Lamoni 2014

No. 98
‘The Center Place for Latter Day Saint Studies’
Lamoni 2014
“Sacred Places and Zionic Communities:
The Ideals and Realities of the Restoration”
September 25-28, 2014, in Lamoni, Iowa
Z
ION, GATHERING, SIGNAL COMMUNITIES, REFUGE, NEW JERUSALEM, CONSECRATION, UNITED ORDER all have been used to describe the communalist thought that underpins the ideals of many of the
Latter Day Saint denominations.
Joseph Smith’s history with communalism is
mixed. After his death, several leaders attempted to reinstitute communalism in various forms.
In the Midwest, Strang gathered his followers at
Voree and then Beaver Island. In Iowa, Charles
B. Thompson gathered his followers to Preparation. Although not yet practicing consecration, Alpheus Cutler’s followers gathered at Manti, Iowa,
then moved to Minnesota, finally to Independence,
Missouri where many of the members lived the law
of consecration.
When a group of his followers organized the
United Order of Enoch in 1870 and decided to buy
land in the area that is now Lamoni, Iowa, Joseph
Smith III gave a reserved blessing to the effort. The
Smith family and church headquarters eventually
Summer 2014
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The John Whitmer Historical Association Newsletter
relocated to Lamoni in the early 1880s, but communalism was not part of the new community. At the
same time in Utah, several united order communities were attempted during the 1870s and 1880s. In
1910 there was a revival of the united order in Independence, which had limited success into the 1930s.
However, the community-building nature of the
movement has been expressed through the organization of women’s departments (Relief Society in
the LDS expression), educational institutions, the
administrative hierarchies of various denominations in the movement, and through other forms.
Some denominations in the movement continue
to work toward “united order” types of societies
among their members.
First-time attendees’ breakfast
Saturday, September 27, 7:00 - 7:45 AM
If this is your first JWHA annual meeting, please
join us on Saturday morning for the newcomers’
breakfast where you will have the opportunity to
mingle and chat with board members and other
first-time attendees.
Student Reception
Friday, September 26, 8:15 - 10:00 PM
All students and young scholars are invited to join
us for refreshments and networking. This will be
a great opportunity to meet other students from
around the country/world, learn about the benefits
and challenges of working on Mormon history, discuss online networking, and learn more about what
JWHA has for you and how you can contribute to
the study of Mormon history. Food and prizes will
be provided.
Bus Tour, $40 Per Person for tour, $10 for box
lunch. Advance registration required limited seating available on a first-come firstserved basis as paid registrations are received.
The bus tour will depart Graceland University at noon while listening to the tales of
southern Iowa Saints, an Alma Blair production. Enjoy a box lunch as we journey
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91
to Garden Grove, Iowa. Named for the lush fields
of wild onions that greeted the Saints in 1846, it
became a stopping point on the Mormon Trail and
the temporary home of over six hundred Saints in
the winter of 1846–47. We will watch another Blair
video, this time exploring the history of Lamoni, as
we travel to Joseph Smith III’s Liberty Hall. Built
in 1881, Liberty Hall functioned as the Smith’s
home until 1905. It was the bustling center of religious and community life. Adventurers then move
forward to Rose Hill Cemetery where we find the
final resting places of the sweet singer of Israel, David Hyrum Smith, and spiritual giant Edmund C.
Briggs, and many, many more. The tour then returns to the Graceland campus and concludes by
5:00 p.m.”
Annual Hymn Sing
Join us on Sunday for our annual hymn sing where
our brethren and sisters join voices and faiths together in song to give praise to and glorify God.
Find out more at www.jwha.info.
JWHA T-Shirts
Wondering what to wear for your next social activity? Well, your troubles are over! Be the first on your
block to be the proud owner of a JWHA T-shirt.
A beautifully stenciled portrait of the association’s
namesake adorns the back of the all-black tee with
a smaller version of the portrait on the upper left of
the front side.
The T-shirt is heavy weight and high quality. Won’t your friends be envious! To ensure that
you get one of these gems, preorder now to pick
up at 2014 JWHA Annual Meeting. The cost for the tee is only $20
and ALL proceeds go to support JWHA.
