JWHA.info
  • Membership
  • Publications
    • JW Books
    • JWHA Journal
    • JWHA Newsletter
    • WhitmerCast Podcast
  • Events
    • Annual Conference
    • Meetings of the JWHA Board
    • Past Conferences
    • Spring Event
  • Opportunities
    • Advertising Opportunities
    • JWHA Awards
    • Scholarships
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Store
  • About Us
    • About JWHA
    • Bylaws (PDF)
    • Code of Conduct
    • Donate
    • Financial Statements
    • History of JWHA
    • JWHA Leadership and Committees
    • Who was John Whitmer?
  • Contact

SIDEBAR for annual conference

Register now for the 2017 conference!

Agenda at a Glance

Bid on online auction items beginning August 23 at 8:00 a.m. until September 23 at 12:15 p.m. (CDT).

2017 Award Nominees
• Articles
• Books

More info:

  • Enhance your conference experience
  • Make your guest room reservations now
  • The call for papers deadline was April 6, 2017
  • Learn about past conferences

 

Honoring Their Service, JWHA Founders Video.

Learn about JWHA by watching our brief introduction video.

Access JWHA Archive Files

Tips for successful use of the website

Upcoming Events

September 24-26, 2026

JWHA Annual Conference: Crossroads of Identity, Community, and Technology

Mid America Center

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Whitmer Cast Podcasts

Find our latest episodes wherever you get your podcasts.

Latest from JWHA

Search the JWHA Journals index with ease, click here to learn how.

Hidden Things Shall Come to Light article and journal available to purchase.

Members share what history means to them.

Keep up with JWHA activities: Check out the latest issue of the JWHA newsletter.

Have you moved or changed your email address or phone number? Please help us stay connected by submitting your updated contact information online.

YouTube logo

Visit our YouTube Channel to view conference and Whitmer Cast podcast videos.

