Family discovery is more popular than ever. The U.S. has a remarkable interest in tracing its ancestral roots. Fact MR cites that 45% of the global market share in genealogy services comes from North American accounts.
RootsTech,the world’s largest family discovery conference being held March 6 to 8 in Salt Lake City, is more than a family history conference and trade show that helps people learn about their family history. It’s a celebration of discovery.
Conference sponsor FamilySearch expects over 20,000 people to attend in person. But the the real value might attending the conference virtually, which is free for anyone. The family discovery global expert provides tools to help people find their lost loved ones or gain insight into their ancestors.
Family Search Helping the World Discover Its Roots
In a post-pandemic world, many are searching for silver linings. Rachel Crump Mattheus, RootsTech Experience Manager, was recently on Salt Lake City’s ABC affiliate, KTVX-4. She shared one such glimmer of hope: connecting people with relatives they never met or knew they had. When the world locked down during COVID, RootsTech went online and marketed to people interested in tracing their ancestry. Mattheus shared that the organization went from sharing two online classes in one language to 507 courses in 23 languages.
“There are a couple of things shaping this industry, but at the core of it is that we all want to know who we are, where we came from, and have a sense of our own history,” she said. “You find
The genealogy market is set to surpass $15B by 2033. Organizations like RootsTech are why. (Image Credit: @CottonBroStudio via Pexels)
stories of strength, of fortitude, of overcoming things, and find connection, and we crave that in society today.”
The global conference, featuring organizations like Ancestry.com and FamilySearch, aims to help thousands learn about themselves and their extended families. This year’s theme is “Discovery.” RootsTech seeks to inspire an estimated 20,000 people to attend in person. Thousands more people will attend online to make connections, reach new family members, and uncover personal stories.
Keynote speakers include Ndaba Thembekile Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, who discusses social justice and youth empowerment. Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall gained fame for winning gold medals in their categories at the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Lastly, Dana Tanamachi is known for her artistic talent in chalk lettering, with commissions from Nike, Ralph Lauren, and others since her work went viral in 2009.
Mattheus speaks from experience about the technology FamilySearch offers and was inspired by what she found.
“As I was looking at connections with cousins around the world, I found I had cousins on one of my Danish lines that were living in Brazil,” she said. “I had never thought about how my family might have emigrated to places other than where my own immediate ancestors ended up.”
FamilySearch wants everyone to know they don’t have to wait for RootsTech—they can begin exploring immediately with genealogy tools, including:
Tracing a family’s origins is profitable and fulfilling. (Image Credit: Susanne Jutzeler + Suju-foto via Pexels)
Family discovery is more popular than ever. The U.S. has a remarkable interest in tracing its ancestral roots. Fact MR cites that 45% of the global market share in genealogy services comes from North American accounts. Today, the current market is doing much more than connecting families; it is expanding medical research.
Medical research pioneer Pfizer researched the causes and effects of lupus to help reduce rising costs and cases. The company used mail-in DNA kits to “find genetic clues that may someday lead to more precise treatments” via mail-in saliva samples and online questionnaires. An independent institutional review board is responsible for the approximately 5,000 people in the study.
Mera Tilley, director of Pfizer’s Early Clinical Development group, said in the online article, “We can find genetic variants that correlate with how patients respond to therapies; it’s an excellent basis for precision medicine strategies for clinical studies going forward.” Researchers found that the DNA kits provide results similar to those of clinical research studies.
“Our results were nearly identical,” said Tilley. “If you have a large enough sample size, self-reported data can be a valid tool.”
Organizations like Pfizer and FamilySearch, which have existed in some form since 1894, are paving the way for using this technology for good. In February 2014,FamilySearch partnered with Ancestry.com, Findmypast, and MyHeritage. This partnership included sharing portions of FamilySearch’s databases to help people discover more about themselves and their extended family.
The global conference features outlets from RootsTech, FamilySearch, and other leading genealogy organizations. Attendees are encouraged to discover more about themselves and their extended family. The three-day event is available in person or online for free.
One-day passes are $69, and discount three-day passes are only $99.
Shawn Paul Wood, Th.D., is an award-winning copywriter, contributor, and content strategist, and ghostwriter of several faith-based articles, speeches, columns, and books who has worked for some of the most admirable brands in their respective industries for over 20 years.
As Founder of Woodworks Communications, he leads teams of content strategists and marketing professionals to expand the brands of corporate leaders, serial entrepreneurs, and respected ministers of the Gospel.
He aims to help others develop self-discovery through stories and the written word to proclaim the Word to the world. For more information about his portfolio or help telling your story, visit WoodworksCommunications.com. You can read more about the author here.
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