By CHAUNDRA WILSON
Chaundra@newsroom.byu.edu
Now opening more doors to the people of the world, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is adding a new international database and foreign language options to Personal Ancestral File 4.0.
On May 24, 1999, church's passion for family history took an international avenue as the LDS Church launched their Web site FamilySearch.
'This is not just an LDS site,' said Kim Farah, Media Relations Manager and spokesman for the LDS Church, 'it offers a great cross-section of the world.'
Farah projects that by March the site's seven million visitors will have access to the new searchable database, Pedigree Resource File. The database is constantly growing, expanding at a rate of 1,200 names a month.
'This database ... opens up wonderful avenues for research' -- Kim Farah, Media Relations for LDS Church
Development of the database began with the launch of FamilySearch and is a collection of all the information submitted to the site.
'This database contains all contributions to FamilySearch and the sources, which haven't been able to be traced conventionally,' said Farah. 'It opens up wonderful avenues for research.'
Paul Nauta, Family History Manager of Planning and Communication, said the site receives visitors from more than 100 nations.
Nauta also estimates that 40 percent of database information is contributed from nations outside the United States -- from European nations, Australia, and the Philippines.
'That means those of us with ancestral ties outside these areas may find increasing success in linking with our roots from their place of origin in the world,' said David E. Rencher, Director of Library Services.
Pedigree Resource File is contained on five discs, which are available for $15 at Church distribution centers. The free searchable index is accessible at www.familysearch.org
Farah said that by February, guests to the site will be able to download PAF 4.0 in Spanish, Portuguese, German and French.
Although the PAF program is not designed to provide any genealogical data, it aids in organizing family histories, charts and logs.
'It (the new site options) will make family history more interesting and accessible to a wider range of students,' said Julie Kaufman, a senior majoring in family history from Pennsylvania.
'Family history will be more appealing and approachable if it's in their own language and can be done from home.'
See related story: MyFamily.com ranks high in Nielsen/NetRatings