S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL, XXXXL
Pre-order with your registration today!
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The John Whitmer Historical Association Newsletter
Page 3
Things to do today:


Read the paper
Walk the dog
Register for the 42nd JWHA
Annual Meeting in Lamoni, Iowa,
September 25-28, Graceland
University at https://www.regonline.
com/42annualmeeting
If you are unable to register online, contact
Cheryle Grinter, JWHA Executive Director,
jwha@jwha.info or 816.738.9342 to process your
registration. Advanced registration is required.
Registration closes September 22, 2014.
JWHA T-Shirt
Advance registration
is required for the meeting.
Registration closes
September 22, 2014.
Annual Meeting
Vendor Opportunities
Vendor opportunities are limited
and available on a first-come-first-served
basis. The $110 registration fee includes
conference registration, (1) 8’ draped
table & chair. Electricity is available
upon request.
Meeting Registration Fees - Until 9/16/14
JWHA Member$75
JWHA Non-Member Spouse $75
Non-Members$100
Students$40
Vendor$110
Meeting Registration Fees - 9/16/14 or after
JWHA Members$85
JWHA Non-Member Spouse $85
Non-Members$110
Students$40
Vendor$110
Optional Agenda Registration Fees
Awards Banquet$32.50
President’s Banquet
$32.50
Bus Tour$40
Bus Tour Box Lunch
$10
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The John Whitmer Historical Association Newsletter
“Sacred Places and Zionic Communities: The Ideals and Realities of the Restoration”
Preliminary Agenda *
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Time
4:00 - 6:45 PM
SC Upper Lobby
6:45 - 7:30 PM
Carol Hall
Number
7:30 - 8:30 PM
Carol Hall
8:30 - 10:00 PM
SC Lower Lobby
101
Registration
Journal Distribution
Annual Business Meeting
The Spiritual Mormon
Mario S. De Pillis Sr.
Reception
Friday, September 26, 2014
7:30 - 9:15 AM
SC Upper Lobby
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Carol Hall
9:00 - 9:30 AM
SC Upper Lobby
9:30 - 10:45 AM
Carol Hall
9:30 - 10:45 AM
Back of Auditorium
9:30- 10:45 AM
Theatre Classroom
10:45 - 11:15 AM
SC Upper Lobby
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
Carol Hall
Continential Breakfast
201
Confronting the Temptation of Violence in the Quest for the Kingdom of God
Andrew Bolton
Dealing Responsibly with the Reality of Severe Violence in the "Already but not Yet" Reign of God
David Anderson
Break
211
212
213
"His Whole Life has been One of Rectitude and Honor": William B. Smith's Final Years in Northeastern Iowa
Kyle R. Walker
William Vorhease and the Murder of Joseph Smith
Joseph Johnstun
Hong Xiuquan and Joseph Smith Jr.: Prophets, Kings, and Land Reformers
Steven L. Shields
The Mormon President of the California Republic
Richard K. Behrens
The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo: Its Origins and Impact in the Church and Surrounding Community
Robyn Mun
Linda J. Wilson
Break
James Kelley in His Own Words: Life of a Twentieth-Century RLDS Apostle and Missionary
Barbara Walden
An Abode in the Wilderness: A Study of Charles B. Thompson's Communal Society in Western Iowa
Junia Braby
The Family and the Order: Lucy Diantha and the Morley Tradition of Consecration
Scott Esplin
Continual Consecration: Isaac Morley's Final Effort in Creating a Zionic Community
Douglas L. Major, OD
A Spot for a Temple
R. Jean Addams
The Remnant of Jacob/Joseph and the New Jerusalem
Terry Weldon
12:30 - 1:30 PM
SC Lower Lobby
Plenary Session - Lunch - Panel on "The Community"
William D. Russell
1:30 - 2:00 PM
SC Upper Lobby
2:00- 3:15 PM
Carol Hall
Break
221
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
Back of Auditorium
222
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
Theatre Classroom
