In 1981, Bundaberg couple, Jim and Alison Rogers, began an 18 months mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their assignment was to collect, index and film cemetery records throughout Queensland.
In May 1985, they began their second mission for the Church, this time to prepare fact cards from undertakers, archives and cemeteries. In March of 1987, the Rogers flew to New Zealand to microfilm records in areas north of Auckland.
After the Rogers’ second mission, they continued to search out names, birth and death dates on their own until Jim passed away in 2007. Alison continues to research and index the names of people in Australia. She is now 87.
The Rogers’ card files have been donated to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and now reside in one of the faith’s family history centres, in Carlingford. The files include names and other information for over one million deceased individuals.
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In April 2013, Dix and Ruth Roberts started out on an 18 month mission for the Church to Sydney Australia. Their assignment was to index and digitize the one million cards prepared by the Rogers.
Digitizing the cards means the Church’s FamilySearch website can allow members of the public access so they can fill in gaps in their family trees.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes their genealogical records available to the public at no cost — an initiative that is supported by the volunteer efforts of thousands worldwide.
On 31st October 2014, the million names will be completed by Elder and Sister Roberts and they will return home to the United States. Sister Roberts recently explained some of her feelings about the project to Mormon Newsroom.
“We have often been very emotional while working on these cards,” she said. “This effort will eventually allow people all across Australia to be able to do their genealogical research. These are not just names, but real people. One million people whose families may be searching for their birth dates and death dates and other facts about them.”
“People think we must get bored doing this scanning every day for 18 months, but we don’t. We have to take breaks during our scanning, and when we do, we get on-line and research some of these names.”
She added: “It is a labour of love to learn about their lives. There is a reverence to this work, scanning these names. We are so happy to be involved in this work.”
Area manager of FamilySearch for Australia/Papua New Guinea, Mark Kelly, said of the project, “I feel very blessed to witness firsthand the dedication and excitement of these wonderful senior missionaries as they digitize these records. The service they render now will be utilized by generations to come as our children undertake their own research projects in the future.”
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Thomas S. Monson, has said, “Heavenly Father loves his children in the spirit world just as much as He loves you and me . . . His work embraces eternity.”
Watch a video about the Church’s family history services and resources.