Spring Lecture Series
Online Weekly Lectures: April 30 - May 21, 2026
Online Weekly Lectures: April 30 - May 21, 2026
Join us this April and May as we continue to explore Community of Christ's fascinating history. Janné Grover will kick off the new series by adding her story to our growing "Your Story is Church History" collection. Seth Bryant will share the fascinating story of Isaac Sheen, while Barb Walden will introduce us to the forgotten RLDS apostle, James Kelley. Our four week series will come to a close with Christin Mackay as she shares the story behind the Auditorium in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the historic domed structure in Independence. This is a church history series you don't want to miss!
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 development and expansion of new educational resources in addition to preserving and maintaining Community of Christ heritage. 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 helping preserve Community of Christ history!
Although the online lectures are free and open to the public, donations received from the lecture series go to support the development and expansion of new educational resources in addition to preserving and maintaining Community of Christ heritage. 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 helping preserve Community of Christ history!
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April 30 Lecture
"Your Story is Church History" with Janné Grover Join us for an evening of tales on April 30th as we welcome Janné Grover to the Spring Lecture Series. Janné serves as a member of the Community of Christ First Presidency and counselor to Stassi Cramm, Community of Christ prophet-president. Janné will add her unique life story to our growing collection of “Your Story is Church History” programs, a storyteller series that began in 2024. Past storytellers include Everett Graffeo, Stassi Cramm, Bunda Chibwe, Andrew Bolton, and soon to be, Janné Grover. It is an evening you don’t want to miss! Click the button below to register for the April 30 program. |
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May 7 Lecture:
Disillusionment in Nauvoo: The Isaac Sheen Experience with Seth Bryant Isaac Sheen was an influential leader in the early Reorganization, and an early member of the church in 1840s Nauvoo. Before joining the Latter Day Saints, he experienced poverty growing up in England, and immigrated to the United States becoming a Quaker and radical abolitionist. This lecture explores his rocky experience living near Nauvoo, Illinois, and why he decided to head east after the death of Joseph Smith Jr. Click the button below to register for the May 7 lecture. |
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May 14 Lecture
"Life and Legacy of RLDS Apostle James Kelley" with Barb Walden In this lecture, Barb Walden walks through the life and legacy of Apostle James E. Kelley. Kelley was the son of William H. Kelley (president of the Council of Twelve for the Reorganization). Kelley served in the Philippines during the Spanish American war before becoming a full time missionary for the Reorganization. Kelley later served as an apostle around the time of his father's retirement from the Council of Twelve. Click the button below to register for the online program. |
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May 21 Lecture:
The Auditorium Groundbreaking Centennial with Christin Mackay Join Christin Mackay as she shares photos and memories of the Auditorium's groundbreaking and construction that spanned four decades. The inspiring stories of devoted 20th century church members will leave you with an appreciation for their sacrifices and resilience in the face of immense hardships during a pivotal time in church history. Click the button below to register for the May 21 lecture. |