This is not an official, Church-sponsored blog. This blog is maintained by the Burley FamilySearch Center for the purpose of sharing pertinent information about family history. This blog will replace our newsletter, look for updates monthly.
County fairs, school, and the remaining days on the river are memories waiting to be slammed into the family history books. And even if you’re not showing a calf or don’t have a family member attending school, you can still come up with some fun, creative ways to preserve memories. For example, let’s say you attend the rodeo. What do you do with ticket stubs, food wrappers, or other random paraphernalia that ends up in the car? Or perhaps you drive by your old high school and a memory pops up of way back when. Then what?
Memory Preservation
Memories come to you for a reason. They remind us of the past and help us build a stronger future. They also are a great time to preserve said memories. Rodeo items can be photographed, smash booked, scrapbooked, and stored in a myriad of ways. High school memories can be video journaled, blogged, or journaled about as well. And don’t let this list stop you. Find your way of memory preservation. You’ll thank your past self someday. \
Keeping A Journal
Journals have remarkably different styles depending on the person. Some just write out day by day while others record certain moments or testimonies. One favorite is gratitude journals where the individual writes about their day, focusing on the positive (which can be much easier said than done in this crazy world).
Donating Journals
Also, did you know you can donate journals to be stored by the Church History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Delicate journals that require attention or that no longer have a living firsthand relative are especially desired for preservation. Contact them by phone or an online form to see if they’d be interested in your journals.
Finding Family History in our Independence and Pioneer Roots
Independence Day
One of the most beloved holidays, the Fourth of July, has come and gone again. Fireworks, watermelon, parades, a bunch of memories waiting to be preserved through photographs, journals, and more. July is also normally a month of fabulous weather, so even more memories like swimming lessons, picnics, river boating, races, and ball games come to fruition as well. A good summer goal is to preserve as much as you can for your future self and future generations to enjoy.
The key to preserving memories is finding something that is easy and fun for you and your family that is unique to you. Some take pictures while others paint, and some keep mementos. Whatever the case, if you can do it in such a way that everyone is involved—many hands make light work.
July Memory-Making Ideas
Compile a summer scrapbook where every family member contributes their own page about their summer. This can include photographs, quotes, and even pieces of items (such as a candy wrapper or a piece of parade tinsel).
Create a family video using photographs and video content (you know some of the family are snap chatting and stuff). Encourage all that have a phone to participate.
Create a family folder system where they can share photos and videos for people to access and view. Many sites, such as Google Drive are relatively free or inexpensive.
Pioneer Day
Another beloved holiday is Pioneer Day, honoring those that settled the Magic Valley. So many of the community are descendants of those stalwart individuals who dug canals, settled towns, homesteaded farms, and built the communities we know and love. There are many ways to honor and make memories about these people as well.
Film a “documentary” of about five minutes of an individual or a specific family’s life. Interview family members that knew them. Tell the stories about them using photographs and voiceovers. And maybe make a tradition of it every year.
Make your own mini pioneer camp or trek. Research the activities they did and set it up for the entire family to participate. One family I know plays the game Stretch. It’s a semi-dangerous knife throwing game, but nearly everyone remembers playing it with their grandfather.
Design a garden feature or floral arrangement that honors the pioneers. It can be hand drawn or actually executed in a garden. Include flowers that family members enjoyed (or fit their culture or previous country’s native flora) and anything else that applies. For example, many people enjoy using old tractor or trucks as garden features that they’ve inherited from relatives.
All in all, July is a month of memories. Enjoy the sunshine, the laughter, and the new memories you make when visiting the old ones.
Song of the Month
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Family History: Wedding Research and Juneteenth
June Weddings
“Oh they say when you marry in June, you’re a bride all your life,” is the line from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (an excellent family fun film, by the way). June seems to be the time of, if not the wedding itself, then the planning of it. Invitations, decorations, Hallmark channel research, making the in-laws mad, color matching, temple and other venue scheduling, catering, and the list doesn’t seem to want to end. June is also an excellent month to research other weddings, ancestral ones.
