Denton, Family History, Missionary, Texas Fort Worth Mission, Youth

Youth in Denton and Utah Team Up for Memorial Family History Project

Young men and women from Denton are teaming up with teens in Springville, Utah this Saturday, May 21st, for a joint Family History Project. The teens, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will work with Brigham Young University’s Record Linking Lab to attach sources and create profiles on the FamilySearch Family Tree for all residents of Denton from 1900-1940.

Elder Luke Carter and Elder Eli Fowler in Denton, April, 2021.

An article in Utah’s Deseret News a few months ago describes the project’s beginnings. Joe Price, who oversees the Record Linking Lab, was quoted in the original article as saying, “The goal is to make sure that everyone that lived in Denton, Texas, up until 1940, has a profile on the family tree. Then, we’re working to find photographs for as many people as possible so that it can be a really rich discovery experience for people that discover their families.”

The project is an opportunity to honor Elder Luke Carter and Elder Eli Fowler, the two missionaries that were killed in an automobile accident in Denton one year ago this weekend. Elder Fowler’s family will be traveling to Denton to help and Elder Carter’s family will join remotely with their congregation’s youth in Springville, Utah. The youth are looking forward to celebrating the work that Elder Fowler and Elder Carter accomplished in Denton and are grateful to help continue that work for past and present residents of the County.

Denton resident, Elise Stolle, said, “It’s also an incredible way to honor the missionaries who served here and blessed so many while they were here.”

The project is open to the public and has various tasks based on experience level. Lunch will be provided. The address and time of the event are listed on the image in this post. To learn more about FamilySearch, you can sign up for free classes, including one on June 1st in Colleyville. Go to LifeHelpNorthTexas.org to learn more and sign up!