Give Clear Directions for Beginners Starting Their Family Tree in FamilySearch

rtaylor69

The FamilySearch instructions found at FamilySearch.org are confusing to some beginners. 

I am a Church Service Missionary serving in FamilySearch Support. I had a call today from a person who followed the directions to start her tree by adding her parents first. We helped her correct it so that she is now the primary person. Her suggestion is to change the instructions ( https://www.familysearch.org/gettingstarted/create-family-tree)

from:

“First steps

Starting with your parents, add living and deceased relatives as far back as you can. A quick phone call or text to an older relative might help you fill in some gaps.”

Suggested:

First steps

Starting with yourself, add parents and add living and deceased relatives as far back as you can. A quick phone call or text to an older relative might help you fill in some gaps.

Thanks,

Elder Ronald J Taylor 

Alan E. Brown

You can propose updates to knowledge articles yourself. Here are the instructions: https://www.familysearch.org/en/fieldops/article/how-to-provide-content-feedback-or-request-new-instruction

LAMiller

https://www.thefhguide.com

This website gives hands down the best training on how to begin a family tree on familysearch, in addition it has lessons and handouts on how to begin and use ancestry.com, myheritage etc. It is great for beginners, through advanced. Also has short video lessons family history consultants can use to train others. There is no better "how-to" on the web regarding familysearch.

Maile L

You may be interested in https://www.familysearch.org/en/fieldops/quick-start-learning-lessons-table-of-contents