January means a lot of things. For me, it means biting cold and a desire to never leave the house.

But it also means new stuff from the Mormon History Association, which is a bit better news than the weather. First, the new issue of Journal of Mormon History was released. (Amazingly, with no letters to the editor!) You can find the full table of contents here. Articles include an examination of John D. Lee’s trial, a fascinating look at Mormon redress petitions in Nauvoo by new JSP editor Brent Rogers, and an article by myself and fellow JIer Rob Jenson on what a particular debate in 1846 between a Strangite and Brighamite tells us about the succession crisis. There are also, as always, a good mix of book reviews to keep you up to date on developments in the field. If you don’t already, make sure to subscribe to the journal, especially now that you can have immediate electronic access to new issues.

MHA also uploaded their January newsletter (pdf here). Here are a few of the highlights:

• Plans are moving forward with the 2013 conference taking place in Layton, and it looks to be phenomenal. Leigh Eric Schmidt, one of the leading scholars in American religious history (bio here), will be delivering the Tanner Lecture. (I am genuinely stoked for this.) Plenary lecturers include Sally Gordon, Kathryn Daynes, John Turner, and Richard V. Francaviglia—all phenomenal draws. There will also be a plenary roundtable on Mormonism and religious studies that will include John-Charles Duffy, David Howlett, Michael Ing, and Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye. The program committee, led by our own Andrea RM and Matt B, should be commended for putting together such a spectacular line-up.
• There are four nominations for officer and board positions, and all are top-rate. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, perhaps the most preeminent historian who is Mormon, will be the president-elect. Patrick Mason, the Hunter Chair at Claremont, will be the new liason board member. And two JIers, J Stapley and Amanda HK, will be the public relations and student representative board members, respectively. We couldn’t have asked for a better cast of leaders for the association.
• As previously announced, the Journal of Mormon History is now on JSTOR, which is a huge win for the journal’s credibility.
• Page 11 has a job announcement for the curator of 19th Century Mormon and Western Manuscripts at Brigham Young University’s library. These will be big shoes to fill to replace David Whittaker, but this is an important position so it will be exciting to see who gets the job.

If you have any more news, please add it in the comments.