MOUNTAIN AMERICA EXPO CENTER JULY 25–28 JULY 25-28 SANDY, UTAH MOUNTAIN AMERICA EXPO CENTER INDEX OF PARTICIPANTS GUIDE TO NUMBERING: WEDNESDAY = 000s, THURSDAY = 100s, FRIDAY = 200s, SATURDAY = 300s ADAMS, STIRLING 354 ENGLISH, JONATHON 157, LARSEN, JOHN 364 POOL, JERILYN HASSELL 142, ALEXANDER, THOMAS G. 328, 376 LARSEN, STEPHENIE 326 236, 332, 367 171 ENGLISH, SARAH JOHNSON LAW, ROBBIE 153, 175 POPPLETON, LANDON 166 ALLRED, JANICE 361 176, 316, 357 LEAVITT, PETER 234 PORTER, PERRY 252, 262 ALLRED, JOSH 174, 226 FARR, AMANDA 276 LIND, MINDY STRATFORD 292 POTTER, KELLI D. 233 ANDERSON, DEVERY 171, 374 FIRMAGE, EDWIN B. 314 LINES, KENNETH 164 PRINCE, GREGORY 291 ANDERSON, LAVINA FIELDING FIRMAGE, SARAH E. 314 LINKHART, ROBIN 91 PULIDO, MARTIN 122 171 FORD, GARY 161 LISMAN, STEPHANIE SHUR- QUINN, D. MICHAEL 351 APPLEGATE, KEILANI 214 FREDERICKSON, RON 124 TLIFF 162, 277 REEL, BILL 331, 352 BAKER, JACOB 334 FROST, JAKE 292, 342 LIVESEY, JARED 272 REES, BOB 124, 163, 211, 238, BARLOW, PHIL 377 FULLER, BERT 268, 342 LONG, MATT 366 264, 301, 356, 377 BARNARD, CHELSI 164, 224, FURR, KELLY 232 LUKE, JEANNINE 321 REEVE, W. PAUL 111 336 GALVEZ, SAMY 315 MACKAY, LACHLAN 223, 371 RENSHAW, JERALEE 176 BARRUS, CLAIR 311 GEISNER, JOE 278, 351 MANDELIN, NATALIE SPERRY REX, JIMMY 332 BARRUS, CLAIR 278, 311 GLASSCOCK, RANDY 236 214, 332, 362, 378 RHEES, KELLY 355 BENNETT, APRIL YOUNG 275 GLENN, TYLER 214 MANGELSON, BRITTANY 223 RICHEY, ROSS 132, 224 BENNETT, RICK 271, 377 GREENWELL, ROBERT A. 222 MARQUARDT, H. MICHAEL 311 RIESS, JANA 152, 372 BENNETT, TOM 133, 151 GRIFFITH, JAY 356 MCCLEARY, PATRICK C. 173, ROBERTS, BRYNDIS 275 BERGERA, GARY JAMES 171 HALES, BRIAN 353 263 ROBERTS, TOM 312 BERGIN, SUE 167, 267, 273, 367 HAMER, JOHN 322 MCCONKIE, THOMAS 271, 355 ROSETTI, CRISTINA 125, 171, BIGELOW, CHRIS 266 HAMILTON, ANDREW 353 MCGRIGGS, MICA 134, 276, 315, 334, 351 BLACKHAWK, NED 91 HANKS, MAXINE 192, 278, 355 375, 391 ROSS, NANCY 143, 156, 371 BLANKENAGEL, BRYCE 323 HANKS, SARA 143, 156 MCKNIGHT, RYAN 154, 215, RUSSELL, BILL 337 BLOXHAM, CHRIS 331, 352 HANSEN, JODY ENGLAND 175, 315, 375 SAVAGE, JEFF 272 BONNER, DEBRA 251 212, 313 MCLEMORE, PHILIP G. 231, 251 SCHMIDT, ROY 326, 366 BRANVOLD, EMILY 214 HANSEN, LISA TENSMEYER MILLER, ANTHONY D. 157, 173, SCOTT, BROOKE 212 BRINGHURST, NEWELL 354, 236 274, 357, 376 SCOTT, CRYSTAL 327 374 HANSEN, NADINE 211 MONSON, ERIKA 356 SGRO, JORDAN 236, 326 BRUNO, CHERYL 272, 365 HARRELL, CHARLES 263 MONTEZ, SHANNON SHAFFER, BENJAMIN 174 BURTON, CHRISTINE 358 HARRIS, MATT 354 CALDWELL 231, 337 SHIELDS, STEVEN L. 121 BURTON, D. JEFF 325 HARTLINE, DANNA 358 MOOY, ANNA 155, 213, 323 SMITH, BILL 353 BUTTERFIELD, LESLEY 358 HATCH, JOHN 367 MOUNT, ALAN 324 SMITH, DARRON 374 BUTTERWORTH, LISA 131, 156, HERMAN, ERIC 292, 342 MOUNT, ALLAN 166 SMITH, JOANNA 122, 134, 233, 273 HINCKLEY, SUSAN MEREDITH MYERS, SUMMER 172 266, 312 CAPELLA, MARINA 275 176, 251, 324 OSMOND, RUSS 227 SNUFFER JR., DENVER 378 CARTER, STEPHEN 325, 336, HUGHES-ZABAWA, SARA 131, OSTLER, BLAIRE 154, 328 SOFFE, ANGELA 391 367 173, 273, 376 OSTLER, DREW 142, 215 SPANGLER, JANA 152, 173, 213, CHADWICK,TYLER 122 HUNTER, NIKKI MATTHEWS OSTLER, RICHARD 176, 332 273, 376 CHRISTENSEN, DAN 135, 223, 235, 275, 335 OUTHIER, DAVID 264, 327 SPECTOR, SAMUEL 191 311 JEFFS, WALLACE 266 OVERTON, JO 111, 363, 377 STAPLEY, CRAIG 162, 262 CHRISTENSEN, JEN 335 JENSEN, ANNABEL 372 OWEN, GABRIEL 125 STAPLEY, CRYSTAL BURRELL CLARK, WESTON 332 JENSEN, NICOLE 358 OWENS, DAVID 391 262 COLVIN, GINA 192, 391 JOLLEY, CLIFTON 124, 377 PACKER, SHAUNA 266 STEVENSON, ROSELLE 156, COVERSTON, BEN 235, 333 JONES, ALAN 238 PAK, GLORIA 372 237 CRAMER, DAVID 267 JONES,SARAH HANCOCK 153 PARK, CHRIS 272 STEWART, NICHOLAS R. 157, CREGO, MARK 135, 176 KASSENBROCK, BRIAN W. 261 PARK, LINDSAY HANSEN 291, 274, 357 CRIST, KAREN 338 KELAIDIS, KATHERINE 161 353 STONE, DANIEL P. 322 CROW, JENNIFER 134, 265, KENDRICK, COURTNEY CLARK PARKER, NATASHA HELFER STONE, JON 132, 261, 322 325, 338 391 131, 221, 273 STROMBERG, LORIE WINDER CUCH, FORREST 363 KENT, MARIE 323 PATRICK, DAVID 265 275 DENSON, MCKENNA 358 KIRBY, ROBERT 391 PATTERSON, DAYNA 122 STUY, BRIAN 367 DODGE, ETHAN 154, 215 KITTERMAN, KATHERINE 335 PETER, KARIN FRANKLIN 371 SWEENEY, MARVIN 191 DRAPER, ALYSON 375 KOLLER, NORM 165 PETERSON, GRETHE 356 TAYLOR, SHERRY 266 EASTMAN, ALAN 242 LADD, MARCUS 155 PETERSON, MARK 165, 232 TENNEY, KRISTINA OLERGÅRD EASTMAN, VICKIE 242 LAKE, SARA 222, 373 PETTINGILL, KHADEN 123 238, 301, 371 ELDREDGE, LLOYD 364 LAKE, SPENCER 221, 314 PIERCE, LORI LEVAR 275 THALMAN, MALLORY 157, 357 ELWOOD, MARK 237 LARSEN, JAMES 172, 236 POND, ALLISON 333 THALMAN, SCOTTY 357
2 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM THOMAS, MARK 191 WEBB, DANIEL 358 2018 SUMMMER THORNE, EMILY BEECROFT WEST, JOSEPH 328 133, 163 WHITE, BLAIR 121, 201, 227, 361 TONGA, KALANI 156, 274, 354 WHITE, JENNIFER 131, 167, 273 SUNSTONE TOSCANO, MARGARET 268, WHITING, NELSON 277 275, 316 WHITNEY, BRIAN 353, 374 SYMPOSIUM TOSCANO, PAUL 373 WILLIAMS, BRADY 328 TREVISAN, ANTONIO 362 WILLIAMS, LASHAWN 332, 374 UNITY GOSPEL CHOIR 251 WIMMER, RYAN 226 Threads in the UPWALL, ALISHA 123, 234, 355 WINWARD, CYNTHIA 176 VAN ORDEN, BRUCE 313, 372 WOTHERSPOON, DAN 152, VANCE, TERI 151, 321 251, 351 Mormon Tapestry VIDRINE, JACOB 365 YOUNG, SAM 358 WALL, ELISSA 252 ZOLLINGER, JAKE 211 SYMPOSIUM PURPOSE WATKINS, NAOMI 335 The Sunstone Summer Symposium is an annual gathering of Latter-day Saints, scholars, and others interested in the diversity and richness of Mormon thought and experience who enjoy pondering the past, present, and future of the unfolding Restoration. The Symposium is a public conference based on the principles of an “open forum,” meaning that we invite rigorous inquiry and thoughtful, respectful participation, trusting that both the cause of truth and the society of the Saints are best served by free and open exploration and discussion. This symposium is dedicated to the idea that the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ are better understood, and, as a result, better lived when they are freely and frankly explored. We recognize that the search for things that are, have been, and are to come is a sifting process in which much chaff must be carefully inspected and threshed before the wheat can be harvested. FAITH. Hear words that promote inspired living by exploring gospel truths, sharing spiritual journeys, and facing difficult challenges head on. COMMUNITY. Meet old friends and make new ones—fellow seekers whose thoughts and experiences inform your own. KNOWLEDGE. Gain insights that can come only from rigorous examination of Mormon doctrine and culture from insider and outsider perspectives. FUN. Find your people at Sunstone! Come enjoy a community of diverse scholars, intellectuals and thinkers who celebrate the wide spectrum of Mormonism in a variety of ways. Enjoy the uniqueness of the Mormon community with friends. Browse and purchase interesting books and Mormon crafts.
SYMPOSIUM CODE OF CONDUCT We welcome the honest ponderings of all individuals and expect that everyone speaking at or attending the symposium will approach every issue—no matter how difficult—with intelligence, respect, and good will. We expect speakers to engage in rigorous inquiry and thoughtful participation that is respectful of what others hold sacred. If you express disagreement, please do so without personal attacks on the character, religious observance, or intelligence of other parties. We strongly discourage the use of profanity.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 3 DON’T MISS THESE PANELS FEATURING RECENT AUTHORS FROM SIGNATURE BOOKS
THURSDAY 171 5:00 pm Confessions of a Mormon Historian: The Diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971–1997 by Gary James Bergera
SATURDAY 322 10:15 am William Bickerton: Forgotten Latter Day Prophet by Daniel P. Stone 351 2:00 pm The Mormon Hierarchy: Wealth and Corporate Power by D. Michael Quinn 367 3:45 pm Moth and Rust: Mormon Encounters with Death by Stephen Carter 4:45 pm BOOK SIGNING signaturebooks.com
4 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM Sunstone offers a diverse selection of topics, formats, and DINING ON AND OFF CAMPUS perspectives. Be excited to hear views that coincide with your The exposition center’s concession stand as well as their Chile own, but also prepare to hear presentations that offer a different Verde stand will be open for the duration of the conference to perspective. As Elder Hugh B. Brown told BYU students in 1958, purchase snacks and lunches. “I have mentioned freedom to express your thoughts, but I caution you that your thoughts must meet competition in the marketplace No outside food or drink allowed inside the venue. Please consume of thought, and in that competition truth will emerge triumphant. all food and drink before entering. Only error needs fear freedom of expression.” Thursday and Friday evening dinners will be off campus. Please feel free to visit local restaurants such as Cantina FINANCIAL SUPPORT Southwestern Grill, Joe’s Crab Shack, Mulan Chinese As a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, all contributions to the Restaurant, India House, and Crown Burger. Sunstone Education Foundation are tax deductible to the extent Saturday night, Sunstone is hosting a linger longer picnic 7:00 pm allowed by law. Please give generously to insure that the quality to 8:00 pm followed by performances from Angela Soffe Band and quantity of our programs and services continue to grow. featuring Angela Soffe and David Owens with Speakers Robert Please visit the registration desk, locate a staff member, or visit Kirby, Courtney Clark Kendrick, Gina Colvin”in the Center Ballroom. Sunstone.org/donate to make a donation to Sunstone. Cost is $35 per person.
SESSION PROCEEDINGS AND NEW ATTENDEES DINNER RECORDINGS Join Sunstone for our third annual New Attendees Dinner Symposium proceedings are not published in the magazine. Wednesday, July 25th, 2018 at 5:00 pm at the Cantina Audio recordings of sessions (excluding film sessions) will be Southwestern Grill located at 75 E 9400 S, Sandy, UT 84070. This available for purchase on a Sunstone flash drive or audio disk dinner is specifically for anyone attending the conference for the at the audio desk. Audio can be purchased at the Sunstone very first time or for people who would like a refresher. It’s also merchandise table. a great opportunity for old attendees to meet new attendees and offer advice on how to Sunstone! Cost: $20 per person. SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION Name badges are mandatory for admission to sessions. WIRELESS INTERNET Registration opens daily thirty minutes before sessions Wireless internet is available for purchase on a by-device begin. Full registration, one-day passes, and single-session* basis. Please visit the registration desk to purchase wifi. Wifi admission are available for purchase onsite along with Sunstone is $30 per device for 3 days. merchandise that helps support the organizaion. Admission to the linger-longer picnic with Angela Soffe Band, Gina Colvin, Robert CHILDREN’S WORKSHOPS Kirby, and Courtney Clark Kendrick is also for sale at registration The Fern Foundation is sponsoring children’s workshops desk for $35 per person. Sunstone cannot guarantee admission that will run concurrently with this year’s symposium. An to preferred sessions.** Please plan your schedule accordingly. instructor who is background-checked, along with a youth If the session you wish to attend fills up, you will have to choose staff group will provide this service for children ages 2–11 in another session on the program. room 400. Projects and snacks are included. * There are a limited number of single session tickets. Please Children’s workshops will be provided Thursday–Saturday in purchase your ticket early and be on location 10-15 minutes two blocks each day: 8:30 am–12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm–6:30 before your session starts to secure your single-session seat. pm. Child care costs $1 per hour per child. **As a courtesy to our attendees, we request that rooms be Utah state law requires licensed childcare providers to limit cleared immediately after each session to make room for the number of children per adult. The children’s workshop is those attending the next session. limited to 50 children. Please arrive early to ensure a spot for your child. Walk-ins are welcome as space permits. If PARKING childcare is something you would like to support at Sunstone Sunstone Attendees may park in the Exposition Center parkig conferences, please consider making a donation at the lot in front of the building. Attendees do not need a parking registration desk or at Sunstone.org/donate. permit or to pay for parking in any way. BOOKSTORE Attendees who are staying at the Hyatt House can park for free in the hotel’s parking lot and take the free shuttle to the Student Please visit the bookstore located in the Main Concourse and Union patronize the businesses and organizations that have displays there. Be sure to pick up titles from both Benchmark Books *Sunstone cannot reimburse parking fees incurred by parking in and Signature Books, who are loyal supporters of Sunstone. the incorrect parking lot
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 5 HANDCRAFTER’S ROW 31 July - 3 August 2019 Mormon artisans will showcase their talents at this year’s The calls for papers for our 2019 symposium will open on symposium. Handcrafter’s Row offers an array of unique gifts for 1 September 2018, and the deadline for proposals will be 1 both children and adults, featuring hand-sewn items, crafts, and March 2019. Please submit proposals by using the Call For beautiful art from talented artists. Come peruse the halls of the Papers form at Sunstone.org. symposium and support Mormon artists. The theme will be “The Future of Faith”
MANY THANKS THE SUNSTONE EDUCATION FOUNDATION AUDIO/VISUAL: We couldn’t manage the event without The mission of the Sunstone Education Foundation is to the help of GREG BRIGHTON, KAI DEMANDANTE, WADE sponsor open forums of Mormon thought and experience. GREENWOOD, ANDREW HAMILTON, RICHARD HOLDMAN, Under the motto, “Faith Seeking Understanding,” we and MICHAEL J. STEVENS. examine and express the rich spiritual, intellectual, social, PLANNING AND OFFICE VOLUNTEERS: Our thanks to those and artistic qualities of Mormon history and contemporary who have gone the extra mile in managing preparations for life. We encourage humanitarian service, honest inquiry, this year’s events. The Symposium couldn’t happen without and responsible interchange of ideas that is respectful of all them: HOLLY ALDEN, CHRIS BENCH, CURT BENCH, ALLAN people and what they hold sacred. COOK, ALAN EASTMAN, VICKIE EASTMAN, MATT PAGE, JOANNA SMITH, JOHN HATCH, ROY JEFFS, KENNETH BOARD OF DIRECTORS: BILL MCGEE (chair), LINES, BILL MCGEE, JEFF MOULTON, MAGEN OLSEN, FRED HOLLY ALDEN, KIM MCCALL, VOROS, BOB AHLANDER, ANDREW SPRIGGS, and DAN ROBIN LINKHART, JIM MURPHY, WOTHERSPOON. LINDSAY HANSEN PARK (ex officio), GEORGE ANDREW SPRIGGS, WEB AND TECH: KIM MCCALL, ERIC CANFIELD, and JAKE MICHAEL J. STEVENS. SPURLOCK. STAFF: ON-SITE VOLUNTEERS: It takes a village to help the LINDSAY HANSEN PARK (executive director) symposium run smoothly. We give our heartfelt thanks to all of STEPHEN CARTER (director of publications) our many volunteers for helping with registration desk duties GRACE POOL (office manager) and other tasks that keep the symposium running smoothly. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Once again STEVE MAYFIELD, PERRY PORTER, and KIM TURNER will be capturing symposium highlights on film, so smile when you see them approach! MUSIC: We are pleased once again to have ALAN EASTMAN at the piano and VICKIE EASTMAN as chorister for our evening plenary music as well as our Friday Lunch Sing along. VENUE: We’re pleased to be at the Moutnain America Exposition Center in Sandy, Utah for the first time. We’re especially thankfull for the support of GERRI MORGAN, JORDYN ELWELL, and our AV team for their help as we nevigate a new venue. PRESENTERS: We’re excited to have both new and returning presenters on this year’s program. We value their participation and hope they continue to join us as both presenters and audience members.