johnwhitmerhistory

The Official Instagram account for the John Whitmer Historical Association
WE'VE GOT AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE! Our Saturday WE'VE GOT AN OFFER YOU CAN'T REFUSE! Our Saturday bus tour this year is going to be TWO whole tours on ONE bus, meaning that you don't have to choose between two great options! If you haven't gone on the bus tour before because of cost, well then this is the year to do it because you're getting more bang for your buck! Join us as we tour the historic Omaha Union Station, a historic landmark and the literal crossroads of the western frontier. We'll be stopping by the Joslyn Castle, a mansion which was once nearly destroyed by a tornado, but was home to a larger than life lady who didn't let natural disasters stop her, Sarah Joslyn. These aren't the only two excited stops on the tour. Without giving away any spoilers, we'll just say that they're a little risque for the grandkids. Infidelity, murder, showbiz, feminism... what's a party bus without a little deviancy?! Spots are limited, so you'll want to register ASAP for this! The tour will happen on Saturday afternoon on September 26 right after the last session. Box lunches are included and tickets are only $70. To register and learn more, head over to our website at www.jwha.info today!
WE LOVE A GOOD LECTURE... just as long as that lec WE LOVE A GOOD LECTURE... just as long as that lecture is based on qualitative and quantitative data and research. So before any parent jumps up on their soapbox to deliver a diatribe on the necessity of ironing our socks, DAD, we just need to take some time to appreciate our pick for the 2026 Richard P. Howard Lecture! It will be our honor to feature Dr Matthew Bolton at the JWHA this year, speaking on the impact of nuclear testing on the RLDS church's identity as a global institution is sure to be riveting. Dr. Bolton has long been active in the discourse around nuclear weaponry and its role in world politics and the environment. He was a member of the team behind the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, an effort that resulted in earning the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. He has been active in other NGO groups and has been in UN peace efforts. Dr. Bolton teaches at Pace University in New York.
From a Community of Christ perspective, the annual From a Community of Christ perspective, the annual JWHA conference is a lot like a church reunion. For our friends from across the Restoration, that tradition of holding reunions goes back to the early days, where congregations and friends would gather for camping, ministry, and a little tom foolery for a week during the summer. In fact, the Kirtland Temple used to play host to these reunions every summer! Reunions in a broader sense evoke memories of family gatherings, and we think it's about time we start conceptualizing our community as family. In preparation for conference, we want to invite you to join us in connecting with long lost kin, but it'll require just a little homework. You can read more about this fun way to connect by heading over to our website and learning more at the link below. If you are seeing this on Instagram, visit our website at jwha.info today! https://www.jwha.info/publications/newsletter/2026-2/jwha-newsletter-no-143/exciting-fall-conference-activity/
COME, COME YE SAINTS, and gather 'round for some e COME, COME YE SAINTS, and gather 'round for some exciting changes to our conference schedule! We know that you love music... mostly because you're human, and I think science proves that we all are obsessed or something... but you especially love music because you come from a great religious tradition with a hefty catalogue of favorite hymns. So we hope that you are as stoked as we are to know that this year, our hymn fest is moving to SATURDAY!!! In years past, we have celebrated our hymns during our Sunday morning worship. Let's be real for a second, though: Sunday is also our day to travel home and many of us have to miss it. As you can imagine, this messes with our ratios. We're no MoTab, but odds are good that with more of us in the room we could give them a run for their money. Besides... it's Sunday somewhere, right? So warm up those pipes, practice that "Do Re Mi," and get ready to belt it, diva! You can learn more and catch our early bird registration special right now by visiting us at www.jwha.info today! Pricing dependent on membership and school status. Early bird pricing ends September 1st. Availability unlimited, so tell your friends!
WE JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET ON THE ROAD AGAIN to con WE JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET ON THE ROAD AGAIN to conference in Council Bluffs this year, and we hope you're excited too! You still have some time to register and catch those sweet early bird fees at www.jwha.info, but we want to know... how are you getting there? Well, we have some recommendations... We assume most people will arrive by plane. It's easy, it's fast, and it's a transportation staple, but... have you considered the train? Council Bluffs is best reached when you set Omaha (OMA) as your destination for either plane or train, but if you're coming from Utah, we'd recommend stretching that trip out and catching some leisurely strolling through the Rockies on the California Zephyr. It'll take a full day by Amtrak, but those views will make up for it, and it could always be worse... you could take a handcart. Or maybe you like sitting behind the wheel with the open road ahead of you. Whether you drive up on your own from somewhere close like Kansas City, or you commit to a long haul from one of the coasts, feel free to drop in the comments how you're getting to conference, or make some new friends and find a ride along! Whatever your preferred mode, we run this shindig like they do in The Fast and the Furious: we don't have friends, we got FAMILY.
