Certificates that connect your mind, your heart, and your roots
Studying family history often becomes more than an academic experience — it’s a spiritual reminder of God’s love and the strength of those who came before you. It has the power to change the way you see yourself and your place in God’s family. Unlike other academic subjects, you’re not only learning; you’re remembering. You’re not just researching; you’re reconnecting.
As you gain skills in family history research, you might discover a deeper sense of belonging. Family members who once felt distant or unknown become real people with hopes, challenges, and courage.
Remember Who You Are
Vanessa Silberstein, a BYU-Pathway student from Argentina,
In addition to learning how to research her own family, Vanessa discovered a passion for helping others. Her new skills opened doors to finding clients and assisting them in discovering their own family connections.
Vanessa is one of BYU-Pathway’s students who are earning
Peace and Perspective
As students like Vanessa dive into their family stories, something meaningful often begins to happen. They start to see their relatives not just as names, but as real people — people who struggled, dreamed, sacrificed, and loved.
This process naturally brings a sense of clarity and peace:
- Understanding where you come from
- Appreciating the strength of those before you
- Feeling supported by generations you never met
- Giving new life to stories that were almost forgotten
- For Vanessa, this work opened a door she never thought to explore.
She shared, “I lost my mother when I was six. Having the opportunity to connect with her was good for me; it gave me the chance to get to know her better, even though she is no longer with me.”
Another BYU-Pathway student, Anna Buis, researched a family line connected to her mother-in-law for her final project. She said, “They were so excited to read about their ancestors and see those connections. This experience helped us grow closer in our own relationship.”
A Legacy You Carry Forward
Finishing a certificate or degree in family history can give you the opportunity to become a capable family history researcher, teach essential research skills to others, and promote family history work — all while building meaningful connections within your own family.
But it’s far more than earning a credential. It’s becoming part of a sacred link between the past and the future. You did not walk this academic journey alone. You walked it hand-in-hand with generations who longed to be remembered. And now, because of your efforts, they are.
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