THANKS TO OUR DONORS & SPONSORS Sunstone depends on generous donors to operate and develop new events and programs for the Sunstone community. To support our ongoing work, or to show your appreciation for a job well done, please set up a monthly or one-time donation with us at the regstration desk.
2019 SYMPOSIUM DATES AND THEME
6 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM 8:00–10:00 192. 192. Feminist Devotional 191. 191. Marvin Sweeney: as Scripture Dialogue 6:30–8:00 181. Dinner Break Many Sunstone attendees planning are to east at Crab Joe’s Shack, just north of the Expo Center
5:00–6:30 pm 174. Divergent Paths of Temple Worship 175. Panel on Speculative Theology 172. 172. Art Therapy and Faith Transitions 173. The Gifts of a Crisis Faith 176. Panel from A Thoughtful Faith 171. J. Leonard and Arrington His Diaries 3:45–4:45 pm 161. 161. 19th-century Scandinavian Saints 164. Modern Polyamory vs. Mormon Polygamy 165. Being Certain Right Are You When Even Not You’re 166. Individuation Symbolism in Mormonism 162. The Memeing of Mormonism 163. for “Waiting Morning:” Rees Robert Poetry 167. 167. Common Mormon Thinking Errors
2:00–3:30 pm 154. MormonLeaks: LDS and Church Transparency 151. 151. Lucifer: A Misunderstood Deity 152. Mormons and the Enneagram 153. Celebraing Diverse Learners 155. The Temple Pattern 156. Feminist Mormon Housewives 157. The of Process Transitioning pm 12:30–2 142. Mormon Food Studies 141. Lunch will be available at the Expo Center concession and Chile Verde. See page more 5 for dining options. 143. Signing:Book “Where Must We Stand” Concourse to next Benchmark THURSDAY 26 JULY 26 THURSDAY
131. 131. Roundtable: Supporting Victims of Abuse Sexual 134. 134. Ordain — Women Years Five Later 132. AI and Mormon Cosmology 135. Finding a Way Centered 11:30-12:30 pm 11:30-12:30 133. With Walk My the Gods am 10:15-11:15 124. 124. of “Book Mormon” Musical: Funny to Mormons? 125. Origination and Expansion of LDS Fundamentalism 122. Song: Dove Heavenly in Mother Mormon Poetry 121. 121. Shredded Tapestry: Fragmentation of Church 123. Viewing Truth Through Eyes Heaven’s 9:00-10:00 am 9:00-10:00 111. 111. Paul Reeve: W. Rethinking Day Pioneer 8:30-9:00 Registration Doorbuster Prize for 100 first attendees Support Mormon art and scholarship Mormon art and scholarship Support and Benchmark Books patronizing by the Corridor. in Row Handcrafter’s 200-C ROOM 300-A 300-C 300-B 200-B 200-D 200-A
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 7
pm
291. 291. Prince: Greg Own Your Religion 292. Brother and Jake Alma Weird 8:00–9:30 6:30–8:00 281. Dinner Many Sunstone attendees will be eating at Crown just Burger of west the Expo Center.
5:00–6:30 pm 278. Religious and Authority “Elect Ladies” 271. Indigenous Mormon Mysticism 277. 277. Redefining Gospel Vocabulary 274. Communicating Faith Across and Belief 273. Maintaining Healthy Boundaries 272. 272. Original Faith of Jesus Christ Be One: 276. Reflections on the 40th of Anniversary 275. Voices Many of Ordain Women
3:45–4:45 pm 262. 262. Artist to Apostate; Homemaker to Heathen 261. Weather: Stormy Chaos Theory the B of M and 265. 265. Michael-Adam- God: Doctrine and Back Again 268. 268. Men and Priesthood 266. 266. Destroying God: Their Jeffs Wallace 264. 264. and Truth Reconciliation 263. Inscrutable Thing Called Revelation 267. Modified Faith: Assisted Living Facility 2:00–3:30 pm 252. 252. and Freedom Empowerment in a New Identity 251. 251. Stay We Why FRIDAY 27 JULY 27 FRIDAY
pm
12:30–2 242. 242. Sunstone Hymn Sing-along 241. Lunch will be available the from Expo Center concessions and Chile Verde. See page more 5 for dining options.
232. 232. Parkland Strong 237. Illustrating Joseph Smith 238. Ministry Our to the Poor 233. 233. Transfeminist Critique 231. Entering 231. The Closet: The Case for Path The Inner 234. Insights Social from Psychology 236. 236. for Resources Families LDS with LGBTQ Kids 235. 235. Who Was Strong? Ezra 11:30–12:30 pm
10:15-11:15 am 10:15-11:15 223. Baptisms for the Dead in C of 225. LOVELOUD: “Believer” Screening Continued Q&A with Glenn Tyler 226. EvangelicalWhy Ministries Lose to Secularism 224. God as an to Answer Paradox Fermi’s 221. 221. Ask a Sex Therapist 222. The Marshall and the Family Rule “One Drop” 227. Thread Is Your a Cable, Quilt, or Chaos? or 9:00-10:00 am 9:00-10:00 213. 213. Deepening Spiritual Journeys 215. Transparency and Censorship in the LDS Church 211. 211. “Silenced!” on Reflections 8 Proposition 212. Listen to Your Mother! 214. LOVELOUD: “Believer” Screening
8:15–8:45 201. 201. Devotional: Dwelling in the Word Doorbuster Prize for 100 first attendees Support Mormon art and scholarship Mormon art and scholarship Support and Benchmark Books patronizing by the Corridor. in Row Handcrafter’s 200-D 300-B 300-C 200-C 200-B 300-A ROOM 200-A 300-D
8 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM 7:00–9:00 pm 7:00–9:00 381. Picnic Linger-Longer 200-A Room: $35 ticket per must be (tickets in advance) purchased Featuring: Band Angela Soffe Clark Courtney Kendrick Gina Colvin Kirby Robert
5:00–6:30 pm 378. 378. Shattered & Promises Hope Great 371. Community of Christ Transition 377. 377. What Mormons Can Learn . From 374. 374. and Race Mormonism: Roundtable 373. 373. the Redeeming Endowment: Christological 372. 372. Millenial Mormons 376. a Navigating Mixed-Faith Marriage 375. 375. Fraud Affinity in Mormonism 3:45–4:45 pm 362. 362. LeBaron Ross of & Church the First-born 361. 361. The Importance of the Millenium 365. Council of 50 & “Last Joseph’s Charge” 366. Gaining Perspective during #MormonMeToo 364. 364. Ex-Mormonism & the Alt-Right 367. 367. Mormons and Death: Moth and Rust 363. 363. A Native on Perspective Day Pioneer
2:00–3:30 pm 358. #MormonMeToo Healing the Church 355. Supplementing Spiritual Practices 357. 357. Happily After: Even Mixed-Faith Marriages 354. Mormon Conceptions of Race 356. Radiant Mormonism 353. The Plural Marriage Revelation 351. 351. and Wealth Corporate Power 352. the Gold Were Plates Real? pm
343. Mormon Food Studies 12:30–2 341. Lunch will be available the from Expo Center concessions and Chile Verde. 342. Brother andJake Alma Weird Roadshow In the Concourse 344. Signature Books Signings: Concourse to next Benchmark SATURDAY 28 JULY 28 SATURDAY 332. Our All Mormon Families 337. vs.Trump Jesus 338. in Problem is Church LDS Patriarchy 333. 333. Writing Faith Through Transition 331. 331. Faith Development Primer 334. 334. No Healing Without Liberation 336. is Porn Why to Essential Mormonism 335. Popularizing Utah Women’s History 11:30–12:30 pm
10:15-11:15 am 10:15-11:15 323. to D&C, Cover Inside Cover, and Out 325. Borderlands: to Ways Respond 326. Encircle: in Community Unexpected Places 327. Eternal Gender: A Genetic Look 324. If the Shoe Fit, Do I Doesn’t It? to Wear Have 321. 321. Temple From to Tinder 322. William Bickerton 328. Progressive Polygamy 9:00-10:00 am 9:00-10:00 314. Health Is a Covenant 315. Colorism and of the Book Mormon 311. 311. Mormonism & of the Tradition Change 312. The Crowning of Marriage 313. . Breathe Then Push! 316. theRedeeming Endowment: Return of the Queen 8:15–9:00 301. Devotional: “Amazing Grace” Doorbuster Prize for 50 first attendees Support Mormon art and scholarship Mormon art and scholarship Support and Benchmark Books patronizing by the Corridor. in Row Handcrafter’s 200-D 300-B 300-C 200-C 200-B 300-A ROOM 200-A 300-D
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 9 WED/THURS 25/26
the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize from the WEDNESDAY 25 JULY Organization of American Historians.
ORIENTATION DINNER, 5:00-8:30 PM In addition to serving in professional associations and on the editorial boards of Join Sunstone for our third annual New Attendees Dinner! American Quarterly and Ethnohistory, Professor This dinner is for anyone attending the conference for the very Blackhawk has led the establishment of two first time or for people who need a refresher. It’s also a great fellowships, one for American Indian students opportunity for old attendees to meet new attendees and offer to attend the Western History Association’s advice on how to Sunstone! annual conference, the other for doctoral students working on American Indian Studies The dinner will he held at the Cantina Southwest Grill at 75 E dissertations at Yale named after Henry Roe 9400 S, Sandy, UT 84070. Admission to the dinner is $20. Cloud (Winnebago, Class of 1910). abstract Award-winning author and scholar Ned During the dinner you will be given a Sunstone Symposium Blackhawk will re-visit the framing of American Orientation, hosted by our New Attendees coordinator, history to incorporate a more complete narrative ANTHONY MILLER and MARK CREGO. that includes the impact and interaction with indigenous history.
SMITH-PETTIT LECTURE, 7:00-8:30 PM closing song CoC #273 - “Draw the Circle Wide”
benediction BILL McGEE 091. GREAT BASIN INDIAN HISTORY AS room 200A-200C AMERICAN HISTORY This lecture is FREE and open to the public. This lecture has been made possible by the generous The Smith-Pettit lecture is FREE and open to the public. support of the Smith-Pettit Foundation. moderator ROBIN LINKHART conductor VICKIE EASTMAN is a frequent participant on Sunstone panels dealing with Mormon culture. She has a BA in English from Stanford University, and is a retired freelance THURSDAY 26 JULY executive recruiter. REGISTRATION, 8:30 AM–9:00 PM accompanist ALAN EASTMAN has been enlivening Sunstone Admission to sessions is by Symposium name badge or ticket symposia with his piano playing for more only. This policy will be strictly enforced. Badges and single- years than anyone can remember. He has session tickets are available at the registration table in the been playing the piano since age 10, studying enter lobby of the Mountain America Expo Center. the organ with Dr. Robert Cundick at the Tabernacle. He had a jazz trio for 30 years, and currently plays with two local swing bands. opening song “O Say, What is Truth?” DOORBUSTERS FOR THE FIRST 100 ATTENDEES invocation MICA McGRIGGS opening song “Let Justice Roll Down” – written by Fred Voros room MAIN CONCOURSE presenter NED BLACKHAWK (Western Shoshone) is a professor of history and American studies at Yale and was on the faculty from 1999 to 8:30 AM–9:00 PM 2009 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. A graduate of McGill University, he holds 102. SUNSTONE ART SHOW: graduate degrees in history from UCLA and the MORMON TAPESTRY QUILTS University of Washington and is the author of presenters LESLIE O. PETERSON painted the Forgotten Violence over the Land: Indians and Empires in the Wives of Joseph Smith series, which was Early American West (Harvard, 2006), a study featured in the New York Times. of the American Great Basin that garnered half a dozen professional prizes, including
10 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM THURSDAY 26 JULY
AMY RICH’s work in education, editing, graphic He is the recipient of the Utah Council for the design, and project management helped to Social Studies’ University Teacher of the Year orchestrate this exhibit, but the women of award, the University of Utah’s Early Career WOCA (Women of a Certain Age) brought Teaching Award, and the College of Humanities’ Brigham’s wives to life! Ramona W. Cannon Award for Teaching Excellence in the Humanities. He is building a abstract Leslie O. Peterson and Amy Rich spearheaded digital database, A Century of Black Mormons, this collaborative art project involving 56 to name and identify all known black Mormons women (non-artists) painting the 56 wives of between 1830 and 1930. Brigham Young. Their hope is to bring these wives out of obscurity and honor them as Leslie abstract This presentation will explore how committed has done with the Forgotten Wives of Joseph Latter-day Saints can reshape old narratives of Smith series. Utah settlement in ways that are more complete. room MAIN CONCOURSE closing song LDS #2 – The Spirit of God
moderator JO OVERTON
103. SUNSTONE ART SHOW: room 200-A CLASSROOM DISPLAYS presenter MAGEN OLSEN graduated with a BFA in theatre design from the University of Utah and an MA CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 10:15AM–11:15AM in folklore from Utah State University. She currently teaches at Weber State and resides in 121. SHREDDED TAPESTRY: Salt Lake City. THE FRAGMENTATION OF THE CHURCH IN THE WAKE abstract Each room this year has a display curated by OF JOSEPH SMITH’S DEATH Magen Olsen featuring art from many different organizations and individual artists. Please presenter STEVEN L. SHIELDS is best known for his take a moment to preuse the art displays and book Divergent Paths of the Restoration, which view the Mormon Tapestry through the eyes of has been in print since 1975 in four editions. An talented artists. all-new 5th edition is forthcoming from Kofford Books. Shields is a retired Community of Christ If you are interested in purchasing any of “general authority.” the art pieces, please reach out to Magen at [email protected]. abstract When Joseph Smith, Jr. was killed, the church he founded broke into almost 30 fragments. room 200-A—300-D But when the dust finally settled in the 1860s, six viable iterations of the original church remained, each claiming to be the “one, true, and only living church” on the earth. This OPENING PLENARY, 9:00AM–10:00AM paper will explore the various leaders and their organization attempts during the tenuous two 111. RETHINKING PIONEER DAY decades after Smith’s death. opening song LDS #30 - Come, Come, Ye Saints moderator BLAIR WHITE presenter W. PAUL REEVE is the Simmons Professor of Mormon Studies in the History Department room 200-A at the University of Utah where he teaches courses on Utah history, Mormon history, and the history of the U.S. West. His book, 122. DOVE SONG: HEAVENLY MOTHER Religion of a Different Color: Race and the IN MORMON POETRY Mormon Struggle for Whiteness (Oxford, 2015) received the Mormon History Association’s presenters TYLER CHADWICK has a PhD in English and the Best Book Award, the John Whitmer Historical teaching of English from Idaho State University. Association’s Smith-Pettit Best Book Award, He is the editor of Fire in the Pasture: 21st and the Utah State Historical Society’s Francis Century Mormon Poets, and author of Field Notes Armstrong Madsen Best History Book Award. on Language and Kinship.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 11 THURSDAY 26 JULY
DAYNA PATTERSON earned an MA in literature moderator ALISHA UPWALL from Texas State University and an MFA in creative writing from Western Washington room 200-C University, where she served as managing editor of the Bellingham Review. She is the founding editor-in-chief of Psaltery & Lyre and 124. THE BOOK OF MORMON MUSICAL: poetry editor for Exponent II. HOW FUNNY IS IT TO MORMONS?
