Talking with a Taphophile

September 2, 2025 - Now that we've scaled the Timpanogos Cave Trail, it's on to a new series. Do you have an odd hobby or strange fascination that most people wouldn't understand? Well, I do. As the title of this newsletter suggests, I am a taphophile.

Never heard of the term? Neither had I until a short time ago.

A taphophile is someone who has a deep interest in cemeteries. Ever since I can remember, I have loved exploring graveyards. My love for genealogy pointed me in this direction, but I have a confession: there was that night, decades ago, when I ran through the Salt Lake Cemetery at night, and heard dogs howling near the crematorium. I was left me scared spitless! But other than that, my cemetery visits have been inspiring and enlightening.

That is why my theme of my newsletters for the next few months will be "Tales from the Crypt." Most videos and newsletters within this series won't be along the lines of the horror TV series of this same title, but some might prompt you to lock your doors and leave a light on. Don't say I didn't warn you!

"Dead men tell no tales," or so the saying goes. I beg to differ. So, let me share some places to find some of those tales, whether creepy or not, from your own ancestors.

1. First up is my personal favorite website, FamilySearch.org. If you don't already have one, sign up for a free account and link into your ancestors. You'll be amazed what you find. Let me know if you have any questions.

2. Next up is FindaGrave.com. Run by volunteers who add memorials (many with photos of tombstones) for cemeteries, this site lets you virtually visit the burial grounds of loved ones around the world.

3. Try googling "Unique Cemeteries in __________" then fill in your location. I'm not the only taphophile in the world and you can discover some unique and, on occasion, hauntingly interesting, graveyards.

4. Consider writing your own epitaph. How do you want to be remembered? Maybe your tombstone will end up on one of those unique cemetery websites.

5. And lastly, take a walk in a local cemetery and see what you can discover about some of the people buried there - whether you're related to them or not.

And who knows? Maybe you'll become a taphophile also!