Online Lecture Series
October 19 - November 16
October 19 - November 16
Thursday Nights at 7:00 PM (Central)
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. 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 generous support.
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 generous support.
Image of Emma Smith's 1835 hymn. Image courtesy of Community of Christ Library-Archives
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October 19 Lecture:
"There's an Old, Old Song: Hymns as Objects of Historic Restoration" with John-Charles Duffy When we think of historic restoration, we may most readily think of buildings or other tangible objects; but hymns are an intangible cultural heritage that can also be salvaged, restored, and refurbished for present-day use. In this presentation, we will examine--and sing--hymns from different Latter Day Saint traditions (pre-1844, RLDS, Rigdonite, and Strangite) that fell into disuse, but which our presenter has revised so that they will be compatible with Community of Christ's current theology yet still evocative of the time in which the hymns were first written. |
Image of William Marks courtesy of Community of Christ Library-Archives
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October 26 Lecture: "The Life of William Marks: Faithful Leader to Two Josephs" with John Dinger Join John Dinger as he discusses the life of William Marks. Marks was an early convert who quickly gained the trust of Joseph Smith. He was given many important assignments and served in important leadership positions. After the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., he joined several restoration movements, but always left disappointed. Eventually he found the RLDS movement, which helped convince Joseph Smith III to join and lead the church. Because he was so trusted, Marks was eventually called to the First Presidency, where he served until his death. |
Image of Frederick M. Smith taken during his time in Utah. Photo courtesy of the Church History Library.
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November 9 Lecture:
"Mr. Smith Goes to Salt Lake City: Fred M. in Utah 1904-1906" with Christin Mackay In February 1904, Frederick Madison Smith accepted an invitation from President Joseph F. Smith to attend a family reunion in Salt Lake City honoring the 104th anniversary of Hyrum Smith’s birth. While becoming acquainted with his Utah cousins, Fred M. was invited to speak in the Tabernacle. The next year, Fred M., his wife Ruth, and young daughter Alice moved to Salt Lake City to live among the Latter-day Saints from May 1905 until March 1906. Ruth called their time in Utah “various and curious.” While spending time with cousins by day, Fred studied in the evening how best to convince them the “Josephites” were the “true church.” Much of the drama of Fred’s visit played out in the RLDS favored Salt Lake Tribune vs the LDS favored Deseret News and Joseph Fielding Smith. |
RLDS Women's International Forum, 1976. Image courtesy of Community of Christ Library-Archives.
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November 16 Lecture:
Becoming More AWARE: RLDS Feminist Activism in the 1970s with Nancy Ross and David Howlett Join David Howlett and Nancy Ross as they narrate the development of RLDS feminist activism in the 1970s. Their talk will trace the evolution of RLDS feminism from small consciousness raising groups in the late 1960s to more formal advocacy and educational organizations in the 1970s. They will pay particular attention to the grassroots group known as AWARE and its advocacy for egalitarian relationships in the church and society. |
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BONUS FALL SERIES LECTURE! November 28:
An Update on the 1840s Smith/Larsen Daguerreotype with Lachlan Mackay Join Lachlan Mackay as he shares an update on the 1840s Smith/Larsen daguerreotype. This is the artifact featured in our August 3, 2022 lecture, "Hidden Things Shall Come to Light: The Visual Image of Joseph Smith, Jr." Lachlan will explore the history behind the historic daguerreotype that was tucked away inside a locket and passed down through the women of the Smith family. He will also share new evidence in support of his opinion that the individual featured in the daguerreotype is Joseph Smith, Jr. This lecture was the final lecture in the Fall Lecture Series and was recorded live on November 28, 2023. |