2019-10 Oct - Get Virtual Help on Your Family History

Oct 8, 2019 family history zoom screen sharing

Hello from your Ward Temple & Family History Consultants:

WHAT?

• Talk by phone & share your screen just like I’m standing behind you talking over your shoulder. Temple & Family History Consultants can help virtually.

WHY?

Sometimes we don’t have time to drive all the way to the Stake Center family history center, or our available hours do not match the family history center hours. Or we might be on business travel in another state or country.

See family history problem solving in action for your relatives. These meetings are to problem-solving, doing, working sessions, not doctrine classes. Family History is occasionally easy, but more often it is challenging. We start where you are, ask where you want to go, and help you get there.

WHEN?

• Anytime you’re awake and I’m awake (after work hours, eastern time zone). For example, we could meet from 9-9:30 pm if you’d like. No driving time. No driving the babysitter home. Just Family History work.

HOW?

• A few easy steps:

1. Text or call to arrange a time when you can meet and a family history consultant can meet.

2. Pick your meeting option A, B, or C.

   • Option A: Meet by screen share + phone call (with some consultants, ask about this)
   • Option B: Meet at your house (face to face with ANY consultant)
   • Option C: Meet at the FH Center at stake building (face to face with ANY consultant)

3. If you picked option A, get your computer ready before the first meeting. It takes a few minutes because there is a little bit of non-recurring prep ONLY for the FIRST screen-share meeting. This prep only happens once even if we meet 5 times.

   • If first time, go to https://zoom.us
   • Select “Sign Up. It’s Free” button.
   • Type in your preferred email address.
   • Go to your email and confirm the Zoom email.

4. If already signed up for free with Zoom, then:

   • Go to https://zoom.us/signin and sign in. It is free for what we will do together.

   • Check your email for the meeting link (URL). It looks like https://zoom.us/j/XXXXXX (where the X’s are numbers). Click that link.

   • Optionally, watch their “How to join a meeting” video at https://www.youtube.com/embed/vFhAEoCF7jg?rel=0&autoplay=1&showinfo=0

   • Your browser will open to a Zoom page that says “Launching” and a small window opens asking if you want to open the link with the zoom.us application. You select the “Open link” button.

   • TIP: If nothing prompts from the browser, this means you have not yet added the one-time zoom.us application install. Click the link “download & run Zoom” to install the zoom app. You only have to install this app once even if we plan to meet 5 times. It is easy to install.

5. To avoid issues with some people’s computers and microphones, we’ll just use regular telephones for the audio part of the meeting.

   • Tip: Optionally, for those who already own a computer microphone, we can do audio on Zoom too (if you prefer).

6. The Ward Consultant will share their screen and show you things on their screen while you both talk on the phone. If you share your helper number, they can open your familysearch pages and help you with your challenges and you both can see your family tree.

   • TIP: A familysearch helper number is an ID number that allows consultants to use FamilySearch.org on your behalf with you. Sign in to Familysearch.org and get your helper number in familysearch.org settings (click your name, and then settings and see the helper number box at the bottom. Read this to me over the telephone).

7. This session is not a presentation. It is a two-way conversation about where you are and where you’d like to be in family history.

Unlike a “class”, these one-on-one meetings can address your specific problem or challenge with family history just for you. This session or another will include actual work in family history.

TIP: The free zoom service is only for one-on-one meetings. If you want others in your family to participate in the meeting, they can crowd around your computer at your house just as if we were there together in person.

These screen-share-and-phone-call meetings can happen at odd hours to fit your busy schedule, after little ones are asleep, etc. You don’t have to find a sitter, you don’t have to drive to the stake center. The blessings of technology can help us fit in a little effort here and a little effort there that adds up over time to a big effort. We watch conference at home now too.

Recap:

• April - Post audio recorded memories to familysearch.org.
• May - Post photographs of your ancestors to familysearch.org.
• June - Type a brief memory of your own experience with a deceased ancestor or relative into the memories section of familysearch.org.
• Aug - Perhaps write your own history for those that come after you.
• Sep - Motivational message, not a how-to.
• Oct - How to use screen sharing & phone meetings as an option to help with your FH challenges.

HERE A LITTLE, THERE A LITTLE - We can help you succeed little by little, one thing at a time. Feel better by doing small & simple things in small segments of time. Great things come to pass over time, so don’t give up. We can help you start! Contact one of us.

Let’s gradually improve our desires and skills in family history & temple service.

Your Ward Temple & Family History Consultants