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Salt Lake City will be buzzing this week with family history buffs from around the nation and world. KSL joins in welcoming participants in the National Genealogical Society's Annual Conference, held here for only the second time in 25 years.
They come at a time when worldwide interest in genealogy is surging, thanks to what experts see as the "stars aligning" to spur interest in family history.
The Internet, of course, has made it easier than ever to search for familial roots. But, the popularity of the hobby has also been spurred by highly rated genealogy-themed television programs in various nations of the world. Here in the U.S. for example, an NBC program, carried Friday evenings on KSL, and sponsored by a Utah-based genealogy research company, traces the roots of a number of popular celebrities
In short, genealogy is becoming hip.
And Utah, primarily because of the vast family history resources of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is at the epicenter of this growing fascination with one's roots.
Whether one's interest in genealogy is founded in religious belief, scientific research, or an innate quest to somehow connect with the past, the tools to do it are getting better all the time. This week's national convention is sure to add to the fervor.
