documenting church history

[4] Jay M. Todd, “President Gordon B. Hinckley: Fifteenth President of the Church,” Ensign, April 1995, 6. All of these important efforts have provided a solid foundation and a deeper knowledge of the challenges and possibilities facing the Church History Department. Users who like CWS Podcast - Ep. If you archive your past, you will help your congregation understand their roots, and give them a clear sense of what direction they should head in the future. (Courtesy of Brent R. Santiago and Rosa Mejia of Puebla were called as area church history advisers by the Area Presidency. . Documenting ethnic church history leads to unity and societal understanding A LITTLE ABOUT BPCA? Instead, most members are pioneers in their own families, having joined the church during the last half of the twentieth century. Come and hear about our Documenting project on 24th February, as part of the Croydon Natural History & Scientific Society‘s regular programme of talks. As Brother Perez shared this and other experiences with the Mejias, Church History Department staff and local members made scans of his personal documents and photographs. In our conversations not one of these visitors mentioned the great pioneer journey of our forebears. I don’t take credit for these ideas; they are based on chapter 44 of Bruce C. Hafen’s biography of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, A Disciple’s Life.[10]. I now wonder how many other Russians and Ukrainians I asked about their shaving habits when I thought I was asking about their conversions. [10] Bruce C. Hafen, A Disciple’s Life: The Biography of Neal A. Maxwell (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002), 449–53. Not long ago the Mejias held “cultural and historical nights” in five stakes. The collaborative era began when Steve Olsen was asked to be managing director of the department. But I firmly believe the church should assume the leading role in this work so that it can maintain a focus on remembering the great things of God and on witnessing to the truth of the Restoration. We have entered a new era with brave new possibilities. In other words, his role was not to specialize in South America; rather, he was an apostle of the Lord first and foremost.[15]. . Finally he remained on the ground until he heard the sounds of a group of men who had been lying in wait for him. We realized that as church archivists, we could not do everything that needed to be done. There were also health and safety issues. Dec. 13, 2020 at 10:32 p.m. UTC. As enjoyable as oral history was, we were also well aware that we were not using a perfect documentation tool. Nordgren. This church wanted to preserve their history in a standardized format that every one of their parishioners could use. [5] Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia, 4 vols. But during those early years, the technology and other factors were not in place to make this possible in a systematic way. Early on, Andrew Jenson traveled the earth as a one-man documentation machine. In return, we will reap the benefits of extending our reach through local church members. [12] Spencer W. Kimball, “A Report of My Stewardship,” Ensign, May 1981, 5. An interview with William "Brad" Walker about his experience as a direct witness to … It is crucial that we document contemporary issues such as our humanitarian efforts, the Perpetual Education Fund, small temples dotting the earth, and church growth in foreign lands. Mark L. Grover, “Documenting the History of the Church in South America: Recovering the Past,” in Preserving the History of the Latter-day Saints, ed. [17] Clint Christensen, “‘Go Ye into All the World’: An International Church,” in Behold, There Shall Be a Record Kept among You: Collections of the Church History Library of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ed. One quick example of this: In May 1995 I was in St. Petersburg, Russia, recording oral histories with some of the first Russian Mormons. [3] Gordon B. Hinckley, “I Was an Hungred, and Ye Gave Me Meat,” Ensign, May 2004, 58. For me, this is a unique opportunity to put a mark in the sand and see what we can accomplish in the next few years. The monastery established in the 17th century by the founder Abune Tetemke- Medehin at the Awi Administrative Zone, Guangua Woreda. Plus many people may come back to the city they were raised to research their family history. Now those ordinances are performed locally by stake presidents. In November 1989 the Berlin Wall came crashing down. PUBLISHING YOUR HISTORY The original copy of your church history should be typed on acid-free paper. Henry Burkhardt, the man who presided over the East German congregations, described what it was like to be a target of the infamous Stasi, the East German secret police. but what a remarkable and wonderful challenge that is.”[4]. I keep it on my wall as a constant reminder of my own limitations and of the need for locals to be engaged in documenting their own history.[8]. He was able to accomplish much in this position, but certain corrupt individuals sought to take his life. This room had some amazing old church pictures; it’s sad that so much was left behind. 2. Four principles will guide our department in expanding our efforts worldwide: First, let’s look at how these principles apply to the development or evolution of church governance. We receive many prominent visitors in the office of the First Presidency. These early trips led other staff members to travel throughout the world. Although many families move frequently, some do stay in the cities they grew up in. As the church grew throughout the world, the First Presidency delegated an increasing load to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I base this statement on two critical factors: (1) A few members of the Church History Department staff have spent the past two decades learning how to document the global church. The church has a lengthy history in Mexico, going back to 1874. Approximately two decades ago, Benedictine Sr. Mary John Mananzan got a grant to do research on the history of the Roman Catholic church in the Philippines from the people's perspective. ... South Broadway Baptist Church… To capture and preserve their experiences, the Church History Department will have to rely on nonprofessional and volunteer helpers living in local congregations throughout the world who have a vested interest in their local Latter-day Saint history. ?” which I thought meant, “How did you receive your testimony?”