Utah, Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is in the Collection?
These records include an index with images to Andrew Jensen's Latter-Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia for the years 1830 to 1936. This is a compilation of biographical sketches of prominent men and women in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The encyclopedia contains 4 volumes covering the years 1901-1936.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
These records may contain the following information:


 * Pictures
 * Names
 * Parents' names
 * Birthplaces


 * Various biographical details
 * Information on military service
 * Various community leadership activities

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The name of a parent or date of the event

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the age or estimated birth date to find church and vital records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death records
 * Use the information found in the record to find land, probate and immigration records.
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in censuses. Witnesses were usually family members.
 * Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family.
 * Utah Church Records were kept years before counties began keeping records. They are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.

I Can’t Find Who I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county.
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Check the info box above for additional FamilySearch websites and related websites that may assist you in finding similar records.

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Utah.
 * Utah Guided Research
 * Utah Record Finder
 * Utah Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1900-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Pioneers and prominent men of Utah index
 * Utah pioneer biographies, 44 volumes. (1935-1964)

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * Andrew Jensen. Latter-day Saint biographical encyclopedia : a compilation of biographical sketches of prominent men and women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 4 volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah : Andrew Jenson History, 1901-
 * Frank Esshom, Pioneers and prominent men of Utah : comprising photographs, genealogies, biographies. Salt Lake City, Utah : Utah Pioneers Book, 1913
 * Genealogical surveys of LDS members : autobiographies and ancestors. 34 volumes. Salt Lake City, Utah : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1924-1929

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.