Explore Community of Christ History With Us
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Fall Lecture Series: Registration is Now Open!Join us this fall as we explore a wide variety of stories within Community of Christ history. Learn about the history behind the hymns of the Latter Day Saint movement and Frederick Madison Smith's experience in Salt Lake City in 1904. Hear about William Marks' involvement as a church leader under Joseph Smith, Jr., and Joseph Smith III along with the fascinating stories behind RLDS women's activism of the 1970s. Discover these compelling narratives and more during our four-week online lecture series. Click the button below to learn more about this exciting series and to register for the weekly lectures.
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Annual Joseph Smith III Peace LectureDo you have plans for Community of Christ Heritage Day this Sunday? All are welcome to join our friends from Liberty Hall as they gather online for the annual Joseph Smith III Peace Lecture. The 2023 guest speaker is John C. Hamer. Click the button below to view the annual peace lecture this Sunday at 2 pm (Central USA). The lecture is free, no registration required.
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Joseph Smith III's Liberty Hall located in Lamoni, Iowa.
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Team Lead Opportunity at Liberty HallDo you enjoy reading church history and experiencing historic places? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you! Joseph Smith III’s Liberty Hall, a Community of Christ historic site in Lamoni, Iowa, is recruiting a Team Lead. This volunteer position oversees the day-to-day operations of the site, a late Victorian era house museum. Onsite housing and utilities are provided. For more information about this exciting opportunity, contact Lachlan Mackay at LMackay@CofChrist.org or visit https://cofchrist.org/liberty-hall-team-lead-volunteer-lamoni-iowa/ to apply.
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Image of Alma Blair.
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Spring Campaign Update: We Did It!Thanks to your incredible support we exceeded our springtime fund raising goal of $50,000. You made it happen! Your generosity helped fund eight young adult interns serving in the Alma Blair Internship Program. Generous friends, your gift truly makes a difference in the lives of those serving as summer interns at the Community of Christ historic sites. Thank you for helping preserve the past and inspire the future through your support.
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Spring Campaign UpdateAs we embarked on this campaign a few weeks ago, our board of directors pledged to match the first $20,000 in donations received. Our campaign goal is to raise $50,000 to fund eight young adult interns in the Alma Blair Internship Program. There are $5,000 in matching funds still available for you to double your donation in support of young adults serving in the Alma Blair Internship Program. We invite you to join us in honoring this life-changing program with a gift to the spring campaign. Click the button below to make an online donation, or send a gift by mail to: Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation, P.O. Box 338, Nauvoo, IL 62354.
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Spring Series: "Stories of the Scattered Saints"We were overwhelmed by the positive feedback following last fall’s lecture series on the scattered saints, that we are bringing it back for spring 2023! Join us this May 11- June 1 as we welcome four additional guest historians to help us explore and better understand the various Latter Day Saint groups that formed after 1844. Hear the fascinating story of Elvira Eliza Field, consider Lyman Wight and his band of followers' call to Texas, learn about what attracted so many converts to join James Strang at Beaver Island, and explore the unique story of the rise and fall of the Morrisite community. Click the button below to learn more about this exciting series and to register for the weekly lectures.
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April 6 Program: The History of the Church SealJoin Andrew Bolton as he explores the nearly 150 year history behind the Community of Christ's beloved church seal. A highlight of the program is the visual exhibition of diverse art, color, and design variations through the lens of history and today's global community. The title of Andrew Bolton's presentation is the "History of the Church Seal: War, Peace, and Visual Theology." The live program was recorded on April 6, 2023, the 193rd anniversary of the founding of Community of Christ. Click the blue button below to view a recording of the April 6th program.
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An Evening with the HistoriansJoin us this February as we host three historians and hear the stories behind their books. The 2023 winter book series will explore two new books, Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration, and Your Sister in the Gospel: The Life of Jane Manning James, A Nineteenth-Century Black Mormon. The evening lectures will take place on Thursday evenings this February 16 and 23. Click the button below to learn more about this exciting winter series and to register for the two online programs.
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Image features a group of women in Onset, Massachusetts. Courtesy of Community of Christ Archives
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A New Church History Tour for the New Year!Join Barb Walden and Peter Smith as they take to the road on an 11-day tour exploring the historic places and stories behind the remarkable women in Community of Christ history. Experience the past through the eyes of those who once lived in Kirtland, Nauvoo, Plano, and Lamoni. This exciting journey will also include the diverse stories of women throughout United States history as we trace the historic steps of Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mother Ann Lee, Ellen G. White, and more. For more information about the October 2023 historic sites tour and pricing details, click the box below to reserve your seat today!
