MMFF

P.O. Box 3186, Independence, Missouri 64055

Phone: (816) 228-3512; Fax: (816) 461-3262

Visiting Historian Lecture Series Dr. Richard Anderson and Scott H. Faulring offered a view of the experiences of the Book of Mormon witnesses at a historian's lecture, held at the Independence, MO, LDS Visitors Center, 7:00 p.m., 27 April 2002. Richard and Scott traveled from Brigham Young University in Utah for the Hiram Page Marker Commemoration. While in town they were persuaded to share their further insights into the lives of Book of Mormon witnesses, such as Hiram Page and members of the Whitmer Family. Anderson remarked that five of the 11 original witnesses are buried within a twenty-five mile radius of Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Previous Lectures: "'Behold, There Shall Be a Record Kept Among You' Joseph Smith and Early Mormon Record Keeping, 1829-1844." By Scott Faulring Was held 7:00 P.M., Tuesday evening, 17 JULY 2001 Lower level of the LDS Visitors Center, 937 West Walnut, Independence, Missouri. Scott Faulring is a Research Associate with the Joseph Smith Institute at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. He cares deeply about preserving and making available documentary history sources of the early church movement. With his wife Barbara, the Faulrings edited An American Prophet's Record Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith. Scott is also working on a forthcoming documentary history on Oliver Cowdrey, being prepared in association with Richard Anderson, and is the editor of a joint Joseph Smith Holy Scriptures Translation project involving FARMS, BYU Religious Studies, the LDS Church Historical Department, and the Community of Christ Library-Archives. Report on Mark A. Scherer, Visiting Historians Lecture, Thursday, 12 October 2000 June 1999 Visiting Historians Lecture Series The Kingdom of God in Early Mormon Thought 8 July 1999, 7:00 P.M. Lower Level, LDS Visitors Center, Independence, Missouri What was Joseph up to in Missouri and how does his interpretation of the Book of Daniel help us understand this? Brigham Young University Archivist David J. Whittaker will present a lecture on the development of early Mormon thought and the Kingdom of God, alluded to as a stone rolling forth, cut without hands, in the Bible's Book of Daniel. Whittaker will explore the ideological, religious, and cultural milieu, as well as Joseph Smith's understanding of the Daniel's Kingdom, as a basis for understanding and interpreting the Northern Missouri Mormon period. David Whittaker's lecture is free and open to all to interested parties as part of the Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation's Visiting Historian Lecture Series. It will be held Thursday evening, 7:00 P.M., at the LDS Visitor's Center, 937 West Walnut, Independence, Missouri, on 8 July 1999. Please plan to attend. Further information about the lecture series or MMFF may be obtained by contacting MMFF Vice-president, Ron Romig, at the Community of Christ Archives, 833-1000 X 2449, rromig@cofchrist.org. Earlier Lectures Scott H. Faulring lectured on: "New Insights on the Emergence of the Joseph Smith Translation/Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures 1830-1833" About 40 people attended the Thursday evening, 11 JUNE 1998 public lecture held at the LDS Visitors Center, 937 West Walnut, Independence, Missouri. Scott's illustrated talk focused on the importance and the development of the Joseph Smith Translation/Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures. Scott is a Research Associate with the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS). Scott, who is also a member of MMFF, cares deeply about helping preserve and make available the documentary history sources of the early church movement. With the help of his diligent wife Barbara, the Faulrings edited, An American Prophet's Record: Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith. Scott was visiting Independence, Missouri, while working at the Community of Christ Archives, on his continuing research for a forthcoming documentary history of the writings of Oliver Cowdrey, being prepared in association with Richard Anderson. Scott is also the editor of a joint Joseph Smith Holy Scriptures Translation project involving FARMS, BYU Religious Studies, the LDS Church Historical Department, and the Community of Christ Library-Archives. OTHER RECENT LECTURES Visiting Historians Lecture Series Visiting historian, DR. SUSAN EASTON BLACK's lecture was entitled: "Joseph Smith and the Evils of Rumor in Missouri," 7:00 P.M., Wednesday evening, 22 APRIL 1998, at the LDS Visitors Center, 937 West Walnut, Independence, Missouri Dr. Susan Easton Black Susan spoke to a large and interested audience about Joseph Smith, Jr.'s, incarcerations while the Saints were in the State of Missouri. Dr. Black serves as Dean of the Honors