A New Look For Timeless Tools
We have just finished updating the look of the HopeChestSoftware Chrome Extension for an easier work flow.
Along with the new look comes a refinement for certain features that come with HopeChest. Update all of the ordinance statuses for people in an entire label with a single click!
We've moved all HopeChest popups into a sidebar making navigation and use more straightforward and easier to use!
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Major Update Coming Soon
We are currently working on updating everything HopeChest coming here soon. Get ready for the best version of HopeChest so far!
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Better Tools for the Great Gathering
To help you in this work, we've focused on sharpening the tools you use.
We've just completed a major upgrade to our core software and server platform. This enhancement makes your search for ancestors up to 30% faster.
This is just the beginning. Our new foundation allows us to build powerful features for all users, ensuring everyone has what they need for the work ahead. We'll be sharing more about what's coming next very soon!
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Hope Chest Extension v12.0.5 is Here – Update Now!
Hello Hope Chest Users,
We're thrilled to announce the release of Hope Chest Extension v12.0.5, packed with important updates to enhance your experience! Your continued support and feedback drive us to make Hope Chest better with every update.
What's New in v12.0.5?
- Improved Performance & Stability – Enjoy a smoother, faster experience.
- Enhanced Dependency & Ancestor Search – More accurate results tailored to recent FamilySearch updates.
- Bug Fixes & Optimizations – Known issues addressed to keep everything running seamlessly.
To take advantage of these updates, please update your extension today!
If you have any questions or run into issues, our support team is here to help — reach out at [email protected].
Thank you for being a valued part of the Hope Chest community. We're excited for what's ahead!
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Hope Chest Extension Update v12.0.0
Hello Hope Chest Users,
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued support and dedication to exploring your family history with Hope Chest!
We're excited to announce the release of Hope Chest Extension Version 12.0.0, bringing several important updates and fixes. We strongly encourage all users to update their extensions to take advantage of these improvements.
In this latest version, we've focused on resolving known issues and enhancing the overall performance and stability of the extension. We're also thrilled to introduce v12.0.0 Dependency & Ancestor search enhancements — these updates address recent changes on FamilySearch, providing more accurate results and smoother navigation as you explore your family lineage.
If you encounter any issues after updating, please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Simplifying Family History with Hope Chest Software
Family history research can be overwhelming, but Hope Chest Software simplifies the process, making it accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
We are also pleased to announce the release of Hope Chest Extension Version 11.0.5-8, addressing issues encountered with the previous update. We urge all users to promptly update their extensions to benefit from these fixes.
Getting Started in 3 Steps:
- Install the free Hope Chest extension in Google Chrome.
- Log into your family tree on FamilySearch.org.
- Use Hope Chest to find names ready for temple ordinances.
Features include:
- Search specific family lines or ancestor descendants
- Print and share search results
- Create folders for organized searches
- Identify ordinances needed for male and female ancestors
- Unlock advanced features with an upgrade
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out at [email protected].
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Hope Chest Extension Update
Hello Hope Chest Users,
We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your ongoing support and dedication to exploring family history through Hope Chest!
We are thrilled to announce the release of Hope Chest Extension Version 11.0.5-8, addressing issues encountered with the previous update. We urge all users to promptly update their extensions.
In addition to resolving known bugs, we are diligently focused on optimizing performance and bolstering stability. We are also excited to introduce v11.0.5-8 Dependency & Ancestor search fixes, addressing recent changes on FamilySearch for smoother navigation and more accurate results.
Should you encounter any persisting issues, please reach out at [email protected].
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
A Review from You!
"I LOVE Hope Chest. Mostly I am using it to find out if everything is correct with my distant relatives records. I find duplicates (by the dozens) to merge for my cousins. I add sources, locate dates and places for them, connect more folks that weren't already in FamilySearch. It's interesting to know that someone I'd never heard of is my 4th cousin 5 times removed. I'm a Family History Library leader and I use Hope Chest when teaching. I recommend that everyone download it at home." — Beth
Thanks Beth! We are so happy to hear Hope Chest has been useful to you in your family history work.
We love hearing from our users! Share your thoughts on our Chrome Web Store page or email us at [email protected].
