Mormons have a deep interest in investigating their own genealogy. For a century Mormons have been at the forefront of genealogical research, which demands accurate identification of deceased individuals from every available historical source, beginning with public records of births, marriages, deaths and military service.

It is no surprise therefore that the Mormon church (more precisely the LDS Church) has a deep interest in preserving genealogical records for centuries against all anticipated threats. The Mormon Genealogical Archives are stored in an underground bunker deep in the solid granite cliffs of Little Cottonwood Canyon, outside Salt Lake City, Utah. Its design makes heavy use of Long Now thinking about how best to preserve written and digital records.