MARTIN PULIDO co-authored the BYU Studies presenter BOB REES is visiting professor and Director of article, “A Mother There: A Survey of Historical Mormon Studies at Graduate Theological Union Teachings about Mother in Heaven,” with David in Berkeley. He is a former editor of Dialogue, Paulsen. He organized the A Mother Here: Art the former director of the Sunstone Board, and and Poetry Contest with co-chair Caroline Kline the co-founder and current vice-president of the in 2014. Liahona Children’s Foundation. abstract In April 2018, Peculiar Pages released Dove CLIFTON HOLT JOLLEY is known in Utah as a Song: Heavenly Mother in Mormon Poetry, which newspaper columnist and host of PBS’s Civic includes 138 poems by almost 80 poets from Dialogue; he has been published in the New York 1844–2017. Co-editors Martin Pulido, Tyler Times, Dialogue, Sunstone, Western Folklore, and Chadwick, and Dayna Patterson will read other venues. His two PBS documentaries were selections from the anthology and discuss the nominated for Emmys. theme of Heavenly Mother presented in Mormon poetry from almost the inception of the church RON FREDERICKSON is an actor known for his to the present. appearances in Humble Pie (2007), The Darkling (2000), and Worthy to Stand (1969). He holds a moderator JOANNA SMITH PhD in performance studies from the University of Utah. He was professor of theater at Emporia room 200-B State University for twenty-seven years.
abstract The Book of Mormon Musical has been one 123. VIEWING TRUTH THROUGH of the most successful musicals in American HEAVEN’S EYES theater history. Audience have flocked to see Mormons and Mormonism satirized, presenter KHADEN PETTINGILL departed from lampooned, and caricatured. But how funny is it institutionalized religion soon after returning to Mormons? How successful has the Church’s from his mission, and then became involved attempt been to turn the musical in its favor? with the “Remnant” movement. He studies engineering at UVU, offroads in his Jeep, moderator BOB REES teaches about The Lectures on Faith both online an in a classroom, and works as certified nurse room 200-D assistant with adults that have physical, mental, and emotional disability. 125. THE ORIGINATION AND EXPANSION abstract “A single thread in a tapestry OF LDS FUNDAMENTALISM Though its color brightly shine Can never see its purpose presenter GABRIEL OWEN is member of Latter Day In the pattern of the grand design” Church of Christ, and well-studied in Mormon From “Through Heaven’s Eyes” by Stephen history and current fundamentalist views and Schwartz in The Prince of Egypt doctrine.
The goal of the “Remnant” movement is to abstract This session will explore the history and participate in the commencement of Zion, origination of fundamentalism from a which will ultimately consist of diverse people fundamentalist perspective. from various backgrounds who have learned to become of one heart and one mind, with no poor moderator CRISTINA ROSETTI among them. To attain that, we can not fixate on our single thread of truth, but instead learn to room 300-A expand our vision to perceive the Great Tapestry of God’s Design.
12 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM THURSDAY 26 JULY
CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 11:30 PM – 12:30 PM researchers in artificial intelligence are engaged in a nearly identical process, and the challenges 131. ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: they face and the solutions they have proposed SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF SEXUAL are strikingly parallel to the description given in ABUSE Abraham. By examining the connection between the ideas of these researchers and LDS presenters NATASHA HELFER PARKER, LCMFT, CST is cosmology we gain unexpected insights into the the owner and founder of Symmetry Solutions. nature of mortality and the atonement. She has been in practice for over 20 years, specializing in mental health therapy, sex therapy moderator JON STONE and sexuality concerns, family/couples services, and faith transitions within spiritual journeys. room 200-B
SARA HUGHES-ZABAWA is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), wellness coach, and yoga instructor who specializes in treating trauma, 133. MY WALK WITH THE GODS: depression, and anxiety. She often works with MY EXPERIENCE AS A LGBT+ individuals and their families to foster BAPTIST, MORMON, MORMON acceptance and promote advocacy skills as well FUNDAMENTALIST, BUDDHIST, AND as individuals and couples experiencing life BEYOND transitions related to their faith. presenter TOM BENNETT is a full-time traveling folk singer. He has studied a variety of religions including JENNIFER WHITE is a therapist who specializes Mormon Fundamentalism. He has been featured on in helping people with depression, anxiety, Lindsay Hansen Park’s Year Of Polygamy podcast sexuality concerns, trauma, and faith transitions/ and performed his music at the 2017 Sunstone Salt journeys. Lake Summer Symposium.
LISA BUTTERWORTH, LPC/NCC, has a master’s abstract Being raised in the South, my first interest degree in clinical mental health counseling, and in religion focused on the Southern Baptist is the founder of Feminist Mormon Housewives. Church. But at 15, I became a Latter-day Saint and later served a mission in Wyoming and abstract With all the #metoo situations being brought to Utah. During my mission I became convinced of light both within the Mormon faith community the principles of plural marriage and the United and the community at large, mental health Order. After some intense experiences with providers from Symmetry Solutions will present Fundamentalist church leadership and offers some bullet-point strategies and then open of plural wives, I ended up walking away from the session for discussion in order to support Mormonism entirely. I later studied Buddhism, victims/survivors of sexual trauma as well as the occult, and various other philosophies. My family and friends who want to know how to current philosophy is an amalgamation of all better support their loved ones. that I have learned; I do not believe that one’s moderator LISA BUTTERWORTH allegiance needs to be given to a single path. room 200-A moderator EMILY BEECROFT THORNE
room 200-D 132. TRAINING INTELLIGENCES: AI AND MORMON COSMOLOGY 134. MORMON FEMINISTS HAVE presenter ROSS RICHEY is a software entrepreneur living THEIR SAY: ORDAIN WOMEN in Salt Lake City. In his spare time he maintains FIVE YEARS LATER a blog/podcast at jeremiah820.blogspot.com presenter is a Fellow of the Honors where he posts weekly on the intersection JENNIFER CROW College at Middle Tennessee State University between religion and technology. where she is working on a master’s degree in abstract In the Book of Abraham we read about “the sociology. Her academic research is primarily intelligences that were organized before the focused on how women experience religion. world was,” and we are told about a test to She has presented her research on Ordain see if they would “do all things whatsoever the Women at conferences across the country. Lord their God shall command them.” Currently
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 13 THURSDAY 26 JULY
JOANNA SMITH is the founder and executive LUNCH PRESENTATION, 12:30 PM–2:00 PM director of Utah’s largest women-only nonprofit, Utah Women Unite. She works to address 141. MORMON FOOD STUDIES political and social inequality through education, IN TRUMP’S AMERICA advocacy, and awareness. She is working on a presenter JERILYN HASSELL POOL is a digital artist and marketing management degree through WGU. print production specialist. She lives in Provo, She works full time as CEO at The Wave. Utah with her family where she works with the abstract Five years ago, Ordain Women dared to ask LDS local LGBTQ community. Church leaders to prayerfully consider whether abstract A humorous look at the food habits of Mormons. women should be ordained—a bold move that required a group of unflinching, confident, brave moderator DREW OSTLER supporters. Jennifer and Joanna share stories of what happened when Mormon feminists room 200-A dared to ask that women be included in the power structures of the Church. Come hear a sampling of the stories that will be featured in their forthcoming book. 142. BOOK SIGNING: WHERE WE MUST STAND moderator MICA MCGRIGGS signers SARA HANKS, NANCY ROSS room 300-B room CONCOURSE
135. FINDING A CENTERED WAY IN THE FABRIC OF MORMONISM CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM presenters MARK CREGO is a moderator at A Thoughtful 151. LUCIFER: A MISUNDERSTOOD DIETY Faith support group, and the founder of the presenters TOM BENNETT is a traveling folk singer and Identity Strategy foundation. His work includes a student of religion. He has been a Baptist, a the Unique Identity program of India, providing Latter-day Saint, a Mormon Fundamentalist, suffrage and financial inclusion for over 1.2 a Buddhist, and a student of the occult. He billion people. has been featured on Lindsay Hansen Park’s Year Of Polygamy podcast. He also performed abstract Lehi’s counsel to Jacob in 2 Nephi describes the need for opposition in all things, but this his music at the 2017 Sunstone Summer “opposition” is often seen as a dualistic conflict Symposium. between good and evil—the Saints and the abstract This session proposes that we turn our World, light and darkness—always favoring the traditional interpretation of the Fall on its one over the other. Yet at its core, Mormonism head. In pre-Christian times, it was taught that aims at a nondualistic Zion. This discussion Lucifer was a beautiful young man: a “light explores Zion as a nondual Centered Way that bringer,” but now Christianity villifies him as finds balance and unity, opening up room for all the “Father of Lies.” But Lucifer did not tell threads of the Mormon tapestry to harmonize the first lie. Rather, it was the Father who lied, and build faith together. saying to Adam and Eve, “... of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat moderator DAN CHRISTENSEN of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof room 300-C thou shalt surely die.” However, they did not die that day. Many theologians might say that Adam and Eve died a “spiritual death,” or that the Father had a different definition of the word LUNCH BREAK, 12:30 PM–2:00 PM “day” than we do. However, this session will raise the argument that the “Father” we have See page 5 for dining options. Lunch is available at the Expo been worshiping is actually the “Father of Lies” concession stands and Chile Verde. and that the vilified Lucifer is actually our true Father who wanted our eyes to be opened.
moderator TERI VANCE
room 200-A 14 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM THURSDAY 26 JULY
152. MORMONS AND THE ENNEAGRAM presenters JANA RIESS is a senior columnist for Religion News Service, where she writes about Mormonism, politics, popular culture, and spirituality. She is the author of numerous books, including The Next Mormons: The Rising Generation of Millennial Latter-day Saints, forthcoming in March 2019 from Oxford University Press. She is a ward Relief Society teacher and stake self-reliance facilitator in Cincinnati, Ohio.
JANA SPANGLER is an integral professional coach working with Symmetry Solutions. She specializes in coaching people who are experiencing faith transitions in themselves or loved ones. She is a student at The Living School under the direction of Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, studying contemplative wisdom traditions. abstract The Enneagram is a spiritual tool that teaches us to know ourselves better, helping us to pinpoint our deepest longings—and our potentially destructive behaviors. The Enneagram’s nine basic “types,” or numbers, all have positive and negative aspects, and all exhibit different ways of relating with others and with God. In this session, “the Janas” will explain the basics of what the Enneagram is (no experience is necessary), focusing particularly on the ways Mormons and post-Mormons might use it as a tool for deepening spirituality and also navigating the institutional LDS Church. How might a 2 or a 3 have a natural advantage in Mormon culture, while a 4 or an 8 might have a harder time gaining acceptance? What resources might various types draw on to direct their spiritual journeys? moderator DAN WOTHERSPOON room 200-B
153. CELEBRATING DIVERSE LEARNERS: HOW TO CREATE LGBTQI AFFIRMING SECONDARY CLASSROOMS (GRADES 7-12) presenters SARAH HANCOCK JONES is a junior high reading and English teacher in northern Utah specializing in working with developing readers and English language learners. She also teaches English 1010 for Weber State University. As a parent to six children (ages 6 to 15), she
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 15 THURSDAY 26 JULY
understands the importance of teens fitting in chiastic structure of 1st Nephi, and The and developing good friendships. Temple Pattern, which explores the repeated endowment pattern found in all of scripture. abstract It’s difficult enough for youth to survive junior high, and these difficulties can be compounded abstract Temple attendees often express an inability for young people who are also discovering that to understand the symbolism and meaning of they don’t conform to a heteronormative world. the endowment. They also often wonder how This presentation will highlight the resources ancient the endowment’s roots actually are. available to secondary educators as they try to This presentation offers new answers to those make their classroom and school welcoming for seeking greater temple understanding. everyone. The presentation will offer resources for parents and community members to share moderator ANNA MOOY with their local schools and implement in their room 300-A own circle of influence. moderator ROBBIE LAW 156. FEMINIST MORMON HOUSEWIVES: room 200-C WOVEN & TANGLED THREADS FROM 2004 TO NOW 154. MORMONLEAKS: THE LDS CHURCH presenters SARA KS HANKS is a writer, former blogger AND TRANSPARENCY at Feminist Mormon Housewives, and co-editor of Where We Must Stand: Ten Years of Feminist presenters RYAN MCKNIGHT is the founder of Mormon Housewives. MormonLeaks.io and the executive director of The Truth and Transparency Foundation. He NANCY ROSS, PhD, is an assistant professor of has a master’s degree in accounting from UNLV fine art at Dixie State University, and co-editor and is a former agent with the Nevada Gaming of Where We Must Stand: Ten Years of Feminist Control Board. Mormon Housewives.
ETHAN DODGE (a.k.a. Privacy P. Pratt) KALANI TONGA is a developmental coordinator, identifies as a secular Mormon passionate volleyball coach, and current blogger at Feminist about truth. A cyber security engineer by Mormon Housewives. trade, he oversees all technical operations of LISA BUTTERWORTH, LPC/NCC, has a master’s MormonLeaks and has worked with Ryan since degree in clinical mental health counseling, and nearly the beginning. He believes strongly that is the founder of Feminist Mormon Housewives. greater empathy and understanding can be achieved through listening to and sharing lived abstract In August of 2014, the Feminist Mormon experiences. Housewives blog celebrated its ten-year anniversary. The period between 2004 to 2014 abstract With MormonLeaks quickly approaching its two- saw enormous growth in the Mormon feminist year anniversary, Ryan and Ethan invite all to community that gathered steam, made its join them as they discuss the journey and share presence known, developed its voice, and met what they have learned during the process in with punishment. Sara KS Hanks and Nancy this “ask-me-anything”-style presentation. Ross (co-editors of Where We Must Stand, a volume commemorating FMH’s first ten moderator BLAIRE OSTLER years) lead this panel of women from the FMH room 200-D community as they reflect on FMH’s history from 2004 to today.