223
241
Author vs. Critics-Kirtland Temple: The Biography of a Shared Mormon Sacred Space
David J. Howlett
Lachlan Mackay
Mark L. Staker
TBA CRITIC
2:00- 3:15 PM
Back of Auditorium
242
Common-Stock and Communitarian Villages of the Latter Day Restoration, 1831 to 1858
Melvin C. Johnson
Mormontown: A Cutlerite Colony in Iowa
Danny L. Jorgensen
2:00- 3:15 PM
Theatre Classroom
243
Turning the Dial: Communalism and the Establishment of KLDS
Judd A. Case
Fundamentalist Mormon Schools: Building the Kingdom of God
Michael Hamilton
3:15 - 3:45 PM
SC Upper Lobby
3:45- 5:00 PM
Carol Hall
Break
251
A Tragedy of Idealism: Joseph Smith and the “City on a Hill”
Jeffrey Cimmino
An Early Copy of "The Pure Language"
Brent Lee Metcalfe
3:45- 5:00 PM
Back of Auditorium
252
The Persistence of Polygamy and Mormon Fundamentalism
Craig L. Foster
Brian C. Hales
Marianne Watson
TBA Author
3:45- 5:00 PM
Theatre Classroom
253
Saved by Community
William Main
TBD
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6:00 - 8:00 PM
SC Upper & Lower Lobby
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271
8:15 - 10:00 PM
Green Room
Awards Banquet
Alma Blair, et al.
Young People's Mixer
JWHA cordially invites all students and younger scholars to join us for refreshments and networking. This is
a great opportunity to meet other students from around the country/world, learn about the benefits and
challenges of working on Mormon history, discuss online networking, and learn more about what JWHA
has for you and how you can contribute to the study of Mormon history. Snacks and drinks will be
provided.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
7:00 - 7:45 AM
Green Room
7:00 - 8:30 AM
SC Upper Lobby
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Carol Hall
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Music Classroom
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Theatre Classroom
8:30 - 9:00 AM
SC Upper Lobby
9:00 - 10:15 AM
Carol Hall
9:00 - 10:15 AM
Music Classroom
9:00 - 10:15 AM
Theatre Classroom
10:15 - 10:45 AM
SC Upper Lobby
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Carol Hall
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
First-time Attendees Breakfast
Continential Breakfast
301
Britain’s Major Contribution to the Reorganization: F. Henry Edwards
Keith Wilson
302
"The Veil was Taken from Our Minds": Joseph Smith and the Veil(s) of Eternity
Brian C. Hales
303
“The High Road to Apostasy”: Dissenters as Whistle-Blowers During the Far West Period of Mormon History Michael S. Riggs
Break
311
Can Communalism Really Work?
Russell Osmond
Andrew Bolton
312
Quorum of Apostles: Action of Dissent at Kirtland
H. Michael Marquardt
Continuing Dissent at Far West
William Shepard
Introduction: Encountering The Mormon Girl
Reading The Mormon Girl
Who Wrote The Mormon Girl?
Danny L. Jorgensen
June H. Jorgensen
Jessie L. Embry
313
Break
321
Emma Smith and Sacred Space
Mark L. Staker
Brian W. Whitney
Jill T.Brim
322
Quincy, Illinois, and the Latter Day Saints
Byron Holdiman
Presumed Nepotistical Authority: The Case of John R. Young and Launching Kanab's United Order
Glen Soren Larson Jr.
Claming Stakes of Zion in Modern India: Comparative Mormon Misslologies
Taunalyn Ford Rutherford
The Latter Day Saint Movement in Canada: A Brief Historical Geography, 1830-2013
Klaus D. Gurgel
Bus Tour - limited seating available
Presidential Banquet and Presidential Address
Lachlan Mackay
Music Classroom
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
323
Theatre Classroom
12:00 - 5:00 PM
6:30 - 8:30 PM
SC Upper & Lower Lobby
331
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Community of Christ
Historic Hymn Fest - The Songs of Zion
Church
* Agenda subject to change without notice.
