Cathy Loving as Emma Smith looks out a window of the Kirtland Temple

RTF Becomes Community of Christ
 Historic Sites Foundation

For many years, the Restoration Trail Foundation (RTF) has supported the historic sites of Community of Christ. The historic sites are an important part of the cultural and organizational heritage of the church. Recently, the decision was made to change the name of the foundation to a name more descriptive of how it serves. In June 2007, the Foundation Board announced that RTF is now the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to preserving and sharing the church’s heritage.

More specifically, the foundation supports Community of Christ historic sites and Restoration heritage through financial support, education, preservation, development, and discovery through

• raising funds and resources for the preservation and development of church historic sites;
• assisting in the acquisition of appropriate artifacts for use at these sites;
• raising awareness of the benefits and needs of the historic sites; and
• advising historic sites staff on the development, preservation, and maintenance of historic properties, policies and procedures, and the interpretation and development of educational programs.

The Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable foundation that was created in 1970 by the church as RTF. The foundation initially focused on administering and raising funds to support church historic sites. In recent years, the foundation has taken on additional responsibilities as it evolved into a “friends” group for the sites.

The Mansion House, Nauvoo, Illinois

The historic sites currently supported by the foundation include:

• Joseph Smith site (Nauvoo, Illinois)
• Kirtland Temple site (Kirtland, Ohio)
• Far West/Haun’s Mill (Missouri)
• Plano Stone Church (Plano, Illinois)
• Liberty Hall (Lamoni, Iowa)
• Heritage Plaza (Independence, Missouri)

Previous projects the foundation has supported include a one-million-dollar gift to the new Kirtland Temple Visitor and Spiritual Formation Center, numerous maintenance and repair projects at Kirtland and Nauvoo, and maintenance and improvements to the other sites. Some of the support provided by the foundation also includes providing scholarships and preservation studies at some of the sites. Foundation board and staff are:

David Ettinger, president
David Byrn, vice president
W.B. “Pat” Spillman, secretary/treasurer
Don Albro
Alma R. Blair
Bob Dimmitt
Steve Jones
George W. Lund
Jeff Naylor
Cherry A. Newcom
Mary Lou Piepergerdes
Gloria Rasmussen
Mark A. Scherer
Karen Graham Wade
Cathi Cackler-Veazey, development specialist
Linda Etchison, administrative assistant
Don Ivans, fund-raiser

Donation possibilities include joining the Foundation’s Heritage Club, supporting the Endowment Fund, or providing funds for special projects. Contact the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation at Box 338, Nauvoo, IL 62354, cchsf@nauvoo.net, or call (816) 521-3058. A Web site is currently under construction.