Idaho Falls Idaho FamilySearch Center



We are located in a remodeled meeting house (originally constructed in 1950) three blocks north of the Idaho Falls Temple and Temple Visitors Center. We are supported by 26 stakes in eastern Idaho and serve all of Bonneville, Butte, Jefferson, Lemhi, and parts of Bingham and Madison Counties.

Last year we had 95 Missionaries serving 9880 patrons seeking after their ancestors. We invite you to join us, either as a Missionary or a patron.

Family History Centers (FHC) are branches of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. There are over 4600 family history centers of varying sizes operating in more than 125 countries, all staffed by unpaid missionaries and volunteers. Each year approximately 100,000 rolls of microfilm were distributed by family history centers each month. This is now done online, but the research assistance that makes it possible takes place at the FHC. There are three types of family history center. The Ward FHC is usually located in the meeting house of the local Ward and is quite small. There are also Stake FHC's that serve several wards and these are usually found in the Stake Center building. Then there are the Large Multi-Stake or Regional Family History Centers like the Idaho Falls Family History Center. These have a larger collection of everything, computers, books, film, personnel and resources.

Inspirational thought of the month
All Church activity must be rooted in charity-a deep, abiding love for all of God's children. The scriptures tell us that "charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; ... beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (1 Cor. 13:4, 7; see also Moro. 7:45.) With this in mind, it is easy to put love and understanding into all of our Church service, whether it be genealogy, home or visiting teaching, or missionary work. This doesn't mean that we instantly need to be everything to everybody all at once. .... Whether we use our talents to help the living or the dead, it is the same work. The key is to be "anxiously engaged" (D&amp;C 58:27) in doing the Lord's work. We begin where we are, and as we fulfill each task, our talents expand and our charity increases." Roy B. Bennion, "Genealogy-Love That Transcends Time," Ensign, Aug. 1987, 11.

Center Contacts and Hours
Location &amp; Map: Our street and mailing address is 750 West Elva St. Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402 There is ample parking on the street around the Center plus a small parking lot northeast of the building. The Center's entrance is on the south side of the building, facing Elva Street.

Location Map

Phone: 208-524-5291

E-mail: [mailto:id_idahofalls@ldsmail.net id_idahofalls@ldsmail.net]

Hours we are open: Mon -- 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tue-Thu -- 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Memorial Day through Labor Day -- 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.) Fri, Sat -- 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Holiday Schedule 2011: September 5  Closed for Labor Day October 1   Closed for General Conference October 31   Closed at 1 p.m. for Halloween November 23 – 27   Closed for Thanksgiving December 24 – 31   Closed for Christmas

Holiday Schedule 2012: January 1-2   Closed for New Years April 7   Closed for General Conference May 28   Closed for Memorial Day

Class Schedule For the current month
'''To schedule a tour, please call at least a week before the desired date. Please bring a flash (USB) drive with your family files to class.     '''


 * All classes meet in the Computer Lab for 2 hours, unless otherwise noted.

Where else can I go to learn to do family history?

 * Basic and advanced research classes are available here. Here are found classes from introduction to doing research to performing in depth research such as how to research German records.
 * For information on using new.familysearch.org try this. This is a series of excellent videos and slide presentations on using the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints genealogy program. Be sure to print the handout at the end of each leasson.
 * Many of the genealogy software companies have online tutorials and webinars. While their primary purpose is to sell software, there is surprisingly little selling. But the information they put forth is excellent. Ohana Software has some very good ideas to share.
 * Legacy Family Tree has free online WEBINARS. Each video remains free for about a month and then becomes available through the purchase of a CD so you can build a library if you wish.

What software do I need and where can I get it?

 * The Idaho Falls Family History center does not recommend any particular program. In fact, many different programs are used by the staff.
 * Here is a link from a Google search on Genealogy Software programs that lists the Top Ten.
 * We have linked a Genealogy Software Comparison Chart to perhaps help in your choice.
 * There is a page here where you can go to get comparative information on several programs. These are all free but do have a more enhanced version you can purchase. After the description there is a link to the vendor's website. You might notice that the only product you can download directly from this site is "Personal Ancestral File". There might be a hint in there. If you do choose to download it, be sure to get the "Companion" also. Here is a very good free tutorial to use with PAF.
 * If you are LDS and use PAF you may also want to purchase Ohana Software's Family Insight program. This will be needed to communicate with new.familysearch. There are a few programs with this capability programmed in as part of the package, Ancestral Quest, Roots Magic and Legacy Family Tree are three that do. By the way, if you want to switch to one of these from PAF, all three will accept your files directly.
 * Ancestral Quest, Legacy Family Tree, Roots Magic and Family Insight are on all of the computers in the FHC for you to use while doing research.