Dick Clothier
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A
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President’s Message
s I write, it is early in the season at the
Community of Christ historic sites I oversee in Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, and Missouri. Summer interns are being introduced to parts
of the Latter Day Saint story they had not heard
before. Research Fellows are refining topics and
with the help of the digital age we now live in, beginning to turn up previously overlooked sources
which they will interpret with new eyes. Senior
volunteers, some of whom have been with us for
more than a decade, share the wisdom and insight
acquired through years of experience and provide
encouragement and emotional support to interns
who might be struggling with a particularly painful
part of the story for the first time. And visitors
arrive by the thousands. Some are pilgrims, seeking
a spiritual connection with those who came before.
Others are tourists, seeking understanding and entertainment.
In many ways, the John Whitmer Historical Association Annual Meeting is the same. It
is a communal exploration of a shared past and/
or passion. We welcome those new to the history
community, encourage and mentor young scholars,
share with them wisdom accumulated through the
years, and make the fruits of our labor available to
both pilgrims and scholars. Plan now to gather
with us September 25 – 28, 2014, in Lamoni, Iowa,
at Graceland University’s beautiful new Shaw Center to explore “Sacred Places and Zionic Communities: The Ideals and Realities of the Restoration.”
Lamoni was established in the 1870s by the United
Order of Enoch, a joint-stock company composed
of Reorganized Latter Day Saints, and thus provides a near perfect setting for our conference and
theme. As some of you have already discovered, one
thing that prevents the community from achieving
perfection as a venue is the shortage of overnight
accommodations. Those planning on attending the
conference should register at www.jwha.info and
book hotel rooms immediately. Lodging options
can be found through a link on the registration
page and are included in this newsletter.
As evidenced by the online registration system,
Cheryle Grinter, our Executive Director, continues to do a stunning job of moving us towards ever
greater organizational efficiency. Erin Metcalfe
and her committee have put together a wonderful
program with Mario De Pillis Sr., emeritus professor of American religious history at the University
of Massachusetts Amherst, delivering the Howard
Lecture. The bus tour on Saturday afternoon will
visit Garden Grove, Iowa, before returning to Joseph Smith III’s Liberty Hall and Rose Hill Cemetery. The ride to and from Garden Grove will feature videos by Alma Blair on area Latter Day Saint
and Lamoni history.
To continue a theme from our last newsletter,
please consider extending an invitation to family
and friends who might share your interest in church
history. I look forward to seeing you (and meeting
them) in Lamoni.
-- Lachlan Mackay
President
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The John Whitmer Historical Association Newsletter
Lodging/ Room Blocks
Lamoni, Iowa
Maple Street Bed & Breakfast
218 North Maple
641-784-0300 (call for reservations)
www.maplestbnb.com
Make reservations by September 10
Cliff and Janey Neeley, Proprietors
6 rooms – non-smoking
$89.27
Chief Lamoni
I-35 Exit 4 & 69 Highway
641-784-3329 Make reservations by September 17
Sandy Naylor, Owner/manager
17 rooms - non-smoking
$45.92 one person one bed, includes tax ($2.00 for
additional person)
$53.64 2 people 2 beds, includes tax
Super 8
I-35 Exit 4 & 69 Highway
641-784-7500
222.super8.com
Make reservations by September 11
Mike Patel, Manager
20 rooms - non-smoking
$59.00 + tax
Osceola, Iowa
Lakeside Casino (30 miles away)
I-35 Exit 34
641-342-9511
Make reservations by September 11
Kerry Bradley, contact
30 rooms – non-smoking
$68.00 + tax Thurs
$88.00+ tax Fri & Sat
Page 7
Mount Ayr, Iowa (25 miles away)
Mt. Ayr Inn
1304 E South St, (intersection of Rte 2 &
Highway 169)
641-464-3500
www.mountayrinn.com
Make reservations by August 14
Mike Avitt, Manager
20 Rooms – non-smoking
$72.95 plus tax for one person
Suites @ $82.95 plus tax for one person
At Graceland University RV CAMPING
Camping fees are $15.00/camper/night.
Attendees will be responsible for their camping fee
costs. No fees to be billed to the master account.
