The family is sacred in many religions, including within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Turlock church is inviting all community members, regardless of religious belief, to try to learn more about their family history at their Family Discovery Day.

The fair is set for 9 a.m. to 12 noon Sept. 28 at the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4300 Geer Rd. There will be  activities, snacks, speakers and informational booths, including those from the Stanislaus and Merced county genealogical societies and the Daughters of the American Revolution, a lineage-based, nonprofit service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in supporting the American Revolutionary War to promote education and patriotism.

“It’s family-friendly and is open to the public,” said Michelle Belloli, communications director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Turlock. “We want to invite as many people as possible to learn more about their family history.”

Guests looking to learn more about their family’s history should at least bring a phone or other internet-accessible mobile device to access the free FamilySearch Tree mobile application. All are encouraged to have the app already downloaded onto their device, come with family members, bring their phones to access the  Alongside assistants and genealogical experts, guests can start piecing together their family trees and search historical records to learn more about ancestors.

Serving as the event’s keynote speaker is Sister Rebecca Ellefsen, a professional researcher, writer and genealogist. She will teach about the ship Brooklyn Saints, which carried 239 Latter-day Saints from New York City to San Francisco in 1846, and to discuss family history.