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Preservation in action at Community of Christ historic sites (clockwise from top left) Kirtland Temple, Mansion House, Plano Stone Church, and Liberty Hall.
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Double Your Donation this Giving TuesdayThe First $8,000 in gifts received on Giving Tuesday will be DOUBLED by our board of directors!
Make a difference this Giving Tuesday (November 29) with a gift to the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation. Give on November 29 and make twice the impact in preserving the past and inspiring the future. Your generous donation will help fund the preservation and maintenance efforts at Community of Christ Historic Sites, support young adult internships, and continue endless educational programs focused on sharing Community of Christ history. Click the "Double My Donation" button below to make your online donation nd truly make a difference today! |
Elvira Eliza Field dressed as Charley Douglass
(image courtesy of Clarke Historical Library)
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Lecture Postponed to Spring 2023
We regret that the November 3 lecture, "'Charley's a Gal': James Jesse Strang's First Plural Wife, Elvira Eliza Field" with Dr. Amy DeRogatis is postponed due to COVID. We wish those impacted by this virus plenty of rest and time to heal over the coming weeks. We look forward to welcoming Amy DeRogatis and hearing all about Elvira Eliza Field (and Charley Douglass) next spring. |
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"The Story of Gadfield Elm Chapel"Join our friends from The British Isles Latter Day Saint History Association as they welcome Bernard Haw as he presents, "Gadfield Elms, Worcestershire: The Oldest Chapel in Latter Day Saintism." Located deep in the countryside of Worcestershire, Gadfield Elms is a lovely historic Latter Day Saint chapel. It was originally owned by the United Brethren, a group that came from the Primitive Methodists and had a membership of about 600 members. Nearly all were baptized in the 1840s by Apostle Wilford Woodruff and other early Latter Day Saint missionaries. Hear more of this story of early mission and the oldest chapel in all of Latter Day Saintism in this fascinating lecture with Brian Haw. The live lecture was recorded on Friday 28 October 2022.
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New Series: "Stories of the Scattered Saints"Join us this October13 - November 17 as we explore the stories behind the "Scattered Saints." Hear the fascinating tale of Elvira Eliza Field, enjoy the artistic talents of Sutcliffe Maudsley, learn about what attracted converts to James Strang's Beaver Island, and understand what made William Bickerton start his own Latter Day Saint denomination after following Brigham Young and Sidney Rigdon. The "Stories of the Scattered Saints" online lecture series is free, but you must register. Click the button below to learn more about this exciting series and to register for the weekly lectures.
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View the 2022 Joseph Smith III Peace LectureThe video recording from Gwendolyn Hawks-Blue's 2022 lecture, "Black Americans in Community of Christ: A Journey of Hope," is now available. The 2022 annual peace lecture took place online on Sunday, September 18. We encourage you to take the time to view the video and learn more about this important piece of Community of Christ history. Individuals featured in the photo collage to the left include (clockwise from top left): Amy Robbins, William T. Blue, George Graves, Pauline Frisby, William Fuller, and Richard Hawks. Be sure to view the video lecture to learn more about these six significant individuals.
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Summer Series Extended to August 3!August 3: Hidden Things Shall Come to Light: The Visual Image of Joseph Smith Jr
Join Ron Romig and Lachlan Mackay as they explore the history behind an 1840s daguerreotype tucked away inside a locket that was passed down through the women of the Smith family. Ron and Lach will uncover the story behind the historic artifact and the evidence leading to their conclusion that the image inside the locket is that of Joseph Smith, Jr. |
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Summer Series: July 7-28The story of the Community of Christ continues to be shared every day at our church historic sites, however, not everyone can travel to the historic sites to experience church history in person. Fortunately, you don't have to travel long distances to take a tour. Our Summer Series will take you on a virtual adventure exploring a new historic site each week including: Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith Historic Site, Plano stone church, and Liberty Hall. Join Lachlan Mackay and Barb Walden this summer as they share the fascinating stories, architectural details, historic people, and powerful lessons behind Community of Christ historic sites. The weekly programs take place every Thursday evening in July beginning at 7:00 pm (Central Time). Summer series is free, but you must register. Click the button below to learn more about this exciting series and to register for the weekly virtual tours.