moderator ROSELLE STEVENSON 155. THE TEMPLE PATTERN: A CELEBRATION OF room 300-B THE PLAN OF SALVATION presenter MARCUS M. LADD has a BA in Russian from BYU. He serves as the temple prep instructor in his ward. He has authored two books: And He Spake Unto Me, which charts the overarching
16 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM THURSDAY 26 JULY
157. THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING region in the 1800s affected conversions. presenters MALLORY THALMAN left the LDS Church five moderator GARY FORD years ago while her husband remains faithful. With their three children, they have been room 200-A working to come together as a family with their different levels of faith, after finding their way back from the brink of divorce. 162. THE MEMEING OF MORMONISM: “STUFF YOU MISSED ANTHONY D. MILLER is an entrepreneur with IN SUNDAY SCHOOL” financial planning and real estate development companies and an adjunct professor of finance. facilitators CRAIG STAPLEY is a Deseret Book-published After 20 years of intense church activity, artist and has worked for over 10 years as a including a stint as a stake high councilor, he contract illustrator for LDS Church periodicals. and his gay son are now out of the LDS Church, Since his faith transition, he runs the Stuff while his wife and adult daughter are fully You Missed in Sunday School advocacy site, active. promoting transparency and dialogue within Mormonism. NICHOLAS R. STEWART has a masters of urban planning from San Jose State. He grew abstract “The truth will cut its own way.” —Joseph up in the Mormon Church, got married in the Smith. Los Angeles temple, and served served in four elders quorum presidencies. He is no longer an Stuff You Missed in Sunday School is a 2017 active, believing member of the LDS Church. Brodie-award-winning advocacy platform that takes the complexities of Mormonism and abstract Panelists share stories of their transition out of distills them into bite-sized chunks, one meme the LDS Church. What led to their transitions, at a time. How does SYMISS use social media in how did their individual transitions evolve, and tandem with design and marketing principles as how does their relationship with the church and advocacy tools? still-active loved ones look now? moderator STEPHANIE SHURTLIFF LISMAN moderator JONATHON ENGLISH room 200-B room 300-C
163. WAITING FOR MORNING: THE CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 3:45PM–4:45PM POETRY OF ROBERT REES
161. SCANDINAVIAN SAINTS: presenter BOB REES, former chair of the Sunstone board MORMONISM IN 19TH-CENTURY of directors, has published poetry in a number SWEDEN, NORWAY, AND DENMARK of journals, magazines, and anthologies. As a professor of literature, his favorite course is presenter KATHERINE KELAIDIS is a lecturer at DePaul “Introduction to Poetry.” University and a resident scholar at the National Hellenic Museum. Her work focuses on the abstract This session is devoted to a reading from Bob confluence of religious identity and politics. Rees’s newly-published collection of poems, She has a PhD in classics from the University Waiting for Morning. In his foreword to the of London and a BA in classical languages from collection, Clifton Jolley observes, “The miracle the University of California, Berkeley. of Bob’s optimism is not only that it is, but that it is in spite of the world, in spite of evidence to abstract This paper will look at the Latter-day Saint the contrary, in spite of what we cannot justify movement’s first non-English-language mission or explain. Because Bob is certain that in spite field: 19th-century Scandinavia. It will focus on of everything, there is hope and faith and—most how evolving Mormon racial ideologies attracted of all—love.” missionaries to Scandinavia and how the tumultuous political and religious climate of the moderator EMILY BEECROFT THORNE
room 200-C
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 17 THURSDAY 26 JULY
164. MODERN POLYAMORY abstract The stories in Mormonism contain a repository VS. MORMON POLYGAMY of wisdom, but there are also psychological forces behind them that influence how Mormons presenter MITHRYN (a.k.a. Kenneth Lines) has been experience spirituality. When we understand researching polygamy since before he learned the symbolism of these stories as a model of that his grandfather came from polygamous our inner experiences, we can understand how Mormon colonies in Mexico. Now Mithryn puts they affect our lives. This presentation links his decade of research, blogging, and podcasting the symbolism found in the Book of Mormon to experience towards understanding the Mormon the process of “coming to self-hood” or “self- polygamy framework through the lens of modern realization.” polyandry and principles gleaned through psychology and science moderator ALLAN MOUNT abstract This session will explore the differences between room 300-B contemporary American polyamory and Mormon plural marriage. How does each relationship style impact consent, multiple partners, and child rearing? 167. THE MORMON MIND GAME: COMMON MORMON THINKING ERRORS moderator CHELSI BARNARD presenter NATASHA HELFER PARKER, LCMFT, CST is room 200-D the owner and founder of Symmetry Solutions. She has been in practice for over 20 years, specializing in mental health therapy, sex therapy and sexuality concerns, family/couples 165. BEING CERTAIN YOU ARE RIGHT services, and faith transitions within spiritual EVEN WHEN YOU’RE NOT: WHAT journeys. RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT WHY WE BELIEVE WHAT WE BELIEVE SARA HUGHES-ZABAWA is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), wellness coach, and yoga presenters NORM KOLLER has a BS and MS from BYU, an instructor who specializes in treating trauma, MSW from the University of Utah, and a PhD depression, and anxiety. She often works with from Indiana University. LGBT+ individuals and their families to foster acceptance and promote advocacy skills as well abstract The bad news: in the end, all beliefs (yes, as individuals and couples experiencing life even religious ones) have their root in the transitions related to their faith. reliably fallible brain. The good news: correct understanding of the brain can lead to less JENNIFER WHITE is a therapist who arrogance about one’s own beliefs and more specializes in helping people with depression, tolerance of those who think differently. This anxiety, sexuality concerns, trauma, and faith paper explores the neuroscience behind how transitions/journeys. beliefs are formed, focusing particularly on brain scanning and “the feeling of knowing.” abstract Every culture, organization, religion, and person experiences thinking errors—commonly moderator MARK PETERSON called cognitive distortions. This session will build off of Jennifer and Natasha’s popular room 300-A session “Mormon Thinking Errors,” taking the conversation further and offering concrete strategies to combat cognitive distortions. 166. INDIVIDUATION SYMBOLISM IN MORMONISM moderator SUE BERGIN presenter LANDON POPPLETON has a JD from Lewis and room 300-C Clark College and a PhD in clinical psychology from Brigham Young University. He is the founder and director of NW Family Psychology in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington.
18 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM THURSDAY 26 JULY
CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM 172. ART THERAPY AND FAITH 171. LEONARD J. ARRINGTON AND HIS TRANSITIONS: A RESEARCH DIARIES PRESENTATION AND ART-MAKING EXPERIENCE presenter GARY JAMES BERGERA is editor of Confessions of a Mormon Historian: The Diaries presenters SUMMER MYERS earned an MA in marriage of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971–1997; managing and family therapy with an emphasis in clinical director of the Smith-Pettit Foundation; director art therapy from Loyola Marymount University. of publishing at Signature Books; and a member She completed original research on art therapy of the board of editors of the Mormon History and faith transitions for her graduate thesis. Association. This research was presented at the American Art Therapy Association national conference in CRISTINA ROSETTI is a doctoral candidate November 2017. in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Riverside, with an abstract This original research study asked former emphasis on Mormonism and spiritualism, and Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Fundamentalist alternative forms of Mormon religious practice. protestants, and members of other high- In 2017 she was awarded the Mormon Studies demand religious groups to share their stories Fellowship at the Tanner Humanities Center at through writing and artmaking. Using bridge the University of Utah. drawing, an established art therapy assessment tool for life transitions, this study elicited THOMAS G. ALEXANDER earned his PhD at beautiful, heartbreaking, resonant, and salient UC Berkeley and taught history at BYU for over insights into the faith transition experience. forty years where he was also director of the The participants’ artwork, written responses, Charles Redd Center for Western Studies from and emergent themes from the study will 1980–82. He has written numerous award- be presented, afterwhich the audience will winning books and articles on Mormon and be invited to participate in artmaking about Utah history. their own faith transition experiences. These artworks are intended to become part of a LAVINA FIELDING ANDERSON is president larger, ongoing faith-transition art project. of Editing, Inc., and has been involved in various editorial roles with the Journal of moderator PATRICK C MCCLEARY Mormon History, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, The Review of Higher Education, the room 200-B Mormon Alliance, the editorial advisory board of Signature Books, and the Ensign. 173. THE GIFTS OF A FAITH CRISIS abstract With his call as official LDS Church Historian in 1972, Leonard J. Arrington was given a mandate presenters SARA HUGHES-ZABAWA is a licensed clinical to professionalize its historical publications. social worker (LCSW), wellness coach, and yoga Arrington’s team was prolific and its output instructor (LCSW) who specializes in treating impressive, but before long, they encountered trauma, depression, and anxiety. She often opposition from a few members of the Quorum works with LGBT+ individuals and their families of the Twelve Apostles and church bureaucrats. to foster acceptance and advocacy skills as well Signature Books’s long awaited, 2,600-page as individuals and couples experiencing life Confessions of a Mormon Historian: The Diaries transitions specific to their faith. of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971–1997, speaks candidly of these clashes, but also provides a ANTHONY D. MILLER, MBA, MSFS, CFP® is lens into the history of Mormonism during the a business owner and education enthusiast. last decades of the twentieth century. Readers He traversed a faith crisis that began after will also learn about Arrington the man, his stumbling across the LDS Gospel Topics essays family, and his faith. while searching for resources to support his adult gay son. Anthony frequently contributes moderator DEVERY S. ANDERSON to online support groups about faith transition and blogs at unpackingambiguity.com. room 200-A JANA SPANGLER is an integral professional voach working with Symmetry Solutions.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 19 THURSDAY 26 JULY
She specializes in coaching individuals and abstract Last year, I gave a prayer at Affirmation’s couples who are experiencing faith transitions international conference, framing it as in themselves or loved ones. She is a student a possible future theology. I find myself at The Living School under the direction of Fr. speculating on ways that different views of a Richard Rohr, OFM, studying contemplative radically inclusive God could be expressed in wisdom traditions. prayers and discussion. This presentation will share possible future theologies, especially as abstract As individuals grow and develop, it is part of our tradition of a living church, ongoing common for their spirituality and beliefs to revelation, and receiving further light and be challenged and subsequently change. This knowledge. experience, often called a “faith crisis,” can feel disorienting, traumatic, and isolating. This moderator ROBBIE LAW session honors those challenges but also highlights the unexpected gifts a faith crisis can room 300-B offer. moderator PATRICK C MCCLEARY DINNER BREAK, 6:30PM–8:00PM room 200-C See page 5 for dining options. Many Sunstone attendees are planning to eat at Joe’s Crab Shack just north of the Expo Center. 174. DIVERGENT PATHS OF TEMPLE WORSHIP: TRACING THE HISTORY OF TEMPLE WORSHIP AND PRACTICE IN ALL SECTS OF THE LDS MOVEMENT CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 7:30PM–8:30PM 191. EVENING DEVOTIONAL: SCRIPTURE presenter BENJAMIN SHAFFER is a researcher, writer, and historian. He has a bachelor’s degree from AS DIALOGUE, OR HOW CAN OUR Southern Utah University in history, taught RELIGIONS IMPACT THE WORLD seminary in Utah and Arizona, and is now an opening song “This Day is a Good Day” - Written by Fred attorney. He joined Christ’s Church in 2011, and Voros has served there as a file leader, member of the Seventy, missionary, temple worker, and presenter MARVIN SWEENEY specializes in Hebrew counselor in his local branch presidency. Bible studies with a special focus on prophetic literature. He is especially interested in biblical abstract All of the sects of the LDS movement have been theology, literary-critical methodologies, influenced by the symbolism, traditions, and ancient exegesis of biblical texts, and the ordinances of temples. Six sects that came out interrelationship between religion and politics in of the Nauvoo period retain temple practices, both the ancient and modern worlds. as do seven modern sects; dozens of others do not. This session will trace the history of temple He teaches courses in the history of Judaism practice in many different LDS traditions and and Jewish thought. He is currently writing a compare them. commentary on Isaiah 40-66 (FOTL, Eerdmans), an introduction to the Pentateuch (Abingdon), moderator JOSH ALLRED a two-volume study of Jewish mysticism (Eerdmans), and a two-volume commentary on room 300-A Jeremiah (Illuminations; Eerdmans). He was vice-president of the National 175. THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: A PANEL Association of Professors of Hebrew (2013- ON SPECULATIVE THEOLOGY 15), Professor of Tanak (Bible) at the Academy for Jewish Religion California (2000-present), presenter JODY ENGLAND HANSEN is a mixed-media and formerly Underwood Visiting Professor artist, occasional empty nester, Mama Dragon of Divinity at Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea and LGBTQ activist, repatriated Utahan, and (2011). God-seeker who hasn’t figured any of this out yet. abstract This presentation focuses on the Exodus narratives of the Hebrew Bible in dialog with subsequent biblical, Rabbinic, Christian, and Mormon tradition. It begins with a treatment
20 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM TH/FRI 26/27 JULY
of the Exodus narratives in Exodus 1-15 as a FRIDAY 27 JULY creation account that portrays Israel’s origins as a nation in relation to the creation of the natural REGISTRATION, 8:30 AM–9:00 PM world, and considers this concern in relation to the Book of Isaiah, the Rabbinic Passover Admission to sessions is by Symposium name badge or ticket Haggadah, the New Testament Gospels, and the only. This policy will be strictly enforced. Badges and single- Book of Mormon. session tickets are available at the registration table in the enter lobby of the Mountain America Expo Center. respondent SAMUEL SPECTOR was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He attended the University of California, San Diego and was ordained a rabbi at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute DOORBUSTERS FOR of Religion in Los Angeles. Earlier this month he THE FIRST 100 ATTENDEES was appointed as rabbi at congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City. room MAIN CONCOURSE closing song LDS #147 – “Sweet is the Work” 8:30 AM–9:00 PM moderator MARK THOMAS SUNSTONE ART SHOW room 200-A See pages 10–11 for information.
room MAIN CONCOURSE 192. FEMINIST DEVOTIONAL: WEAVING SACRED SPACES IN MUNDANE PLACES DEVOTIONAL, 8:15 AM–8:45 AM presenter MAXINE HANKS is a Mormon feminist theologian who compiled and edited the book Women and 201. COMMUNITY OF CHRIST: Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism (1992). THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICE She was excommunicated on September 19 OF DWELLING IN THE WORD (along with fellow contributor D. Michael Quinn). In February 2012, Hanks was rebaptized into the presenter BLAIR WHITE pastors the Logan and Salt Lake LDS Church. City Community of Christ congregations. He has served Community of Christ in the U.S. and GINA COLVIN is a research fellow at the eastern Asia. He seeks to provide safety and University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New a listening ear for those who find themselves Zealand with an interest in cultural and post- navigating faith transitions. colonial studies. She is an international editor for Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. abstract Dwelling in the Word asks us to be fully open to what a scriptural passage may be trying to abstract Any place can be a sacred space when human say to us—allowing it to take root in us instead beings gather in a communion of souls. The of pressing our own interpretations onto it. spirit graces the mundane, and the ordinary How do we escape our fixed notions and becomes the extraordinary: a table embodies understandings of scriptural passages? an altar, a sacrament creates a sanctuary. Join with Gina Colvin and Maxine Hanks to explore moderator BLAIR WHITE notions of impromptu communion as they offer room 200-A a devotional space in an expo center on State Street. moderator GINA COLVIN room 300-C
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 21 FRIDAY 27 JULY
CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 9:00AM–10:00AM 213. DEEPENING SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS BEYOND A TRADITIONAL MORMON 211. SILENCED! REFLECTIONS ON PARADIGM PROPOSITION 8 A DECADE LATER presenter JANA SPANGLER is an integral professional presenter BOB REES is a visiting professor and Director coach working with Symmetry Solutions. of Mormon Studies at Graduate Theological She specializes in coaching people who are Union. He has three books scheduled for experiencing faith transitions in themselves publication in 2018-19: Why I Stay: The or loved ones. She is a student at The Living Challenges of Discipleship for Contemporary School under the direction of Fr. Richard Rohr, Mormons, vol. 2, Perspectives on a New World OFM, studying contemplative wisdom traditions. Scripture, and Mormonism and the LGBTQ Community. abstract As people’s religious worldviews shift they often go through periods where it is difficult abstract During Proposition 8—an initiative on the to find fulfillment in church attendance and the 2008 California ballot prohibiting same-sex spiritual practices of their upbringing. These marriage—some Latter-day Saints who refused things can feel empty or even triggering. In this to support the Church’s campaign or who openly session we will explore framings and practices opposed it were disciplined by local leaders in that can open up possibilities for spiritual spite of the Church’s official policy allowing deepening—supplementing or replacing those of non-support, if not dissent. This is the story of traditional Mormon worship. one person who was disciplined and silenced during the campaign and some lessons he moderator ANNA MOOY learned from that experience. room 200-C moderator JAKE ZOLLINGER room 200-A 214. LOVELOUD: “BELIEVER” SCREEINING
presenter EMILY BRANVOLD is the community outreach 212. LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER! manager for LOVELOUD. She was adopted into a LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED multiracial LDS family as a queer woman of color. She works with youth in foster care, creates after- presenter JODY ENGLAND HANSEN is a mixed-media school tutoring programs, and is a case manager artist, occasional empty nester, Mama Dragon for the chronically homeless. She is a graduate and LGBTQ activist, repatriated Utahan, and student in the masters of social work advanced God-seeker who hasn’t figured any of this out standing program at Utah Valley University. yet. KEILANI APPLEGATE is the community outreach abstract Sometimes, when I am reading scriptures, or manager for LOVELOUD. She is an after-school history, or thinking about what is happening, program director for LGBTQ+ youth, and a I hear Her. Sometimes it is a conversation, Polynesian Utah native. She is completing a sometimes it is just Her. She needs no degree in strategic communication in preparation protection. I do not need permission to listen to for pursuing a master’s of public administration. my Mother, my Sister, my God. This is sharing time. I will speak of some of my moments TYLER GLENN is the lead singer of Neon Trees with Her, and invite more to talk of their and a solo musical artist. He is featured in own interaction. We need to stop waiting for Believer as one of the producers of LOVELOUD. someone else to tell us who and where She is. abstract This film follows Imagine Dragons’ frontman moderator BROOKE SCOTT Dan Reynolds as he comes to a crossroads when he witnesses fellow members of the room 200-B Mormon Church spurned due to their sexual orientation. Since 2008, teen suicide rates in Utah have skyrocketed, which many people have attribute to the Mormon Church’s official stance regarding same-sex relationships. Director Don Argott follows Dan and openly
22 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM FRIDAY 27 JULY
gay former Mormon Tyler Glenn, lead singer CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 10:15AM–11:15AM of Neon Trees, as they create LOVELOUD, a music and spoken-word festival designed to 221. ASK A SEX THERAPIST spark dialogue between the LDS Church and members of the LGBTQ community. presenters NATASHA HELFER PARKER, LCMFT, CST is the owner and founder of Symmetry Solutions This session is sponsored by LOVELOUD and is and an AASECT certified sex therapist. She has free and open to the public. been in practice for over 20 years and works with adults and adolescents. She specializes in moderator NATALIE SPERRY MANDELIN mental health therapy, sex therapy and sexuality concerns, family/couples services, and faith room 300-A&B transitions within spiritual journeys.
