Press "Enter" to skip to content

The Importance of Index Reviewing

Searchable records are a huge part of what makes family history
research possible. A lot happens to a record from the time it is found in the
basement of an old municipal building or some other place to the moment it is published
online for you to find. Indexing is
one of those very important steps, but what comes next is equally important.

Reviewing is the
quality check that takes place after a record is indexed. Batches of indexed
records must go through this step before they can be published.

The Reviewer behind the Index

Reviewing is an essential step in making records searchable on FamilySearch.org—and it’s possible only because of the indexing reviewers. Three reviewers from around the world shared with us some of the reasons they participate in this great effort.*

 Mauro Favilli, Yvonne Graves, and Janaina Nunes de Oliveira
Mauro Favilli (left) is from Pescara, Italy. Yvonne Graves (center) is from Maryland, United States. Janaina Nunes de Oliveira (right) is from Piauí, Brazil.

Why do you think index reviewing is important?

Mauro: Accuracy and
fussiness are fundamental skills of those who work to make the memory of our
ancestors available to the world. Any error should be corrected and every
detail considered. The good reviewer checks the annotations in the margin of
the records and the adjustments at the bottom and tries to learn the
handwriting style of those who drafted the documents.

Janaina: In Mosiah 2:17, it says that when
we are serving our neighbor, we are only serving our God. For me, reviewing
indexes is a work of salvation and shows love for our neighbor, making it so we
can be closer to the Savior.

Yvonne: I think reviewing is important
because you want these records to be as accurate as possible.

Why do you choose to review?

Mauro: I really care
about the accuracy of the information. When I am able to review documents of
cities and regions where I was born or lived, I feel comfortable in knowing the
places, families, municipalities, or hamlets that made up the territory. I
think it is right to restore dignity and consideration to those who sometimes
have not had them in life—abandoned orphans, soldiers who died in war, immigrants,
or people who lived in poverty—and find the place and the consideration those
people deserve.

Janaina: I choose to review because there
are many more indexers than reviewers. As reviewers, we have the chance to
increase the number of searchable records, helping more people to be able to
find their ancestors. The review is a collective effort to help all of Heavenly
Father’s children.

Yvonne: Over the years, I’ve enjoyed
indexing and just thought I’d give reviewing a try. Now I like that as well as
the indexing.

What blessings or benefits have you seen from reviewing?

A mother helps her child on the computer

Mauro: Innumerable
blessings. I feel the flow of history. I live lives that are not mine. I become
aware of otherwise unimaginable realities.

Janaina: Indexing review is a
sanctification process. Also, as it says in Doctrine and Covenants 88:73, “Behold,
I will hasten my work in its time.” I am helping in a work that magnifies me,
increases my decision-making capacity, and brings me closer to my Savior.

Yvonne: I like knowing that I’m helping
somebody out there.

Do you have any positive or uplifting experiences with reviewing or FamilySearch that you would like to share?

Mauro: In one case,
after having indexed or reviewed 27,000 documents, I was able to find one of my
ancestors who had escaped my memory. Paolo Andreucci, my ancestor, now has a
family in heaven to which he will soon be sealed.

Fortaleza Brazil Temple

Janaina: Besides finding most of my
ancestors through this wonderful system called FamilySearch, I also have the
spirit of the Lord closest to me, and I can help other people to find their
ancestors. I recently had a very uplifting experience. I wanted to go to the
Fortaleza Brazil Temple on September 20, 2019, but I didn’t have ancestor names
to submit. Then I remembered that I could use the FamilySearch system to try
find any name, and suddenly I found a lot of them! I felt such a joy because I
know my Savior lives and loves us so much. He knows that every day I try to do
my best.

Yvonne: One of my favorite records to
index or review are the draft records. I call these records my soldier boys.

Who Can Review?

Volunteers are granted
the ability to review batches once they have indexed 1,000 records on the web
indexing system. This requirement is intended to give volunteers time to become
familiar with web indexing and many types of projects before they begin
reviewing.

Once volunteers have review rights, they are
encouraged to do both activities, indexing and reviewing. Both activities are
vital to publishing these records and making them searchable.

*Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Source: Family Search

Be First to Comment

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *