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By R. Scott Lloyd
It includes the likes of Elder Larry K. Brown, LDS Visitors Center Director; and Ron Romig, archivist for the RLDS Church. The group's intent is to preserve and promote the Mormon heritage in and around Independence and Jackson County, what the Lord called the center place of Zion. (See D&C 57:2-3.) In that endeavor, they have put aside differences some of which stem from the rancorous days when the Saints were driven out. "It's the most harmonious working of the different factions that I have ever experienced in my life," remarked foundation officer Bill Curtis, a descendant of early Latter-day Saints in Jackson County and a Methodist. "People who have in the past found it difficult to even speak to each other because of their differences are joining together in marking the memory of the LDS people here. We have had at our lectures people who have been bitter anti-Mormons, who are descended from the early families" -- all the more remarkable considering that the lectures are always held at the LDS Visitors Center. For Ron Putz, foundation president and a Latter-day Saint, the work of the foundation helps fulfill what he regards as a scriptural directive. He quotes D&C 58:6-7, "Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you "The Lord says that they are here that they might be honored," said Brother Putz, his voice breaking with emotion. "How can you honor them without knowing who they are?" For that reason, he set out some years ago to compile a list of the Latter-day Saints who originally lived in Jackson County. Using Andrew Jenson's list of 864 names as a basis, he has augmented it to a total now of about 1,250. It was while he was working on the compilation in 1990 that the foundation originated. He happened to go into the Jackson County Historical Society Archives one day. Bill Curtis, whom he had not met, was there to donate some glass negatives to the archives. He overheard Bill talking to someone at the desk about Mormon history. He struck up a conversation which became the basis not only for a friendship but for the Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation. A short time, later, Ron Romig of the RLDS Church came on board with his research expertise. Elder Allen C. Rozsa, then director of the LDS Visitors Center, lent his organizational talents. "The thing that bothered me," said Brother Putz, a Wisconsin native who was converted to the Church in 1961 in Bemidji, Minn., "was that the Church has these wonderful foundations in Nauvoo and in Kirtland, but we have relatively little here. And this is Zion!" The group has set out to rectify that, with each officer having his or her specialty. Bill Curtis, for example, "probably knows more about Mormon history in Missouri than anyone here," Elder Brown said. It was he and wife, Annette, who in 1964 saved the historic Jones Hoy Flournoy House from demolition by acquiring and then dismantling it brick by brick and storing the materials. Today, the reconstructed house, which originally belonged to the man from whom the Saints acquired the property for the temple lot in Independence, is restored and located near there. Though foundation officers say they have a world of things to accomplish, they are proud of their successes. In addition to the historians' lecture series at the visitors center, these include creation of a tour guide of Independence. Included in the guide are the following:
And last year, in Mound Grove Cemetery in Independence, the foundation placed a marker on the site where the remains of three Zion's Camp victims, discovered southeast of the city of Liberty in 1958, were reinterred in 1976. A Church history visit to Independence will necessarily include some ventures outside of the city and even the county. Kansas City, the state's most populous city, and a major urban center, is in Jackson County. RLDS archivist Romig pointed out that within the heart of the city is land once occupied by four major Latter-day Saint settlements or branches in the 1830s: Whitmer, Prairie, Colesville and Big Blue. And though speculating about what might have been is problematical, it could be argued that, had things turned out differently, Kansas City might be what Salt Lake City is today. To the north are such sites as Liberty Jail and Haun's Mill. Near Far West, the foundation's northwest chapter is excavating a log home that may have belonged to Apostle Charles C. Rich and his family. And in Richmond, to the east of Independence, a heroic statue of Gen. Alexander W. Doniphan is the dominant figure at the Ray County Courthouse. A plaque recognizes him as a hero of the war with Mexico and one of the greatest lawyers who ever lived, but he holds special significance for Latter-day Saints. Nearby, in the pioneer cemetery are the graves of Oliver Cowdery and several of the Whitmers, with a monument to the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, erected by the Church under the administration of President George Albert Smith. David Whitmer's grave is in the city cemetery in Richmond. But Independence, "the center place of Zion" will always be the focal point of Church history and millennial prophecy in Missouri. A contribution of Elder Brown during his time as visitors center director has been to foster a recognition of that among city officials. In a May 5 meeting with Elder Brown, Mayor Rondell Stewart declared that Church members are more than welcome in Independence. "I would very much like to see, during this my second term as mayor, the Mormon Church become more involved in the city," the mayor told the Church News. "And we would like to help the Church tell its story in any way we can. So much of the Church's history has not been told; we have not cracked the tip of the iceberg. The people in this city of 115,000-plus need to know more about the Mormons, and Independence needs to play a role." Cathy K. Bennett, director of tourism for the city, has a similar sentiment. "We invite Church members across the globe to come to Independence," she said. "We are just in a phase of discovering the history that is so important to Church members, and I think people are finding it really is a fascinating fabric of stories, some tragic and some really beautiful. But we're trying to do a better job of telling those stories, for the LDS members and for other folks."
"Elder Brown showed up here 15 months ago, and he said: 'Cathy, I don't know that much about tourism, but we have 60,000 people come through our visitors center in a year. I imagine you would like it if these people would spend a little more time in Independence.' I'm thinking, 'You don't know anything about tourism? You could have fooled me!' " What has resulted is a mutually beneficial relationship in which the city is studying ways in which to better promote the Church history aspect of Independence. As for the Church, sister missionaries based at the visitors center are lending their efforts in community service as tour guides at the 1827 Log Courthouse (described above) so that this city-administered attraction can remain open longer during the day, a suggestion of Elder Brown's. "In the LDS faith, heritage is really important; I think that is fascinating," she said. "As a person who is not a Church member, I would venture to say that Independence is at the center of that heritage. So I say, why isn't there more of an emphasis on it?" Local Latter-day Saints are keenly aware of the heritage, including Evan and Elda Billings. They came to Independence 18 years ago. He had retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Provo, Utah, and they followed one of their sons, who moved his company to the area. On a whim they checked into the legal description of the original homestead of his great-great-granfather Titus Billings, who was second counselor to Presiding Bishop Edward Partridge. To their surprise they found that a three-acre parcel of the 27 1/2 acre homestead was for sale. Indeed, the wooded lot had never been occupied in the intervening years, except by a confederate Civil War battalion. The couple purchased it and have lived there ever since, enjoying its pristine beauty and the occasional deer, foxes and wild turkeys that come by. It was to such people as the Billingses that Susan Easton Black referred in her lecture: "I know the Lord must love you, because look where you get to live!"  ARTICLES + FEATURES + DOCTRINE + FORUM + VIEWPOINT |