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Baptism for the Dead and Community of Christ HistoryJoin Lachlan Mackay and Carla Long as they explore Community of Christ's historic connections to baptism for the dead. Learn about the individuals who helped shape the early church views on proxy baptism, the influencers in the Reorganization who moved the faith community away from the practice, and the pivotal role Community of Christ members in Zaire played in the late 20th century that continues to impact Community of Christ today.
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Join Us for the Spring Lecture SeriesJoin us this spring as we explore art, story, and identity found in Community of Christ history. From the diverse art featured in the historic RLDS preaching charts to the stories behind the women who founded the Lamoni Mite Society and the theological construction of RLDS identity, this online series has it all! For additional details about the lectures and to register for any and/or all eight lectures, click the button below.
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Church History in the Making: Ukraine ServiceJoin our friends from Community Connections as they gather in worship, prayer, and discussion centered on current events in Ukraine. The online gathering features Andrii Ivaniienko, from Ukraine, sharing his journey and other Community of Christ members' experiences in the midst of war in Ukraine. Apostle Richard James shares the wider context of the war including the history of Community of Christ in Ukraine. Kerstin Jeske shares in the opening prayer in German and English from Oslo. Kerstin shared in the first baptisms in Ukraine in the 1980s. The program ends with a Q&A session.
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"The Art and Story of Sutcliffe Maudsley"Join our friends from the British Isles Latter Day Saint History Association as they explore the life and story of the 19th century painter, Sutcliffe Maudsley. Maudsley began working in a Lancashire cotton mill at the age of 6. Later, using his artistic talents, he became a calico pattern maker and designer. He joined the church, was ordained a priest and served in the Tottington Branch, north of Manchester. With wife Elizabeth and children, he emigrated to Nauvoo in February 1842. There he used his artistic talents to do profile portraits of leading families in Nauvoo, including Joseph and Emma Smith. After Nauvoo, Maudsley joined Community of Christ. His moving story belongs to all of us either side of the Atlantic and to all Latter Day Saints.
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Church History Winter Book SeriesJoin us this winter season as we read and discuss two books that explore the unique people and stories behind Kirtland and Nauvoo. Joining us for the discussion are the two historians behind the books: Scott Esplin and Mark Staker. Our online discussions will take place on Thursday evenings this February 17 and March 17 beginning at 7:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time). Click the button below o learn more about this exciting winter series and to register for both online discussions.
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History Webinar: Sacred SpacesSacred space is a BIG idea in Latter Day Saints, and common ground between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Community of Christ. Both have temple traditions and extend the idea of sacred space to include other places, including historic sites. Join Katherine Hill, Peter Trebilcock, and Sue Norton as they explore two places: Dunfield House Retreat Centre and the Preston Temple. This online program was hosted by our friends at the British Isles Latter Day Saint History Association on January 28, 2022. Click the blue button below to view the lecture.
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The Turning Point: From RLDS to Community of ChristIf you love a good story, be sure to join Richard Howard (Community of Christ historian emeritus) and Carla Long as they discuss three pivotal moments in Community of Christ history. In the history of any organization, there are turning points that set the course of its future. Listen to Richard and Carla as they take us on a journey to surprising moments that continue to shape Community of Christ's present and future.
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Christmas Day Connections in Church History (Online Lecture)Join Andrew Bolton and Peter Fagg as they share about Christmas Day connections in church history. Hear stories of the first British conference of the church held at the Cockpit in Preston on Christmas Day in 1837. Learn about the first conference held by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denmark in 1851. Finally, you will hear the story of the first conference of the Reorganization, held on Boxing Day, in Merthyr Tydfil in 1863. It's a holiday history program you don't want to miss!
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"Church History Without Boundaries" Online Lecture SeriesThe popular lecture series from 2020 is back for another exciting exploration of Community of Christ's global history. The new series will feature church history from Australia, France, Japan, Germany, England, and Wales. The storytellers featured in the series are not only great speakers, many of the special guests reside in the regions featured in their lecture. The weekly online programs will take place every Thursday from October 7 - November 18. Lecture times vary to accommodate the guest speakers' time zone.
