The Ensign Peak Foundation (formerly the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation) is an independent organization that seeks to contribute to the memorialization of sites important to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The organization also maintains a Sites Registry database of historic sites related to the Latter Day Saint movement.[1]
History
The foundation was originally started in 1992 as the Ensign Peak Foundation, involved in the creation of Ensign Peak Park in Salt Lake City, Utah.[2] After the success of this project the organization changed to the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation and undertook a broader mission.[3] Their next major project was the restoration of Kirtland, Ohio including the working towards the relocation of the main road so visitors would not have to compete with traffic in visiting the historic sites there.
In 2020 the organization returned to its original name, Ensign Peak Foundation, after the LDS Church discouraged use of the "Mormon" nickname.[5]
Publications
The Foundation published a semiannual scholarly journal called Mormon Historical Studies. It features "essays, biographies, documents, book reviews, historical site descriptions, indexes, and archival listings relevant to subjects of general interest to Latter-day Saints".[6]
Mormon Historical Studies was originally The Nauvoo Journal, until its name change in spring 2000.[6] The Nauvoo Journal started with Lyman D. Platt and the Early Mormon Research Institute in 1989, intending to aid Mormon History "by bringing to light previously unknown and little used records, by correcting false research and traditions, by indexing of other difficult records, and by publishing many sources that are inaccessible to hundreds of interested family historians and genealogists".[7]
In 2020 the journal was renamed to Latter-day Saint Historical Studies.[6][8]
See also
Junius F. Wells - the "Junius F. Wells Award" is given to individuals who promote the purposes of the Foundation
^Wright, Dennis A.; Westrup, Rebekah E. (2011). "Ensign Peak". In Scott C. Esplin; Kenneth L. Alford (eds.). Salt Lake City: The Place Which God Prepared. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center. ISBN978-0-8425-2799-6. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
^ abc"Publications", MormonHistoricSites.org, Mormon Historic Sites Foundation, archived from the original on 2015-01-06
^Platt, Lyman D. (1989), "Early Mormon Sources, 1830-1900"(PDF), The Nauvoo Journal, 1, Early Mormon Research Institute: 4, archived(PDF) from the original on 2015-01-06