A drop box for camping fees is located at the
northwest corner of the West Events Parking Lot.
All camping spots are on a first come, first serve
basis. No reservations are accepted.
The following facilities are available for RV
camping:
8 full hookup spots. These are the large spaces
on the west side of the lot. They are equipped with
dedicated water, dedicated sewer, and an electrical
pedestal that provides both a 50 amp and a 20 amp
receptacle.
4 single pedestal connections. These single
electric pedestals provide a 30 amp and a 20 amp
electrical connection which theoretically could power
up to 8 units. They are in 4 of the parking islands.
2 double pedestal connections. These double
units contain 2 – 30 amp and 2 – 20 amp electrical
connections which could power up to 8 units. These
are in 2 of the parking islands.
6 non-dedicated water spigots. These are located
in 6 separate parking islands and are not meant for
dedicated connection to RV’s. These are in addition to
the dedicated water spigots in the full hookup spaces.
1 sanitary sewer disposal station. This is
available for anyone who needs to empty a holding
tank.
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The John Whitmer Historical Association Newsletter
No. 98
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Scholarships
Mario S. De Pillis Sr.
to Deliver Howard Lecture at Lamoni
Mario S. De Pillis, Professor Emeritus of American
Social and Religious History at the University of
Massachusetts at Amherst, is well known to members of the Mormon History Association. He is a
past president of the Mormon History Association
and one of the founders of the Communal Studies
Association. He was a founding editor of two journals: the Journal of Social History and Communal Societies, the official journal of the Communal Studies Association. In 2004 the CSA awarded him its
Distinguished Scholar Award.
He has published articles in the areas of Mormonism, Norwegian Immigration, the theory of
community, and other topics. In October 2010 his
co-authored book, Gather Up the Fragments: The
Andrews Shaker Collection (Yale University Press,
2008) won the Best Book award of the Communal
Studies Association at its annual conference.
As Brigham Young University’s first Research
Fellow in the history of Mormonism back in 20002001, Professor De Pillis first began to explore
the spiritual history of ordinary Mormons. In the
Howard Lecture he will discuss some newly discovered materials on the spiritual life of Mormons.
John Whitmer Historical Association gives two
different scholarships to promising scholars (see
below). The purpose of the scholarship program is
to encourage and support scholarly participation in
JWHA’s central mission—studies of Community
of Christ or other denominations of the Latter Day
Saint movement—by promising scholars (particularly students).
Eligibility: The scholarships are eligible to promising scholars, especially students from high school
through graduate degrees, who have not established
themselves professionally by way of scholarly products (such as papers, journal articles, and books) in
areas pertinent to JWHA’s mission. This may include non-students with a demonstrable scholarly interest in Community of Christ or the broader
Latter Day Saint movement. These awards are not
available to those with established careers in Latter
Day Saint studies as indicated by previous scholarly
products and accomplishments.
Winners of an award are not eligible for future
participation in the same award program. However,
winners of one award may subsequently apply for
the other award.
Requirements: Both awards require application
to JWHA. The Scholarship Committee will evaluate applications based on merit. Awards will not
be given if, in the judgment of the committee, there
are no meritorious applications. Winners of awards
are required to attend and participate in the annual
meeting for the year of the award.
In addition to a cash award, scholarships include
a waiver of annual meeting registration fee, admission to both the Awards Banquet and the Presidential Banquet at the annual meeting, and a one-year
membership in JWHA.
1. The Wildermuth Award (scholarly paper
competition) requires submission of a scholarly
product (such as a paper, thesis, or dissertation).
Two Wildermuth Awards of up to $500 each are
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The John Whitmer Historical Association Newsletter
available. Winning papers may be presented at the
JWHA annual meeting and will be eligible for
publication in the JWHA Journal.
This award honors the late Richard and Ruth Wildermuth, who were lifelong supporters of the pursuit of
Community of Christ history, members of JWHA, and
who served as docents for the historic stone church at
Plano, Illinois.
