Create and Maintain Family Associations or Organizations

The Purpose and Scope of a Family Organization
Organizing a family association or organization is a great way to bring people together to accumulate, coordinate, learn, preserve and publicize genealogical and historical information among related family members.

Family associations can be organized on different levels, such as immediate families--which include a husband and wife and their children; grandparent families--which include the descendants of siblings; and ancestral families--which include the descendants of an earlier common ancestral couple. Other family associations, like the Brough Family Organization and Osmond Family Organization, may include ancestral families along with individuals who share a common surname (see below).

A List of Mormon Family Organizations is posted in Wikipedia, and links and information about Latter-day Saint Ancestral Family Organizations is available from the Latter Day Saint Ancestral Families Association (LDSAFA).

Importance of Ancestral Family Organizations (AFO's)
The Brough Family Organization (BFO)--one of the largest and oldest ancestral family organizations and surname associations in the world--has stated the following about Ancestral Family Organizations (AFO's):

"Ancestral family organizations are often able to accomplish much more than individual families or 'grandparent' family associations. Because of their extensive membership and databases, AFO's are often able to locate and obtain genealogical and historical information much faster and cheaper than individual families or grandparent associations.

"Also, AFO's often know about--and can find and acquire from different parts of the world--unique genealogical data and historical records, such as those found in family bibles, personal journals, private indexes and photographic collections. These sources can provide genealogical information not commonly found in ecclesiastical or government records.

"Finally, because of its broad membership and extensive number of contributors, AFO's can usually afford and support extensive research by professional genealogists much easier and for longer durations than can most individual families or grandparent family associations."

AFO’s Can Sponsor Physical or Virtual Reunions
Since the late 1800's, family reunions have been held regularly or periodically by many large LDS ancestral family organizations (AFO’s). These reunions have often been held in towns, parks, ranches or churches located near ancestral homes. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic encouraged a number of AFO’s to hold online virtual reunions. One such reunion—the 2020 International Brough Reunion—included participation among family relatives located in the United States, the British Isles and New Zealand, and can be viewed at: 2020 International Brough Reunion. Other examples of AFO virtual reunions have been posted online by the Latter Day Saint Ancestral Family Association Latter Day Saint Ancestral Families Association (LDSAFA).

AFO's Can Produce Family History Vidoes
In 2009, the Brough Family Organization (BFO) freely released worldwide a 37-minute high-quality video documentary entitled "A Thousand Years of Family History", which detailed the Brough ancestry of England and their descendants in Europe, America and Australia.

In several ways, this video was a "first" of its kind, as it described nearly a thousand years of history related to a well-known family surname in England--without dwelling on royalty or celebrities. Also, the documentary used over two dozen narrators and commentators, along with historical photographs, artifacts, and computer graphics, to succinctly tell the story of the Broughs of England and their descendants--who eventually embraced different religions and spread across several continents. In addition, the video described how genealogical research and DNA tests have been used to clarify family relationships and better understand family traditions.

This video is family-friendly and faith-promoting, and is a good example of what other ancestral organizations around the world can do to visually show and explain their heritage to family members and relatives. The video can be freely viewed on YouTube at: A Thousand Years of Family History.

Also, additional information about the video--including its entire audio script--is available on the BFO website at: A Thousand Years of (Brough) Family History.

AFO's Can Produce Monuments Promoting Faith and Family
In 2010-2015, the Brough Family Organization (BFO) and Osmond Family Organization (OFO) produced physical memorials and historical monuments to their ancestors--which tell in considerable detail (or more than most gravestone inscriptions do) the faith and history of some of their ancestors. Examples of these extensive memorials and monuments can be viewed here:

Brough Family Monuments to Mormon Pioneeers- erected from 2003 to 2015. Olive May Davis Osmond Cabin &amp; Museum dedication in Samaria, Idaho, May 3, 2010 (Deseret News) Olive May Davis Osmond Cabin &amp; Museum in Samaria, Idaho, April-May 2010 (YouTube video) Olive May Davis Osmond Cabin and Museum dedication and plaque photos- Osmond website, 2012

Guides

 * Tips on Publishing a One Family Periodical