. I had studied three years of Russian at the University of Utah and was feeling pretty comfortable asking questions and then listening to responses I could only partially understand. Richard E. Turley Jr. and Steven C. Harper (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2010), 231–52. In June 1985 the Freiberg Germany Temple, the only temple ever to exist behind the Iron Curtain, was dedicated. Articles relating to Holy Trinity, Penn Street: The Origins of Penn Street A history … Matthew K. Heiss, “Doing the Impossible: Documenting the Worldwide Church,” in Preserving the History of the Latter-day Saints, ed. For the most part, there had been no concerted effort by our department to acquire records relating to the church throughout Mexico. Introduce the key people in the church today and acknowledge those people who were instrumental in helping you to compile and put together the church' s history. The world and the church suddenly became flat. The materials are now preserved in Mexico as well as in the Church History Library, enabling future generations to learn about this stalwart pioneer. The first era, clerical, began on the day the church was organized: April 6, 1830, when the Lord declared that “there shall be a record kept” (D&C 21:1). Soviet domination, though waning during those days of glasnost and perestroika, was still in effect. The Church History Department, with inspired direction from the church historian and recorder and also with crucial input from the area presidencies, will soon offer a variety of programs to the worldwide church. Now there are eight quorums of the Seventy. This naturally leads to the notion of decentralization. The original may then be photocopied onto regular or acid-free paper to provide additional copies for local use. The church retains the $1,000 difference between the amount budgeted and the amount reimbursed to the employee. By linking to this content, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not endorse the content of this site. The department no longer consists of a church historian surrounded by clerks and research assistants; rather, it is staffed by a core of professional curators, librarians, and archivists. . He described how he reluctantly agreed to be president of the town at a young age, believing the Lord wanted him to serve in this manner. 185 Heber J. But I know our new direction is necessary and inspired. Church Historians such as Willard Richards and Joseph Fielding Smith, as well as capable assistants such as B. H. Roberts, wrote the history of the church. This heritage web site collects together a series of articles on the history and the people of St. Margaret’s Tylers Green, Buckinghamshire. As I share with you a brief history of these pioneering efforts, I must also pay tribute to a man who had an inspired vision of what the department could do: Steven R. Sorensen. The Lord often opens doors when we are ready to walk through them—or when we are almost ready. My coworker Clint Christensen has started a pilot program in Mexico to do just that. I wondered back in those days how anything the Church did could eclipse in anyone’s judgment the historic gathering of our people to these western valleys of the United States. First of all, oral histories are easily transportable. We hope to use this model to build a permanent program for documenting Mexican church history. Roberts, called A Comprehensive History of the Church of the Christ of Latter-day Saints. Regardless, I hope you consider the value of this information and how technology can make it a reality to store years of information in a very small place. In 1965 there were twelve assistants to the twelve and seven Seventies serving as general authorities. The church history should be signed by both the historian and the Clerk of Session. ... “It is particularly important that the Episcopal Church be on the cutting edge of this,” says Dain Perry, Katrina’s cousin and one of the nine who made the journey. In May 2008 Marc and Cherylee Hall were called to serve as church history missionaries in Kiev. The organisation behind this project – Friends of Church Alley – was a small conservation and local history charity based in Croydon, which was set up by local residents in 2011 and active until it closed in 2018. First, if the Church History Department does not begin to document the global church, the department will become increasingly irrelevant to the majority of Latter-day Saints. The presence of Segadi Michael monastery in the Guangua Woreda plays a significant role for … In Russia and Bulgaria we learned from a series of focus groups that there is another type of generational dividing line. It was great while it lasted, but it was also fraught with problems. Ask Us: Top Five Reference Questions about Book of Mormon Publishing. And some of the stories were truly remarkable. I always asked about each person’s conversion experience. Several years later Elder Russell M. Nelson wrote: “In retrospect, it is evident that the influence of that temple has been immeasurably great. 9: Documenting Your Church History on the Web; Playlists containing CWS Podcast - Ep. The staff has also taken a major step forward in delegating some of our work to church-service missionaries. Explore how your church can use computers and your website to document its growth and history. Grant Underwood (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 2000), 1, 4. Geotagged photos with metadata is easily stored, sorted, and searchable. On one occasion he was walking home at night when a force pushed him to the ground. Digital capabilities, cheap electronic storage, and the ability to send large electronic files across the Internet are revolutionizing our documentation efforts. It is mainly filled with Joseph Smith’s writings and, after his death, by church historians. ; To perfect the Saints . The program we are establishing in Ukraine is a testament to this principle. Older members of the church still feared the possibility of the KGB confiscating personal records and using them to hurt people. Now, instead of having to bring all records to Salt Lake City for microfilming, we can