LDS Historian Ardis E. Parshall has passed away

[phaedrus ut]

In the decades we have been on this forum I'm sure many have interacted with Ardis, aka Keepa or Keepapitchinin, or at the very least come across her writing. 

https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/02/24/cherished-mormon-historian-ardis/

 

Phaedrus

[Calm]

I have had a page of hers opened for a few days on my phone to read when I can focus long enough to get through it (which may be when spring hits 😕).  It is informative enough to make the effort.  Always impressed by her work.

I think it was Ben Spackman’s FB page that had him thank her for her help over the years, sounds like her impact was more than just her own work.

Edited February 24 by Calm

[cujo22]

3 hours ago, phaedrus ut said:

In the decades we have been on this forum I'm sure many have interacted with Ardis, aka Keepa or Keepapitchinin, or at the very least come across her writing. 

https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/02/24/cherished-mormon-historian-ardis/

 

Phaedrus

I just loved this ending quote from the article. Says a lot about this person that I hadn't heard of previously. And I guess I hadn't realized that I can relate somewhat: It's true. I'm moved by the lives of people around me and in the family histories I've read. I love sacrament meeting when I hear from beloved neighbors and ward-friends and about their triumphs and struggles and what they think about things.

 

Years ago, Parshall imagined herself in heaven with such members.

“I am moved by their lives far more easily than I am moved by holy scripture, and I am motivated more to pattern my life after theirs than I am after the stories of Israelites and Nephites,” she said in her 2011 speech. “Where those good people of the past — those in my own lineage, and those in my Mormon heritage — may be is where I want to spend eternity.”

 

[Calm]

4 minutes ago, cujo22 said:

I'm moved by the lives of people around me and in the family histories I've read. I love sacrament meeting when I hear from beloved neighbors and ward-friends and about their triumphs and struggles and what they think about things.

Same here.  The scriptures are more of an intellectual pleasure for me, like solving a puzzle….only one of those almost all one color ones with minor shade differences, very odd pieces and about half or more of it missing.

[Okrahomer]

18 hours ago, cujo22 said:

I just loved this ending quote from the article. Says a lot about this person that I hadn't heard of previously. And I guess I hadn't realized that I can relate somewhat: It's true. I'm moved by the lives of people around me and in the family histories I've read. I love sacrament meeting when I hear from beloved neighbors and ward-friends and about their triumphs and struggles and what they think about things.

 

Years ago, Parshall imagined herself in heaven with such members.

“I am moved by their lives far more easily than I am moved by holy scripture, and I am motivated more to pattern my life after theirs than I am after the stories of Israelites and Nephites,” she said in her 2011 speech. “Where those good people of the past — those in my own lineage, and those in my Mormon heritage — may be is where I want to spend eternity.”

 

I feel the same.