Technology, shared family trees, and billions of records online are connecting and engaging grandparents, parents, and children in fun, interactive ways. At the new 8,000 square foot Lehi Utah FamilySearch Center, located at 3201 Garden Drive at Thanksgiving Point, you'll find youth groups and generations of families huddled around 55-inch touch-screen monitors, discovering how they are related, looking at fun stories and photos of their ancestors, and discussing how their stories provide inspiration as they face their own daily challenges. The open house for the new center will be January 18–20, 2018. The facility is free to the public.

“The new Lehi FamilySearch Center is a place for families to gather and discover together," said Elder Bradley D. Foster, Executive Director for FamilySearch. "We see family members, young and old, all over the world, getting involved with their family history. When we make personal connections with our ancestors through their history, photos, and stories, it changes us. It can heal us, close deep divides, and give us strength. You think differently and begin to treat other people differently."

Elder Foster said, “The more you discover about your own family, the more you will realize we are all part of Heavenly Father’s family.” He extended a personal invitation to everyone to come see the new FamilySearch Center and experience as a family what can happen when we discover who we are.

Guests of all ages will love exploring the inviting new facility on the west side of Thanksgiving Point with all of its immersive, interactive activities. Children can interview parents and grandparents in high definition video in the studio recording rooms, and parents and grandparents can record fond memories with their posterity for future generations to remember and enjoy. There's also a children's area where parents can do a little family research while keeping an eye on toddlers.

Youth and groups will appreciate the inviting modern design, with casual seating and collaboration areas. Interactive learning stations will help them discover the meaning of their names and other interesting facts about their name and the year they were born.

The center has over 100 computers, and special equipment will also enable guests to transfer precious family memories they have on old VHS tapes to DVD. They can also digitally preserve printed family photos and scrapbooks to USB drives or upload them directly to their free FamilySearch.org accounts where they can be preserved long term and more readily shared. All of these services are free.

It is recommended that guests create a free FamilySearch Account at FamilySearch.org and begin building their family tree, adding photos and stories before arriving to ensure a personalized, rich experience.

For additional information or to book group reservations, visit the center’s website at familysearch.org/fhc/Lehi. The center's phone number is 801-356-5820.

Following is the public open house schedule:

• Thursday, January 18, 2018, 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, January 19, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, January 20, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The center will officially open on Monday, January 22, 2018. Normal center hours will be Monday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

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