Reviews from You!
ReNae: I have been using Hope Chest for 10 yrs. My experience and others I have introduced it to have been exceptional. It is the best tool available to search ancestors and descendants. I have found it accurate, thorough, and easy to use.
Richard: I have been using the paid version for several years. There have been times when FamilySearch makes changes which requires the HC tech to make updates. It may take him a few weeks but he always comes through. I have never had a problem getting my emails answered. The last update was awesome. HC runs smooth without a problem.
Jill: Any problems we have had were always fixed within a few days and we have sent thousands of names to the temple with the help of the program.
We love hearing from our users! Share your thoughts on our Chrome Web Store page or email us at [email protected].
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Hope Chest Extension Update
Hello Hope Chest Users,
We are so grateful for your continued love for Family History by using Hope Chest! We appreciate your patience and feedback.
We are rolling out an update for Hope Chest Extension Version 11.0.2 that will fix the bugs from the previous update. All users are requested to update their extension. We are continuously working on the performance and stability of the Extension as well!
If you still face issues after updating, please reach out at [email protected].
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
New Update of Hope Chest
Hello Hope Chest Users,
We are so grateful for your continued love for Family History by using Hope Chest! We are rolling out an update that will fix the bugs from the previous update and are continuously working on performance and stability improvements.
If you still face issues after updating, please reach out at [email protected].
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Hope Chest Update: Seamless Compatibility with New Pedigree View
Hello Hope Chest Users,
We are thrilled to announce that the compatibility issue between Hope Chest and the new Pedigree view on FamilySearch has been resolved! You can now fully utilize the power of Hope Chest within the new Pedigree view. We appreciate your patience and feedback during the transition.
We remain committed to providing you with a seamless and enriching experience. Thank you for being a part of the Hope Chest journey as we uncover the stories of our ancestors.
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
Improvements in Hope Chest
Hello Hope Chest Users,
We are so grateful for your continued love for Family History by using Hope Chest!
We are working on adapting Hope Chest to the new Pedigree view rolled out by FamilySearch. We hope to have it resolved soon! In the meantime, make sure to switch back to the old view and Hope Chest will continue to work.
We are also working on some performance and stability improvements. Stay tuned and we appreciate the support!
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
New Videos and Content Update
Hello Hope Chest Users,
We are so grateful for your continued love for Family History by using Hope Chest!
We have had some exciting changes recently. We are implementing more up-to-date tutorial videos as well as better optimization of the tool.
There is one change fundamental to us as a business: in order to support continued development, we are going to start limiting the Basic plan to a total of 5 searches, after which you'll be prompted to upgrade.
Again, we thank you for the passion you have with Hope Chest. As this tool does require support and development to make FamilySearch easy!
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team
I Didn't Get Any Names! What Now?
A search with no results can be frustrating. If your search was less than sixty seconds long, didn't end in a completion notification, ended in an error, or never showed signs of moving through the tree — refresh the page and try again. Make sure you have opened the tree of the individual on whom you'd like to start the search.
If you're still not getting results, check the Hope Chest log. The log shows in (almost) real time each name Hope Chest checks, whether it was saved, and why. Make sure the log box is checked in settings before starting your search:
Then, after starting your search, open your Hope Chest menu and click Open Log:
Here's what you'll see:
Glancing over the log can make it easy to spot trends: too narrow a date range, names with duplicates, etc. If a setting is eliminating lots of results, adjust and try again.
Questions? Email us at [email protected].
Minister with Hope Chest!
As local guidelines have discouraged in-person interaction, it has been hard to know how to fulfill our calling to minister. If you have exhausted the baked goods options, try family history as your next socially distanced act of service!
With Hope Chest Pro, you can search lines you have in common with a family member or friend, export the results, and easily send them the list to help their family history research.
Learning family history can be intimidating. If your friend is just starting out, you can answer questions about FamilySearch, teach them how to use Hope Chest, and offer to be their on-call expert. Shake up the banana bread-ministering and add family history to your tool kit!
Surprise! Black Friday is Here Early!
2020 has been a tough year for all of us, so we're bringing the holiday cheer early! We're starting our Black Friday sale TODAY — upgrade now to get 25% off any Hope Chest subscription!
For the person who has everything, a Family Edition upgrade is a gift that will bless the whole family all year. For the person who loves family history but is new to Hope Chest, a Plus subscription is a great way to take their research to the next level.
This is our last sale of the year, so don't wait!
Upgrade NowWe Presented at Family Roots!
We were honored to be invited to present at the Family Roots (virtual) conference this year! If you missed our class, you can watch it here with the other classes. This is a great resource for both beginner and intermediate Hope Chest users. Watch to the end for a surprise!
Thank you to Family Roots for welcoming us to the conference!
That Was Embarrassing
If you tried to upgrade your account last week, you may have noticed our payment page was down for a few days. Our developers added features to help our support team serve you better, and we are ready and excited for all of you to upgrade. We appreciate your patience as we finished our transition away from PayPal to our own payment system!
Upgrade NowWhat Settings Should I Use for My Hope Chest Search?
If you're new to Hope Chest Pro (or even if you're not), the many options for your search can be overwhelming. The vast majority of settings issues we come across come down to this box:
The purpose of the "Save Individuals Regardless of Ordinance Status" (SIROS) box is to allow users to search for and save names that don't have available ordinances. The problem comes when you combine one of the ordinance status options (Request Ordinances, Needs More Info, In Progress) with the SIROS box — these settings cancel each other out.
If you're searching for a specific ordinance status and want to save names with any ordinance available, check all the ordinance boxes, like this:
Happy searching! Questions or suggestions? Email us at [email protected].
Using Hope Chest During COVID
As of August 31, 2020, 139 temples are in Phase 1 and 68 are in Phase 2. While we miss the opportunity to perform proxy work in the temple, Hope Chest can still help you with your family history research in the meantime.
Hope Chest can help you get names ready for when the temples reopen, or simply help you find work to do on your family tree. Hope Chest Plus and Pro can find:
- Individuals born within a certain time frame
- Individuals of a certain gender
- Names with record hints or research suggestions
- Names that need more information or have data problems
There is still much work we can do while the temples are closed. Hope Chest is still here to help!
Questions? Check the FAQ page or email us at [email protected].
Why Is There a Puzzle Piece Where My Hope Chest Icon Is Supposed to Be?
Chrome recently made changes to the toolbar that affect how extensions are displayed. The puzzle piece icon is your new extensions menu.
When you click the puzzle icon, you'll see all your extensions including Hope Chest. You can use Hope Chest as usual by clicking the chest icon, or click the pin to pin the Hope Chest icon back next to the URL bar.
It looks like a big change, but Hope Chest is as ready as ever to help you with your family history research!
Hope Chest Promo Video
Check out our new promo video!
New Facebook Page
Come like our Facebook page! We are starting our Facebook page so that we can start to communicate with you. Send us a review, post a feature suggestion, or just say hi!
v10 Released!
Hello Hope Chest users,
Wow, it has been a BIG month here at Hope Chest!
A few weeks ago, Eric made the painful decision to put Hope Chest up for sale. Between his full-time job, his calling as a bishop, and his family responsibilities, he felt he could no longer give Hope Chest the time and attention it deserved. Many of you saw his announcement and reached out with love and support — thank you.
When Eric decided to move on, we seriously considered calling it quits, but your passion for Hope Chest helped us realize there is still a demand for quality family history programs. We are thrilled to announce Spencer Thomason, Eric's longtime friend and colleague, has decided to take over Hope Chest. Spencer is an experienced programmer and businessman with a wonderful vision for Hope Chest. With his leadership, we anticipate Hope Chest will be around for years to come.
Spencer has completely revamped Hope Chest. There will be big changes — most we know you'll love, and a couple that may be less popular. We ask for your patience and support as we work to bring you a sustainable, polished program.
On Tuesday (February 25, 2020), please restart your computer so Chrome can update Hope Chest to version 10. After the reboot, you'll be able to log into FamilySearch in Chrome and check out the new and improved Hope Chest!
We know we would have never gotten this far without the support of our Hope Chest users. Thank you for your excitement, love, and support. We feel honored to be hastening the work with you.
Sincerely,
The Hope Chest Team