• Latest News
    • Fall 2025 Bus Tour
    • Spring 2025 Lecture Series
    • Church History Lectures
    • Virtual Tours
  • We Are All Storytellers
  • Historic Sites
    • Liberty Hall
    • Plano Stone Church
    • Heritage Plaza
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate
CCHSF
  • Latest News
    • Fall 2025 Bus Tour
    • Spring 2025 Lecture Series
    • Church History Lectures
    • Virtual Tours
  • We Are All Storytellers
  • Historic Sites
    • Liberty Hall
    • Plano Stone Church
    • Heritage Plaza
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate

Latest News

Community of Christ Announcement

3/5/2024

 
​On March 5, 2024, Community of Christ shared the following announcement related to the Kirtland Temple and Joseph Smith Historic Site:

The World Church Leadership Council shares an announcement about a historic investment in the church's future. This was made possible through the sale of the Kirtland Temple, the Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, and other manuscripts and artifacts. Please visit CofChrist.org/faithfully-funding-our-future/ for information about the news, including the official Community of Christ statement, answers to frequently asked questions, and reflection videos from some members of the World Church Leadership Council.


Historic Sites Bask in World Conference Glow

4/25/2023

 
     Guests and workers at a Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation booth enjoyed a wonderful reunion this week while basking in the World Conference atmosphere in Independence, Missouri.
      The event, scheduled to run April 22–28, drew thousands of delegates and visitors. The booth gave guests a chance to learn more about their church heritage, check out resources, and even plan trips to historic sites. It gave workers a chance to share their passion.
      The booth featured brochures, books, T-shirts and more. Nearby stood nearly life-size cutouts of the “giants” in church history such as Joseph Smith Jr. and Alexander Hale Smith. Photo-ops abounded.
      The foundation’s presence extended far beyond the booth. The group also planned lunches for two groups extremely important to its operation: volunteers and donors.
      Without them, the foundation couldn’t support properties such as the Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, Illinois; the Kirtland Temple in Ohio; Liberty Hall in Lamoni, Iowa; the Plano Stone Church in Illinois; and Heritage Plaza in Independence.
 

Alma Blair, Iconic Figure in Church History, Passes at 94

4/12/2023

 
     An icon has passed.
    Alma Blair, a pillar at Graceland University, with the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation, and Liberty Hall in Lamoni, Iowa, died shortly before Easter at 94.
     As a history professor at Graceland for almost four decades, he touched the lives of generations of students. He also  journeyed to the Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, Illinois, each summer to help train interns.
     In addition, he served as a board member with the foundation, site director at Liberty Hall, and a gifted storyteller.
In recognition of his contributions, the summer internship program at Community of Christ historic sites was renamed the Alma Blair Internship Program.

Face Masks No Longer Required

4/3/2023

 
       At last, requirements for face coverings at key properties supported by the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation no longer are mandatory.
          The church’s Human Resource Ministries announced March 31 that masks are optional at:
  • The Temple Complex and Heritage Plaza in Independence, Missouri.
  • The Kirtland Temple in Ohio.
  • The Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, Illinois.
  • Liberty Hall in Lamoni, Iowa.
            Leaders will continue to monitor public health agencies and other sources for guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic. If the CDC releases new guidance, any new changes to guidance on face coverings will be communicated.
 

Board Selects New Officers

11/25/2022

 
     At its fall board meeting, the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation selected a new set of officers for 2023. The officers:
     President: Sally Roth
     First vice president: Tom Webber
     Second vice president: Scott Britton-Mehlisch
     Treasurer: Tim Klocko
     Secretary: Peter Smith:
     Immediate past-president: Karen Graham Wade
     In addition, the board expressed great gratitude to departing members: Steve Graffeo, Richard Betts, and Sherry Morain.

Face Masks Again Required at Some Sites

7/22/2022

 
     The pandemic just won't relax its grip on Community of Christ and its historic properties.
     A news release Friday from the church's International Headquarters updated requirements for face-coverings. Effective immediately, coverings will be required at the Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, Illinois, the International Headquarters in Independence, Missouri, and all historic sites in Independence.
    Currently, masks are not required at the Kirtland Temple in Ohio or Liberty Hall in Lamoni, Iowa.  The news statement said that if pandemic conditions worsen, face-coverings could be required.
 