Note: This screening and discussion will run for abstract Sexuality is a taboo topic both within the general the length of two sessions: 9:00 am – 11:30 am. population and Mormon culture, with sexual shame being a common factor among many of its members. This session gives attendants access 215. THE HISTORY OF TRANSPARENCY to the expertise of one of Mormonism’s few AND CENSORSHIP WITHIN THE AASECT certified sex therapists. Attendees can LDS CHURCH ask questions directly or anonymously in a safe space. Addressing sexuality openly is a healing presenter RYAN MCKNIGHT is the founder of component to the healthy sexual journeys we all MormonLeaks.io and the executive director of deserve and crave. The Truth and Transparency Foundation. He has a master’s degree in accounting from UNLV moderator SPENCER LAKE and is a former agent with the Nevada Gaming room 200-A Control Board.
ETHAN DODGE (a.k.a. Privacy P. Pratt) identifies as a secular Mormon passionate 222. THE MARSHALL FAMILY about truth. A cyber security engineer by AND THE “ONE-DROP RULE” trade, he oversees all technical operations of MormonLeaks and has worked with Ryan since presenter ROBERT A GREENWELL has a BA in history nearly the beginning. He believes strongly that from Weber State University, an MA in history greater empathy and understanding can be from the University of Utah, and is a doctoral achieved through listening to and sharing lived candidate in history at Ohio State University. experiences. He is a DAAD research fellow for the Federal Republic of Germany abstract Since the days of Nauvoo, the LDS Church has a long history of secret-keeping and abstract It was alleged that the grandmother of a family censorship, though there have been times in Fillmore, Utah, who had joined the LDS when its leaders’ fledging efforts to increase Church in rural Alabama in 1896 and had come transparency have been commendable. Join the to Utah in 1905, had black African ancestry. MormonLeaks team as they explore the history Though her grandchildren showed no African of transparency, the external promotion thereof, American characteristics, the males were and censorship within the LDS Church. denied priesthood ordination and the family was denied access to temple rituals. The history of moderator DREW OSTLER this family’s plight included intercessions by Marion G. Romney in 1944, David O. McKay in room 300-C 1957, and Spencer W. Kimball in 1977.
moderator SARA LAKE
room 200-B
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 23 FRIDAY 27 JULY
223. BAPTISMS FOR THE DEAD IN COMMUNITY OF CHRIST: A LOOK AT SCRIPTURE, HISTORY, AND THEOLOGY
presenter BRITTANY MANGELSON is a convert to Community of Christ from the LDS Church. She is an ordained minister, serves on the pastorate of the Salt Lake City congregation, and is a host on the Project Zion Podcast. She is a mother of three, wife to one, and will complete her MA in religion this year.
LACHLAN MACKAY is a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles in Community of Christ, serving as Historic Sites Director and Church History and Sacred Story Ministries Team lead. He co-authored A Time of Transition: The Kirtland Temple, 1838–1880. He was the winner of the John Whitmer Historical Association’s “Best Article” award for 1999.
abstract This session will survey the development, justification, and ultimate rejection of baptisms for the dead in Community of Christ over a span of 150 years through the lenses of scripture, history, and theology.
moderator DAN CHRISTENSEN
room 200-C
224. GOD AS AN ANSWER TO FERMI’S PARADOX
presenter ROSS RICHEY is a software entrepreneur living in Salt Lake City. In his spare time he maintains a blog/podcast at jeremiah820.blogspot.com, where he posts weekly on the intersection between religion and technology.
abstract In 1950 at a lunch in Los Alamos, Enrico Fermi asked his famous question, “Where are they?” The “they” in question were intelligent extraterrestrials, for which there was no evidence, then or now. But what if people are imagining extraterrestrial contact all wrong? What if God is an extraterrestrial? This idea will not seem so outlandish to Mormons, and once you accept it, many mysteries are resolved. For example, any extraterrestrial civilization would be inconceivably advanced, making them, potentially, far more interested in the morality of our choices than the shininess of our gadgets.
moderator CHELSI BARNARD
room 200-D
24 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM FRIDAY 27 JULY
225. LOVELOUD: BELIEVER SCREENING choices in ways that can minimize regret and CONTINUED introduce more joy and peace into one’s individual faith journey. abstract See session 214. moderator BLAIR WHITE room 300-A&B room 300-C
226. WHY EVANGELICAL MINISTRIES TO CONVERT MORMONS LOSE CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 11:30AM–12:30PM TO SECULARISM 231. ENTERING THE CLOSET: presenters RYAN WIMMER received a BA in history from THE CASE FOR THE INNER PATH the University of Utah and an MA from Brigham Young University. He has been published in presenters PHILIP G. MCLEMORE is a former LDS Institute the John Whitmer Historical Journal and has a director, Air Force chaplain, and hospice pending publication on the history of Asians in chaplain. He is a meditation teacher who Utah. Has has presented papers at MHA and conducts seminars and oversees an online other conferences on Japanese Americans in program at meditatewithphil.com. Utah and Mormon/Native American relations. abstract Jesus instructs us to go into our “closet” or “room,” the inner sanctuary, so we can pray abstract According to the “Why Mormons Question” survey, 55% of Mormons who leave the LDS to our Father who is “in secret,” “the secret Church become atheist/agnostic while only place,” or “in hiding.” Why and how is God 11% find another Christian church. There are hiding? What kind of prayer leads one to this countless Christian ministries that train on “secret place”? What happens when one finds how to evangelize Latter-day Saints, organize Him? The primary purpose of the gospel is not protests at Mormons functions, publish tracts for one to become a good person or to qualify and books, etc. Yet Christians lose to atheism for the Celestial Kingdom, but to experience a at a nearly 5 to 1 ratio, despite near-zero transformative rebirth with and in God that can effort from atheist organizations to single out only happen on the Inner Path. Mormons. The reason why can be found in moderator SHANNON CALDWELL MONTEZ sociological data and ex-Mormon narratives. Though Mormons’ first exposure to critical room 200-A information about the Church often comes from Christian ministries, further inquiry leads them to atheism. 232. PARKLAND STRONG: moderator JOSH ALLRED MENDING THE TAPESTRY room 300-D presenters KELLY FURR has a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and lives in Parkland, Florida. She has been involved in the aftermath of the 227. IS YOUR THREAD WEAVING A Parkland shooting as a therapist, ward member, CABLE, A QUILT, OR CHAOS? mom, and friend. abstract Kelly, a marriage and family therapist, and presenter RUSS OSMOND has a PhD from Syracuse resident of Parkland, FL, lives less than a mile University. He spent 23 years as an LDS from Stoneman Douglas High School where chaplain in USAF, and held positions at major the Parkland shooting took place, and has metropolitan banks in New York and Georgia. therefore been involved in the aftermath of the He is now a consultant with senior executives tragedy both personally and professionally. at Fortune 100 companies. This presentation will give a first-person account of her experiences, as well as cover abstract More and more Mormons are deciding to jump off the “obedience” train and explore a new what to expect during a crisis from a mental faith journey. The initial freedom one feels is health perspective and the “do’s and don’ts” of intoxicating, but this new journey introduces what to say to someone who is going through many choices that can become very confusing! a traumatic event. Finally, she will cover the This session offers techniques for making those latest research on post-traumatic growth and focus on how to mend the tapestry.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 25 FRIDAY 27 JULY moderator MARK PETERSON version of Mormonism and develop negative attitudes toward other “threads.” But this moderator 200-B is not inevitable. Some insights from social psychology about how we perceive and understand difference can help us navigate 233. A TRANSFEMINIST CRITIQUE OF the complex Mormon tapestry with greater MORMON THEOLOGIES OF GENDER compassion and inclusivity. moderator ALISHA UPWALL presenter KELLI D. POTTER is an associate professor of philosophy and Associate Director of Religious room 200-D Studies at Utah Valley University. She was a founding member of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology. She has published articles in Faith and Philosophy, The International 235. RECONCILING THREADS OF Journal for Philosophy of Religion, and Dialogue: APOSTACY IN FAMILY HISTORY; A Journal of Mormon Thought. OR, WHO WAS EZRA STRONG? abstract This paper presents a transfeminist-standpoint presenter BEN COVERSTON is a security engineer for a epistemological critique of Mormonism’s bay area company. He is also an international theology of gender. Transfeminism attempts to speaker on the topic of distributed databases. address issues that arise from the intersection He is sometimes involved in the study of of sexism and cissexism. This standpoint Mormon history, but more often finds himself critique involves two steps: (i) a critique of the reading a books on early Christianity. dominant theological paradigm showing how it excludes the trans community and arises from abstract In 2015, FamilySearch notified me that my the arbitrary biases of those in positions of ancestor Ezra Strong was mentioned in the power in the church, and (ii) a presentation of Joseph Smith papers. As I traced his journey an alternative theological paradigm that starts that spanned from New England to Oregon, I saw from the position of trans women. that, although devout in his commitment to to the restoration, Ezra was loyal to no man—at least In order to illustrate how a transfeminist not for very long. This presentation will discuss interpretation of Mormon theology can emerge Ezra’s life, how I obtained his letters, and how they from within the tradition, this paper considers showed me both faith and apostasy in a different the documentary film directed by Torbern light. Bernhard entitled Transmormon that documents the coming out story of trans woman Eri moderator NIKKI MATTHEWS HUNTER Hayward, who also happens to be a Mormon from Utah. room 300-A moderator JOANNA SMITH 236. CAN ANY GOOD THING COME OUT room 200-C OF PROVO?—RESOURCES FOR LDS FAMILIES WITH LGBTQ KIDS
234. UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION presenter LISA TENSMEYER HANSEN is a licensed FOR OTHER THREADS IN OUR marriage and family therapist and clinical TAPESTRY: INSIGHTS FROM SOCIAL director of Flourish Counseling Services, PLLC. PSYCHOLOGY She is a doctoral candidate in marriage and family therapy at BYU. Lisa has been featured presenters PETER LEAVITT is a social psychologist and as the voice of mental health research on the visiting assistant professor of psychology at Mormon Matters podcasts. She specializes in Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. His research couple and family distress, including issues interests focus on cultural differences and of trust, power and emotion in relationships, intergroup contact. recovery from trauma, and religious conflicts with sexual orientation and gender identity. abstract There are many different “threads” in the Mormon tapestry—people who do Mormonism RANDY GLASSCOCK has been a social worker much differently than we do. When faced for over 25 years in Utah County. He has with them, we often succumb to normal worked with polygamist families on healthy psychological motivations to favor our own family dynamics and self-acceptance issues.
26 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM FRIDAY 27 JULY
During a 12-year period, he was a foster parent 238. OUR MINISTRY TO THE POOR: to over 30 young men. Randy is a founding JESUS’ LAST GREAT TEACHINGS board member and current president of the PFLAG Provo/Utah County chapter. presenters BOB REES teaches and directs Mormon Studies at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He JERILYN HASSELL POOL is a digital artist and writes a regular column for Sunstone, called print production specialist. She lives in Provo, “The Carpenter’s Union,” on Jesus in the Utah with her family where she works with the modern world. local LGBTQ community. abstract Jesus began his ministry by standing in his JORDAN SGRO has a BS in psychology, local synagogue and reading the following managed multiple research labs, and published scripture from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord a variety of manuscripts regarding relationship is upon me, because he hath anointed me to satisfaction, genetics, and health behaviors. preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me She is the chief program officer at Encircle to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance where her responsibilities include program to the captives, and … set at liberty them that development, implementation, and evaluation. are bruised.” Not only did this this proclamation establish a primary focus of Jesus’ ministry, it abstract If you thought Provo, Utah, was behind in was sealed by his last two great teachings, one offering competent LGBTQ+ resources, you found in the 25th Chapter of Matthew and the may be surprised at what kinds of savvy other in the 21st Chapter of John. This session services are available. Come find out what’s examines these two ultimate lessons and being offered. Come find out how you can offer considers their relevance for the contemporary something too. Church. moderator JAMES LARSEN moderator KRISTINA OLERGÅRD TENNEY room 300-B room 300-D
237. ILLUSTRATING JOSEPH SMITH: LUNCH BREAK, 12:30 PM–2:00 PM TYING TOGETHER NARRATIVE THREADS OF LOST MORMONISM See page 5 for dining options. Lunch is available at the Expo Center concession stands and Chile Verde. presenters MARK ELWOOD is an artist living in Atlanta, Georgia with a 10-year career as a concept artist in the technical sector before becoming a stay-at-home dad. He is currently working 242. SUNSTONE HYMN SINGALONG on The Glass Looker, a graphic novel portraying Joseph Smith Jr.’s money-digging adventures. presenter VICKIE EASTMAN is a frequent participant on Sunstone panels dealing with Mormon abstract Can the founding mythology of Mormonism culture. She has a BA in English from Stanford be presented in a way that is entertaining and University, and is a retired freelance executive acceptable to both the faithful and skeptic? In recruiter. this presentation, Elwood describes his journey as a comic book artist to do just that through ALAN EASTMAN is a chemist and principal an illustrated narrative. He will also display research scientist and co-founder of Green Fire some of his artwork and describe his creative Energy. He is also an award-winning pianist and process. hymn writer. moderator ROSELLE STEVENSON abstract This session honors the tradition of music and singing at Sunstone. The Eastmans are room 300-C a beloved part of the Sunstone community and will lead the Symposium congregation in singing some of the hymns of the restoration, with ALAN EASTMAN at the piano and VICKIE EASTMAN leading.
moderator VICKIE EASTMAN
room 200-A
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 27 FRIDAY 27 JULY
PLENARY SESSION, 2:00PM–3:30PM point, she attempted suicide with a handful of Ibuprofen pills. Eventually she escaped 251. WHY WE STAY the FLDS and started a ripple of change that opening song CoC #359 – “We Are One in the Spirit” would end end up taking down FLDS leader Warren Jeffs. After her liberation, she returned presenters SUSAN M. HINCKLEY is an artist/writer living to her community and now fosters change in Arizona who loves desert living, running, and empowerment among her people. This unanswerable questions, wind in her hair, and a presentation will discuss the lessons she’s bit of green chile in everything. learned about embracing an identity both within and without of her religious community. PHILIP MCLEMORE is a former LDS Institute director, Air Force chaplain, and hospice moderator PERRY PORTER chaplain. He is a meditation teacher who conducts seminars and oversees an online room 300-D program at meditatewithphil.com. DEBRA BONNER, after graduating from the University of Michigan with a master’s degree CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 3:45PM–4:45PM in vocal performance, married her sweetheart, 261. STORMY WEATHER: CHAOS THEORY Harry, served a Baptist mission in Liberia, West AND THE BOOK OF MORMON Africa for nearly two years, and then became an inner-city high school choir director. Debra has presenter BRIAN W. KASSENBROCK has an MA in trained with with the two top vocal pedagogues German literature from New York University; of the 20th Century for over 30 years, matriculation in modern literature, Medieval performed around the world, and has developed German and linguistics at the Bayerische her own vocal technique: DebraTone. Julius-Maximillians Universität Würzburg; and a PhD in German literature from New York UNITY GOSPEL CHOIR is a 40-member University, where his dissertation focused on traveling performance group whose main the early Romantic movement. purpose is to bring souls unto Christ. The gospel music they sing is heartfelt, bringing abstract The Romantic movement, contemporary with audiences to their feet—clapping, stomping and Joseph Smith, was fascinated by storms and swaying to the “joyful noise.” chaos—their spontaneous self-organization, complexity, destruction, and unpredictability. abstract This perennially well-received session features Similarly, the Book of Mormon makes much the stories of those who have chosen to remain use of chaos, with its many instances of active, dedicated Latter-day Saints even in the catastrophe, the reappearance of robbers and face of challenges to traditional faith. outlaws, its apparition of Jesus, and the twisted fates of its Nephites and Lamanites. Using closing song lds #97 – “Lead, Kindly Light” contemporary chaos theory, and following moderator DAN WOTHERSPOON The Book of Mormon’s many nonlinear roots, can reveal new insights into its message and room 200-A meaning.