2. The Kelley Award (travel grant) requires
a one-page letter of application that includes the
applicant’s name, address, and phone number, as
well as a concise statement of (a) interest in Latter Day Saint studies and (b) reasons for needing
financial assistance. Two Kelley Awards up to $300
each are available. Winners are required to attend
the JWHA annual meeting and assist the Executive Director with registration and other meeting
arrangements as needed.This award honors Edmund
L. Kelley, a longtime Community of Christ missionary, Presiding Bishop, 1891 to 1897, and counselor in the
First Presidency, 1897 to 1902.
There is no separate application form. Submit
the requested documents (as noted above) to the
Scholarship Committee Chair at scholarships@
jwha.info. The application deadline is August 1.
Elections
Page 9
The nominations committee has voted to recommend that Brian Hales be elected president-elect
of our association. The nominations committee further recommends that Rachael Killibrew and Richard Moore be elected to replace the outgoing board
members.
All these candidates are experienced and active
members of JWHA. Brian Hales is the author of
nine books dealing with Latter Day Saint historical
topics and has been a regular presenter at our conferences over many years. He works as an anesthesiologist at Davis Hospital in Layton, Utah, where
he has served as president of the Medical Staff. In
addition, he is completing a term as president of
the Utah Medical Association. Brian and his wife
reside in Layton, Utah.
Rachael Killibrew is the Librarian-Archivist for
Community of Christ. She currently serves on the
JWHA Awards, membership, and program committees. Rachael and her husband reside in Independence, Missouri.
Richard Moore is a faculty member at Brigham
Young University in Provo, Utah. He has been an
active worker and volunteer at our past conferences.
Awards
Richard and his wife reside in Provo, Utah.
Formal voting will occur on Thursday evening at
Both the book and article awards committees have
our annual business meeting prior to the opening
been hard at work determining this year’s recipilecture.
ents. We would encourage more participation from
the membership in terms of nominations for this
The John Whitmer Historical Association
next year. Typically the committees begin their
N EWSLETT ER
deliberations in January. They consider what has
The newsletter is published irregularly by and for the benefit of
been published for the previous year. So this year,
the membership of the John Whitmer Historical Association.
we are looking at books published in 2013, while
Copyright © 2014 by JWHA. All rights reserved.
those books that have been published in the past six
Visit us online and view back issues at www.JWHA.info
months will be considered for the next year’s award.
We would also like to take this time to thank the
Staff
wonderful presses and journals who have assisted
REED A. RUSSELL, Editor
us with review copies, the donors who make these
WILLIAM D. MORAIN, Copy Editor
awards possible, and the wonderful members of the
Please send letters and notices to the editor via e-mail:
committee who take their task very seriously.
ReedARussell@yahoo.com
Page 10
The John Whitmer Historical Association Newsletter
Membership News
One of the benefits of being a member of JWHA
is this newsletter. It helps you keep abreast of upcoming events, new publications, and opportunities
you don’t want to miss out on. If you ever forget
where you put your printed version of the newsletter, you can find a copy on our website www.jwha.
info.The most recent newsletters are right on the
home page. If you click on “Newsletter” in the navigation bar, you will see other newsletters available
from as early as 2005. Just reading through the article titles for the past decade will give you a sense
of how our organization has progressed while remaining true to its purpose and mission.
Silent Auction
John Whitmer Historical Association fans unite!
Do you love John Whitmer? Do you have a few
fun items you no longer need? Please consider donating your spare goods to our annual silent auction! We’ll accept everything from discarded print
blocks to books and even the extraneous toasters
from your wedding! If you don’t have an item to
donate, please consider attending our auction. You
might find the perfect piece of history to enhance
your own collection. Each year our silent auction
helps raise money to provide a better all-around experience for our membership. Please consider participating in this wonderful and fun event.
If you’d like to donate, please visit www.jwha.info to complete the donation form.
No. 98
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News from
Community of Christ
Historic Sites
Emma Hale Smith Hymn Festival
Come celebrate the life and times of our “Elect
Lady” at the Kirtland Temple. The annual hymn
festival marks the 210th anniversary of Emma Hale
Smith’s birth. The special evening of historic hymnody will take place on Monday, July 7th at 7:30 p.m.
at the Kirtland Temple in Kirtland, Ohio. For more
information and ticket reservations, contact the
Kirtland Temple Visitor Center at (440) 256-1830.