Historic Sites Welcome July 4

7/2/2022

 
   After missing the last two summers because of the COVID-19 pandemic, properties supported by the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation find themselves primed for the July 4 holiday.
    The Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, Illinois, and the Kirtland Temple in Ohio opened May 1. Liberty Hall, in Lamoni, Iowa, opened a month earlier.
   The return has been a blessing for school groups, caravans, and individuals who are seeking ways to deepen their discipleship and understanding of church heritage.

       Visitors will notice some changes. During the closure some maintenance and landscaping were done.

Kirtland Temple, Nauvoo Ready to Reopen

4/30/2022

 
       The wait is over.
       For some key properties supported by the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation, a more-than-two-year closure will end Sunday, May 1.
      That’s when the doors to the Kirtland Temple in Ohio and the Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, Illinois, are scheduled to open for the first time since the pandemic forced the shutting of most church properties in March 2020.
        Another site, Liberty Hall in Lamoni, Iowa, reopened at the beginning of April.
       To be sure, visitors will notice some changes. During the closure some maintenance and landscaping were done. Also, reopening won’t be easy because the sites in Kirtland and Nauvoo still are short of help from interns.

Foundation Officers Return for 2022

11/15/2021

 
         The same board that so far has helped steer the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation through the pandemic will return in 2022.
            At the November 13 fall board meeting, members voted to return to office:
            President: Sally Roth.
            First vice president: Jacquie Bethel.
            Second vice president: Scott Britton-Mehlisch.
            Secretary: Peter Smith.
            Treasurer: Timothy Klocko.
            Immediate past president: Karen Graham Wade.

Fall Lecture Series to Start with Panel Presentation

10/5/2021

 
        The Fall Lecture Series will begin Thursday, October 7, with a panel presentation.
     Among the participants in the 7:00 p.m. event will be John-Charles Duffy, Lachlan Mackay, Rachel Killebrew, and more.
      Other events (all Central Time):
     * October 14: Andrew Bolton and Phillip Caswell will focus on the life and legacy of Kisuke Sekine, 7:00 p.m.
     * October 21: "Community of Christ History in France" with Chrystal Vanel, noon.
     * October 28: "Community of Christ History in Wales" with Richard James, noon.
    * November 4: "Community of Christ History in 20th-century Germany" with Eva Erickson and Kerstin Jeske, 7:00 p.m.
    * November 11: "Community of Christ History in Australia" with Ben Smith, 7:00 p.m.
    * November 18: "Community of Christ History in England" with Pete Gaffney, 7:00 p.m.

<<Previous

    Archives

    March 2024
    April 2023
    November 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018

    Categories

    All
    Nauvoo

    The Forum

    The Forum, the Foundation newsletter, is an excellent source on continuing news, feature stories, and the impact of your donations on the preservation of church heritage. If you would like to receive The Forum, make a donation to the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation today!

    E-Newsletter

    Stay connected! Hear about the latest news, events, and behind-the-scenes stories from Community of Christ historic sites. For Foundation updates delivered right to your inbox, sign up here.

    RSS Feed

Community of Christ
Historic Sites Foundation

1001 W. Walnut
Independence, MO 64050
217-453-2246

[email protected]
Our Mission
Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation supports preserving and sharing Community of Christ historic sites with present and future generations.
Privacy Policy
Refund Policy
Site Navigation
About Us
Contact Us
Donate
News & Events
Resources

Historic Sites
Liberty Hall
Plano Stone Church
Heritage Plaza
  • Latest News
    • Fall 2025 Bus Tour
    • Spring 2025 Lecture Series
    • Church History Lectures
    • Virtual Tours
  • We Are All Storytellers
  • Historic Sites
    • Liberty Hall
    • Plano Stone Church
    • Heritage Plaza
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate