All of this, everything we do, everything that we're about, every possible activity of family search is driven by one thing.

And that's to nourish temples with names. That's President Nelson's quote.

The families come together, they identify their ancestors, they submit those names to the temple.

There is no purpose to genealogy without temple ordinances.

There is nothing we do that doesn't somehow relate back to the temple.

And so President Nelson's vision of bringing the temples closer and closer

to the people has really driven the work of the family history department.

We're not in this for the family history.

We're in this for the temples. We're in this because this is how we gather Israel on both sides of the veil.

This is John Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News. Welcome to the Church News podcast. Today we're taking you on a journey of connection as we discuss news and events of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I'm Trent Toon, a church news reporter guest hosting this episode.

On November 13, 1894, the Genealogical Society of Utah was created under the direction of Wilford Woodruff,

the fourth president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Today it is known as Family Search International, one of the world's largest genealogical organizations.

Family Search recently celebrated its 130th anniversary.

This episode of the Church News podcast features Elder Kevin S. Hamilton,

a General Authority 70 and executive director of the church's family history department.

Elder Hamilton is joined by Steve Rockwood,

CEO of Family Search International, to talk about the milestone, family search's growth,

technological advances, inspiring experiences, and how family history work helps nourish temple work.

This interview took place before the anniversary at the church office building.

Well, officially thank you for taking time to meet with me and discuss the 130th anniversary of family search,

...