Good reply---Brad Lamdin--Cambria---Ca -----Original Message----- From: Brian D Core <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Sunday, August 11, 2002 10:23 PM Subject: [WVHAMPSH-L] Intolerance? >I don't think that it's accurate or fair to call LDS members cultists. >Religious intolerance is a certain sign of ignorance. Since this is a >genealogy list, not a spiritual list, it wouldn't be appropriate to >compare the "correctness" of the various religions. As genealogists, what >should we know about the LDS Church? > >The LDS Church sponsors a web site, familysearch.org. Most of the >information in their IGI files is undocumented, and can not be relied on. >That doesn't make it ALL inaccurate, but any information from the IGI >should be documented before it is used. There are many, many mistakes. >The web site also has a catalog for their Family History Library, which >is the largest genealogy in the world, by far. The books do not >circulate, and must be viewed at the Family History Library in Salt Lake >City. Many millions of people have made the journey to Salt Lake to visit >the library, and most probably found it to be a clean, friendly town. >There are comfortable and affordable accommodations near Temple Square. >The Temple in Salt Lake is a beautiful building, and the landscape alone >would make the trip worthwhile. The library handles an incredible number >of patrons, who typically line up at the door an hour before it opens. >Inside, you will find hundreds of thousands of books about history and >genealogy. If that's not enough, there are about three million rolls of >microfilm of state, local, and national records, military records, local >histories, family Bibles, church records from nearly every country, and >genealogical books of every description. If you are overwhelmed by the >volume of the material, there are dozens of volunteers to help you. Your >entrance to the library costs you nothing. Pay for your copies and don't >steal anything, and you're square with the LDS Church. > >Most people are probably unable or unwilling to make the trek to Salt >Lake, so the LDS Church attempts to bring a slice of the Family History >Library to your home town. Most average-sized towns have an LDS Family >History Center (FHC), and most small towns are within a reasonable drive >of one. The size of the FHC varies with locality, but most have a few >books and a modest microfilm collection. Their usefulness largely comes >from their ability to order most of the three million rolls of microfilm >from the library in Salt Lake, and deliver them to you within about a >week (depending on the enthusiasm of their volunteers). For $3.25, you >can view the microfilm for up to five weeks. You can't take the microfilm >from the FHC, but most FHCs have machines that can make copies from the >microfilm. If you don't know how to access the collection, volunteers can >take you through every step of the process. It works whether you are a >beginner or a pro. People of other religions may feel like they will go >to hell for setting foot in an LDS Temple; I'm a flamin' atheist and I've >never been struck by lightning for going there. Volunteers are instructed >NOT to discuss religion with the patrons. They may knock on your door at >home to witness, but they will not attempt to convert you at the FHC. >It's all about genealogy, not about religion. You know, like this list >ought to be. The volunteers I've met have been courteous, and have helped >me to the best of their abilities. They don't have tails and they don't >eat babies, like you would expect from cultists. Just go to a FHC, and >you will probably be amazed at the volume of information at your >disposal. You can find a listing of the nearest FHC at familysearch.org. > >It's just immoral to show disrespect for these people who are willing to >help so much, while asking for little to nothing in return. > >Brian > >Brian D. Core >P.O. Box 1166 >Brighton, CO 80601 >[email protected] Web Page: http://pages.prodigy.net/greenhouseguy >For attachments, use: [email protected] > >________________________________________________________________ >GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! >Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! >Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: >http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. > >