOT understand the basic 'nature' and 'premise' of "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', when they join in.
Please let me explain ...
[ And, please bear with me; as, I am VERY 'Verbose' ... that is my 'style' ... ]
We do not have our OWN "Tree" in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
We ONLY have "Branches" (ie. Ancestral" lines), that are interconnected, in this SINGLE "One" World "Tree", for all of us, that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is NOT like 'On-Line' "Websites" (eg. "Ancestry_com"; or "MyHeritage_com"; or, the like); and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes (eg, the OLD, now no longer supported, "PAF"; or, "Ancestral Quest"; or, the like).
We DO NOT have "Private"/"Personal" 'Trees' in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' like other 'On-Line' "Websites"; and/or, 'standalone' personal (computer) programmes.
We do not even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, the "Deceased" individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
And, most importantly ...
We DO NOT even, own; or, manage; and, are NOT even responsible for, Our OWN "Deceased" Ancestors/Family/Relatives in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is built on a "Open Edit" Platform - hence, why any registered User/Patron can "Edit" (ie. Add, Delete; and/or, Change) ANY "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
You can certainly "Merge"/"Combine" any "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' with another "Deceased" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch', regardless of who the User/Patron was that initially created those "Deceased" individuals/persons; as, they DO NOT reside with the User/Patron who initially created them - they are "Public".
In fact, you can ONLY see "Deceased" individuals/persons in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'; except, with this 'rider', that you can ALSO only see "Living" individual/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' that YOU created; as, they reside in your "Private Spaces".
No other User/Patron can see ANY "Living" individuals/persons that were created by another User/Patron; as, they ONLY reside in the "Private Spaces" of the User/Patron who created them.
We CANNOT even see the ACTUAL Record in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' of our IMMEDIATE Family (eg. Spouse; Children; Parents; Siblings; ETC; Etc; etc) if they are "Living"; and, they have their own 'FamilySearch' Account.
Of course, you can create your "Living" Family members; and, record them in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'; but, they will ONLY be seen by you:
▬ You cannot "Share" them with any other User/Patron.
▬ You cannot "Merge"/'Combine" them with any other "Living" individual/person residing in the "Private Spaces" of another User//Patron.
There is CURRENTLY no mechanism in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' for Users/Patrons, to "Share"; or, "give permission" to "Share", the "Living" individuals/persons in their own "Private Spaces" with/between other/another User(s)/Patron(s).
There are a myriad of "Privacy" Laws within the many various Countries and Unions throughout the World - it is a nightmare to negotiate.
"Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' is used in many Countries and Unions throughout the World; and, as such, must adhere to the myriad of "Privacy" Laws throughout the World.
Hence, "Privacy" is one of the reasons that we cannot "Share" the "Living" individuals/persons in our own "Private Spaces" - it is NOT the ONLY reason; but, certainly has a bearing on the matter.
Another factor is that such would have to be 'Coded'/'Programmed' into the Programme that is "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch'.
'Yes', these "Living" individuals/person in "Family Tree" of 'FamilySearch' WILL, in fact, in many (most) cases will be "Duplicated" - unfortunately a necessary situation that currently cannot be avoided.
I know that there are "Duplicates" of the "Living" ME - at least, one for my Wife and each of our Children, not to mention my other ("Living") extended Family members.
Here are some "Knowledge Articles", in 'FamilySearch', in regard to "Private Spaces"; and, "Living" individuals/persons:
Who can see my living relatives in Family Tree?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/who-can-see-my-living-relatives-in-family-tree
How does Family Tree protect the privacy of living people?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/what-is-a-private-space-in-family-tree
What Family Tree features are available in my private space?
Can my living relatives share a Family Tree private space to work together?
https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/share-a-family-tree-private-space-with-family
Can I transfer my Family Tree private space to another user?
As I said ... that is just for starters ...
Just some thoughts.
I know that this may certainly not help/assist you; but, I truly hope that this provides you with some more, insight; and, perspective.
Brett
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The best way to protect the privacy of the living is to not put their information online, not even in a "protected" way. Data about your living family should be kept in an offline genealogy program, not anywhere on FamilySearch.
I have profiles entered for three living family members: me, my husband, and my mom. I have not entered children or unmarried siblings, because they don't connect to anyone that isn't already connected, and I have not entered married siblings, either, because they don't connect to anyone that I plan to do anything with.
Even if you're more fortunate (or much younger) than me, and have multiple generations still living, entering connector profiles until you get to the public Tree is not a hardship if all you enter in them is a name. (Or heck, a relationship: nobody will complain -- because nobody will notice -- if you enter Grandma's name as "Grandma".)
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Jule
Nice thoughts/ideas ...
But ...
That Said ...
For Users/Patrons, who are Members of the Church ...
[ ie. Like 'Robert'; and, myself; and, MANY; Many; many, OTHERS ... ]
OUR "Living" IMMEDIATE Family members were (maybe, still are) automatically ADDED to, "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch' ...
And, when "Private Spaces" was introduced in 2014, that is when WE started to be "Duplicated" ...
ONE (Original Version of us) for OURSELVES; and, then, OTHER (Duplicate Versions of us) for OUR Family members ... ie. "Living" ... Parents (Father & Mother); Siblings; Spouse(s); Children; ETC; Etc; etc ... ie. those with 'FamilySearch' Accounts.
Where ...
Even NOW ... Today ...
NONE of those "Living" DUPLICATES, can (yet) be "Combined"/"Merged", at this juncture in time, due to "Privacy"; as, we, ourselves, are STILL "Living".
Remember:
"Family Tree" (and, its predecessors), of 'FamilySearch', were (originally) "Created" by the Church, PRINCIPALLY, for Members of the Church, to follow the Tenets of the Church.
NOTHING, has really "Changed", with that principal purpose.
Over the x125 Years that 'FamilySearch' (formerly: "Genealogical Society of Utah") has been operating; and, even well BEFORE that, things have been "Changing".
"Privacy" is Paramount.
As, there are, these days, a myriad of "Privacy" Laws within the many various Countries and Unions throughout the World; which, would be a nightmare to negotiate; and, that coupled with the fact, that "Family Tree", of 'FamilySearch', is used in many Countries and Unions throughout the World, 'FamilySearch', MUST try to accommodate (even, adhere to), the myriad of "Privacy" Laws throughout the World.
NOT an easy task ...
There is so MUCH More INVOLVED, that most of the 'lowly' Users/Patrons, just do not comprehend, that there is such a divide of understanding.
Things MAY seem SIMPLE ...
But, in MANY / MOST cases they are NOT ...
Brett
ps: One must always remember ...
▬ 'FamilySearch' was created by the Church ...
▬ 'FamilySearch' is NOT a "Commercial" (ie. Fee/Paid/Subscription) Website ...
▬ There are, MANY competing priorities, in "Family Tree" (and, the OTHER "Parts") of, 'FamilySearch'; and ...
▬ There are LIMITED Resources (eg. "Funds") available to 'FamilySearch'.
Things that most People tend (often, conveniently) to either, overlook; or, forget ...
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