1. See What’s Been Done
Depending on how long your family has been in the Church, you may have a pretty full tree that goes back many generations. Take a minute to navigate FamilySearch Family Tree to get to know your ancestors’ names.
2. Keep the Sabbath Day holy
Exploring your family history is one of the best ways to keep the Sabbath day holy.
3. Top-10 Lists
Create top-10 lists from your life experiences: Top-10 Favorite Breakfast Cereals as a Kid. Top-10 Mission Experiences. Top-10 Favorite Scriptures. Each of these is a window into your mind.
4. Upload Photos to FamilySearch
Scan your old photos. Then log on to FamilySearch and upload them to your “My Memories” gallery. Or migrate photos from your Google Photos or Instagram accounts. Then write a bunch of captions.
5. Smartphone Stories
Download a recording app on your smartphone, then ask each member of your family to record themselves telling a funny memory of you.
6. Make a “Day in the Life” Video
Use your smartphone to record a 10-second video of yourself at the top of every hour for a whole day. Then edit the clips together. You may not win an Oscar, but your grandkids will love it.
7. Collect Your Sacrament Talks
They’re all there on your hard drive. Put them together. Your testimony will bless your posterity.
8. Download Your Facebook Data
Go to Facebook.com/settings. On the left, choose “Your Facebook Information.” Then choose “Download Your Information.” And voilà!
9. Lip Sync/Karaoke/Dance Party
What five songs have influenced you the most? Film yourself singing them. Or lip-syncing them. Or just cutting a rug to them. Rest assured—this will be an instant family treasure. Wouldn’t you love to have video of your great-great-grandmother dancing?
10. Favorite Recipes
Collecting your favorite meals will let posterity make them too and experience firsthand what it was like around your table.
(Adapted from the article “Eight Funtastic Ways to Jump-Start Your Personal History in the October issue of the Ensign magazine)
