Are You Really Getting Everything Out of FamilySearch? Take the “Honesty Test” Before You Search Again

Are You Really Getting Everything Out of FamilySearch?: We all love FamilySearch. It is one of the pillars of modern genealogy—a massive, free, and indispensable resource for family historians, LDS church members, and researchers worldwide. But here is the uncomfortable question I want you to ask yourself today: Are you actually using FamilySearch, or are you just scratching the surface?

It is easy to fall into a routine. We type a name into the main search bar, filter by a date, and hope for a hint. When the results dry up, we assume the record doesn’t exist. But the truth is, FamilySearch is a beast of a platform with layers of advanced tools, unindexed collections, and catalog features that 90% of users never touch.

If you are ready to stop guessing and start finding, I have a challenge for you. It involves a little bit of radical honesty, a free scorecard, and the ultimate roadmap to fixing your research gaps: Dana Ann Palmer’s Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch.

And the best part? For a limited time, you can get this game-changing book with FREE SHIPPING from Genealogical Publishing Company.

Click HERE to purchase and get FREE SHIPPING!

Are You Really Getting Everything Out of FamilySearch? The FamilySearch Skill Scorecard: A Reality Check

Before you buy another book or sign up for another webinar, you need to know exactly where you stand. I have developed a FamilySearch Skill Scorecard to help you measure your current abilities and identify the areas where stronger tools will make the biggest difference.

This isn’t a participation trophy. This is about identifying the holes in your research strategy that are keeping you from breaking through your brick walls.

How It Works

The scorecard breaks down the platform into critical “Core FamilySearch Skills.” For every skill you can honestly say you have mastered, you earn points.

Ask yourself these questions from the scorecard:

• Historical Records Search: Do you just type in names, or do you know how to “Adapt searches when results are poor” and effectively “Use filters & collections”?

• The Catalog: Can you “Find places in the Catalog” and actually “Understand record formats”? Most researchers ignore the catalog entirely, missing out on millions of offline or image-only records.

• The Family Tree: Are you confident in how to “Understand shared Family Trees,” “Evaluate & correct entries,” and “Attach sources correctly”? If you are terrified of messing up the One Tree, you need to check this box.

• Image-Only Collections: This is the big one. Can you “Locate image-only collections” and “Extract data from unindexed images”? If you are only looking at indexed records, you are missing the vast majority of what FamilySearch holds.

• Research Wiki & Planning: Do you “Consult [the Wiki] before new research” to “Learn about locations & records”?.

If you are reading through that list and realizing you have a lot of unchecked boxes, don’t panic. That is actually good news. It means your “missing” ancestor isn’t necessarily lost; they are just hiding in a feature you haven’t mastered yet.

Are You Really Getting Everything Out of FamilySearch? Why Your Score Matters

The scorecard assigns a value to your expertise: For each box checked, you earn a score of 2 pts out of a possible 60 points.

• Score 0-20: You are relying on luck. You find things when they are easy, but you hit walls fast.

• Score 20-40: You are proficient, but you likely get frustrated by “unindexed” records or confused by the shared Family Tree.

• Score 40-60: You are a power user, but even you might need help with “Full-Text Search & Advanced Tools” or “Brick Wall Problem-Solving” strategies.

Be honest with your score. Write it down. Look at the “Growth Opportunities” section of the scorecard. That empty space represents the ancestors you haven’t found yet.

Are You Really Getting Everything Out of FamilySearch? The Solution: Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch

Once you have identified your weak spots, you need a guide to fix them. You need Dana Ann Palmer’s Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch.

This book is designed specifically to elevate every skill you scored yourself on today. It is not just a manual; it is a curriculum for becoming a master researcher.

This guide covers the exact strategies needed to fill your scorecard:

• Mastering the Catalog: Learn to navigate the complex holdings that aren’t in the main search bar.

• Unlocking Unindexed Images: Learn the browsing strategies that allow you to page through digital microfilms just like the pros.

• Solving Brick Walls: Learn to “Switch creatively between resources” and “Experiment confidently”.

• Preserving Memories: Move beyond basic uploads and learn to “Preserve family history intentionally”.

The book is structured to help you “Build step-by-step plans” and “Combine tools strategically”  so you aren’t just searching—you are solving.

Are You Really Getting Everything Out of FamilySearch? A Special Offer for Genealogy Bargains Readers

We know that shipping costs can sometimes kill a great deal. That is why I am thrilled to share that Genealogical Publishing Company is offering FREE SHIPPING on this title for a limited time.

This is the perfect opportunity to grab a physical copy of the book to keep right next to your computer while you research. You can use it to tick off those boxes on your scorecard one by one until you reach that perfect 60/60.

Are You Really Getting Everything Out of FamilySearch? Your Next Steps: Assessment and Action

It is time to stop researching in the dark.

• Download the Skill Scorecard: Look at the attached image or PDF. Go through the “Historical Records Search,” “Family Tree,” “Catalog,” and “Research Planning” sections.

• Be Brutally Honest: If you don’t know how to “Find substitutes” or “Know when to use full-text” search, leave the box blank.

• Get the Guide: Click the link below to purchase Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch with Free Shipping.

Don’t let your research skills plateau. Turn your “Growth Opportunities” into “Research Breakthroughs”. Your ancestors are waiting for you to level up.

About the Book

• Title: Ultimate Guide to Mastering FamilySearch
• Author: Dana Ann Palmer
• Publisher: Genealogical Publishing Company
• Offer: Free Shipping (Limited Time)

Note: Prices and availability subject to change. Please verify terms on the Genealogical Publishing Company website.

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Author’s Note: I want to be transparent that this content – Are You Really Getting Everything Out of FamilySearch? Take the “Honesty Test” Before You Search Again – was created in part with the help of an artificial intelligence (AI) language model – Gemini Pro 3. The AI assisted in generating an early draft of the article, but every paragraph was subsequently reviewed, edited, and refined by me. The final content is the result of extensive human curation and creativity. I am proud to present this work and assure readers that while AI was a tool in the process, the story, style, and substance have been carefully shaped by the author.