Journeys and Junctions: Migration, Margins, and the Making of Latter Day Saint Communities
The John Whitmer Historical Association (JWHA) invites proposals for its September 23–25, 2027, conference that will be held at the Embassy Suites, Milwaukee/Brookfield, Wisconsin.
“Journeys and Junctions: Migration, Margins, and the Making of Latter Day Saint Communities” is meant to capture how much of Latter Day Saint history has been shaped by movement as much as by settlement. Latter Day Saints moved not only between gathering places like Nauvoo but also through wider networks—especially the Great Lakes corridor and inland routes into the American interior—where key “junctions” redirected lives and communities. These spaces also gave rise to alternative paths, including movements led by James Strang at Voree, highlighting how authority, belonging, and identity were often worked out on the margins. This year’s theme is intentionally broad and people-focused, inviting work on migration, community-building, lived experience, and the interplay of continuity and change across Latter Day Saint traditions.
We look forward to hearing about your historical research either with individual papers or as part of a panel discussion. We also encourage theological papers related to our Restoration Studies track.
Please submit your proposals by April 6, 2027, to proposals.jwha.info.
See also: Conference submission policies.
