Does it matter if Joseph Smith’s 1838 account of the First Vision (canonized by the LDS in 1880) is not historically reliable, as some Mormon historians have argued in recent decades? In reaction to apologists who insist on the First Vision’s historicity as a litmus test for the faith, some Latter Day Saints of a …
Event: Kirtland Symposium 2012
The Kirtland Telmple and Community of Christ: A Historical Overview
Historian John Hamer will provide a 50-minute presentation on the history of Kirtland, Ohio, and the building of the Kirtland Temple. John Hamer
Gentiles, Temples, and Respect for Sacred Space: Problematics for the Non-Mormon Scholar of Mormonism
LDS temples are enigmatic and problematic for non-Mormons, especially for non-Mormon scholars of Mormonism. Most information about temples—their history, use, theological significance, sociological and psychological importance—is readily available from Mormon Studies scholars and even the church itself, and temples are open for public tours before dedication. On the other hand, aspects of temple ceremonies, in …
The 75th Anniversary of the Hill Cumorah Pageant
The year 2012 marks the 75th Anniversary of the Hill Cumorah Pageant, the longest running religious outdoor drama in the United States. (The longest running historical drama, The Lost Colony, in Roanoke, North Carolina, is also celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2012.) This presentation will discuss the founding and development of the Pageant. It will …
Women’s Ordination: A Community of Christ Perspective
Three Community of Christ women reflect on the past 25+ years since women were first ordained in their faith community. Reflections will include individual priesthood calls, experiences in their local and larger faith community, and personal stories recalling both support and resistance of women in the priesthood. Barbara Walden, Julie Henson Werner, Cathy Batey, Kathy …
Monogomy Undergroung: The Burial of Plural Marriage in the Graves of Joseph and Emma Smith
This paper examines the history of the gravesite memorials dedicated to Emma and Joseph Smith, exploring their meaning as RLDS/CofC monuments to monogamy and situating them within the broader context of restored Nauvoo, where the idealization and practice of plural marriage in the LDS past is largely elided. The history of the burials and memorializations …
The Book of Mormon as an Ancient Ascension Text
Many Biblical and non-Biblical sources discuss ancient ascensions into the presence of God. One source for such ascensions, which is often neglected by Latter-day Saints and others, is the Book of Mormon. This paper will discuss the ancient concepts of ascension and theophany, and how the Book of Mormon has as a major underlying theme …
De-Cantankerizing Descriptions of Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith remains a “character” in the American national historical discussion. Objectivity about “how to study Joseph Smith” is a growing field of research and focus. This paper focuses on the application of both contemporary business and traditional psychological communication models to the “personality” of Joseph Smith. Principally, the presentation will provide a road map …
On the Journey Together: A Look at Midwest Pilgrimage
For decades, a group of LDS women has been gathering for an annual weekend retreat called Midwest Pilgrimage. Part workshops and classes, part support group, part spiritual and intellectual feast, and part slumber party with bowls of M&Ms, this group provides nourishment for mind, body, and soul. Panelists will share a bit of Pilgrimage history …