50th Anniversary Celebration

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September 18,1972, fifteen people gathered at the home of Dick and Barbara Howard, for a meeting that can appropriately be regarded as the birthday of the John Whitmer Historical Association.  This year JWHA celebrates 50 years of restoration history.

JWHA’s 50th Anniversary: a Legacy of Restoration History

September 15-18, 2022

Community of Christ Temple, Independence, Missouri

COVID-19 Protocols

The annual conference and celebration is planned to incorporate Covid precautions. Registrants will receive specific details about those precautions prior to the start of the conference.  Attendee safety is our priority.

Registration Fees

To thank our members for your continued support of the JWHA mission, the member registration fee, for current members, is $50 in honor of our 50th anniversary.  Your $50 registration fee includes the Thursday night reception, Friday Awards Banquet and Friday night celebration.

Sponsors and 50kforthe50th donors make it possible to offer the reduced registration fees.  We’re grateful for the financial support received.

Until September 1   September 1 and after
JWHA Members $50
Non-Member $150
Students $50
Tour $50
Presidential Banquet $50		   JWHA Members $100
Non-Member $200
Students $50
Tour $50
Presidential Banquet $50

Advance registration required, no on-site registration, registration closes September 7, 2022, 12:01 AM

 

View the DRAFT Agenda

Registration is closed for the in-person conference, registration is now open for selected streaming sessions.  View the streaming sessions agenda.

The streamed sessions will be recorded (except the Hymn Fest) and available for registrants to view at a later date.

$30 for members, $60 for non-members.

Partner with JWHA to Support the Conference

In addition to registering for and attending the conference there are opportunities to support the conference financially.

We are grateful to our conference sponsors.

Friday Is Designated 70s Day
Join us dressed in your favorite 70s attire

See the source image

Conference Speakers

John Whitmer Historical Sites Tour

For our 50th anniversary, explore the life and legacy of our namesake, John Whitmer!

Experts Alexander L. Baugh and Ron Romig will walk you through the key locations and events of John Whitmer’s life.  Limited seating is available.

Preview the tour sites.

Sharing Objects, Sharing Stories

Joseph Smith, Jr’s Masonic apron. Photo by Val Brinkerhoff, courtesy Community of Christ.

Join Apostle Lachlan Mackay and Community of Christ Church Historian Barbara Walden as they share treasures from the collections of Community of Christ. The Saturday afternoon session will focus on less well known and rarely seen objects, including Joseph Smith, Jr’s Masonic apron, and explore the stories behind the artifacts. Seating in each of the two sessions offered is limited to fifteen people.

Presidential Address & Banquet

The Presidential Address & banquet is a formal evening, black tie optional event held at the Uptown Market in Independence. JWHA President, Christin Mackay, will present her address Mr. Smith Goes to Salt Lake City:  Fred M. in Utah 1904-1906.

50th Anniversary Awards

In addition to our annual best books and articles awards we have added a special 50th Anniversary celebration award.

Hymn Fest

Sunday, September 18, the 50th anniversary of the first JWHA meeting, we will celebrate with our traditional hymn fest.

Singing Our Restoration Heritage

Join us in the sanctuary of the Independence Temple, for a hymn fest that celebrates the spiritual values of the Latter Day Saint tradition as they have been taught, transmitted, and rearticulated over generations through song. The program will highlight hymns, old and new, from different branches of the Latter Day Saint family, that express, in different ways, our tradition’s enduring aspiration: to advance “the cause of Zion” as Christian disciples guided by continuing revelation. How have Latter Day Saints, in different times and places and fellowships, sung the story of the Restoration and their own commitments to the marvelous work?

Scholarships

JWHA offers scholarships to currently enrolled students. While preference may be given to undergraduates and first-time presenters, graduate students are encouraged to apply.

Learn about the opportunities available for students to participate in the celebration.

Did someone say celebration?

Yes, we’re going to celebrate.  Friday night we have special plans, food, fun, fellowship and picture-perfect moments!

Fundraising Auctions

The silent auction has been a staple of the conference for years, once again we will hold our silent auction.  The success of the auction depends on the generosity of our donors. Start your search now for items you want to donate then click here and complete the donations form before the conference.

In addition to the silent auction, we will hold an on-line auction featuring some unique experience opportunities for the winning bidder.  The silent auction will open the week of the conference and close Saturday along with the silent auction.

Guest Rooms

A block of conference guest rooms are available at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center located at I-70 and 291 in Kansas City. The conference room rates are $119 + tax per night, breakfast included. Conference rates are available for stays from September 13-20, 2022. Reservation cutoff is August 26, 2022.

You will be responsible for making your own reservations by contracting Stoney Creek, 816-908-9600. Ask for the JWHA2021 room block or you can make your reservations online by following these steps:

  • Click on Stoney Creek.
  • Select Book Now.
  • Select Kansas City from drop down menu.
  • Click on Add Code.
  • Select Group Attendee.
  • Enter JWHA2021.
  • Click Select and go to the Next Step.
  • Select the dates of your stay.
  • Follow prompts to confirm reservation.