Session 301 (8:30 a.m., Saturday, September 20)
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Session 302 (8:30 a.m., Saturday, September 20)
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Session 303 (8:30 a.m., Saturday, September 20)
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Session 304 (8:230 a.m., Saturday, September 20)
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Session 311 (10:45 a.m., Saturday, September 20)
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Session 312 (10:45 a.m., Saturday, September 20)
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Session 313 (10:45 a.m., Saturday, September 20)
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Session 314 (10:45 a.m., Saturday, September 20)
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Tours (12:00 p.m., Saturday, September 20)
Title: WWI Museum, Guide: Kenneth L. Alford
Abstract: Don’t miss this opportunity to visit the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. A premier destination for history enthusiasts and scholars alike, this esteemed institution offers a profound and immersive exploration of the Great War, featuring an extensive collection of artifacts, interactive exhibits, and compelling narratives that bring the global conflict to life. As you walk through the museum, you’ll encounter meticulously curated displays that highlight the experiences of soldiers and civilians, the technological advancements of the era, and the profound and lasting impact of the war on the world.
Join us for an unforgettable journey through history at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. This visit promises to enrich your understanding of World War I and provide valuable insights. Whether you are a seasoned historian or a curious learner, the museum’s comprehensive exhibits and engaging presentations will leave you inspired and informed. We hope you’ll join us!
This tour will be led by Dr. Ken Alford, professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University and retired US Army Colonel. He is the author of numerous publications on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and military history.
Biographical Sketch: Kenneth L. Alford is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University and a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army. Prior to teaching at BYU, he served as a professor of computer science at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York and as a department chair and professor of strategic leadership and organizational behavior at the National Defense University in Washington, DC. Ken served in numerous assignments during almost 30 years on active duty in the Army—including the Pentagon, supporting Pershing nuclear missile units in West Germany, and managing over $5 billion in government information technology contracts. He has published and presented on a wide variety of subjects—authoring or editing a dozen books and over 200 articles. Ken will be leading the tour of the World War I Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
Title: Brown vs. Board of Education, Guide: Matthew L. Harris
Abstract: Come join us for a tour of the historic Brown v. the Board of Education National Historic Park in Topeka, Kansas! We’ll see—and meet—many of the characters behind this pivotal Supreme Court decision that desegregated the nation’s schools. We’ll learn why the Court made this momentous change and we’ll learn about the “boots on the ground” who brought the case to them. Most importantly, we’ll learn about the Brown family and how they participated in this historic case at great personal risk to them. And we’ll learn how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Community of Christ, and other Restoration churches grappled with the legacy of civil rights and segregation.
The tour will be led by Dr. Matt Harris, professor of history at Colorado State University-Pueblo and author of the recently published book Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality. Matt also recently published “A Tale of Two Religions: RLDS and LDS Responses to the Civil Rights Movement” in the John Whitmer Historical Association Journal.
Biographical Sketch: Matthew L. Harris is a professor of History and Director of the Legal Studies program at Colorado State University-Pueblo and the president-elect of the John Whitmer Historical Association. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality (Oxford University Press, 2024), The Mormon Church and Blacks: A Documentary History (University of Illinois Press, 2015), “A Tale of Two Religions: RLDS and LDS Reponses to the Civil Rights Movement,” The John Whitmer Historical Society Journal 43, no. 1 (Spring/Summer 2023), and “The Last State to Honor MLK: Utah and the Quest for Racial Justice,” Utah Historical Quarterly 88, no. 1 (Winter 2020). An award-winning teacher and scholar at Colorado State, Harris teaches and writes on Civil Rights, Religion, and African American history. Matt will be leading the tour of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kansas.
Presidential Address 321 (6:30 p.m., Saturday, September 20)
Title: Visions of Peace in the Church of Christ: John Whitmer’s Family of Conscientious Objectors and Their Pre-1830 Religions by Dr. Mark L. Staker
Abstract: John Whitmer (1802 – 1878) went by Johannes Witmer in local church records before Joseph Smith moved into his parent’s home in 1829. His family spoke differently, dressed differently, and ate differently than did New England Smith and his other associates. In addition to his external differences, his cultural background and his family’s worldview drew on pacifist roots. John’s ancestors fled Switzerland for the German-speaking Palatine (Pfalz) along the Rhine River to avoid participating in war. They fled to America to avoid joining in a war again. In America they ended up in court because of opposition to war. Staker will explore the religious background and beliefs of the Whitmer family to shed light on their pacifism and show how their cultural and religious background impacted their New England associates. He will also look at their background in light of their response to later experiences in Kirtland and Missouri. The Whitmer family and their German-speaking neighbors in the original Church of Christ are a significant model of a cultural minority finding its place within a community that has worldwide aspirations.
Biographical Sketch: Dr. Mark L. Staker received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Medical Anthropology. He published on healing strategies in Haitian Vodún, and he did his doctoral research on pregnancy and childbirth issues addressed in the similar Winti religion practiced by the descendants of African slaves in the Republic of Suriname. After finishing his research, he was hired by the Museum of Church History and Art in Salt Lake City to address 20th – 21st century international Church history. He worked as a museum curator by day and taught in adjunct positions at universities by night while waiting for a permanent position to open up. When he realized how fun doing Church history is, he quit waiting for a university position and spent his nights also doing history. Around the year 2000 he was asked to help with the restoration of Historic Kirtland Village and worked on historic sites restorations fulltime. He joined the John Whitmer Historical Association shortly after that and has had a great time associating with like-minded scholars. In January 2025 he stepped down from his role as a historic sites curator and now does full-time historical research
Hymn Fest (9:00 a.m., Sunday, September 21)
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