Worlds Largest Genealogy Gathering Convenes, Connects Communities through Discovery and Innovation

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SALT LAKE CITY, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global family discovery event RootsTech is underway in Salt Lake City and online at RootsTech.org. It will run through March 8, 2025.

"We've learned, as you have all learned, when we find out how we're connected, we then treat each other differently."

"Our ultimate goal is to simply unite families — past, present and future," said Steve Rockwood, president and CEO of RootsTech sponsor FamilySearch, an international genealogy organization and popular website sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Speaking to news media on the morning of Thursday, March 6, 2025, in the Salt Palace Convention Center, Rockwood noted the "amazing thing" that happens when we find ways we are connected. "We've learned, as you have all learned, when we find out how we're connected, we then treat each other differently," Rockwood said. "You're going to feel that and see that throughout the conference."

The theme of RootsTech 2025 is "Discover," which points to the potential of new technologies.

"[Genealogical technology is] something that's happened in a significant manner in the last 100 years and now is at an accelerant pace in just the last 10 years," Rockwood said. "Last year, we saw incredible potential of what generative artificial intelligence (AI) can do to accelerate this work of allowing people to discover who they are. This year, it's not just buzz. You're going to see actual applications. You're going to see how it's accelerating the work in the back office that you and I usually don't see and how it's allowing us to take these incredible records, oral or written, and digitize them and make them searchable and deliver them to individuals."

As with previous years, the 2025 conference has offerings for seasoned genealogists and beginners. The event features hundreds of in-person and virtual classes (some available in more than 40 languages), interactive activities, and entertainment designed to inspire and educate family history enthusiasts of all levels. See the full class schedule. In the expo hall, patrons can learn more about the latest genealogical innovations and products Rockwood alluded to.

As of Thursday morning, registration for both the online (in the millions) and in-person events (15,000–20,000) was set to exceed previous years.

"Our attendee base is ever growing globally, with millions of people coming from over 230 countries and territories around the world," said RootsTech Director Jonathan Wing. "We as organizers never anticipated the type of appetite there is for this conference. We are thrilled by those who come."

This year's in-person keynotes are author Ndaba Mandela (grandson of Nelson Mandela), prominent artist Dana Tanamachi, Olympic and Paralympic gold medalists Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall, and Emmy Award-winning singer and songwriter Rachel Platten, who will take the main stage to share their unique and inspiring personal, family and historical experiences.

The pre-recorded virtual keynotes are Latin American social media family Los Chicaneros, Filipina musician Ysabelle Cuevas, and Italian TV personality Marco Lui.

RootsTech is also an opportunity to connect with old friends and make new ones. In 2024, RootsTech attendees made more than 350 million new family connections.

"Why do people want to participate in a family history conference?" asked Elder Kevin S. Hamilton of the Seventy, the executive director of the Church's Family History Department. "The answer to that is that this is hardwired into our DNA. This is something that we all care about. We want to connect. We want to belong. We want to be part of a family. We want to know where we come from. We are just delighted to be able to facilitate this."

Saturday's Family Discovery Day

Saturday, March 8, is Family Discovery Day, a free event at the Salt Palace Convention Center featuring live music and family history activities for all ages.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Kathy, will speak at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. They will share personal messages focused on accessing the blessings of the temple and family history. Elder Andersen plans to take attendees on a personal virtual journey with him back to the dairy farm of his formative years.

The session will include a performance by Piano Guys on the main stage. The music performance and the Andersens' address will be streamed live and available on demand on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Also, on Saturday, attendees can enjoy free RootsTech classes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In-person class seating will be limited. T. C. Christensen, John and Kimberly Bytheway, Scott and Angelle Anderson and others will present. Topics covered will include engaging teens in family discovery experiences, using your ancestors' stories to build emotional resilience, a Q&A panel on temple and family history callings, and Latter-day Saint genealogy.

SOURCE The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints