Extraction Program The records extraction program "is the process of copying onto cards, forms, or directly into a computer each and every name and other identifying data from a record containing genealogical information. The names so obtained are sent to temples so that ordinances can be performed for the people."31 The coming forth ofthe extraction program is a faith promoting story. For over one hundred years members of the Church searched records and recorded from them the names of their ancestors so that vicarious work in the temple could be accomplished for them. This process provided sufficient names to keep busy those members ofthe Church who attended the temple to perform the vicarious labors. However, during the 1950s with the increase in temple building and increased temple activity ofthe Saints names were in short supply. George H. Fudge who was the supervisor ofthe genealogical society's records processing function stated: "This was aperiod of time when the building of the new temples in Los Angeles, New Zealand, Switzerland, and London was under way, and the demand for names in the temples shot up in one year 29 per cent over the previous year. "It became obvious that we were not getting enough names in from members to keep the temples busy."32 At the time there were no branch genealogical libraries making it difficult for those living outside of Salt Lake City to do productive research concerning their ancestors. At the same time priesthood leaders were successful in motivating members to increased temple activity. The temples therefore, began to lack sufficient names to handle the increased temple activity. Brother Fudge described the problem, "The temples were the ones putting on the pressure. They would say, "We're out of names. When can we have more names?' As far as the Salt Lake Temple was concerned, it was on a day-by day basis. We were taking names over there every day just so they could do baptisms and have names ready for endowments."33 It was finally suggested to President David O. McKay that the number of temple sessions be reduced so as to balance with the supply of names. President McKay immediately rejected this proposal and gave the mandate to the genealogical society that temple work must not be slowed down. Another way must be found to supply the temples with names. With the responsibility resting upon him to solve the problem George Fudge prayerfully sought an answer to the dilemma. Finally in October 1961, he asked Florence Mead "to take the microfilm containing the record ofthe Bolden, England Parish, extract each name, and compile each name along with brothers, sisters and parents, on family group record forms." Sister Mead through this process was able to successfully provide 2,000 names which could be submitted to the temple to have the work done for them. However, "because ofthe improbability of accurately reconstituting families from a single source, the idea of putting families together on group record forms was abandoned, but the idea of extracting individual names for 217