Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Melanie Rasband, will speak at RootsTech 2026 Family Discovery Day on Saturday, March 7.
Additionally, Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will speak during the temple and family history leadership session.
The announcement was made on Thursday, January 8th at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
RootsTech, the global family history conference, is scheduled for March 5-7. The event will be held in person in Salt Lake City and available online in multiple languages at RootsTech.org.
RootsTech is hosted annually by FamilySearch, an international genealogy organization and popular website sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Family Discovery Day is a one-day event during RootsTech designed to help members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discover and celebrate their family traditions. Family Discovery Day is a free event held at the Salt Palace Convention Center featuring live music and family history activities for all ages.
“Temple and Family History Leadership Leadership Instruction” is a 30-minute recorded training for Latter-day Saints in stake and ward councils and others with callings to support temple and family history efforts. It will be available to stream on demand on Gospel Library starting Thursday, March 5th at 8am MST.
Family Discovery Day 2026
According to the announcement, Elder and Mrs. Rasband will speak on March 7 at 1:30 p.m. PST about coming to Christ by uniting families forever.
The free Family Discovery Day event will also feature games and family history activities for all ages. The video will be available on demand at Gospel Library and Broadcast.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Other activities for all ages, including cultural performances, storytelling, live music, classes, family history experiences, and more will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. MST at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Stream and register at RootsTech.org.
Previous Family Discovery Day speakers
Previous Church leaders who have spoken at Family Discovery Day include:
2025 — Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen. They also made a surprise appearance by the late President Jeffrey R. Holland, then acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 2024 — The late President M. Russell Ballard, then acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. A film recorded several months before his death on November 12, 2023. 2023 — Elder Ulises Soares of the Elder Gerrit W. Gong Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Rosana Soares. 2022 — Elder Ulises Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Sister Rosana Soares. 2021 — The late President Jeffrey R. Holland, then acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and his wife, the late Sister Patricia Holland.
RootsTech 2026 Keynote Speaker
RootsTech 2026 recently announced seven keynote speakers. Three of them will speak at in-person events and four will speak virtually.
in-person keynote speaker
National Football League Hall of Famer and Super Bowl MVP Steve Young, Academy Award-winning actress and author Marlee Matlin, and National Geographic explorer, author, and historian Tara Roberts on Saturday, March 7th.
virtual keynote speaker
The virtual keynote will be available on demand starting February 13th. Additionally, RootsTech’s full class schedule will be available starting January 8th.