Talks, Speeches and Leadership Resources

 * The Leader’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: To Turn the Hearts is an excellent resource for ward and stake councils and includes examples of how ward councils have used temple and family history work as a resource to bless lives and further the work of salvation. Family history and temple work is unique primarily because of the spirit inherent in the work—the manifestation of the Holy Ghost in what is called the Spirit of Elijah. It is also a way to personally participate in the work of salvation for one’s own family.
 * Do you need information on how our Church Leaders feel about Family History or Genealogy? Here you can read speeches given by our leaders and others on this very important subject.
 * The Latter Day Conservative has many talks on a variety of subjects. It is an excellent resource.
 * Hmmmm.What do children think of Genealogy?

Center Resources

 * 24 networked computer workstations with a data/video projector in the main classroom.
 * 27 networked computers workstations on the main floor with printing capabilities.
 * 6 LAN cables for internnet access at worktables
 * 5 networked computers in the Bell room for special classes/purposes
 * large teaching/meeting room with 1 computer, 1 overhead projector, 1 data/video projector, white boards, piano and seating for approximately 60.
 * 5 microfilm readers
 * 4 microfiche readers
 * 1 flatbed scanner
 * 2 microfilm/microfiche scanners with printing capabilities.
 * 2 copy machines
 * a lunch room for patrons (because we love you).
 * We have the capability of binding/repairing (but not restoring) donated books.

Collections and Film/Fiche ordering

 * All microfilm and microfiche must now be ordered online!
 * Haven't ordered online before? Follow this link for instructions on how to order.
 * We have over 14,000 rolls of microfilm and over 16,000 sets of microfiche.
 * Family History Library Catalog
 * Eastern Idaho Obituary Collection;


 * 1) We maintain the Eastern Idaho Death Records Index  which is hosted by BYU Idaho. This is an index of deaths in eastern Idaho and surrounding area from the early 1900s to the present.
 * 2) We have the obituaries published in the local news papers for most of the individuals found in the Eastern Idaho Death Records Index. These obituaries are not online and can only be viewed here at the Center.

Staff Research Specialists
By Appointment Only We have many dedicated and knowledgeable missionaries and volunteers to assist in helping you to find your people. The FHC also teaches classes on doing research in many of these areas.

Danish * 'Dutch * 'English * French * German * German from Russia * Italian * Latin *  Native American *  Norwegian * Russian * Scandinavian * Spanish * Swedish * Medieval

Links to useful and fun sites.
Here is a little magnifier that sits on your computer desktop to enable your poor ol' tired eyes to see things on your screen better.....it does not replace sleep. Virtual Magnifying Glass is a free, open source, screen magnification tool for Windows and Linux. It is simple, customizable, and easy-to-use.

The program shows a magnifying glass lens that follows the mouse movement. You can move the lens around the screen to view magnification of any screen area.

To close the lens, click the left mouse button. Virtual Magnifying Glass also adds it's own taskbar icon. Left-click on the icon offers a shortcut for launching the lens again.

Irfanview is an image viewer that we use a lot at the FHC. It will even make panoramas from several .jpgs.

Faststone Capture will very quickly and easily capture all of your screen or just a few words. This is version 5.3 which is free. There is a new version, 6.7 which will actually edit video but it is not free.

Volunteer at the Center

 * Do you want to learn more about doing family history? We will teach you how to help yourself while we teach you to help others. We encourage you to do your own research when not assisting patrons.
 * Would you like to serve a full or part time mission but need to stay close to home? Come join us at the FHC where you can meet many new people and help them find their ancestors.
 * Do you have special computer, language or research skills? We have a place for you to keep those skills honed and practiced. Use 'em or lose 'em.
 * You can serve as few as two days a week, Monday through Saturday.