Article Re Helen Radkey

[Storm Rider]

Why does the Church allow an excommunicated member to comb the databases at it's family history library?

Because the genealogical library is open to all regardless of religious persuasion, color, creed, and sexual orientation. It is a service freely offered to all.

[inquiringmind]

Because the genealogical library is open to all regardless of religious persuasion, color, creed, and sexual orientation. It is a service freely offered to all.

I didn't know that.

Is there one central location in Utah, or are there branches in other localities as well?

[wenglund]

The light of truth is an excellent antiseptic. It drives out the fungus of dark corners and helps expose hidden agendas. Hers becomes very clear as more is learned of her motives and actions.

To bad it doesn't also work as a deodorant. We could do without the stench of bigotry and could use some fresh air.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[inquiringmind]

Helen Radkey is an agenda driven anti-Mormon. In 2003 she spoke at a 2003 Convention of American Atheists...

She is attempting to foment religious prejudice by coaxing the Simon Weisenthal Center into raising "a public stink" against the LDS Church, and by emphasizing that Romney's ancestors practice of polygamy

I don't find that at all surprising.

Has anyone noticed that they dug up a two year old speech that Santorum gave at a Catholic University (and are trying to make him look like an extremist because he said the devil was trying to destroy America)?

Or that since George Stephanopoulos showed an unusual and persistent interest in Romney's views on contraceptives, statements that Santorum made (and his own personal religious views on the subject) have become campaign issues?

There are a great many on the left who don't like people of faith--any faith--and who will find ways to attack them on the basis of their religious convictions (even while insisting that religion isn't the issue.)

[thesometimesaint]

That is the trouble with mixing religion and politics in a public setting. You're going to get feedback, and not all of it good, from not only those who disagree with you politically, but religiously as well. Mr. Santorum is essentially todays Fr. Caughlin.

[Daniel Peterson]

Is there one central location in Utah, or are there branches in other localities as well?

There are branches in LDS chapels across North America and beyond.

[Bob Crockett]

Because the genealogical library is open to all regardless of religious persuasion, color, creed, and sexual orientation. It is a service freely offered to all.

And indeed anybody (except those banned) may submit names, and many non-members do, even though they know temple work might be done for them (at least, that was the case in the past).

[Scott Lloyd]

Because the genealogical library is open to all regardless of religious persuasion, color, creed, and sexual orientation. It is a service freely offered to all.

But it can and does exclude anyone who abuses their privileges. I should think Radkey would warrant such exclusion.

Thing is, in this day and age, it is not necessary to go to the physical location in Salt Lake City in order to benefit from the services offered by the Church for family history research. The Family History Library is today a "library without walls."

[Calm]

Is there one central location in Utah, or are there branches in other localities as well?

If you are interested in genealogy, ask who is the Family History Specialist in the local ward or stake and they can tell you how things work and help get you going.

There are also free online courses for various genealogy classes at BYU. I just signed up, but haven't started a German genealogy class.

http://is.byu.edu/site/courses/free.cfm

Family History/Genealogy - Introductory

FHGEN 070 — Introduction to Family History Research

FHGEN 075 — Writing Family History

FHGEN 080 — Helping Children Love Your Family History

Family History/Genealogy - Record Type

FHREC 071 — Family Records

FHREC 073 — Vital Records

FHREC 076 — Military Records

Family History/Genealogy - Regional and Ethnic

FHFRA 071 — French Research

FHGER 071 — German Research

FHHUG 071 — Huguenot Research

FHSCA 073 — Scandinavian Resarch

[Scott Lloyd]

If you are interested in genealogy, ask who is the Family History Specialist in the local ward or stake and they can tell you how things work and help get you going.

There are also free online courses for various genealogy classes at BYU. I just signed up, but haven't started a German genealogy class.

http://is.byu.edu/si...ourses/free.cfm

The first stop ought to be the LDS website www.familysearch.org, which is the portal to the extensive family history services offered by the Church free of charge.

[Calm]

It should be and if I was thinking properly today, I would have mentioned that but instead I flashed back to last time I helped someone attempt to start his work up and he was one of those less comfortable with computers and needing one on one instruction to walk him through it.

[oats]

I forget if I opened all the links in the OP separately when it was first posted, so I can't say if they all worked. But the content at all (except the washington post) is now removed or the link is broken.

[BCSpace]

If Radkey succeeded in scuttling the practice, the church no longer would feel compelled to collect and maintain all those records -- a loss to Mormons and non-Mormons alike.

Those most harmed by last year's Vatican edict to stop allowing LDS researchers to copy parish records were, ironically, Catholics.

"Most parishes can't or don't answer letters because they are understaffed and their highest priority is the living, as it should be," Kathy Kirkpatrick, a Quaker and past president of Salt Lake City's professional genealogist association, said at the time. "Most folks don't have the resources to visit a parish in person ... and sometimes even a personal visit doesn't get access to the records."

http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_13926671