Ron Romig Lands Prestigious Award
Ron Romig, former Community of Christ archivist
and current site director of the Kirtland Temple, recently received the Leonard J. Arrington Lifetime
Achievement Award.
The presentation was made June 6 in San Antonio, Texas, during the annual conference of the
Mormon History Association.
For members of the Latter Day Saints history
community, the award is among the highest given
to a historian. Of twenty-six recipients, only one
other Community of Christ member has received
it: Dick Howard in 1989.
Another Summer,
Another Nauvoo Dig
Another archaeological dig began after the team arrived Memorial Day weekend at the Joseph Smith
Historic Site.
In recent summers the team has excavated several Nauvoo sites, increasing the knowledge of a
place important in Community of Christ history.
This summer the focus again will be the Joseph
Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith site. Smaller excavations will be done at the Homestead, William
Marks House, and Theodore Turley site.
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Page 11
Call for Papers
2015 Mormon History Association Conference
Mormon Cultures, Cultural Mormons
2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Mormon History Association, whose annual conference
will be held in Provo, Utah, on June 4-7, 2015, at the Utah Valley Convention Center. We invite papers and
presentations that consider Mormon history in its broadest possible sense, as well as those which reflect
retrospectively on the history of the MHA itself at its first half-century mark.
The theme of “Mormon cultures, cultural Mormons” suggests many possible avenues for exploration: cultural
history, popular culture, cultural production, media culture, and material culture, to name a few. Is “Mormon
culture” singular or plural? If plural, how are Mormon cultures defined, experienced, constructed, reinforced, and
challenged? In what sense has Mormonism been experienced or understood as a culture or a subculture unto
itself? How does Mormon cultural identity intersect with national, transnational, racial, ethnic, and other identities
in historical context? What does it mean, now or in the past, to be a “cultural Mormon”?
As the conference returns to Provo and the Wasatch front area--which has a long history as the heart of what is
often termed the “Mormon culture region”--we especially encourage presentations that probe the importance of
this geographic region from multiple perspectives across time, or which investigate the concept of a “Mormon
culture region” itself. How have the city of Provo and surrounding communities shaped Mormon history and
culture? And beyond the local, which other places, practices, traditions, and stories deserve consideration as
part of our proceedings?
Finally, the occasion of the organization’s 50th meeting lends itself to papers or panels providing critical
introspection on the state of the maturing field of Mormon history. Where have we been? Where is the field
headed? And what are the emerging areas of study, methods, technologies, and possibilities for the future of
Mormon history?
Although the Program Committee will consider individual papers, it will give preference to proposals for complete
sessions. These might follow the traditional format of two or three papers with commentators, but we also
encourage alternative or innovative formats, such as roundtables, performances, film screenings or other
experimental arrangements. Because audiences appreciate the opportunity to ask questions or offer comments,
do not try to pack too much into a single session. Please send a title and 300-word abstract for each paper or
presentation, and a brief 1-2 page CV for each presenter with email contact information. Full session proposals
should also include the session title and brief abstract outlining the theme, along with a confirmed or suggested
chair and commentator, if applicable. Previously published papers are not eligible for presentation at the MHA.
Please note that only one proposal per individual may be submitted. Financial assistance is available to some
student presenters; those who wish to apply should include estimated travel expenses with their proposals.
The deadline for all proposals is October 1, 2014. Proposals should be sent by email to the program co-chairs,
Spencer Fluhman and Tona Hangen, at mha2015provo@gmail.com. Notification of acceptance or rejection will
be made by January 1, 2015. Presenters are expected to be members of MHA and to register for the conference.
For additional information on the conference, please consult http://mormonhistoryassociation.org
Page 12
The John Whitmer Historical Association Newsletter
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N
No. 98
91
John Whitmer Historical Association
PO Box 496
Independence, MO 64051-0496
816.738.9342
jwha@jwha.info
www.JWHA.info
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