Family History Weddings
It took 1,024 people to create you if you’re looking at the most recent ten generations before you. That’s a lot of weddings, elopements, and the like. And every person has them. If not planning for an actual wedding, why not look up the past? Oftentimes there were announcements or posts in the newspaper, some photographs, and guest lists. Ask relatives about the ones they remember. Usually it’s something about the weather, but asking for more details can give you a fun picture of the past.
Some activities you can do along with this include:
Wedding Scrapbooking: find, print, and paste all the wedding pictures you can find into one place. You can also add side-detail information like their themes, the temple, etc.
Vision Board: taking the general consensus of the weddings you examine, make a traditional family wedding based on all of the previous. Use pictures and words to illustrate what a “traditional” wedding in your family looks like. (This one would be especially fun for 10-12 year old girls).
Collage: Find and print off all the wedding pictures of the couples you can find. Then cut and paste them together on a large piece of cardstock paper.
‘Guess who?’ Cards: create flip cards with pictures of the couple on the front, their names and wedding date on the back. These could easily become a memento to use at family weddings and receptions. Lamination is recommended.
Heritage Wedding Map: mark where each relative was born and then connect the markings to where they were married. I imagine the bigger the map, the easier that would be to accomplish.
Juneteenth
Another aspect of June is the upcoming Juneteenth on June 19th. In Texas, slavery was officially abolished on that day and others have quickly adapted it as a national holiday against the abolishment of slavery in general. Perhaps, this would be a good month to do your family research on Civil War era happenings. Some were directly involved with the Civil War, some were immigrating still, and others were exploring and frontiering throughout the West.
Some activities you can do along with this include:
Create a timeline of family events from 1850 to 1890.
Watch a Civil War-themed film such as The Red Badge of Courage.
Map out the frontier during the Civil War era and any social events that happened.
Read the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. It’s worth the read.
Create a slideshow depicting any known photographs in the family from between 1850 to 1890.
Weddings, emancipation, frontier exploration, and family history can all be rolled in together like a giant cinnamon roll this June. Have fun!
Song of the Month
Calendar
Check the calendar for classes and other opportunities!
Important Dates
June 15th | Closed for Father's Day
June 29th-July 5th | Closed for Independence Day
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May is a month chuck full of celebration, making it the perfect time to reflect on the importance of family history. From "May the 4th Be With You" to Cinco de Mayo and Memorial Day, each observance connects us to traditions, stories, and values passed down through generations.
Holiday 1
"May the 4th Be With You" started as a playful nod to Star Wars fans but has grown into a celebration of storytelling and legacy (and sometimes even blue milk at the grocery store). Just like the Skywalkers and Solos, our own families carry sagas filled with triumphs, struggles, and hope. Sharing these stories helps younger generations understand where they come from — and inspires them to dream about where they're going.
Activities for May 4th:
Create a "Family Galaxy" tree, mapping ancestors like a Star Wars family tree using stars or constellations.
Host a Star Wars-themed movie marathon with family trivia breaks that could relate to moments in the movie. Chewbacca Nobake cookies are also a great idea.
Make custom "family crest" shields inspired by Star Wars houses.
Record a video where each family member tells their own "origin story." Feel free to dress in costume as well.
Dress up and do a photo shoot imagining your family in a galaxy far, far away. You can even edit out backgrounds or set up homemade backdrops, fans, and lights for fun special effects.
Holiday 2
Cinco de Mayo, often misunderstood as Mexico’s Independence Day, actually commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over France at the Battle of Puebla. It's a reminder of resilience, unity, and cultural pride. For families with Mexican heritage, it’s an opportunity to share tales of ancestors who stood strong in the face of adversity.
Activities for Cinco de Mayo:
Cook a traditional family recipe together and talk about its history.
Create a scrapbook highlighting Mexican heritage and family stories.
Learn and perform a traditional Mexican dance together. Line dances are also festive.