UNFORTUNATELY... we are not allowed to camp out on UNFORTUNATELY... we are not allowed to camp out on the conference venue floor all weekend, but we have the next best option! Our people have talked to the people over at the Hilton Garden Inn, and they are ready to party with us for not only a great price, but at a great location! We've got a whole block of rooms set up just for you at their Omaha East/Council Bluffs hotel, which happens to be across the street from the venue AND ALSO PIZZA! Not only does this place have the pool and the fitness center for that post session work out, they also have breakfast options, and... a casino?! Maybe you'll be all gambled out after joining our friends at MHA in Vegas this June, but if you found that you have the itch, this hotel has you covered. Book your hotel stay by hitting up our registration page and clicking the link to our custom booking page today!
WE ARE IN IOWA-Y this year for our annual conferen WE ARE IN IOWA-Y this year for our annual conference, and we are exploring some crossroads. Not only is Council Bluffs a beautiful city, it is also one that marks the transition of the Restoration from a bustling city on the Mississippi to a fractured number of smaller communities. While the Prairie Saints would scatter their congregations across the plains and along the Missouri River, which runs along the city's western boundary, the Mountain Saints began their trek to the Rockies here at Winter Quarters in neighboring Nebraska. We have all come a long way since then, and no longer depend on wagon train or riverboat to make connections with each other! You have until September 1st to take advantage of our early bird special pricing for this year's conference. Between now and then, we'll be sure to share information with you on how to make this year's destination one worth scrapbooking! Keep an eye out for tips on travel, amenities, sites to visit, award nominees, and so much more! Register now at www.jwha.info/events/annual-conference/2026-annual-conference and share with your friends!
WE HAVE A PODCAST! Yes, it's been awhile. No, we d WE HAVE A PODCAST! Yes, it's been awhile. No, we didn't forget that we had a podcast. Yes, it's worth listening to! This episode is extra special because we're talking to our President Elect, Nancy Ross, about her new book about temple garments in the LDS tradition. Give it a listen, and make sure you pick up the book from the University of Illinois Press! All episodes of our podcast are available on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
Mondays aren't the greatest anyway, but this Monda Mondays aren't the greatest anyway, but this Monday hits different. It's April 6th, which makes it Restoration Day! The church is celebrating its birthday, and you are still feeling so satisfied from all the activities of this past weekend. The best part is that Easter candy (objectively the best candy) is now on mark down! Woohoo! It's time to settle in with your 50% Robin Eggs and check in with the socials. Everyone is posting their egg hunt photos, flowers from the gardens, or favorite quotes from LDS conference. Of course there's some politics going on, but you scroll right past and land on... Uh oh. It's John Whitmer again, here to ask you once again to submit your nominations and abstracts for the 2026 annual John Whitmer Historical Association conference in Council Bluffs, IA. Not only is he asking, he's... are those lasers coming out of his eyes?! What kind of weirdo comes up with these ad campaigns?! (The chronically online Millennial, as a matter of fact.) You roll your eyes and check the clock. Yep, it's Monday. You still have time to write 200 words. You remember that the link to submit to is proposals.jwha.info while nominations may be sent to jwha@jwha.info, which is great because you saw your niece this weekend, and she was thrilled that you recommended she attend this year. As you look over your abstract for autocorrect mistakes, you smirk. This wasn't too difficult. You're too brilliant. After all the research you've done and papers you've written, there's no deadline you can't make. You're sleeping good tonight knowing you're going to knock their socks off in September.
You wake with a start. Drool hangs from your lip, You wake with a start. Drool hangs from your lip, connecting you to your desk. You can almost feel the imprint of your sleeve against your face. How long were you out? Where are you? Your eyes focus in on the screen in front of you. John Whitmer is side eyeing you from his black and white photograph, almost mocking you with the rainbow gradiant of the image framing him. Proposals? Book Awards? Scholarships? DUE MONDAY?! With a great gasp, you almost jump from your chair. Your abstract! Did you send it? What was that link again? proposals.jwha.info You've got this. You may have fallen asleep, you may think you have time, but you have got this! Until your phone rings, that is. It's your mom. "Oh sweetheart, I'm just so excited for those cinnamon rolls. Thanks for volunteering to make them! See you at ten o'clock!" Cinnamon rolls at ten o'clock... but it's already nine! The abstract will have to wait, as you rush into your kitchen, resigned to the fact that it is about to be annihilated. Oh well. You'll clean up later. As you arrive, however, you're relieved to see your partner already pulling the rolls out of the oven. They give you a look that lets you know that you owe them big, "Your family might watch General Conference in their pajamas," they say, "but I recommend you shower... is that drool?" You grin sheepishly, back yourself out of the kitchen, and hustle down to the bathroom. That abstract can wait, but will you remember? Stay tuned...
