AMERICAN FORK, UTAH (May 17, 2004)—Over 120 million people throughout the United States (60% of the adult population) are interested in genealogy according to a 2000 Maritz Marketing Research Poll. What is it about this hobby that gives so many an insatiable thirst?

Americans are finding that by doing genealogy they can find not only their ancestral roots, but also family stories that can be passed on from generation to generation. “The lives of our ancestors have been reduced to a few flickering photographs, a few scraps of paper,” says Scott Wilkinson the host of the popular public television series Ancestors, “but those fading images are a link, a connection to ourselves and our past, and making those connections is what genealogy is all about.”

This is why so many resources exist today to aid in the search for our heritage. One very helpful resource was produced right here in Utah—the public television series Ancestors. “The whole purpose of Ancestors is to help people understand that it’s easy and fun to get started and the best place to start is with yourself, then work backwards from one generation to the next,” said Marcy Brown the director of Ancestors: Discovering Your Heritage.

Ancestors gives emotionally touching stories about people who have found their heritage and encourages individuals to start on their own family history. It is the first television series of its kind and can be seen on KBYU channel 11 on Sunday afternoons at 2:30 through the end of July. This two-season program is now also available for the first time on DVD. Produced by BYU Broadcasting and distributed by Covenant Communications, Ancestors: Getting Started with Family History (Season 1) and Ancestors: Discovering Your Heritage (Season 2) can be purchased for $24.95 each at Seagull Book and LDS bookstores everywhere.