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This story is sponsored by RootsTech. Learn more about RootsTech.
A thoughtful and personal gift is one that allows someone to connect with their past, and with today's resources and technology, it's never been easier.
If you've been to downtown Salt Lake City in late winter, you've probably noticed large crowds and multiple conventions. One of the most popular annual conventions held around that time is the RootsTech conference. RootsTech, hosted by the largest genealogy organization in the world, FamilySearch, is all about helping you discover your story, history and family legacy.
If you know someone interested in family history, a ticket to attend RootsTech is a thoughtful and amazing gift.
This year, the event is being held Feb. 27 through March 3, with more than 300 breakout sessions, an exciting lineup of celebrity keynote speakers and other activities, all designed to help make exploring your family connections an unforgettable experience.
RootsTech's reputation has been growing steadily each year, gaining recognition even on a global level. With speakers from past years including LeVar Burton, the Property Brothers, Scott Hamilton, Buddy "Cake Boss" Valastro and Brandon Stanton, RootsTech has garnered the attention of thousands worldwide, expanding into conferences being held in London.
Saroo Brierly, of 'Lion" movie fame is keynote speaker
This year's keynote speaker, Saroo Brierly, is one of RootsTech's most famous keynote speakers yet; one who knows well the power of family connection. After losing contact with his family as a 5-year-old boy at a train station in India, Brierly was later adopted and raised by an Australian family. But he was unable, and unwilling, to forget the land of his childhood.
Determined to rediscover his past, Brierly pored over Google Earth and eventually managed to recognize his hometown — and track down his birth mother.
Their reunion in 2012 made headlines across the world, his full story recounted in his No. 1 international best-selling autobiography, "A Long Way Home." Brierly's story has since been made into the film "Lion," which went on to be nominated for six Academy Awards in 2016.
Stories like this are not uncommon at RootsTech. With technology and popular genealogy sites such as FamilySearch and Ancestry growing and offering billions of historical records, finding your past has never been this exciting.
One particular aspect of genealogical research that has piqued the popular interest recently is DNA testing. With one easy test, it is now possible to see exactly where you came from and get answers about your genetic makeup. Sourcing from more than 350 geographic regions worldwide, these tests can show your ancestors' movements and give possible explanations about why your ancestors migrated as they did. These tests, according to Ancestry, can even go so far as to explain where your freckles come from, where that cleft chin could have started or from where your cilantro aversion stems.
There has never been a better time to discover your roots, and RootsTech is the best place to begin. Dedicated to celebrating family connections, both past and present, the upcoming RootsTech conference is the perfect gift for a loved one to discover their past and, in turn, discover themselves.