You were close...<grin> The IGI is an index /compilation of all the names that have been submitted to the LDS Temples and "had the work done". The Ancestral File is a similiar index and compilation of NAMES submitted to the LDS Church but that HAS NOT BEEN proven to be correct. There are many mistakes in the Ancestral file database. Use it with caution... anyone can send in their "research" and then it is made available to anyone who chooses to use it. It also tells you submitted the work so that you can contact them and collaborate. Each LDS Ward (Church building) has a room set aside as a Genealogy room where you can view this information on CD roms. You can also go to www.familysearch.com and view this information online. Search features are available as well as other databases such as the Social Security Death Index and others. Hope this helps!! Johnny Mack Souder URMOSER@aol.com wrote: > I'm sorry!! I thought everyone knew what IGI was. I forget there are newbies to genealogy on these sites. It is an index from the LDS, oops! Latter Day Saints in Utah. People send in their group sheets and they are indexed and Mr. Wallis has found a way to look at them on-line. If someone has a better explanation please feel free to add to this. International Genealogical Index. Or if I made a mistake, please correct me. Jane