SALT LAKE CITY — The numbers are impressive.
More than 300,000 Mormons are registered to do indexing work on images available online.
Three hundred million names are being indexed each year.
But the need is huge and growing dramatically larger and faster than the current crop of volunteer indexers can handle.
"We really need millions (of volunteers)," said Paul Nauta, FamilySearch manager of public affairs. "We're grateful for whatever help we get so with that in mind, we say, 'Thanks, but we need more.'"
Nauta said the indexing program is the largest volunteer initiative of its kind and is making a major difference for genealogists as the key life events of billions of people are preserved and shared for free.
"We get plaudits all the time from people who've searched for a particular name or family for decades. Suddenly they've found the information. We know that's coming from the indexing effort," Nauta said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is dedicated to searching out people who lived on the Earth and died without saving ordinances.
Years ago, church officials began filming the records and did so for 80 years.
Now part of the indexing program includes converting 2.5 million rolls of those microfilmed records to an accessible database.
Meanwhile, more than 180 camera teams are currently working the world over in more than 100 countries to photograph all kinds of vital and informational records.
The results — millions of records from birth certificates to tax notices to census log sheets — are then scanned online and volunteer indexers pull them up and put the information into a searchable index.
"There is an endless, insatiable need for indexers," Nauta said. He said older people, Scouts, Young Men, Young Women, anyone who has a few minutes, can help, but what he really needs are volunteers who can consistently contribute their time.
The teenagers in Nauta's household are permitted to use the computer on Sundays for indexing.
The youths in an American Fork, Utah, stake are working to index enough names to fill LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.
"Many do it simply to 'pay it forward.' Others because it feels good. Others because it's a calling or they feel it's a directive from the Lord," Nauta said. Whatever the reason, it helps push genealogy work forward, he said.
Of the 300,000 registered LDS indexers, only about 20 percent are active on a daily basis, he said.
Indexing isn't difficult, but it takes time and focus. It can be done from a home computer in whatever slice of time is available. Batches can be shared, done a bit at a time or even returned if they prove to be too difficult. Th
ose with expertise in a variety of languages are especially valuable.
Every record is indexed twice and then arbitrated to help ensure a high level of accuracy.
For those new to indexing, there is usually a high councilor or ward specialist who can help get an indexer started.
Anyone — non-Mormons included — can go to the website: indexing.familysearch.org to learn and to register.
Projects are currently active in the United States, England, Wales, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, Argentina and Venezuela with more coming online all the time.
In addition, support personnel are standing by at 866-406-1830 to help answer questions and resolve problems. (Every 90 days or so, there's an upgrade or change to the indexing system, so it's a good idea to keep the help number handy.)
How to begin indexing
Go to www.FamilySearch.org and click on "Indexing."
Sign in and/or register (optional: your membership record number and confirmation date, available from your ward clerk)
Sign in, check "work on batch" and follow the instructions.
e-mail: haddoc@desnews.com