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Hear the Stories Behind Three Exceptional WomenWendy Eaton, administrative assistant at the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation, recently sat down with Karin Peter to share the stories of Emmeline Griswold Smith, Bertha Madison Smith, and Ada Clark Smith. All three of these women were married to Joseph Smith III (not at the same time) and left a lasting legacy in Community of Christ history. Wendy highlights the stories behind Emmeline, Bertha, and Ada in a wonderful series hosted by Karin Peter and the Project Zion Podcast. Click the button below to hear the stories behind these three uniquely gifted women.
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The British Isles Latter Day Saint History Association LectureOur friends from The British Isles Latter Day Saint History Association hosted their second online lecture on Friday, September 24. Guest speaker, Pete Gaffney, presented "Socialism, Chartism and Mormonism: Re-evaluating Latter Day Saint Conversion in England, 1837-1850." Click the button below to view a recording of the online program. To learn more about The British Isles Latter Day Saint History Association, we encourage you to contact Andrew Bolton.
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Sing the Sacred Story Anytime of the Year!Did you miss the Heritage Day hymn service on September 19? Have no fear, the recording is here! Join us anytime of the year as we sing Community of Christ's sacred story with our friends from the Beyond the Walls choir and the Toronto Centre Place. In addition, our generous friends from the Toronto congregation have extended a $1,000 matching pledge for any donations given in response to Heritage Day 2021. Please consider helping preserve church heritage with a donation today.
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Annual Joseph Smith III Peace LectureOur friends from Liberty Hall Historic Site hosted their annual Joseph Smith III Peace Lecture on Sunday, September 19, 2021. The guest speaker, Jim Doty, shared a few of his favorite stories related to the life and legacy of Joseph Smith III. Jim Doty's presentation was called, "My Friend, Joseph." Click the button below to view this year's online program.
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Hear the Story of Emmeline Griswold SmithWendy Eaton recently sat down with Karin Peter at the Project Zion Podcast to share the story behind Emmeline Griswold Smith, Joseph Smith III's first wife. Wendy's interview is the first in a three part series focusing on the fascinating stories behind the three women who married Joseph Smith III. Click the button below to download the interview. You won't regret it!
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The British Isles Latter Day Saint History AssociationOur friends from The British Isles Latter Day Saint History Association kicked off their inaugural event on Friday, July 30. For those who may have missed the online program, Early Latter Day Saint Missions in Lancashire, Midlands, and Herefordshire - Appeal and Growth, 1837-1841, you can view the video recording by clicking the button below. To learn more about The British Isles Latter Day Saint History Association, we encourage you to contact Andrew Bolton.
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"From a Warlike People to Considering Nonviolence"If you missed the Community of Christ history class with Lachlan Mackay and Stassi Cramm, have no fear, the recording is here! Click on the blue button below to view the class, "From a Warlike People to Considering Nonviolence." This online church history class was hosted by our friends at the Salt Lake City Community of Christ congregation on Sunday, August 1.
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Summer Book Series & Discussion GroupJoin us this summer as we read and discuss four books exploring the unique people and places found in Community of Christ history. This online gathering is meant to be an open and engaging discussion with the authors and your fellow church history enthusiasts. Selected books include: Kingdom of Nauvoo by Benjamin Park, Joseph Smith for President by Spencer McBride, Kirtland Temple: The Biography of a Shared Mormon Space by David Howlett, and Apostle of the Poor: The Life and Work of Missionary and Humanitarian Charles D. Neff by Matthew Bolton. Each of the weekly discussions begin at 7:00 p.m. (Central Time). Seating is limited, be sure to register and save your online seat today! Follow the button below for additional details and to register.
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The Annual Emma Smith Hymn FestivalDid you miss this year's Emma Smith Hymn Festival? Don't worry, the evening program was recorded for all to enjoy. Click the button below to sing along with the Beyond the Walls choir in this exciting online hymn festival. Donations from the special event go to preserving and maintaining the Community of Christ historic sites that help share Emma Smith's life and legacy.
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Spring 2021 Lecture SeriesDid you miss one of the online lectures from the "20th Century 'Movers and Shakers in Community of Christ History" series? Don't worry, video recordings from the spring lecture series are now available! Hear about the challenges faced by William T. Blue, the globalization of the church led by Charles Neff, the unique life story of Alice Smith Edwards, and so much more! Donations received from the online lectures will go to support the ongoing preservation and maintenance of Community of Christ historic sites.