Program, at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. She is also an ex-officio member of the MMFF Board. Susan has favored MMFF with several exciting lectures since 1993. When here last, she explored Missouri trail connections, as part of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Mormon Trail. She is deeply committed to helping preserve and making available the documentary history of the early Restoration church movement. Susan is the author of a number of books, articles, and reference works on early "Mormon" History, including, My Servant Algernon Sidney Gilbert, and monumental compilations of early LDS members, Early Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Community of Christ members born before 1849. Tuesday evening, 18 November 1997, at the LDS Visitors Center, Independence, Missouri, singer, storyteller Shane Jackman shared his unique style of country and folk like music with a program entitled, "Rhythm of the Restoration." Shane's sang and told stories which reflected much of the soul of his church member ancestors' real life poignant tales and memorable experiences in Jackson County, Missouri, and their exodus west. The program was sponsored by Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation. Many thanks also to Elder and Sister Brown and the LDS Visitors Center staff. LOG HOUSE LECTURE Teenaged Archaeologists participated in a recent MMFF lecture, held Wednesday, 12 November 1997, at 6:00 p.m., in the Harvest Hills Community Center, Independence, Missouri. Shawnee Mission East (KS) High School student archaeologists and their teacher Paul DeBarthe displayed and explained artifacts found at a structure which the Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation believes to be the former home of LDS Apostle C. C. Rich, in Caldwell County, Missouri. Former student David Coit (a three year dig veteran) described the method of construction of this structure - and why he has come to believe it to be a Mormon period structure. Current student Nick Blount explained his work at what may be the location of the building's original firplace. The program, which was co-sponsored by Oak Hill Community of Christ Congregation, began with a pizza dinner, with the lecture following. Quilt Lecture On 7 October Mary Bywater Cross presented an illustrated talk about her recent book, Quilts & Women of the Mormon Migration. The lecture was held at the National Frontier Trails Foundation in Independence, Missouri, and was co-sponsored by NFTF. APRIL 1997 VISITING HISTORIAN LECTURE: There was a good turnout on Thursday, 24 April, 7:00 pm, when Alex Baugh, a visiting professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah, presented a lecture on: "Lilburn W. Boggs: From Missouri to California," at the Community of Christ Temple Lecture Hall. A nice report of Alex's lecture appeared in the next day's edition of the Independence Examiner by Jeff Adkins, Friday, April 25, 1997. Examiner lecture report , by Jeff Adkins, Friday, April 25, 1997 JUNE 1997 VISITING HISTORIAN LECTURE "The Coming Forth of the Articles and Covenants of the Church of Christ, 1829­1835 and the Jackson County Connection" was discussed by Scott H. Faulring, 7:00 P.M., Thursday evening, 19 June 1997, at the LDS Visitors Center, 937 West Walnut, Independence, Missouri. Scott is a Research Associate with the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS). His lecture explored the importance of the development and adoption of the "Articles and Covenants" at the church's first conference, 9 June 1830. As a plain statement of the basic beliefs, procedures, and standards of conduct for the benefit of members or prospective converts, the Articles and Covenants were "read by Joseph Smith, Jr., and received by unanimous vote of the whole conference." [FWR, 1] Often called the "Constitution of the Church" the "Articles and Covenants" is the revelations now known as Doctrine and Covenants section 20 (LDS, 17 Community of Christ). Early missionaries often carried copies of this information on their missions. Scott's lecture focused on John Whitmer's role as church clerk during the Jackson County years in producing a copy for Zebedee Coltrin (and others), and the editing and preparation of the "Articles and Covenants" for publication in The Evening and the Morning Star and the Book of Commandments. Scott and his wife Barbara and family were in Independence, Missouri, visiting the Community of Christ Archives while researching a forthcoming documentary history of the writings of David Whitmer. Scott is also the editor of An American Prophet's Record: Diaries and Journals of Joseph Smith, and an other forthcoming documentary history on Oliver Cowdery being prepared in association with Richard Anderson. We had a large turn out for Scott's previous MMFF lecture on Oliver Cowdery. You are invited to join in and support MMFF activities! Back to the MMFF.NET MMFF