Online Lecture Series
October 13 - November 17
October 13 - November 17
Every Thursday at 7:00 PM (Central)
Join us this season as we explore the stories behind the "Scattered Saints." Hear the fascinating story of Elvira Eliza Field, enjoy the artistic talents of Sutcliffe Maudsley, learn about what attracted so many converts to join James Strang at Beaver Island, and understand what made William Bickerton start his own Latter Day Saint denomination after following Brigham Young and Sidney Rigdon. Discover the stories behind each of these individuals and more during our six-week online lecture series. Register for the lecture that excites you the most by clicking on the registration button located below each of the lecture descriptions.
Preserving the Historic Sites, One Lecture at a Time
Although the online lectures are free and open to the public, donations received from the lecture series go to support the ongoing preservation and maintenance of Community of Christ historic sites. Please consider contributing a $10 donation per lecture. Click "Donate" at the top of the page to learn more about how you can help support Community of Christ historic sites. Thank you for your generosity.
Although the online lectures are free and open to the public, donations received from the lecture series go to support the ongoing preservation and maintenance of Community of Christ historic sites. Please consider contributing a $10 donation per lecture. Click "Donate" at the top of the page to learn more about how you can help support Community of Christ historic sites. Thank you for your generosity.
Scattered saints map courtesy of John Hamer
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October 13 Lecture:
The Scattered Saints and the Artifacts They Left Behind with Lachlan Mackay, Seth Bryant, and Barbara Walden The opening lecture in our online series features Lachlan Mackay, Seth Bryant, and Barb Walden highlighting a number of historic documents and artifacts that reflect the "Scattered Saints" period. Hear the stories behind the historic items and learn about the various Latter Day Saint leaders that began their own unique movements following the death of Joseph Smith, Jr. This lecture concludes with a brief overview of the six-week lecture series with highlights about each of the presentations. |
William Bickerton, c. 1904
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October 20 (Postponed to October 27) Lecture: The Rocky Road to Prophethood: William Bickerton's Emergence as an American Prophet with Daniel P. Stone William Bickerton's experiences tell much about the Latter Day Saint past. By 1852, he audaciously forsook two Mormon leaders, Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young, and embarked on a mission to establish a new American church (which is now the third-largest Latter Day Saint church in the world). During his prophetic journey, he strove to defy Brigham Young and endeavored to separate the Book of Mormon from Mormonism -- a herculean task. Instead of weakening his faith, Bickerton's dissatisfaction with Rigdon and Young actually propelled him to reevaluate the Restored Gospel and prepare the world for Zion. |
Image of James Strang, c. 1856
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Lecture POSTPONED to Spring 2023 Polygamy, Visions, and Power: How the Strangites Became RLDS with Vickie Cleverly Speak We regret that the lecture, "Polygamy, Visions, and Power: How the Strangites Became RLDS" featuring Vickie Speek is postponed due to Hurricane Ian. The Speek family home was located along the path of destruction left recently by Hurricane Ian. Fortunately, Vickie and her family are safe, but they are left with a lot of repair, reconstruction, and clean up work at home and in their surrounding community. Vickie sends her regrets and looks forward to sharing with you during the Spring 2023 lecture series. We wish Vickie and the Speek family well as they recover from the terrible impact of Hurricane Ian. |
Elvira Eliza Field dressed as Charley Douglass
(image courtesy of Clarke Historical Library)
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Lecture POSTPONED to Spring 2023 "Charley's a Gal": James Jesse Strang's First Plural Wife Elvira Eliza Field with Amy DeRogatis We regret that the November 3 lecture 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. |
Elizabeth Foxcroft Maudsley and Sutcliffe Maudsley, c. 1850s
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November 10 Lecture: Preserving Nauvoo History with the Stroke of a Brush: Life and Legacy of Profile Painter Sutcliffe Maudsley with Steven Bule During a period of approximately four years, Sutcliffe Maudsley painted a number of profile images of leading citizens in Nauvoo, including members of the Smith family. This presentation will review briefly: (1) the artist’s life in England, Nauvoo, and Iowa, and (2) consider a sampling of his works that are historically significant for Latter Day Saint history and reveal an artist of considerable talent. |
The RLDS/Community of Christ Auditorium located in Independence, Missouri
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November 17 Lecture: Divergent Paths of the Community of Christ: The Past One Hundred Years with Steven L. Shields From its inception, the notion that God could speak to ordinary people set the stage for a history of ever-emerging alternate viewpoints and schisms. This lecture will look specifically at the past one hundred years of Community of Christ’s history with schism, beginning with the upheaval in the 1920s when President Frederick M. Smith introduced “Supreme Directional Control,” through the disruption over women in the priesthood that was set in motion by Wallace B. Smith’s 1984 revelation (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 156). |