moderator JON STONE
252. FREEDOM AND EMPOWERMENT room 200-A IN A NEW IDENTITY presenters ELISSA WALL is a former member of the FLDS Church who was forced into marriage at age 262. ARTIST TO APOSTATE, HOMEMAKER fourteen. She left the FLDS at age eighteen and TO HEATHEN; APPROACHES TO is currently living with her two children and her TRANSITIONING husband, Lamont. presenters CRAIG STAPLEY is a Deseret Book-published abstract Elissa was raised in the FLDS to believe that artist and worked for over 10 years as a contract marriage was the pinnacle of a woman’s illustrator for LDS Church periodicals. Since achievement. But by the age of 17, she had his faith transition, he now runs the ‘Stuff suffered four miscarriages and a stillborn child You Missed in Sunday School’ advocacy site, because of being routinely raped and sexually promoting transparency and dialogue within assaulted by her husband. At her lowest Mormonism. 28 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM FRIDAY 27 JULY
CRYSTAL BURRELL STAPLEY is lifelong LDS 264. TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION: LATE member from a large family in Thatcher, Arizona. NIGHT THOUGHTS ON THE 40TH Rocking the traditional Mormon mom motif, she ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIFTING OF was married at nineteen; has five kids; and is THE PRIESTHOOD AND TEMPLE BAN a pro baker, caker and quiltmaker. She will be going back to school in the fall. presenter BOB REES is visiting professor and Director of Mormon Studies at Graduate Theological Union abstract In November of 2015, Craig Stapley received an in Berkeley. He is a former editor of Dialogue, illustration contract for cover art in the Friend the former director of the Sunstone Board, and magazine. The problem was, in October of 2015, the co-founder and current vice-president of the he had lost his faith. But, not wanting to pass Liahona Children’s Foundation. up an opportunity (and feeding a little righteous frustration), he decided to test LDS leaders’ abstract Just as the Civil Rights Act of 1968 did not powers of discernment by inserting a hidden end racism in the United States, so the lifting message in the art. In this presentation, Craig of the priesthood and temple ban for blacks and Crystal Stapley discuss various approaches of African descent in 1978 did not end racism to advocacy. Quietly pushing for change from in the LDS Church. Even with the Official within or shouting from the rooftops—what’s the Declaration in 2012 and the publication of “Race most effective approach for change? and Priesthood” in 2013, racism in the Mormon church and culture continues as a significant moderator PERRY PORTER problem. While changes in policy have produced positive shifts, this paper argues that nothing room 200-B short of a formal truth and reconciliation commission undertaken by the Church will resolve the complex social, religious, and 263. THIS INSCRUTABLE THING CALLED spiritual issues surrounding the priesthood and REVELATION temple ban. presenters CHARLES HARRELL is a retired professor moderator DAVID OUTHIER of engineering and technology from BYU and founder and director of ProModel Corporation. room 200-D He has published doctrinal articles in BYU Studies, The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and Studies in the Scriptures. His most recent 265. MICHAEL-ADAM-GOD: FROM published work is entitled This is My Doctrine: DOCTRINE, TO THEORY, TO The Development of Mormon Theology. OBSCURITY, AND BACK AGAIN abstract If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why presenter DAVID PATRICK was brought up by his mother is revelation so unreliable and confusing? and step-father straddling mainstream LDS How can one have implicit faith in professed and fundamentalist LDS doctrines, giving him a revealed “truths” that may not always be true? unique experience in and passion for the origins How significant is the LDS claim of continuing of Mormon doctrine. After serving an LDS revelation, if it isn’t completely reliable? Are mission to Japan he found his way into Christ’s there satisfactory models for understanding and Church where he has served multiple callings in coming to terms with the seemingly inscrutable the temple, as a Seventy, and as a missionary. nature of revelation? abstract Joseph Smith, Jr. went against centuries of moderator PATRICK C MCCLEARY Christian teachings to proclaim that we can be like God, thus revealing the idea of plural Gods in the room 200-C cosmos, making room for Brigham Young to preach the so-called “Adam-God” theory. This belief in plural gods is now deeply embedded in the DNA of Mormon doctrine and separates us from nearly every other Christian faith. This session will explore the evidence of Michael as Adam our God, and why modern Mormons struggle to grasp the doctrine while the LDS church still maintains many of the doctrines that originated from it.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 29 FRIDAY 27 JULY moderator JENNIFER CROW abstract The lived Mormon faith is built around the individual, their family, and their connection to room 300-A their local ward or branch. But what happens to a person’s faith when they are physically cut off from both their family and ward? This 266. DESTROYING THEIR GOD: HOW I session examines the lives, struggles, and faith FOUGHT MY EVIL HALF-BROTHER TO journeys of a dozen members living in a Mesa, SAVE MY CHILDREN Arizona assisted living center, focusing on their wide range of spiritual and physical needs and presenter WALLACE JEFFS was born the thirtieth child how they modify the rituals of their faith (the of Rulon Jeffs, polygamous prophet of the sacrament, FHE, missionary & temple work) to Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of accommodate their living situation and create Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), and half-brother vibrant, new spiritual communities. to imprisoned FLDS prophet Warren Jeffs. Raised as a devout FLDS member, Wallace was moderator SUE BERGIN eventually excommunicated for defying Warren. room 300-C SHAUNA PACKER has been a professional corporate and freelance writer, researcher, and content editor for over twelve years. She 268. MEN AND PRIESTHOOD: is a multi-award-winning fiction and nonfiction MORMON MALE IDENTITY author, having been published in Angels to Bear You Up, Utah Voices: A Literary Annual, and presenter MARGARET TOSCANO is an associate Mother’s Messages in a Bottle. professor of classics & comparative studies at the University of Utah. She has published SHERRY TAYLOR has published her poetry in extensively on Mormon feminism and is a the National Library of Poetry’s book The Voice frequent presenter at the Sunstone Symposium. Within. She has three anecdotes published in the anthology Mormon Mishaps and Mischief: abstract How does priesthood connect to personal and Hilarious Stories for Saints. Sherry is the author group identity for LDS men? How does it factor of a young-adult fantasy series, The Ceramia in their church activity and attendance, or Trilogy. their gender and sexual identity? How crucial is priesthood ordination for Mormon boys as abstract On the day the FBI arrested FLDS prophet initiation into adulthood? How do men perceive Warren Jeffs for child rape, he was en route to equality and hierarchy in their priesthood claims Wallace Jeffs’ second wife for himself. experience? How does male priesthood relate to Wallace had defied the prophet and was soon a sense of personal and group authority? These the victim of a car crash he fears was caused and similar questions will be examined in this by FLDS sabotage—spending 45 days in a coma. session. Concerned for the thousands who still live under FLDS control, including some of his own moderator BERT FULLER children, Wallace continues to fight the FLDS. room 300-D moderator JOANNA SMITH room 300-B CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 5:00PM–6:30PM 271. ONE HEART ONE MIND: EVOLVING AN 267. A MODIFIED FAITH: MORMON LIFE IN INDIGENOUS MORMON MYSTICISM AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY presenters THOMAS MCCONKIE is an author, public presenters DAVID CRAMER was raised Lutheran but then speaker, and mindfulness teacher. He holds baptized into the LDS church in 2014—the a faculty position at Pacific Integral where day after his 30th birthday. As he navigates he teaches developmental psychology and his own way as a single, adult convert, he incorporates his nearly 20 years of experience finds himself drawn to serve, fellowship, and practicing mindfulness. He is the creator of the befriend the individuals and communities that acclaimed podcast, Mindfulness+ and has been can feel similarly out of place in the church. He featured on NPR, Religious News Service and graduated from the University of New Orleans RadioWest. in 2005 with a degree in history.
30 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM FRIDAY 27 JULY abstract From Jewish Kabbalah to Islamic Sufism to the 273. FOSTERING AND MAINTAINING more recent revival of Christian contemplation, HEALTHY BOUNDARIES WITHIN A the yearning for direct experience of God seems MORMON CONSTRUCT to be at the heart of the human journey. Latter- day Saints may naturally ask, will Mormonism presenter NATASHA HELFER PARKER, LCMFT, CST is bring forth its own meditative tradition in accord the owner and founder of Symmetry Solutions. with this pattern? Has that tradition already She has been in practice for over 20 years begun to manifest in subtle ways? Perhaps and works with adults and adolescents. She most intriguingly, what unique and distinctive specializes in mental health therapy, sex therapy gifts could a Mormon mysticism offer as legacy and sexuality concerns, family/couples services to the human family? Join us not just in a and faith transitions within spiritual journeys. spirited discussion of these matters, but in an embodied practice. LISA BUTTERWORTH is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in faith transitions, moderator RICK BENNETT mixed-faith marriage, and sexual concerns. She is the founder of Feminist Mormon Housewives room 200-A and likes to play nerdy board games with her husband and three kids.
SARA HUGHES-ZABAWA is a licensed clinical 272. HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: THE social worker (LCSW), wellness coach, and yoga ORIGINAL FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST instructor (LCSW) who specializes in treating trauma, depression, and anxiety. She often presenters JEFF SAVAGE has two accounting degrees from BYU and a graduate degree from the works with LGBT+ individuals and their families University of Illinois. He and his musical to foster acceptance and promote advocacy engineer wife have four kids, two dogs, two cats skills as well as individuals and couples and 14 chickens. They reside in the Bible Belt experiencing life transitions related to their where she homeschools their children and he faith. teaches stranger’s children at the University of JANA SPANGLER is an integral professional South Carolina. coach. She works with Symmetry Solutions CHRIS PARK was a wildland firefighter before specializing in faith transitions and their impact graduating from UVU paramedic school. He on identity, relationships, and spirituality. She is currently is enrolled in nursing school at is a student at The Living School under the Ameritech College and employed as an EMT at direction of Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, studying a residential youth care facility. He is married contemplative wisdom traditions. with two dogs. JENNIFER WHITE is a therapist who JARED LIVESEY is a seller of alarms. He and specializes in helping people with depression, his wife live in Bakersfield, California anxiety, sexuality concerns, trauma, and faith transitions/journeys. abstract The primary significance of the Book of Mormon is that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living SUE BERGIN is a life coach with Symmetry God, and that all humanity must come to him by Solutions. She also writes the Family Focus executing the law and commandments given in section for BYU Magazine and teaches writing the Sermon on the Mount. Today the Sermon is part-time in the BYU Marriott School of hidden in plain sight, obscured by economics, Business. traditions, and overfamiliarity. This panel seeks abstract This session brings together a panel of mental to explore topics around the Sermon, such as health professionals and wellness coaches from equality, institutions, families, religious worship, Symmetry Solutions, LLC to provide suggestions and missionary work. on creating healthy boundaries in a religious context. We’ll discuss common challenges many moderator CHERYL BRUNO of us face as we interact with a predominantly room 200-B patriarchal and authoritative religious structure: from simple things such as whether one feels it permissible to decline a calling, to more serious questions such as whether we should support children’s interviews behind closed doors where they are asked questions about their sexuality.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 31 FRIDAY 27 JULY moderator SUE BERGIN LORI LEVAR PIERCE has an MBA and teaches high school French, German, Latin and speech room 200-C and debate. She has had a profile at Ordain Women since its inception and serves on a long- term strategy committee. 274. COMMUNICATING ACROSS FAITH abstract This year marks the fifth anniversary of the AND BELIEF founding of Ordain Women. As the Ordain Women Executive Board, we are excited about presenters ANTHONY D. MILLER, MBA, MSFS, CFP® is a business owner and education enthusiast. what the future holds as we implement a new He traversed a faith crisis that began after organizational structure that emphasizes stumbling across the LDS Church History both individual and collective, local and global Gospel Topics Essays while searching for activism on women’s ordination and gender resources to support his adult gay son. Anthony equality in Mormonism. This panel will not frequently contributes to online support only draw on the past to inform a discussion groups about faith transition and blogs at of our initiatives going forward but will also unpackingambiguity.com. feature the thoughts and experiences of a number of those who share the common NICHOLAS R. STEWART has a masters of vision of a Mormonism that better reflects the urban planning from San Jose State. He grew radical inclusiveness of Christ’s message. up in the Mormon church, got married in the Los Angeles temple, and served served in four moderator NIKKI MATTHEWS HUNTER Elders Quorum presidencies. He is no longer an room 300-A active, believing member of the LDS Church. abstract This session is a discussion group focusing on how to engage with people whose faith/belief 276. BE ONE: REFLECTIONS ON THE 40TH is different than your own. It will have ample ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRIESTHOOD participation from the attendees, wherever they RESTORATION are on the spectrum of faith and belief, with the panelists mostly there to guide the conversation presenters MICA MCGRIGGS earned a Ph.D. in counseling and share insights. psychology from BYU and works as a post- doctoral fellow at Columbia University. moderator KALANI TONGA Her fellowship is focused on the somatic embodiment of the trauma of racism and room 200-D oppression. Her latest publications can be found in Teen Vogue, Decolonizing Mormonism, and Lift Where You Stand. 275. LOOKING BACK/LOOKING FORWARD: THE MANY VOICES OF ORDAIN abstract This panel of will reflect on the lifting of the WOMEN priesthood/temple ban while looking back on the history of race in Mormonism. It will also presenters BRYNDIS ROBERTS is the Chair of Ordain explore ways to move toward equity and true Women’s Executive Board. unity in Zion.
LORIE WINDER STROMBERG serves on the moderator AMANDA FARR Ordain Women Executive Board as chair of the Long-term Planning Committee. room 300-B
MARINA CAPELLA is a pediatrician at North County Health Services. 277. REDEFINING GOSPEL VOCABULARY APRIL YOUNG BENNETT is a member of the TO RESTORE FAITH IN CHRIST Exponent II Board. presenters NELSON WHITING is a commercial and MARGARET TOSCANO is a professor at the residential Realtor in Utah County and co-author University of Utah. (with Lacey Whiting) of The Apostasy of the LDS Church was Prophesied, But the End is Not Yet, for which they were both excommunicated in
32 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM FRIDAY 27 JULY
2017. They have a belief in a new restoration community’s beliefs regarding sexuality and through Denver Snuffer. marriage, even opposing her own husband or marriage itself. One would reject her female abstract Who or what is the ultimate authority when it identity completely. Another would magnify comes to defining gospel vocabulary? Dead her femaleness to the fullest extent possible. A prophets? Living prophets? Christ? The Holy third would reject polygamy and contribute to Ghost? Scripture? Self? Flipping a coin? In the fracturing of her church. the case of a contradiction, whose words take precedence? Many believers, in and out of the moderator JOE GEISNER so-called “Remnant Movement,” are returning to the scriptures to define important vocabulary room 300-D such as church, gospel, doctrine, faith, repentance, baptism, priesthood, salvation, and a host of terms previously misunderstood. DINNER BREAK, 6:30PM–8:00PM moderator STEPHANIE SHURTLIFF LISMAN See page 5 for dining options. Many Sunstone attendees are planning to eat at Crown Burger just west of the Expo Center. room 300-C
278. GENDER, RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY, PLENARY SESSION, 8:00 PM–9:30 PM AND THE ‘ELECT LADIES’: JEMIMA 291. OWN YOUR RELIGION WILKINSON, ANN LEE, AND EMMA SMITH opening coC #285 – For Everyone Born, A Place at the Table) presenters CLAIR BARRUS is a senior systems engineer for a large company in Utah, manages ‘Today presenter GREGORY PRINCE graduated from the in Mormon History,’ is published in the Journal University of California, Los Angeles with a of Mormon History, and has blogged at various D.D.S. (valedictorian) in 1973 and a Ph.D in sites, most recently at withoutend.org. He has pathology in 1975. After spending more than presented papers at the Sunstone Symposium, a decade at the National Institutes of Health Mormon History Association, and the John and Johns Hopkins University, he co-founded Whitmer Historical Society conferences. Virion Systems, Inc. (VSI) where he pioneered the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus MAXINE HANKS is a theologian and lecturer (RSV) disease (the primary cause of infant researching gender in religion. She has pneumonia). Synagis is currently given to authored or co-authored several books including approximately a quarter-million high-risk infants Women & Authority: Re-emerging Mormon throughout the world each year. Feminism, Mormon Faith in America, Getting Together With Yesterday, A History of Sanpete In 2009, Prince and his wife established the County, and was a contributor to Secrets of Mary Madison House Autism Foundation, named Magdalene, Religion in America, and Latter-day after their youngest son, who is autistic, for the Dissent. purpose of addressing issues facing adults with autism, along with those facing family members, JOSEPH GEISNER and his wife provide caregivers, and society at large. residential services for developmentally disabled adults. He has published in Sunstone, In the 2010s, Prince began to call for a better the John Whitmer Historical Journal, the Journal understanding in the LDS community of certain of Mormon History, and Irreantum. Joe is an avid causal relationships between biology and sexual book collector of the New Mormon History, and orientation. rare and collectible Mormon books. In recognition of his lifetime achievements, abstract Gender and authority shaped the roles played by Prince was inducted into the Dixie State Emma Smith, Ann Lee, and Jemima Wilkinson, College Hall of Fame in 1999, and in 2012 was each of whom profoundly affected her religious awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities community (1770s to 1840s). Each was called by the same institution. In 2013 he was named “Elect Lady” and held high positions of authority Alumnus of the Year by the UCLA School in her church. Each took issue with her of Dentistry, and in 2017 he was given the Distinguished Service Award by Utah State University.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 33 FRI/SAT 27/28 JULY abstract As PBS producer Helen Whitney was finishing SATURDAY 28 JULY her monumental 2007 documentary, The Mormons, she said to me, “I have interviewed REGISTRATION, 8:30 AM–9:00 PM hundreds of Mormons for this documentary. You have a good religion, but you need to Admission to sessions is by Symposium name badge or ticket own it. Most of its members are borrowing only. This policy will be strictly enforced. Badges and single- it.” Many—perhaps most—church members session tickets are available at the registration table in the treat membership as if it were a stamp on enter lobby of the Mountain America Expo Center. their passport, something potentially useful but largely consigned to sit on the shelf. While ownership of one’s religion is not a new concept, the Internet—which has democratized DOORBUSTERS FOR data and thus confronted often-unwitting church THE FIRST 100 ATTENDEES members with “inconvenient truth”—presents constant challenges to the faith of those who room MAIN CONCOURSE have failed to dig deeper—to “own” their religion. To own Mormonism, you must own its history, own its doctrine, own its reality, and own personal responsibility. 8:30 AM–9:00 PM opening “God be With You,” LDS #152 verse 1, CoC #664 302. SUNSTONE ART SHOW verses 2-3 See pages 10–11 for information. moderator LISA BUTTERWORTH room MAIN CONCOURSE room 200-A
DEVOTIONAL, 8:15 AM–8:45 AM 292. EVENING PRE-SHOWING OF BROTHER JAKE AND 301. AMAZING GRACE WEIRD ALMA ROAD SHOW presenter BOB REES teaches and directs Mormon Studies presenters JAKE FROST is the creator of the Brother Jake at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He YouTube series and occasional panelist on the writes a regular column for Sunstone called “The Infants on Thrones podcast. By day, he is a data Carpenter’s Union” on Jesus in the modern scientist for a small consulting firm. world.