have records scanned in the field and then transferred electronically to the Church History Department. In 1981 President Spencer W. Kimball said, “My brothers and sisters, as the Brethren of the First Presidency and the Twelve have meditated upon and prayed about the great latter-day work the Lord has given us to do, we are impressed that the mission of the church is threefold: To proclaim the gospel . Church leaders are so well-respected, and the institution is held in such high esteem that it is an essential part of this nation’s development. I have been making websites since 1996, and using social media since 2006. In 1866, the First Colored Methodist Protestant Church merged with it. The photo is one he included as a submission to the Church History Department’s project of documenting missionary experiences during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which drew 7,000 online entries from missionaries and mission leaders worldwide. The department is required to document an ever-expanding worldwide Latter-day Saint population. The church does not require or receive any substantiation for the auto or other business expenses. I believe Latter-day Saint history offers the Church History Department an inspired paradigm for systematically documenting the global church. The articles are organised into categories including History, People, and other subjects of interest within and around the church. This brings me to the final way in which the Church History Department can mirror the evolution of the church’s global governance model. Now, the Lord is watching over His kingdom. Title ; History of the graveyard connected with Cross Creek Presbyterian Church: containing also all the inscriptions on headstones and monuments therein, and the … A few of us would fill suitcases with records, but mostly we focused on gathering stories through oral history. Documenting ugly history. Finally, make the history of your church come alive for its members! This is how we will move into the future. That was a movement of such epic proportions that I felt nothing could ever be so noteworthy. the Catholic Church originated anti-Semitism and that Pope Pius XII was Documenting fake history against the Catholic Church Bearing False Witness: Debunking centuries of anti-Catholic history Rodney Stark Templeton Press, West Conshohocken, PA, 2016 Hitler’s pope. This is already happening in Mexico and Ukraine. Mexico. In this digital age, keeping records is easier than ever. It had been sixteen years since the church had a functioning historian and recorder. All of this information can be created, stored, and backed up online for a surprisingly low cost. Just a few years ago the History Department staff had a model for documenting the global church, which we developed to near perfection. A larger question now looms on the horizon: How should the Church History Department implement a worldwide program of acquiring, preserving, and making available church history records that will bless the lives of Latter-day Saints? My current profession is designing user experiences for corporate software, websites, and mobile applications. I have framed that page of the transcript from my interview with Brother Akimov. In English Brother Akimov kindly said that I had just asked him, “How did you shave off your testimony?” The Russian words for “have found” and “shaved off” are the same except for one vowel. What will the next generation read about your church’s journey? Under the direction of Steven L. Olsen, Church History Department staff focused on defining the department’s core values. A third reason for the department’s focus on global church history is this: if the department does not begin to systematically document the worldwide church by acquiring and preserving records, others will fill this vacuum. Also remember to document current church activities for those who will come after you by collecting clippings, photographs, and other records and artifacts of interest. 9/11 at the Pentagon. The area presidencies may select those programs that fit the area’s needs and circumstances or develop their own projects, which the Church History Department will support. The University Archives documents the history and traditions of the University of Pittsburgh community, from its founding as the Pittsburgh Academy in 1787, through its re-chartering as the Western University of Pennsylvania, to the present. At that time, the church was … For the first time in many years, the Church Archives was capturing the story of Latter-day Saints throughout the world in their own language and within their own context. The staff of the Historian’s Office supported those efforts. [16] Telephone conversation with Rosemary Chibota, February 18, 2009. Brigham Young University The History and People of St. Margaret’s Church, Tylers Green. June 1, 2006. Almost twenty years ago, Steve realized it was critical for the department to gather records from congregations worldwide and from people whose stories would provide insights into the manner of life, faith, and works of church members across the globe. It also helped department staff stay focused on the larger vision. Feeling as if he was facing an impossible task, President Neuenschwander asked Elder Russell M. Nelson how serious the church was about missionary work in this vast area. But each of them, independently, spoke in high praise of our welfare program and our humanitarian efforts.[3]. So once again I ask: How should the Church History Department implement a worldwide program of acquiring, preserving, and making available church history records that will bless the lives of Latter-day Saints? Provo, UT 84602 In his November 2008 interview, Brother Perez shared many fascinating details about his life. S vision, combined with the world 801-422-6975, Evolution of the Seventy and the Christian church: oral... And Sister Hall are Americans from Sacramento, California preserving their stories in ways that are common in the world... Thing ; clearly we need to partner with others the KGB confiscating personal records photographs. Containing CWS Podcast - Ep Jensen trusts the staff has also taken a major step forward in the and! About this area ( and other subjects of interest in the globalization of the world called Comprehensive. 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