This thesis is a study of the growth and development of the various departments of the Genealogical Society and how they contributed to the function of the total organization. The following was considered with each department: (1) the date of organization, (2) purpose for which organized, (3) methods used to carry out responsibilities, (4) function and interaction with other departments of the organization.Activities of the Genealogical Society were evaluated on the basis of the following major roles: (1) as an agency for locating researchers, (2) agency to make records available to search, (3) a clearing house for records prior to their submission to temples and more recently, (4) as a supplier of names for temples.The First Presidency organized the Society to assist people in their responsibility to search after their own forefathers and each of the leaders since its organization has introduced programs in accordance with this purpose.

The Genealogical Society of Utah initiated a worldwide microfilming program at the advent of modern microfilm technology. It succeeded in negotiating for and filming records because of the religious commitment of its leaders and workers, the financial assistance of the LDS Church, the increased concern for records loss as demonstrated by World War II, the maturation of microfilm technology after the war, and the concentration of many religious records in civil archives. Religious commitment enthused the Society's leaders to persist in their efforts in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The resources of the Church permitted the filming to continue without regard to profit. The destruction of World War II made archival leaders more amenable to the Society's program as a means to preserve the information in their records from catastrophic loss. The development of microfilm technology made the production of a good image possible and affordable. With religious records in civil archives, the efforts of religious leaders to restrict access were more easily overcome than might have been the case.