Why do the mormons run a free genealogy website?

Question

What is it in their doctrine that makes this so important to them?

Answer 1

They keep records on everyone they can.  I have a few Mormon friends but that one point I really don't like about them.  I understand that they have an immense amount of records on non-Mormons.

Answer 2

I asked a Mormon classmate of mine that same question once, and she told me that the Mormons think that they can convert dead people and in so doing save their souls if they can make their information avaliable to their descendants, or something to that effect.  

Not sure if that is true or not, its just what she told me.

Answer 3

It is important to them to record families, and Mormon families are 'sealed' to each other for all time - that includes after death.

The other reason they offer the free website is that they record all the information people input, so while they are performing a service for you, you are giving them something in return.

Answer 4

Their web site is a service to the world. It also does a bit of advertising. Not much and it isn't obtrusive, but if you want to learn more about the LDS church, you can click on a link.

The Mormons baptise their dead ancestors. That is a gross simplifiction from a non-Mormon, but that is why genealogy is so important to them. All of the non-Mormon genealogists I know feel that is a trifle odd, but that saying so would be like complaining about farmers with your mouth full.

The web site isn't the only thing they do for free for genealogy. FHCs, which others have mentioned, are wonderful places for beginners. They are to genealogy what Christian Science Reading rooms are to people who like to read current periodicals and uplifting books.

Answer 5

As I recall, they have some strange belief that their dead ancestors can be prayed for and protected by or converted to Mormonism. So they have to find out who their dead ancestors were. Just totally bizarre to me.

Most of these souls have long since moved on to another existence.

Answer 6

They want everybody to be united in eternity, and in order to do that, they like to help those who are researching their family lines and help them so they could theoretically submit them to the LDS site.  Their mission is their belief, just as your Church's mission is part of your belief  ~ if you go to Church.  I go to Salt Lake City and use their facilities, however I have not donated my information.  I'm sure at one point they'll obtain it, however.

Answer 7

The LDS libraries are to be commended; however, one should understand that at a point in their development, they encouraged their members to submit their family trees so that their ancestors could be with them in heaven, etc.  

This pressure to produce ancestors led to all sorts of strange family trees being submitted. I personally found a line that I finally decided was just too perfect to be true....4 generations, each family with 2 sons and 2 daughters, born every two or three years.   Everyone lived to be 75-85 years old.  Everyone married when they were 21 or 22.  Etc. etc.   The line supposedly connected two lines of the same surname that had existed in two different states.   I decided to check the birth and death records of the two counties in Virginia that were being cited, and could never find even one singel instance of the surname in all the records, including, eventually, wills, property records and so forth.

Which all goes to show that no one source is sufficient to prove a line.   And, if it is 'pretty' -- without any lost folks or questionable dates -- it is probably edited to the point that many assertions are incorrect.

Answer 8

Mormans research their families back at least 5 generations.  They "seal" themselves to their spouses (and children, etc) for eternity.  However, they believe the person they are sealing has a choice whether to accept it.  It's just a belief of their church.   Certainly, all religions have some belief that those outside their faith find a bit weird.

As for the genealogy centers (called Family History Centers) there are nearly 5000 worldwide.  They offer great assistance to anyone doing genealogy research.  Not only are they staffed by knowledgeable volunteers who will assist with research, they have access to millions of volumes of books, microfilm, microfiche, etc.  Largest repository of genealogy records in the world.  Vast majority is free.  Some have a small charge.

The church is kept very separate from the FHC's.  No one will ever discuss religion nor will anyone attempt to contact genealogy patrons outside the centers.  

I'm not Mormon, but I have been a volunteer genealogy librarian in a FHC for quite sometime.  Many of the volunteers in the centers are not affiliated with the church, their interest is only with genealogy.

Answer 9

I'm sure you will get better answers but as I understand it they research their ancestors because even though they are dead they can still somehow convert them to their religion.

It sounds crazy to me, but I'm not complaining, just  grateful for the wonderful resources they have provided.

Answer 10

Mormons receive baptism for their deceased ancestors.  That is their belief.

If you visit one of their Family History Centers at a Mormon Church, they won't try to convert you or send their missionaries by to ring your doorbell.   They are very nice and helpful.  In doing research, they have accumulated records on people all over the world, not just Mormons.  In Salt Lake City, they have the world's largest genealogical collection.  Their Family History Centers can order microfilm for you to view at a nominal fee.