"Realtors have an axiom — location, location, and location. The genealogical corollary to that is — documentation, documentation, and documentation." Both use films and fiche are not automatically primary, but the GROS have the originals, the primary sources 'While there are a growing amount of Internet databases which provide access to scanned images of original documents, the vast majority of genealogy information on the Web comes from derivative sources - records which have been derived (copied, abstracted, transcribed, or summarized) from previously existing, original sources. Understanding the difference between these different types of sources will help you best assess how to verify the information that you find.' _http://genealogy.about.com/od/basics/a/verifying_2.htm_ (http://genealogy.about.com/od/basics/a/verifying_2.htm) film and fiche must be compared with the original to verify it as a true copy. I did for a fair amount straining the relationship of the GROS staff. I had to be escorted upstairs, but looked at 5-10%, and found signatures missing on the films, but many had no signature or the amount given to the poor on a small amount of records. 1. the LDS had no permission to look at the other religions, just the Presbyterian 2. indexes are only the Established church (Presbyterian) are done by Scots know names (surname, forename, places) so there are fewer errors in their index. Names are more standardized. You may ask the GROS to correct, which they do if you have proof, they will add a corrected record, and the index there is a non-conformist index at the NAS, and at the original church The IGI doesn't get corrections on either the index or on their films. _http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ChurchRecords.html_ (http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/ChurchRecords.html) 3. The index on the GROS gets added to if more parish records are found (occasionally some may show up in an attic, antique shops, and they added the Catholic records now. The LDS only filmed once, so it is out of date. I found a larger range of years, and at least one parish that the LDS never filmed. Don't ask me which it was, it was in Moray, that's all I remember. (my memory was affected by the strokes I suffered) 4. Submissions are guesswork through well documented but the LDS has no standards of genealogy proof, I used the old website which had both records transcribed, with submissions. I could search for all children born to a couple, I can no longer do that, so find their website of no help at all. They violated my copyright, and rather than work with me, just said 'go ahead and sue, you against a church! Don't make me laugh. 5. Anyone having trouble with handwriting, can get help with anything on the GROS website. The LDS are good hearted volunteers, but none of them can help with reading a place name. GROS have frequently told me, that place was here, but now it's called this.) The GROS workers are professionals, and the LDS are well-intentioned volunteers. Those who are not as lucky as I, and who not as insane as I doing an entire surname (Powrie) can often only afford to use the local LDS centers and their films and index, but adding minister and doctor records, all the census, business directories, FHS (family history societies, with the backbone of the GROS records and index will find perhaps 10 times the records in Scotland, than at Salt Lake city. websites are grand! But if you care enough to get primary sources, and believe that each of us must gather everything, properly evaluate and document properly with repositories, books on local, national and world history to put our ancestors in proper context, you need Scots who know Scots people and places. You must at the very least, use the GROS index, you may need to buy a ticket to Scotland! If you have Anglican or Methodist. You won't find them on either, but you will now find catholic ones. I had a family who were Dean and Chalmers Free Church, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. You all know how hard some records may be, but it could because you are going the wrong way. Books are my greatest teachers, along with members of this list, like Gordon, who are the real experts. _http://used.addall.com/_ (http://used.addall.com/) the little photo books with pictures of the carse of Gowrie are great fun. I found in one a photo of the Blackwatch unit that a relative was in, before he died in 1899, in the Boer war. I put many on my facebook page, where I've connected with many other Powries. There are almost 300 on the social network, and I learned a Powrie or dunter is a kind of elf. Trolling the Internet has connected me with many others...Powries, not elfs. Where's the path, is now my fav mapping program but I'm on the GROS website every couple of days. (wish they had stock! I might be rich instead of still spending. I found a cousin who is a professional researcher, doing small tours to special locations, and she's a Scots Master Travel agent, so I can come over again, and my daughter Jameela is learning the hobby, she can come with me and push my wheelchair! _http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm_ (http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepath.htm) _http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcap_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redcap) When looking for a Scot, use Scottish sources! They're the "Real McCoy"!