ERIC HERMAN is a children’s music artist by abstract While official LDS doctrine includes an day, a parodist/humorist (aka Weird Alma) by understanding of grace as an unwarranted night, and a cryptozoologist by the middle of and unearned gift of God, in practice it tends the night (when he’s dreaming). His Mormon- to emphasis earning salvation. This devotional themed parodies can be found at WeirdAlma. explores the dimensions of Grace within both com Christian and Mormon doctrine and emphasizes the harmonization found in C.S. Lewis’s abstract This two-person road show will feature the observation that the dispute “does seem . . . like humor of Brother Jake and Weird Alma. asking which blade in a pair of scissors is most necessary.” moderator MINDY STRATFORD LIND moderator KRISTINA OLERGÅRD TENNEY room 300-C room 200-A
34 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY 28 JULY
CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 9:00AM–10:00AM abstract Marriage was a royal ceremony where the man and woman wore crowns because they were 311. MORMONISM AND royal citizens of the Kingdom of God and their THE TRADITION OF CHANGE marriage symbolized the future kingship reign of the Messiah on the New Earth. In the tradition presenter H. MICHAEL MARQUARDT is an independent of the early church, this sacred endowment historian, research consultant, and editorial view of marriage was maintained. The crowning board member of the John Whitmer Historical of marriage is a part of the Eastern church’s Association Journal. He is the compiler of Early sacramental practice to this very day and has its Patriarchal Blessings of The Church of Jesus ultimate fulfillment in the book of Revelation. Christ of Latter-day Saints; Later Patriarchal Blessings of The Church of Jesus Christ of moderator JOANNA SMITH Latter-day Saints; and co-author with William Shepard of Lost Apostles: Forgotten Members room 200-B of Mormonism’s Original Quorum of Twelve.
CLAIR BARRUS manages TodayInMormonHistory.com. He has presented 313. BREATHE...THEN PUSH! papers at Sunstone, the John Whitmer Historical Association, and the Mormon History presenters JODY ENGLAND HANSEN spent her life as an Association. He blogs at WithoutEnd.org, unpaid volunteer at church, which taught me to Mormon-Chronicles.blogspot.com, and Examiner. be an unpaid social activist at this crucial time. com. She is re-matriating to Utah since moving back to Salt Lake in 2016. Her favorite moment of abstract First Paper: “Change and Evolution in the day is seeing the view of Mt. Olympus each Mormonism,” by H. Michael Marquardt morning. This paper explains a variety of changes that abstract Valarie Kaur, a Sikh activist, gave a powerful occurred in the Mormon tradition, including speech asking “What if this darkness is not the some of the early revelations, summarizing darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the some of the more interesting changes. womb? What does the midwife say? Breath, and Understanding the changing historical record then push!” What if this time—when so much of opens a door to new modes of interpretations. what I see happening in my church, country, and world is shrouded in fear—is not the end? I will Second Paper: “Anti-Mormon Influence on the look at moments of darkness that have become ‘Rod of Nature’ Revelation,” by Clair Barrus rebirth, at a new activist movement where Mormon women are creating a new world, and invite all to The first anti-Mormon book emphasized Joseph see how we can go through this labor together. Smith’s treasure seeking activities in New York, causing Smith to modify a revelation moderator BRUCE VAN ORDEN by removing references to a divining rod. This presentation summarizes how this book room 300-A influenced the ‘rod of nature’ revelation (D&C 8) and details the origins of the Cowdery family’s use of a divining rod to receive revelations. 314. HEALTH IS A COVENANT moderator DAN CHRISTENSEN presenter SARAH E. FIRMAGE has a BA in psychology from the University of Utah and a masters room 200-A degree in traditional Chinese medicine from Five Branches University. She is also a certified yoga instructor and a faculty member of 312. THE CROWNING OF MARRIAGE—A Myotherapy College of Utah where she teaches CASE FOR MARRIAGE both Eastern and Western sciences. ENTHRONEMENT EDWIN B. FIRMAGE is grandson to Mormon presenter TOM ROBERTS has an MDiv and PhD from apostle Hugh B. Brown. He is emeritus Samuel Hellenic Orthodox University in Athens, Greece. D. Thurman Professor of Law at the University He is priest in the Old Catholic tradition and of Utah and author of multiple books including a frequent contributor to Mormon Matters and Zion in the Courts: A Legal History of the other LDS podcasts and shows.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 35 SATURDAY 28 JULY
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He of a female divinity. My paper is divided into has served with the United Nations on issues two sections addressing at least four pieces of human rights and ending nuclear arms of important historical evidence that show that proliferation. women were ordained as priestesses to God in Nauvoo; I will then employ mythic patterns to abstract All forms of healing must be protected, including disclose the hidden presence of the Goddess in legal protections to access the seeds and herbs the temple endowment ceremony. of Earth. One role of government is to guarantee these freedoms, prevent monopolistic control of moderator SARAH JOHNSON ENGLISH healthcare and make individually chosen health and wellness care a reality for all human beings. room 300-D Mormonism is a restorative tradition. Our sacred covenant with God is to restore health and agency to people and planet. CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 10:15AM–11:15AM moderator SPENCER LAKE 321. FROM TEMPLE TO TINDER: A JOURNEY THROUGH AND BEYOND room 300-B MORMONISM
presenters JEANNINE LUKE is a professional artist 315. COLORISM AND and instructor with work on exhibit as far THE BOOK OF MORMON away as Italy. She enjoys teaching and the transformative power of art. Her 32-year presenters RYAN MCKNIGHT is the founder of marriage produced five children (four free MormonLeaks.io and the Executive Director of spirits and an accountant), and she is now a The Truth and Transparency Foundation. He grandmother, independent, and living a life most has a Master’s degree in Accounting from UNLV women only dream of. and is a former Agent with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. abstract Mormonism prescribes a very specific lifestyle with a complete set of rules—especially for SAMY GALVEZ is a queer Guatemalan women. Navigating beyond the LDS tradition to immigrant, activist, and neuroscientist. As a a healthy life is tricky. Through trial and error, 2014 Point Scholar, he has particular interest in courage, persistence, and, most importantly, healthcare, queer theologies, and baked goods. connecting with my own intuition and inner wisdom, I feel I’ve been successful at this abstract How does the theme of race and color in the Book transition. This presentation will provide some of Mormon impact communities of color? This tools and inspiration for gaining a happy, session will explore how the discourse contributes authentic lifestyle beyond Mormonism. to colorism. moderator TERI VANCE moderator CRISTINA ROSSETTI room 200-A room 300-C
322. CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR 316. REDEEMING THE ENDOWMENT: THE AND CRITIC: WILLIAM BICKERTON: RETURN OF THE QUEEN FORGOTTEN LATTER DAY PROPHET presenter MARGARET TOSCANO is an associate presenter JOHN C. HAMER is a historian and mapmaker. professor of classics & comparative studies His research focuses primarily on the history at the University of Utah. She has published of the Latter Day Saint movement, and he extensively on Mormon feminism and is a is a leading expert on various schisms of frequent presenter at the Sunstone Symposium. Mormonism. He serves as a seventy in the Community of Christ and helps pastor its abstract In this presentation, I will address two Toronto congregation. fundamental problems that the endowment creates for women; first, that they are ordained as priestesses to their husbands rather than as priestesses to God and, second, that in the endowment there is missing the presentation
36 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY 28 JULY
DANIEL P. STONE is a PhD candidate studying 324. IF THE SHOE DOESN’T FIT...DO I American religious history at Manchester STILL HAVE TO WEAR IT? Metropolitan University (United Kingdom). He earned an MA and BA in history and has taught presenters CODY NOCONI is a certified permaculture at Florida Atlantic University and the University designer specializing in micoremmediation and of Detroit Mercy. He is also a deacon in the plant medicines. He is the researcher/host/ Church of Jesus Christ. producer of the Psilly Rabbits podcast which investigates the history of entheogen use and abstract Join John Hamer (critic) and Daniel Stone the current medical science surrounding the (author) for an in-depth conversation about field. the new book, William Bickerton: Forgotten Latter Day Prophet (Signature Books). This BRYCE BLANKENAGEL is full-time researcher, is the previously untold biography of William host, and producer of the Naked Mormonism Bickerton, founder of the third-largest Latter podcast. In its first year of production, Naked Day Saint denomination, known as the Church Mormonism won three Brodie awards. of Jesus Christ. From his origins in the early Mormon movement to his role as leader of his abstract Finding comfort in an ill-fitting religion has own denomination, Bickerton’s life mirrors been my lifelong challenge. My most important America’s broader religious history, with shift has been from thinking about stretching an emphasis on free-will, individualism, and the shoe rather than shrinking my foot. This determination to know God on a personal level. session tells the story of my realization and how I implemented it. moderator JON STONE moderator ALAN MOUNT room 200-B room 200-D
323. D&C, COVER TO COVER, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE 325. BORDERLANDS SESSION: HOW TO RESPOND TO TROUBLING CHURCH presenter BRYCE BLANKENAGEL is a full- PROGRAMS, PRACTICES, AND time researcher and contributor to POLICIES TheRealBookOfMormon.org, co-host of My Book of Mormon Podcast, and host/editor/producer presenters D. JEFF BURTON is the author of Sunstone’s of the Naked Mormonism Podcast. He is a fan of longest-running column, “Braving the history and can’t get enough of the 19th-century Borderlands.” He also authored For Those Who American variety. Wonder.
MARIE KENT grew up in a pastor’s family and STEPHEN CARTER is the director of is a podcast and history fanatic working in publications for the Sunstone Education the health care industry. What little spare time Foundation, editor of Moth and Rust: Mormon remains after caring for her two wonderful Encounters with Death, and author of Mormonism boys, Marie fills with extroverted socializing for Beginners. through knitting groups, weekly get-togethers, abstract Most LDS members encounter church and hosting/editing/producing her podcast, My programs, practices, and policies (PPPs) that Book of Mormon. bother them, e.g., the inability of non-temple- abstract A secular Mormon and non-Mormon teamed up recommend-holding parents to attend a child’s to read the Doctrine & Covenants cover to cover wedding, policies related to children of same- on a podcast, giving an insider’s and outsider’s sex couples, and practices related to the Word perspective on Mormon canon and history. What of Wisdom. This session will explore some of did they learn from this endeavor? the more troublesome PPPs and offer thoughts on what we can do to help influence appropriate moderator ANNA MOOY change—and how to make our lives more pleasant until such troubles have been resolved room 200-C (either in our minds or in the Church).
moderator JENNIFER CROW
room 300-A
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 37 SATURDAY 28 JULY
326. ENCIRCLE: FINDING COMMUNITY IN 328. INCORPORATING PROGRESSIVE UNEXPECTED PLACES POLYGAMY INTO MORMON COSMOLOGY presenters STEPHENIE LARSEN is the founder of Encircle LGBTQ Family Youth Resource Center. She was presenter BLAIRE OSTLER is a writer and philosopher, recognized at the 2017 Human Rights Campaign with a focus on queer theory. She is a board Awards and at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival member and former CEO of the Mormon and named one of 11 Upstanders by Starbucks Transhumanist Association. Coffee. She has appeared on the Today Show, and Encircle has been featured on NBC News JOSEPH WEST is a sociologist and father of and the Huffington Post. two. He lives in Tucson, Arizona where he is an active participant in the ETM (ethical non- JORDAN SGRO has a BS in psychology, monogamy) community. managed multiple research labs, and published a variety of manuscripts regarding relationship BRADY WILLIAMS is a former Mormon satisfaction, genetics, and health behaviors. fundamentalist and reality TV star. Brady and She is the chief program officer at Encircle his wives are featured on TLC’s My Five Wives. where her responsibilities include program development, implementation, and evaluation. abstract Have you ever considered the connections between the polygamous and polyamorous abstract Encircle, an LGBTQ+ Family & Youth Resource communities? What kind of connection can be Center, builds homes in conservative made between the queer and non-monogamous communities to create change and communities? Join Blaire Ostler, Brady conversations. It develops and implements data- Williams, and Joseph West as they explore these driven programs designed to foster connections questions and more to discover ways non- between our LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and monogamy intersects with the queer community the community. This presentation will discuss through a Mormon lens. the origins of Encircle, current evaluations of its work, and its future. moderator JONATHON ENGLISH room 300-D moderator ROY SCHMIDT room 300-B CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 11:30AM–12:30AM
327. ETERNAL GENDER: A GENETIC LOOK 331. FAITH DEVELOPMENT PRIMER: AN AT THE DOCTRINE OF SEX AND INTRODUCTION TO HOW AND WHY GENDER AS A BINARY OUR FAITH SHIFTS presenters BILL REEL is the founder of Mormon Discussion presenter CRYSTAL SCOTT is a embryologist who got her start at the University of Virginia. She works Inc., hosting podcasts such as Radio Free in the industry creating high-value babies and Mormon, Mormon Awakenings, and his own teaching genetics at Boise State University. podcast Mormon Discussion. Bill works to help folks with Mormon heritage navigate their faith abstract Mormon doctrine is based in the binary of sex transitions one episode at a time. and gender. This session will focus on the biology of sex and gender as we compare the abstract Faith development is simply a part of life. We sacred to the science. all start off at the ego-centric level as young children, then as we grow older, we eventually moderator DAVID OUTHIER reach the ethno-centric level. However, there are more stages beyond that, eventually leading room 300-C us to cosmic-centrism. This session presents a basic roadmap of these various stages.