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Interview with Richard HowardCaptivated by the Netflix docuseries, "Murder Among the Mormons?" Discover Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) own connections to the forgeries of Mark Hofmann. Listen in as Carla Long speaks with Richard Howard, historian for Community of Christ, about his personal experience with Mark Hoffman. Howard recounts meeting Hofmann and securing the Joseph Smith III Blessing document in exchange for a valuable Book of Commandments. Click on the video (appearing on the left side of the page) to view the interview with Richard Howard.
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Kirtland Christmas Eve Service
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Miss the Christmas Eve Service?A recording of the Kirtland Temple Christmas Eve service is now available for you to enjoy all year long. The 2020 service was an online service that included guests and participants from all over the world. The special service was led by the Toronto Centre Place and the talented singers from the Beyond the Walls choir. Click the button below to view the unique service.
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Autumn Lecture Series (2020)
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Lecture Recordings Are Now Available!Did you miss one of the online lectures from the "Church History Without Boundaries" Autumn Lecture Series? Don't worry, we have you covered! Click the button below to hear our guest historians explore the history behind Community of Christ in Nigeria, Korea, India, Canada, England, and the Holy Land. It's truly a journey around the world through the pages of church history!
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Summer Lecture Series (2020)
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Summer Lectures Are Now Available!Our Summer Lecture Series may have ended on August 13, but we are pleased to announce the lectures were successfully recorded and all nine programs are available for you to view anytime of the year! The Summer Lecture Series explored a variety of topics from church history all the while raising funds for the ongoing preservation and maintenance of Community of Christ historic sites. The 8-week lecture series (June 25 - August 13) provided unique opportunities to discover the latest historical research from those who have dedicated years of their lives to interpreting the people and places of the past. Choose one of the nine lectures, or view all of the online programs from the comfort of your own computer screen. One only needs to "click" the blue button below to select the lecture you wish to view today!
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Emma Smith Hymn Festival (2020)
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View Last Year's Hymn Festival Today!Did you miss the July 10, 2020 Emma Smith Hymn Festival? Don't worry, the evening program was recorded for all to enjoy. Click the button below to learn more about this annual event and to view the online hymn festival. Donations from the special event go to preserving and maintaining the Community of Christ historic sites that help share Emma Smith's life and legacy.
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S I T E S & P R O J E C T S
Visit the Historic Sites
Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation supports preserving and sharing Community of Christ historic sites with present and future generations.
Nestled in the charming hills of northeastern Ohio, this "House of the Lord" stands as a vivid reminder that Kirtland was once home to some of the 19th century's most successful community builders. Inspired by the beliefs and practices of the earliest Christians, followers of Joseph Smith Jr. gathered in Kirtland and built their first temple between 1833 and 1836. The Kirtland Temple stood at the center of community life for more than 2,000 believers by 1838. Within a year, all but 100 were gone. The Kirtland Temple is a National Historic Landmark.
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The Joseph Smith Historic Site preserves the properties and memories of Joseph Smith Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, his father, Joseph Smith Sr., and son, Joseph Smith III. The site houses many original structures from the 1840s, as well as the Smith Family Cemetery, final resting place of Joseph and Emma Smith, Hyrum Smith, Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, and numerous other family members and friends. The Joseph Smith Historic Site is part of the Nauvoo National Historic Landmark District.
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Members of the church founded Lamoni, Iowa, in 1870 as a Zionic community. In 1881 Joseph Smith III and his family moved here and the town became the church's headquarters. Their home, named Liberty Hall, became a center of social and religious life for the community.
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The Plano Stone Church in Plano, Illinois, was completed and dedicated in November 1868 and was the home congregation of church president Joseph Smith III from 1868 until 1881, serving as denominational headquarters.
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Heritage Plaza, located near the Temple complex in Independence, Missouri, preserves three historic buildings, including the F.M. Smith Study, originally built in the early 1830s, and the 1826 Jones H. Flournoy Home.
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D O N A T E & S U P P O R T
How You Can Contribute
We invite you to make a generous donation towards preserving the treasured historic sites for future generations.
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The Alma Blair Internship Program at the Community of Christ historic sites is a summer program supporting young adult education since the early 1970s.
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Beyond gifts of cash, there are many additional ways to support the work of the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation.
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T E S T I M O N I A L
President Stephen M. Veazey
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