Share family stories of immigration or cultural milestones.
Host a "heritage showcase" where each family member presents a cultural craft or story.
Holiday 3
Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the incredible women who nurture and shape our families. It’s also a moment to honor generations of mothers and grandmothers who passed down traditions, strength, and love. Family history lives strongly through the stories of mothers — the keepers of recipes, dreams, memories, and values. Activities for Mother’s Day:
Create a family "Mothers Through the Generations" photo collage.
Record interviews with moms and grandmas sharing their favorite memories.
Bake a special family recipe passed down by a mother or grandmother.
Write letters of appreciation to mothers in your family history.
Plant a garden together, dedicating it to the mothers in your family.
Holiday 4
Later in the month, Memorial Day invites all Americans to pause and honor those who gave their lives in service to the nation. Many families have personal connections to military history, with loved ones who served in wars and conflicts. Sharing their stories — their courage, sacrifice, and dreams — keeps their memory alive and honors their place in the broader American story.
Activities for Memorial Day:
Visit a cemetery or memorial and leave flowers in honor of veterans.
Create a memory wall at home featuring photos and stories of family service members.
Write letters to active-duty military members or veterans.
Organize a family "history night" to share military service stories.
Make a family timeline that highlights important moments of service and sacrifice.
Each of these days, in their unique way, encourages us to connect with our roots. Family history isn't just about names and dates; it's about the spirit, courage, and values that flow through us. As we celebrate, let's take time to listen, share, and preserve the legacies that continue to guide and inspire us.
Song of the Month
Coming This Summer
Calendar
Check the calendar for classes and other opportunities!
Important Dates
May 8th Closed for Carpet Cleaning
May 11th Closed for Mother's Day
May 25-26th Closed for Memorial Day Weekend
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Easter and Family History: Connecting Faith, Family, and Tradition
It's almost April, and Easter month and all of its family activities, traditions, and celebrations are nearly upon us. This makes it a time of renewal, faith, and family togetherness. It is a perfect opportunity to reflect on Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice and Resurrection and to explore our own family history while we're at it, connecting past generations with the present, but maybe without those jellybeans from the 1980s. 😂 By merging Easter with family and especially some historical exploration, we create meaningful experiences.
Family History Activities for Easter
Create a Family Tree (Of course!) – Easter symbolizes new life, making it a great time to revisit and document your family lineage. Work together as a family to create a family tree, sharing stories of faith and perseverance from past generations. This can be more online with FamilySearch, Ancestry, or Puzzila or can be physical and creative with a tree limb and some masking tape.
Storytelling and Testimonies – At one of the natural family gatherings that occur, gather loved ones and share stories of ancestors, especially Easter or Christ-related ones. Reflect on how their trials and success parallel the message of hope found in Christ’s Resurrection. Maybe someone started a tradition your family still does today. Why is that?
Resurrection Egg Hunt – Incorporate scripture passages into a traditional egg hunt by placing written or printed Bible verses related to Jesus’ Resurrection inside each egg. For another fun twist, you can add glitter, small objects that help with symbols in the verses, or flowers. As children find them, discuss the significance of each verse. Encourage discussion while waiting for the next egg to be found.
Write Letters to Future Generations – Encourage family members to write letters sharing their testimony, Easter memories, or thoughts on faith. These letters can be saved in a family history book to inspire future generations. Pictures of family, drawings, and pressed flowers are other additions.
Easter Time Capsule – Have family members contribute meaningful items such as letters, photos, scripture verses, or small mementos that reflect their faith and Easter celebrations. Seal them in a container to be opened at a future Easter gathering, creating a lasting connection across generations. Challenge Version: Fit it all into one Easter egg to be found for the next year!
Connecting Easter to Christ and Family
Just as Jesus’ resurrection brings the promise of eternal life, our heritage and family stories remind us of the little things that matter. By remembering and honoring our ancestors, we strengthen our personal and familial identity and deepen our appreciation for God’s plan.
