Prominent author and genealogist Alex Haley praised what he called "a movement toward family" at a Church-sponsored genealogical conference here Oct. 21.

Haley was the keynote speaker at the West Tennessee Genealogical Conference, hosted by the Church family history center in Jackson.The conference, which drew people from as far away as Minnesota, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, was the first of its kind to be held in West Tennessee, according to conference chairman Sheri Griffin.

Haley, author of the best selling book, Roots, which is based on his own ancestral history, is a Tennessee resident.

Sister Griffin invited Haley to be the keynote speaker. He said her persistence along with his friendship with some of the Church leaders in Salt Lake City had helped to persuade him to make the gratuitous stop on his way to another engagement. Sister Griffin said, "Mr. Haley told us this was the first time he had ever been approached by a local LDS Church to do anything like this."

Haley's parents met at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., and Haley himself grew up in Henning, Tenn., a little town with a population of about 470 at the time, half of which were black.

"Until I was in my 20s, I didn't even know the word genealogy," Haley said.

The author shared many interesting experiences and gave reasons why he felt compelled to bring his ancestors' lives back to remembrance within the pages of Roots.

"It took me nine years to write the book, and I could never have guessed that it would have created so much interest," Haley commented. He also shared the fact that he has relied on the Church's genealogical facilities in doing much of his research. He is presently writing another book.

"There is an increasing movement in the world among people to find their ancestors," he explained. "It's a move toward family, that's what it is. And there seems to be more family reunions than I've ever heard of."

During a question session, several people asked Haley some key questions that made him realize the questioners were descendants of some of the characters he had written about. They shared memories of life in Henning, such as meetings under an old oak tree that stood in the back of his boyhood church. This episode enhanced the genealogical spirit at the conference.

Haley, obviously comfortable being so near to his boyhood home, gazed at the racially mixed audience and said, "Five or six generations have passed now since slavery, and we - you and I - are the answer to our ancestors' prayers for a better world for their children."

Gov. Ned McWherter of Tennessee sent a representative to present Haley with a certificate of appreciation for being an "outstanding citizen" of the state. Also, Mayor Charles Farmer of Jackson issued a proclamation making Oct. 21, 1989, "Alex Haley Day" in Jackson.