[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Billcat

Hypothetically, if the Mormon church decided to sever their links with the genealogical research facilities they have established (and they are very, very good), there would be no particular reason that these facilities would necessarily cease to function. They get a lot of use from Mormons and non-Mormons alike, and could well find a way to survive and thrive.

If there is a will to continue, combined with a real societal need for the services, no reason I can see that the agenices would have to fold.

I can't see how that could happen as the 'Family History Centres' are all on church premises. The church could close them if it ever wanted to and chuck all the gubbins away I suppose - which is highly unlikely - and people would have to use other sources but I can't see how the church could sever it's connection with them and they then be staffed and run by non-church members when they are an actual part of the church itself and in rooms actually within the church buildings. The originals of the filmed records are all stored by the church so if the church ever ceased to operate the centres how would other people have access to the records? Somebody would have to start up other centres and us the records from other sources. The Family History Centres actually get more use by non-Mormons than they do by members on a percentage of patrons basis.