Song of the Month
General Conference Helps
Conference is applicable to any age. It can just take a bit to get everyone to participate all together. Here are some ideas to help you out this General Conference. Good luck!
Here are five ideas for each age group to help make watching LDS General Conference more engaging:
Toddlers
Conference Activity Box – Fill a box with quiet toys, coloring supplies, and simple puzzles to keep little hands busy. It's a great opportunity to practice for church attendance and public meeting settings as well that young ones oftentimes struggle with.
Conference Snack Time – Prepare snacks such as graham crackers or marsh mellows that can be utilized during slow parts of the conference.
Music & Movement Breaks – Let toddlers dance to conference hymns or move around between sessions.
Sticker Chart – Give them a sticker each time they hear words like "Jesus," "love," or "family."
Blanket Fort – Like King Benjamin's people pitched their tents around his tower, you can set up a cozy corner with pillows or a blanket fort directed toward the modern revelation.
Kids
Conference Bingo – Create a bingo card with words or topics likely to be mentioned (e.g., "temple," "faith," "service") or pictures of potential speakers such as the First Presidency and twelve apostles.
Building Challenge – Have kids build something with blocks or Legos based on a talk’s theme such as bridging faith or the Good Samaritan.
Quiet Busy Bag – Fill a bag with gospel-related activity books, stickers, and small fidget toys. Have them regularly alternate between activities if they tire easily.
Tweens
Note-Taking Challenge – Provide a fun journal for doodling, writing quotes, or recording impressions. You can use the same one every year or pass the notebook around the family.
Prophet & Apostle Match-Up – Print photos of speakers and have tweens match them to their names as they come up to speak. You can also add fun facts about them on the back of the pictures.
Conference Word Search – Create a word search with gospel terms related to conference.
Snack Break Rewards – Let them pick a favorite treat after listening actively to a talk. Yes, even tweens get hangry.
Teens
Social Media Share – Encourage them to share a favorite quote or thought online.
Fantasy General Conference – Ask them to fill out a bracket before starting and see how correct they are throughout the conference.
Artistic Expression – Let them create digital art, hand lettering, or a meme with a favorite quote from the session or conference.
Spiritual Goal-Setting – Challenge them to set a personal goal inspired by conference messages and write it down.
Conference Walk & Talk – Take a short walk between sessions while discussing insights. This also refreshes them for the next session.
Young Adults
Group Watch Party – Invite friends or roommates to watch together with food and discussion breaks.
Live Tweet or Journal – Take notes or post about inspiring quotes in real time. Sketch notes are also really fun.
Temple Trip Plan – Write down everything related to temples and family history. Use conference as motivation to plan a visit to the temple soon, giving you insights on how to plan it for you and your friends.
Hot Cocoa Bar – Set up a shop-style atmosphere with warm drinks and cozy seating on a morning session of conference. Apple cider and other cozy drinks are great alternatives.
Parents
Themed Treats – Make themed snacks related to gospel topics (e.g., "bread of life" cinnamon rolls).
Family Ponder & Share – Encourage a brief reflection time after each session. Three minutes or less is achievable!
Multi-Task – Fold laundry, meal prep, or do light tasks while listening.
Personal Study Journal – Write personal impressions and ways to apply talks in family life. Try to be specific to yourself and your family rather than writing down what was said.
Couple Discussion Time – Share favorite moments with your spouse after each session.
Grandparents
Virtual Conference Chat – Set up a family group chat to share thoughts during talks or real-time watch the Conference together with loved ones that live far away.
Conference Traditions – Create a special tradition, like a family meal between sessions or a board game.
Send a Post-Conference Letter – Write a letter to grandkids about a favorite talk and testimony.
Personal Reflection – Use conference time to ponder legacy and personal gospel insights. Record thoughts in a journal.
Calendar
Check the calendar for classes and other opportunities!
Important Dates
April 5th-6th General Conference- Center closed
April 12th Passover
April 13th Palm Sunday
April 20th Easter Sunday- Center closed
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