THIS IS NOT A DRILL! We have less than a week unti THIS IS NOT A DRILL! We have less than a week until the deadline for all abstracts and nominations! Head over to our website at www.jwha.info to learn more about our book awards and student scholarships for this year's conference, or pop by proposals.jwha.info to submit a few words about your latest research obsession!
Um, hi. Long time. No see. We're just popping in b Um, hi. Long time. No see. We're just popping in because we miss you... So we're throwing a party! Okay, so it's the party we have every year, but we're excited anyway. We've updated our website with new info for this year's annual conference. There's a lot of details to work out, but here are the basics: We need proposals! Our theme this year is "Crossroads of Identity, Community, and Technology, but we welcome all kinds of research to share with our community. We also need book and paper nominations! If you have read anything you deem amazing this year, you've got to let us know! Finally, we want to make room for new scholars by offering scholarships for students to join us at conference! If you've got research to brag about, books to recommend, or students who deserve recognition (or you ARE a student who deserves recognition, no shame), drop us those nominations at www.jwha.info before April 6!
Giving Tuesday is in one week, but you can give NO Giving Tuesday is in one week, but you can give NOW! Help us reach our goal of $1000 dollars by donating at our website or Facebook campaign page, and you can rest easier knowing that you have helped a student afford the opportunity to present at the JWHA conference next year. Why is this worthwhile? Students work hard in their programs to engage in exciting research, but don't always get the credit or experience of having that work recognized and celebrated. We are always looking forward to the next generation of great scholars in our community, and we believe that giving back today is the same as paying it forward tomorrow! Our website address is simple, but the campaign link is not, so hit us up now at jwha.info, or click/copy+paste the link below into your browser: https://www.facebook.com/donate/2133712284095708/
WE HAVE AWESOME SPONSORS! Conferences are nothing WE HAVE AWESOME SPONSORS! Conferences are nothing without a bit of swag, and some recognition of great scholars. Those perks could never happen without the generous donations of our sponsors. These foundations, publishers, and individuals make up the lifeblood of what makes our annual meetings a thrill to attend. Join us in thanking them! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to us at jwha@jwha.info today!
WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS! The John Whitmer Historica WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS! The John Whitmer Historical Association is now on Patreon! With this new chapter in engagement, we are eager to see how we can engage with new friends interested in Mormon and Restoration history. At this time, we have one tier of monthly membership that will grant you early access to past conference session recordings, meaning that you can "attend conference" without attending conference! This will be a great opportunity for those who can't afford to travel as often, or who have missed past conferences. All sessions will still be made available on our YouTube channel after a delay. Patreon subscriptions will not be a replacement for membership, but we are working on other fun benefits to being a patron, including discounts, exclusive content, and merchandise! If you can't pledge now, be sure to watch the page for more updates in the future!
WE LOVE OUR MEMBERS about as much as we love histo WE LOVE OUR MEMBERS about as much as we love history... maybe more! This year we held a capital campaign to help grow our funding to ensure that the John Whitmer Historical Association can bring you great scholarship opportunities for years to come. We are so pleased to announce that with your donations and a matching pledge by an anonymous donor, we have raised $24,866... and a lucky seven cents! THANK YOU!
We are lucky to count some amazing student scholar We are lucky to count some amazing student scholars within our community. This year we were privileged to honor four of those young scholars with scholarships to help bring them to Independence for our conference. Their passion for this field goes to show that there's always something new to learn from the past AND the present. Whether it's missionaries from centuries ago or politicians and queer activists living today, our scholarship recipients have called our attention to some impactful moments in the story of the Restoration!
Albert Camus once said that "the purpose of a writ Albert Camus once said that "the purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself," which is all too true when you're a historian to boot! Join our friend Harry one more time to applaud this year's award winning authors for their hard work to document history and contribute to what we know about our Restoration ancestors. Stay tuned as well for more pictures from our conference this year. We hope to see you in Council Bluffs in 2026!
Instagram post 18066080624520275 Instagram post 18066080624520275
Instagram post 18021795593746013 Instagram post 18021795593746013
Follow on Instagram

Share this page

  • Home
  • Membership
  • Publications
  • About JWHA
  • Contact

© JWHA.info.  If you suspect any illegal, unethical or inappropriate events, behavior, or practices please contact the finance committee chair. All reports will be addressed in confidence.

X