Fast Accurate Research Tips

While the intentions of Pandora's Hope Chest are noble, there are problems. "PLEASE NOTE: There is no guarantee that this information is accurate. It is your responsibility to verify before submitting to the temple. This tool is not intended to be a replacement for diligent and thoughtful genealogical research." This is not an inherent problem with Pandora's Hope Chest, but a problem with the data in Family Tree.

There is much good data in Family Tree, but most of it is not sourced and subject to error. Also, most of the "green arrows" in Family Tree are duplicate entries (many of which Pandora's Hope Chest or Family Tree do not find accurately).

The First Presidency has counseled, “Because of the sacred nature of this work, members should be diligent in assuring the accuracy of all information submitted” (First Presidency, June 1995), This policy has been recently restated:

https://familysearch.org/ask/productSupport#/Research-and-provide-accurate-information-when-submitting-names-for-temple-ordinances-1381812096436. (Must log in with an LDS account to view).

President Hinckley also counseled “One of the most troublesome aspects of our temple activity is that … there is duplication of effort in proxy work" (Opening Remarks,” General Conference, October 2005).

Also, you are probably not related to many persons that show up in the Hope Chest temple list. The First Presidency has stated, "Those whose names are submitted for proxy temple ordinances should be related to the submitter” (First Presidency, February 2012).

One may ask "why am I not related to persons who show up in my Family Tree pedigree"? The reason is due to the overall accuracy of the information in Family Tree.

A recent poll of experts estimated that the accuracy of each relationship in Family Tree is 92.1%. On the surface, this looks good. However, when compounded over several generations, it is not good. If a user is separated from someone in Family Tree by only 5 unverified generations, the chance they are related drops to 66.2%, over 10 generations, to 43.9%.

In the one instance of using Pandora's Hope Chest where I was able to trace my relationship to the purported ancestor needing ordinances, there were 16 generations between me an this "ancestor". If each generation is not verified, there is only a 26.8% chance that I am even related. Unfortunately, all "ancestors" needing ordinances on the Hope Chest list, do not show your relationship to the person.

I am all for submitting names for our ancestors, but we need to follow the counsel of the First Presidency when doing so. In most cases of using Pandora's Hope Chest, it is impossible to follow that counsel because you cannot accurately determine if you are really related to the person.

I realize it is difficult for many whose ancestors work is mostly complete to find names to take to the temple. For those persons, I suggest using Puzzila.org, because when using Puzzilla, you can trace your relationship to those you are submitting. Also, when one adds a name to Family Tree, there is a higher chance that the ordinances haven't been previously completed compared to finding a green arrow in Family Tree.

I hope all who read this will take the time to review the following presentations. In our zeal to submit names to the temple, if we do not follow the counsel of the First Presidency as mentioned above, we hinder the work rather that hasten it.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87166934/Serve%20a%20Time%20Machine%20Mission.pptx

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/87166934/Using%20Puzilla.pptx