 Russell was one of the original three Community of Christ historians to join the Mormon History Association and he later served as president of that organization.Russell's first book "Treasure in Earthen Vessels an Introduction to the New Testament" was published in 1966 by Herald Publishing House.Since that time his research on the Latter Day Saint movement has been published widely in journals, but the only book-length study that has appeared is his 2008 edited volume, "Homosexual Saints