It may not be “the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands [which] shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth,” but Mormon History Association President Ronald E. Romig would like it roll around the whole earth this year – and he needs your help.

At MHA’s concluding banquet in Springfield, Illinois, last May, outgoing President Kathryn Daynes carried out an MHA tradition by passing along to incoming President Ron Romig the beloved “Mormon History Association Presidential Seer Stone.” This stone is a chunk of rock from historian Leonard Arrington’s boyhood farm in Idaho, plucked out of the irrigation ditch by the late and much missed Dean L. May near the close of Dean’s tenure as MHA president. Each MHA president since then has had custody of the stone during his or her tenure, a constant, solid reminder of the goals and principles of MHA.

Ron wants to extend the tradition beyond the small group of MHA presidents to all people everywhere who are interested in Mormon history. That means you, since you’re reading Keepa. He writes,

Following MHA, initially my business took me not home to Independence, Missouri, but to Ohio, where I grew up. While there I thought, “I should shoot some pictures of friends holding the Seer Stone.” Also, “I’ll be traveling to Salt Lake City for the November MHA Council meeting. Why not take the Seer Stone along and get some pictures of it with MHA members? We might even be able to send pictures of the Stone virtually via the Internet with people who are traveling to places I won’t be able to visit physically.”

This sounds like a lot of fun. I invite MHA members to print the attached picture of the Stone then shoot your own pictures holding it or passing it to a friend in front of your favorite travel destinations this coming year. And, as the 2010 Conference theme, “The Home and the Homeland,” is especially intended to encourage young adult scholars to participate in the 2010 Conference, I hope young adults will help ensure that the MHA Presidential Seer Stone visits many interesting places this year.

(See MHA’s 2010 Call for Papers. Visit the MHA home page for information on becoming a member.)

Ron also christened the stone with a personal name, “May,” in honor, of course, of Dean May.

How about it, Keepa’ninnies? Won’t you print out a copy of “May” (I’ve posted it separately on a page here for convenience) and pose with it in front of some interesting landmark in your home area, or on your vacation this year?

Ron says,

Please help “May” virtually tour the world this coming year. Post your pictures on your websites and blogs. Also, forward pictures to me at rromig[at]cofchrist[dot]org and we will share your photographs on my Facebook page and in the MHA Newsletter.

I’d love to post your pictures here at Keepa, too.