Interpreting First Four Generations Chart

I don't understand how to interpret the First Four Generations Chart. At the end of 2021 our ward was at 85% and at the beginning of 2022 that dropped to 49% and it has now climbed up to 51%. I assumed last year it was based on the percent of total ward membership that had completed their first four generations but now I don't know what it is based on. Any help on understanding what this metric means would be appreciated. Thanks!

There is another thread that explains this. As I understand it, the church made a change in how the number is counted. Previously it included church membership information in addition to FamilySearch information. Now it only shows FamilySearch information. For example, if you have 4 generations of ancestors who were all members of the church, you used to get credit for that (even if you had never linked them to yourself in FamilySearch). Now it only counts members of your ward/branch who have a FamilySearch account and have linked their ancestors to themselves. To have 100% you would need to have 14 ancestors linked to you (15 total including yourself). If you only have your parents and grandparents, you would have 7/15 = 47%.

This was a conscious change made by the church - you should not look on the percentage drop as anything more than it is - an accounting change. Unfortunately, there is no report that can be run at the ward/branch level that will tell you who needs help in getting their 4 generations recorded - the only way to do that is by working individually with members of your unit.

Also keep in mind that the number may change each month based on move-ins and move-outs to your unit (in addition to new ancestors being added to FamilySearch).

Thanks for the explanation, much appreciated!

Another clarification is that the statistic doesn't count the number of ward members with 100%, it counts the number of actual vs. potential ancestors.

In a hypothetical situation, suppose your ward has 5 members who qualify by age to be included in the report (turning 12 or older): Kilroy, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Jill. The number of potential four-generation ancestors for each of them is 15 (1 self + 2 parents + 4 grandparents + 8 great-grandparents).

Kilroy's parents are actively involved in family history, and have filled in more than 4 generations, but Kilroy himself has not signed into FamilySearch to connect himself to the tree.

Last year, the calculation would have been done like this:

Kilroy has 15/15 ancestors filled in (because his parents have filled in at least three generations, and he's connected to his parents via Church membership record).
Matthew has 2/15 ancestors filled in.
Mark has 6/15 ancestors filled in.
Luke has 10/15 ancestors filled in.
Jill has 12/15 ancestors filled in.

The total number of four-generation ancestors filled in for your ward is 15 + 2 + 6 + 10 + 12, or 45.
The total number of possible four-generation ancestors for your ward is 15 + 15 + 15 + 15 + 15, or 75.

Your ward percentage would be 45 / 75, or 60%.

This year, the calculation would be done like this:

Kilroy has not connected himself to the tree, so he has 0/15 filled in.
Matthew has 2/15 ancestors filled in.
Mark has 6/15 ancestors filled in.
Luke has 10/15 ancestors filled in.
Jill has 12/15 ancestors filled in.

The total number of four-generation ancestors filled in for your ward is 0 + 2 + 6 + 10 + 12, or 30.
The total number of possible four-generation ancestors for your ward is 15 + 15 + 15 + 15 + 15, or 75.

Your ward percentage would be 30 / 75, or 40%.

Note that in this scenario, nobody has 100% of their four generations filled in, but your ward's statistic is still above 0% (because it's based on number of actual vs. potential ancestors, not number of members with 100%). (Chances are that in your real ward, several members have 100% of their four generations filled in, but there's no way to know that using the report.)

at what age does the tracking begin? all ward members 8 and above? 12? it seems that the children/youth no longer showing complete with church membership records would make a big impact until they set up their familysearch accounts - thanks!

Children as young as 8 can have a FamilySearch account. I'm not sure, but I think the 4 generations tracking only counts members age 12 and older. If they are 12 or older and don't have a FamilySearch account, they will have no ancestors filled in like "Kilroy" in the example just before your post. If a child's parents have 4 generations or more in their tree, it is a very simple matter for the parents to help their child link to their closest deceased ancestors and the rest will be automatic.

My understanding is that children/youth start being counted in the report at the beginning of the year they turn 12 (which is also when they can start participating in baptisms for the dead).

Keep in mind that it's not enough just to have a FamilySearch account - it must be connected to the membership record. No MRN, no credit.