Jason R. Smith, MA
ja*********@********go.edu
Education:
- B.A. in History, Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma (2015)
- M.A. in Religious Studies, Chicago Theological Seminary (June 2025)
- PhD in Religious Studies, Chicago Theological Seminary (current)
Employment:
- Information Technology Manager, Waurika Lake Master Conservancy District
Memberships:
- John Whitmer Historical Association
- Mormon History Association
- Oklahoma Historical Society
- Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society for Historians
- American Academy of Religion
- Association for Interreligious / Interfaith Studies
Research Interests:
- Latter Day Saint history, particularly post-1844 organizational histories
- Community of Christ/RLDS theology and history
- History of Freemasonry and Western Esotericism
- Interreligious Studies and Engagement
- New Religious Movements
- Gender and Religion
- Christian Identity Movement
Scholastic Involvement:
- Student Member, Interreligious Committee, Chicago Theological Seminary (2024-2025)
- Member, Student Government, Chicago Theological Seminary (2024-2025)
Public Involvement:
- Board Member, John Whitmer Historical Association (2017-2019, 2023-Present)
- Member, Editorial Board, John Whitmer Books (2024-Present)
- President, Oklahoma Grand Lodge Museum and Library (2023-Present)
- Board Member, Oklahoma Grand Lodge Museum and Library (2020-2023)
Conference Presentations:
- “The Power of Proximity: How Nearness to the RLDS Church (Community of Christ) helped to shape the identity of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot),” Mormon History Association, May 2004.
- “Otto Fetting, John the Baptist, and Building the Temple: An Attempt by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) to Build the Independence, Missouri Temple in the 1920s,” John Whitmer Historical Association, September 2004; delivered by Erin B. Jennings.
- “Independence, Missouri: the Hub of ‘Non-Mormon Mormonism,’” Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, February 2005.
- “Understanding the Community of Christ,” Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, February 2005.
- “A Prophet Disowned: The Church of Christ (Temple Lot)’s Unique Relationship to Joseph Smith,” Mormon History Association, May 2005.
- “Does God Call Women to Preach?: Pauline Hancock and the Church of Christ (Bible and Book of Mormon Teachings),” John Whitmer Historical Association, September 2005.
- “’Does God Call Women to Preach?’” Pauline Hancock and Church of Christ (Book of Mormon and Bible and Teachings),” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, February 2006.
- “Zion’s Retreat: Schism in the Churches at Schell City,” John Whitmer Historical Association, September 2006.
- “From Mormonism to Christian Identity: Dan Gayman and the Church of Israel,” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, February 2007.
- “Intentional Communities among the ‘Other’ Mormons: Attempts at Zion-building by Lesser-Known Latter Day Saint Groups,” John Whitmer Historical Association , September 2007.
- “Understanding the Community of Christ,” Evangelical Ministries to New Religions, March 2008.
- “A Prophet Disowned: Granville Hedrick’s Evolving Interpretation of Joseph Smith,” John Whitmer Historical Association , September 2008.
- “From Mormon Sect to Christian Identity Spearhead: the Church of Israel in Schell City, Missouri,” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, February 2009.
- “The Fullness of the Gospel: Revelation and Scripture in the Church of Christ (Temple Lot),” Restoration Studies Symposium, April 2009.
- “Mere Mormonism: Common Denominators in Latter Day Saint Identity Construction,” John Whitmer Historical Association, September 2012.
- “Return to Zion (Jackson Co, Missouri) Panel Discussion,” John Whitmer Historical Association, September 2012.
- “The Long Road Back from Apostasy:’ the Theological Journey of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot),” Mormon History Association, June 2013.
- “Mere Mormonism: Common Denominators in Latter Day Saint Identity Construction,” Sunstone Salt Lake Symposium, July 2015.
- “The Relationship between Freemasonry and Mormonism,” Oklahoma Lodge of Research, July 2021.
- Panelist, “Author Meets Critics: Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration by Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick III, Nicholas S. Literski,” John Whitmer Historical Association, September 2023.
- “Telling the Truth: A Journey in Documentary History of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot),” John Whitmer Historical Association, September 2024.
- “1925: A Year of Decision in Zion,” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies/American Academy of Religion – Southwest, February 2025.
- “Dan Gayman, the Church of Israel, and the Dangers of Religious Self-Racialization,” Southwest Commission on Religious Studies/American Academy of Religion – Southwest, February 2025.
Publications (Articles and Chapters):
- “Pauline Hancock and Her ‘Basement Church,’” John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 26 (2006): 185-193.
- “Scattering of the Hedrickites,” in Scattering of the Saints: Schism within Mormonism, eds. Newell G. Bringhurst and John C. Hamer (Independence, Missouri: John Whitmer Books, 2007), 224-246.
- “Divergent Churches” in Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia, ed. Ardis E. Parshall and W. Paul Reeve (Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2010), 234-243.
Book Reviews:
- “Ronald V. Huggins. Lighthouse: Jerald & Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism.” John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 42, no. 2 (Fall 2022): 99-101.
- “Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick III, Nicholas S. Literski. Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration.” John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 42, no. 2 (Fall 2022): 108-112.
References:
- Anthony J. Chvala-Smith, PhD – Associate Professor of Religion, Paul E. Morden Seminary Chair of Religion, Graceland University; Theologian-in Residence, Community of Christ (tc**********@*******st.org)
- David J. Howlett, PhD – Visiting Assistant Professor, Smith College (dh******@***th.edu)
- Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva, PhD – Herman Schaalman Professor in Jewish Studies, Chicago Theological Seminary (rm****@********go.edu)
- Steven L. Shields, MA – Independent Research and Author of Divergent Paths: An Encyclopedia of the Smith-Rigdon Movement (st***********@***oo.com)
- JoAnne Marie Terrell, PhD, LHD – Kenneth B. Smith, Sr. Professor of Public Ministry, Associate Professor of Theology, Ethics, and the Arts, Chicago Theological Seminary (jt******@********go.edu)