Technology and Family History Work: Robots Saving People

On the one hand, family history work is a personalized pursuit, aimed at helping us define who we are and at learning and helping our deceased ancestors one by one. On the other hand, technology is stereotypically robotic, impersonal, and generalized for the masses. Despite these colossally varied foci, nothing has been or will be as important to the propagation of genealogy work and its associated benefits for personal identity as technology. This is ironic when one considers that the great fear of many with regards to technology is that we are losing our identity to make way for the onslaught of machines and computer software. Is it possible that they are actually contributing to our identity? Family history is a testimony to the fact that technology can and should be used to beautify, enhance, and enrich the personal aspects of our lives. When considered in this light, technology is one of the greatest gifts that God has given for the happiness and well-being of His children. Elder Ballard has said, “much success will come as we become more expert and more able to harness the wonderful technology that our Heavenly Father has given man... Whereas Shakespeare in his time was limited generally to the Globe Theatre, we have a global theater that literally opens doors worldwide”.