Mormon History Association

The Mormon History Association, an affiliate member of the American Historical Association and member of the Western History Association, is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the study and understanding of all aspects of Mormon history.

The Mormon History Association (MHA) was founded in December 1965 at the American Historical Association meeting under the leadership of Leonard J. Arrington, a noted historian. MHA was “organized to promote understanding, scholarly research, and publication in the field of Mormon History.”[1] The association welcomes all who are interested in the “Mormon” past, “irrespective of religious affiliation, academic training, or world location.”[2]

In 1972 it became an independent organization with its own annual conferences and publications. In 1974, The Journal of Mormon History, an official publication, began publication.

According to Wikipedia, members of MHA are composed of people both within and without The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ, including those who reject the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.[3]

In June 2024, the 59th Mormon History Association Conference was held in Kirtland, Ohio, and concluded in the Kirtland Temple.[4]

“I couldn’t imagine a better way or better place to end the conference,” said David Howlett, an eighth-generation Community of Christ member who serves as this year’s MHA president.

Patrick Mason, a Latter-day Saint and professor of religious studies and history at Utah State University, agreed.

“For me, it was incredibly powerful to have so many people from so many different faith backgrounds all united together worshipping in this place,” he said. “The Kirtland Temple is not just a historic site, but a place where people still come to feel the spirit of God every day, and that was felt in real abundance today.”

The interfaith devotional fostered unity among members of both faiths and provided hope for continued friendship and mutual respect in Kirtland, also known as the “City of Faith and Beauty.”[5]