Joseph Smith III

William Marks

Marietta Walker

150th Anniversary Brings 
Special Celebrations

In the early afternoon of April 6, 1860, some 300 people crowded into a room at the railhead town of Amboy, Illinois, to receive Joseph Smith III as their prophet and president. The conference began with the testimonies of three men who announced their decision to join the denomination.

Then Zenas H. Gurley Sr. stood and presented the church to the oldest son of the Seer. What emerged from that conference laid the blueprint for today’s Community of Christ. The journey of this first generation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is replete with accounts of theological challenge and powerful personal testimony. They are the giants on whose shoulders we stand.

As we enter this new year, we begin our sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary, as a religious movement. Celebrations will be hosted at International Headquarters and in the field. The most-significant events will occur at World Conference. Attendees quickly will feel the presence of those giants, not only of the first generation but from throughout the history of our movement.

Some will be in photographic and life-size images, and others will be “in person” (chat with Emma Hale Smith Bidamon!). We will highlight men and women throughout the World Church whose faith commitment shaped us. Coloring sheets and an exciting scavenger hunt for these historic people will be fun and memorable for children at Conference.

We encourage all to visit our church museum and window display to appreciate our sesquicentennial heritage.

From the Community of Christ Historic Sites Foundation booth in the World Peace Village, attendees will discover more interesting historical information.

Hymns always have been important to us. The Friday-night hymn sing, a Conference highlight, will bring a commemoration component to the worship service. Principal Organist Jan Kraybill says this hymn festival will celebrate

• the history of the church, including Emma’s first hymnal in 1835;
• the World Church sesquicentennial;
• the installation of the Auditorium organ;
• the future of the church, including legislation the church is about to address, creation of a new hymnal to be released in 2013, and beyond.

Our heritage must honor the contribution of our international membership through the generations. For example, during a visit to French Polynesia in the summer of 1950, President Israel A. Smith worshiped with our congregation at Taravao, about 50 miles from Papeete. After having a deeply spiritual experience, he shared with Tahitians (and the World Church) that building zionic communities where they lived was far more important than physically gathering in Jackson County, Missouri.

Israel’s discernment realigned the “zionic gathering principle” with Joseph III’s approach and redirected zionic understanding. This challenged church members around the world to live out zionic conditions in all cultures—a view that prevails today.

World Conference will highlight this and many other historic contributions of the international church.

Included in each day’s World Conference Bulletin will be a short historical account that communicates Enduring Principles and values of our movement. These important stories will align with the daily Conference themes. PowerPoint presentations will flash on video screens throughout the complex.

Have you ever wanted to talk to future generations? Our thoughts and actions always speak to those who follow us. World Conference attendees will be able to record their testimony and to challenge future generations in Room 1085 in the Library at the Temple.

A digital camera will record people sharing their testimony in three parts: how they encountered the church, their testimony today, and—most importantly—their personal challenge for future generations. Video sessions will last no longer than ten minutes. Testimonies will be preserved in the church’s historical record for 2010 and will be available to future researchers.

Many sesquicentennial-commemoration events will occur throughout the church, as well.

The Brush Creek USA Mission Center will sponsor a historic reunion focusing on the commemoration June 12–18. The Brush Creek church, in Xenia, Illinois, arguably is the oldest in the entire Reorganization. A host of guest ministers will teach classes that honor church heritage. Daily events and evening worship services, including a special hymn sing led by Richard Clothier, will highlight the week.

Also, historic sites will feature tours and classes on the church story, especially in Plano, Illinois, and Lamoni, Iowa, two important early church headquarters.

In addition, two church-history conferences will join the commemoration. The 45th annual gathering of the Mormon History Association will be May 27–30 in Kansas City, Missouri. The theme, “The Home and the Homeland: Families in Diverse Mormon Traditions,” will recognize the family as a central social and religious institution within Mormon traditions.

The other conference will be in Amboy, Illinois, the charter location of the Reorganization. From September 23–26 the John Whitmer Historical Association Conference will celebrate “1860–2010: Sesquicentennial of the Reorganization.”

All are invited to these stimulating forums to discuss church identity.

Our sesquicentennial year is a milestone for us as a people on a special journey to create communities of Christ. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants, and we look forward to a joyful year of celebration of our Reorganized Church heritage. We hope you will join us.


—Mark Scherer reporting
World Church Historian and Archivist