Thousands of family history enthusiasts from the United States and overseas are gathering in Salt Lake City this week for RootsTech, the world’s largest family history event. The three-day conference is open to the public and runs February 4-6, 2016, at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
Guests can learn how to find, preserve and share information about their ancestors in more than 250 classes and from more than 150 exhibitors scheduled for this year’s event.
Family history is attracting people of all ages who are engaging in storytelling and sharing memories about their families using social media, as well as new technologies and mobile apps.
The opening session begins with Stephen T. Rockwood, managing director for the Family History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and president and CEO of FamilySearch International. Other featured speakers include Paula Williams Madison, chairman and CEO of Madison Media Management LLC; Bruce Feiler, one of America’s most popular commentators about contemporary life; David Isay, broadcaster, documentarian and founder of StoryCorps, an ongoing oral history project; and Doris Kearns Goodwin, a world-renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Saturday, February 6, 2016, is a free Family Discovery Day at RootsTech. Attendees will receive inspirational messages, instructional classes, interactive activities and entertainment. Mormon leaders will address the crowd, including Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Ruth, and daughter, Ashley; Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, general president of the Primary; and Brother Stephen W. Owen, general president of the Young Men.
RootsTech attendees will also be able to hear from the Crescent Super Band, featuring singer Ryan Innes, and Lower Lights, a popular gospel and folk band.
Fifteen of RootsTech's popular sessions will be broadcast live and for free over the Internet for those who are unable to attend in person. For more information about RootsTech or to watch the live presentations, visit RootsTech.org.