Project 2: Memories

1. Go to the All the Stories site.
2. On the website, click Login, and then click Sign In at the FamilySearch prompt.
3. If this is your first time accessing the site, click Accept to share FamilySearch information with All the Stories. Then click Let's go to download up to 9 generations of stories for your ancestors in FamilySearch.
4. In the main part of the screen, hover over an ancestor circle to see how many stories are included on FamilySearch. Gray circle=no stories; light blue=1 or 2 stories; dark blue=3 or more stories.
5. Click an ancestor circle to display vital information about the ancestor.
6. In the left panel, or at the bottom of the main area, click a story title to open it. The approximate time for telling the story aloud is indicated next to the story title and author. To see the story in FamilySearch, click View in FamilySearch (upper right). To go back to the ancestor circle view, click Home (upper left).
7. In the main area, at the end of the story, a chart shows the relationship between you and the main person in the story. To see that person in FamilySearch, click the "View on FamilySearch" link.
8. To mark a story as a favorite, click the star (top menu bar). Stories marked as favorites appear at the top of the list.
9. To archive a story so it does not appear in the list, click Archive. It will appear at the bottom of the list of the left panel, under the Archive heading. To unarchive a story, click the archived story title in the left panel and then click Unarchive.
10. To search for a story that has a person's name in the title, type the name of the person in the Search bar (upper left).
11. To synchronize your story list with FamilySearch, click Synchronize (upper right).

Exercises

1. Locate stories of interest in your personal collections, including letters, family books, and personal memories. Note : Be aware of copyright issues if you are using a published source for a story.
2. Reach out to family for stories they might have about your ancestors, using ideas from these articles.
   
   We're Losing Generations of Family History Because We Don't Share Our Stories - 2019
   FS—Take the Time to Discover the Story, Save the Story, and Tell the Story - 2018


3. Find stories in libraries or on the internet for ancestors or their contemporaries.
   
   RT—Finding Your Family's Stories—4:05 - 2021
   
   
   

Exercise

Vault

If appropriate, collaborate with a family member or relative who can help with the details or the writing of the story.

Summary

1. When possible, add interesting historical details to flesh out an ancestor's life story.
   
   LDS—Preserving Family Stories


2. Watch these BYU webinars for ideas on creating stories about your ancestors.
   
   BYU—How to Write a Compelling Story about Your Ancestor—29:40   
     Finding a Storyteller
     Finding a Story
     Creating a Story
     Sharing a Story
   
   
   
   
   BYU—Digital Storytelling With Google Earth Projects—49:12   
   • What is digital storytelling?
   • What stories can I tell with a Google Earth Project?
   • Three versions of Google Earth
   • Using Google Earth
   
   
   
   


3. Study these tips for writing and recording family stories.
   
   18 Writing Tips for 2018


4. Learn how to use index cards to plot a family history story.
   
   How to Use Index Cards to Plot a Family History Story


5. Learn how to overcome writer's block when writing ancestor stories.
   
   AR: Break That Writer's Block: Ten Tips To Tap Into Your Creative Muse


6. For more ideas on how to write effective family histories and stories, visit the Family History Writing Studio site or read this article.
   
   FS—Writing Powerful Family History Stories


7. To learn about using the FamilySearch Memories app to record stories, read these blog posts.
   
   FS—FamilySearch Mobile Apps
   FS—Using FamilySearch Apps to Record Oral Histories

Resources

1. For ideas on writing a life sketch for an ancestor, read these documents.
   
   LDS—Me, a Biographer?
   Filling Your Family History Details


2. Here are some tips for writing biographies.
   
   LT—11 Do's and Don'ts of Writing Family Biographies
   LT—Bridging the Gap: Writing a Family Biography Others Will Want to Read


3. Social History: Learn about adding social history to your family history in this three-part video series.
   
   TFHG—Adding Social History to Family History, Part 1—10:18
   
   
   
   TFHG—Adding Social History to Family History, Part 2—6:19
   
   
   TFHG—Adding Social History to Family History, Part 3—14:13
   
   
   

Exercises

Note : Before uploading stories, make sure the content fits the approved guidelines found in this article.

FS—What rules apply to uploading memories to FamilySearch.org? - 2020

1. In the Memories tab of the Person page for your ancestor, click Add Memories.
2. Select Write a Story to build a new story.
3. If this is a brief story, title it and type it in the Story window. Or, you can type it in a word processor and copy and paste it into the Story window. If you need help writing, click "Not Sure What to Write?" (lower left).
4. If you want to add a new photo to the story, click Add Image (upper left) and follow the prompts.
5. To tag people in your story, follow the steps in this article.
   
   FS—How do I tag people in stories and audio files? - 2025


6. Click Next.
7. Select Public or Private and click Done.
8. To add an existing story,
   a) Click Select from Gallery;
   b) Select the story from the Gallery; and
   c) Click Attach.
9. You can also add, edit, or remove tags or information about the story, and you can perform actions, like, and share stories. These features are similar to those for photos; see Goal 6 for details.

Resources

1. For a review of adding stories, read these articles.
   
   RIV—Adding Stories to Family Tree
   FS—How do I add a story to Memories? - 2025


2. Learn about editing stories you have submitted.
   
   FS—How do I edit a story in Memories? - 2024

Exercises