moderator CHRIS BLOXHAM
room 200-A
38 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY 28 JULY
332. ALL OUR MORMON FAMILIES 333. WRITING THROUGH FAITH TRANSITION: EXPLORING YOUR presenter LASHAWN WILLIAMS is a divorced mother of UNIQUE THREAD three children under ten years old. She is a full- time faculty member, part-time time therapist, presenter ALLISON POND is an award-winning and lifelong member of the LDS Church. She journalist known for her coverage of still believes her family is eternal. vulnerable populations, including refugees. She previously worked as an editor of in-depth JIMMY REX has a masters degree from Arizona and investigative reporting at the Deseret State University and recieved an honorary News and as a research associate at the Pew doctorate degree from the Secretary of Research Center. Allison has an MPP from Education in Mexico for his work with Operation Georgetown University, a BA from Brigham Underground Railroad. He recently launched a Young University, and is a certified Journal to podcast called The Jimmy Rex Show where he the Self® Instructor. interviews interesting people from all over the state of Utah. abstract Research shows that when people put emotional upheavals into words, mental and physical JERILYN HASSELL POOL is a digital artist and health improve markedly. It also demonstrates print production specialist. She lives in Provo, that stories constructed when a person Utah with her family where she works with the was young or in the midst of trauma may be local LGBTQ community. insufficient later in life when new information is discovered or broader perspectives adopted. BRADY WILLIAMS is a former Mormon This workshop examines the role of narrative in Fundamentalist and reality TV star. Brady and faith transition and guides participants through his wives are featured on TLC’s My Five Wives. several writing exercises to articulate their own RICHARD OSTLER and his wife, Sheila evolving narratives and restore self-trust. Juergens, live in Salt Lake City. They are the moderator BEN COVERSTON parents of six children and two grandchildren. Richard’s education focused on business. He is room 200-C the owner of The Ostler Group. In addition to his LGBT ministry, he serves as a Salt Lake Temple ordinance worker. 334. NO HEALING WITHOUT LIBERATION: WESTON CLARK is a senior policy advisor to A CRITIQUE OF THE CHRIST OF Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson RESTORATION THEOLOGY part-time and a stay-at-home dad to two kids— ages seven and three—the rest of the time. He presenter JACOB BAKER has done graduate work in works on numerous community boards and philosophy of religion and theology at the chairs the Salt Lake Planning Commission. Claremont schools. He currently teaches Weston and his husband are raising their kids in philosophy at Utah Valley University. His writings Salt Lake City. have appeared in various Mormon venues and publications over the past several years. abstract This panel will discuss the ways different kinds of Mormons live and contextualize the LDS abstract The Christology of modern LDS Mormonism concept of “the family.” is vainly and disproportionately concerned with personal healing and wholeness (Christ moderator NATALIE SPERRY MANDELIN being cast as an advisor and therapist for the spiritually and materially wealthy) at the expense room 200-B of justice for those whom the “Kingdom of God” was originally meant to exalt. This presentation explores how healing and liberation were considered one and the same act by the Jesus of the New Testament. Religion still contains seeds of social and spiritual emancipation.
moderator CRISTINA ROSETTI
room 200-D
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 39 SATURDAY 28 JULY
335. POPULARIZING UTAH WOMEN’S to how our leadership is constructed, to what we HISTORY: CONNECTING THREADS think will happen in the Celestial Kingdom. FROM PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE moderator CHELSI BARNARD presenter JEN CHRISTENSEN is the legislative director for Better Days 2020. Her most recent efforts room 200-B include the #sendMartha campaign to place a statue of Dr. Martha Hughes Cannon in Washington D.C. and a “First to Vote” license 337. TRUMP VS. JESUS plate available in October 2018. presenter BILL RUSSELL is professor emeritus of KATHERINE KITTERMAN is the historical American history and government at Graceland director for Better Days 2020 and a Ph.D. University in Lamoni, Iowa. He is a past candidate in American history at American president of the Mormon History Association University. Her research analyzes the rhetoric and the John Whitmer Historical Association. of Mormon women’s struggle for suffrage He is widely published in Mormon Studies in nineteenth-century Utah, highlighting the including his most recent book, Homosexual connection between suffragists on the west and Saints: The Community of Christ Experience. east coasts. Above all, he is a proud Porter Rockwell Donor to Sunstone. NAOMI WATKINS is the director of education for Better Days 2020 and the co-founder of Aspiring Mormon Women, a non-profit that supports LDS women’s professional and educational endeavors. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Utah and developed abstract Conservative Evangelical Christian and Mormon utahwomenshistory.org—a Better Days 2020 voters helped Donald Trump win the White House. initiative. Were they voting according to the teachings of Jesus as found in the New Testament? abstract The year 2020 commemorates the 150th anniversary the Utah Territory extending to moderator SHANNON CALDWELL MONTEZ women the right to vote, the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, and the 55th anniversary of room 300-C the Voting Rights Act. Many people do not know the key role that Utah (and Mormons) played in this history, but Better Days 2020 is dedicated 338. THE PROBLEM IN THE MORMON to popularizing Utah women’s history through CHURCH IS SINGULAR: PATRIARCHY education, legislation, and art. Come (re)discover this history. presenter KAREN CRIST is on the executive board of Restore our Humanity, an initiative to bring moderator NIKKI MATTHEWS HUNTER the LDS Church into accountability for their treatment of sexual assaults. She started the room 300-A Mormon Women’s Forum close to 30 years ago.
abstract The marriage of patriarchy to religion was an 336. WHY PORNOGRAPHY IS ESSENTIAL unholy one, allowing patriarchy to become even TO MORMONISM more toxic and religion to become malicious, vindictive, and full of shame and fear. When presenter STEPHEN CARTER is the director of church leaders are faced with choosing something publications for the Sunstone Education Christlike or something patriarchal, they’ll choose Foundation, the editor of Moth and Rust: Mormon patriarchal every time, because—to them—they Encounters with Death, and author of Mormonism are the same thing. In reality, the the difference for Beginners. between the two could not be more pronounced. This session explores those differences. abstract Mormons preach passionately and frequently against pornography, warning each other against moderator JENNIFER CROW its destructive nature. However, Mormonism shares a basic tenent with pornography that room 300-D manifests itself in almost all our interactions, from the way we talk to each other in church hallways,
40 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY 28 JULY
LUNCH BREAK, 12:30PM–2:00PM CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 2:00PM–3:30PM See page 5 for dining options. 351. AUTHOR MEETS CRITICS: D. MICHAEL QUINN, THE MORMON HIERARCHY: WEALTH AND CORPORATE POWER 342. BROTHER JAKE AND WEIRD ALMA ROAD SHOW presenters JOE GEISNER is a Mormon history enthusiast who collects rare Mormon books. He has presenters JAKE FROST is the creator of the Brother Jake published in the Journal of Mormon History, YouTube series and occasional panelist on the Sunstone, John Whitmer Historical Association Infants on Thrones podcast. By day, he is a data Journal, and Irreantum. He has been a guest on scientist for a small consulting firm. podcasts such as Naked Mormonism and A Year ERIC HERMAN is a children’s music artist by of Polygamy. He and his wife own and operate day, a parodist/humorist (a.k.a. Weird Alma) by two care facilities for the disabled in Northern night, and a cryptozoologist by the middle of California. the night (when he’s dreaming). His Mormon- CRISTINA ROSETTI Is a doctoral candidate themed parodies can be found at WeirdAlma. in the Department of Religious Studies at the com. University of California, Riverside, with an emphasis on Mormonism and Spiritualism, and abstract This two-person road show will feature the humor of Brother Jake and Weird Alma. alternative forms of Mormon religious practice. In 2017 she was awarded the Mormon Studies moderator BERT FULLER Fellowship at the Tanner Humanities Center at the University of Utah. room CORRIDOR D. MICHAEL QUINN earned his PhD at Yale University in 1976 and taught American social history at BYU from 1976–88. His three-volume 343. ENCORE PRESENTATION: MORMON Mormon Hierarchy series includes Origins of FOOD STUDIES IN TRUMP’S Power (1994); Extensions of Power (1997); and AMERICA Wealth and Corporate Power (2017). In 2016, the Mormon History Association awarded him its presenter is a digital artist and JERILYN HASSELL POOL Leonard J. Arrington Award for distinguished print production specialist. She lives in Provo, and outstanding service to Mormon History. Utah with her family, where she works with the local LGBTQ community. abstract In 2017, D. Michael Quinn released his third and final installment in his Mormon Hierarchy abstract In the five years of food studies at Sunstone, series: Wealth and Corporate Power, published food trends have never been studied so by Signature Books. This volume examines vigorously and in-depth as they have in the both the personal wealth of church leaders last year. How has the election changed the and the finances of the institutional church. food patterns of Mormons? How many more The LDS Church brings in billions of dollars bags of Cheetos have been consumed in Utah annually in tithing donations as well as revenue County alone? And what about the food habits from business endeavors. The church spends of famous Mormons? Brace yourself, the much of its annual intake to maintain existing alternative facts are coming and they aren’t buildings, construct new ones, and support pretty. members in impoverished countries. In this moderator DOVIE ONICE EAGAR PETERSON session, panelists examine and respond to Quinn’s findings and conclusions. room 300-C moderator DAN WOTHERSPOON
room 200-A
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 41 SATURDAY 28 JULY
352. MORONI’S GOLD PLATES: 354. “THE CHOSEN SEED”: REEXAMINING WERE THEY REAL? MORMON CONCEPTIONS OF RACE AND LINEAGE FORTY YEARS AFTER presenters BILL REEL is the founder of Mormon Discussion OFFICIAL DECLARATION 2 Inc. and hosts podcasts such as Radio Free Mormon, Mormon Awakenings, and Mormon presenters MATT HARRIS is a professor of history at Discussion. Bill works to help folks with Colorado State University-Pueblo. Mormon heritage navigate their faith transitions one episode at a time. STIRLING ADAMS is an independent scholar and attorney. abstract Much of Mormonism’s claim to truth hinges on whether there were real metal plates, golden in NEWELL BRINGHURST is a professor emeritus color, written upon by ancient Americans who of history at the College of Sequoias. came from the Holy Land. This session takes a historical dive into what witnesses said about the abstract This session explores the concepts of race and plates, which data points stand out, and whether lineage—especially that of African Americans— claims the Joseph Smith fabricated the plates have through the lens of LDS Church manuals and any evidence. patriarchal blessings. The analysis utilizes never-before-seen documents from the Quorum moderator CHRIS BLOXHAM of the Twelve and First Presidency. room 200-B moderator KALANI TONGA
room 200-D 353. AUTHOR MEETS CRITIC: THE PLURAL MARRIAGE REVELATION 355. SEEKING THE SPIRIT: presenters BILL SMITH is the author of Textual Studies SUPPLEMENTING SPIRITUAL of the Doctrine and Covenants: The Plural PRACTICES Marriage Revelation. presenters KELLY RHEES has been teaching Anusara Yoga BRIAN C. HALES is the author or co-author of and multiple supplemental trainings in various seven books dealing with Mormon polygamy— teaching styles for six years. She has a BS in most notably the three-volume, Joseph Smith’s business administration and a BS in marketing Polygamy: History and Theology (Greg Kofford from the University of Utah. Books, 2013). His Modern Polygamy and Mormon Fundamentalism: The Generations MAXINE HANKS is a Mormon feminist after the Manifesto received the “Best Book of theologian who compiled and edited the book 2007 Award” from the John Whitmer Historical Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Association. Feminism (1992). She was excommunicated on September 19 (along with fellow contributor D. LINDSAY HANSEN PARK is host of the Year of Michael Quinn). In February 2012, Hanks was Polygamy podcast and executive director of the rebaptized into the LDS Church. Sunstone Education Foundation. THOMAS MCCONKIE is an author, public ANDREW HAMILTON is a Mormon book speaker, and mindfulness teacher. He holds reviewer and all around nice guy. a faculty position at Pacific Integral where he teaches developmental psychology and abstract Author meets critic panel discussing Textual incorporates his nearly 20 years of experience Studies of the Doctrine and Covenants: The practicing mindfulness. He is the creator of the Plural Marriage Revelation by Bill Smith. This acclaimed podcast, Mindfulness+ and has been book analyzes the history of Section 132 by featured on NPR, Religious News Service and analyzing each verse, placing it in its historical RadioWest. context, and showing the lasting effects of the plural marriage revelation on Mormonism. abstract Many Mormons seek ways to supplement their spiritual and religious practices outside the walls moderator BRIAN WHITNEY of the chapel. This panel will explore a variety of ways different Mormons have sought to increase room 200-C a connection with the Divine.
42 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY 28 JULY moderator ALISHA UPWALL moderator BOB REES room 300-A room 300-B
356. RADIANT MORMONISM: 357. HAPPILY EVER AFTER: LESSONS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FROM MIXED-FAITH MARRIAGES INFLUENCE OF MORMONISM IN TODAY’S WORLD presenters MALLORY THALMAN left the LDS Church five years ago while her husband remains faithful. presenters BOB REES teaches and directs Mormon Studies With their three children, they have been at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He working to come together as a family with their writes a regular column for Sunstone called “The different levels of faith, after finding their way Carpenter’s Union” on Jesus in the modern back from the brink of divorce. world. SCOTTY THALMAN is a 32-year-old security ERIKA MUNSON has a BA in fine arts from professional and ABM whose wife left the Harvard College. She is an English teacher and Church a few years ago. librarian at Waterford School in Sandy, Utah. In 2012 she co-founded Mormons Building Bridges, ANTHONY D. MILLER, MBA, MSFS, CFP® is a community dedicated to making Latter-day a business owner and education enthusiast. Saint homes, congregations, and communities He traversed a faith crisis that began after safe and welcoming for LGBTQ people. She stumbling across the LDS Church History recently became a Utah organizer for Better Gospel Topics Essays while searching for Angels, a citizens movement to decrease political resources to support his adult gay son. Anthony polarization. frequently contributes to online support groups about faith transition and blogs at GRETHE BALLIF PETERSON has a BA in history unpackingambiguity.com. from Brigham Young University and did graduate study at Radcliffe College. While raising her three NICHOLAS R. STEWART has a masters of children in Cambridge, Massachusetts she was urban planning from San Jose State. He grew a founding mother of Exponent II. When she and up in the Mormon church, got married in the her family returned to Utah in the late 70s she Los Angeles temple, and served served in four founded Women Concerned About Nuclear War Elders Quorum presidencies. He is no longer an and helped create the first Children’s Justice active, believing member of the LDS Church. Center in Utah. In 1994 Grethe had a brief but exciting campaign for the U.S. Senate, running against Orrin Hatch. She has 13 grandchildren abstract How does your relationship with the church and 3 great grandchildren. effect your relationship with your spouse? This JAY GRIFFITH manages two monthly discussion session presents stories and strategies for groups, FaithAgain and ThinkAgain. He also making mixed-faith marriages work from people serves on the Utah Village Square and Living who are in them. Room Conversation teams. He assists African moderator SARAH JOHNSON ENGLISH refugees through an LDS Branch. By profession, he is a designer/art director. By avocation he room 300-C mindfully runs in the mountains. He and his wife, Jane, live in Millcreek, Utah and enjoy three grown children, their spouses, and one granddaughter. 358. #MORMONMETOO: HEALING THE CHURCH AND STRENGTHENING OUR abstract In his essay “Radiant Mormonism,” Richard COMMUNITY Bushman argues that Latter-day Saints have a disproportionate influence for good in the world. presenter CHRISTINE BURTON is a wife, mother, He cites examples in scholarship, education, grandmother, and clinical hypnotherapist philanthropy, politics, humanitarian service, specializing in stress management. She is a and the arts, but feels the influence is much religious abuse and trauma survivor. broader. This session begins a series of annual created protectldschilden.org to interviews with Latter-day Saints who are part SAM YOUNG collect stories of damage done to LDS minors of this radiance.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 43 SATURDAY 28 JULY
by worthiness interviews. He organized March addressing this issue. The promise of the For the Children to deliver books containing Millennium is that it will be a time of peace, more than 500 of these stories to LDS Church freedom, and opportunity for all people living on headquarters. the earth.
LESLEY BUTTERFIELD is a registered nurse, moderator BLAIR WHITE writer, activist, and abuse survivor advocate. She is the creator of UnrighteousDominion. room 200-A org, a platform for survivors of spiritual abuse within the Mormon community to safely and anonymously share their stories. She is known 362. THE CHURCH OF THE FATHER AND for her op-ed, entitled, “Open Letter to the LDS THE CHURCH OF THE SON: ROSS Patriarchy,” published in the Salt Lake Tribune. LEBARON AND THE CHURCH OF THE DANNA HARTLINE, the Mormon Trauma Mama, FIRST-BORN promotes LDS Church trauma awareness and presenter ANTONIO TREVISAN is a translator from Brazil, healing through her website, live presentations, currently based in Ephraim, Utah. He served an and Facebook support group. She is the LDS mission in Japan and is currently the vice- organizer of the “When Church Hurts” initiative president of Abem (Brazilian Mormon Studies that is committed to finding effective methods Association). for religious trauma prevention, recovery, and LDS cultural change. abstract A religious innovator within the Mormon tradition, Ross Wesley LeBaron (1914-1996) NICOLE LEIFSON-JENSEN is an abuse organized The Church of the First-Born (sic) survivor, advocate, and activist in the in 1955. LeBaron saw his small organization #mormonmetoo movement. She has worked as being the Church of God the Father, while with hundreds of survivors within the church to recognizing the priesthood authority of help them see how the gospel of Jesus Christ mainstream LDS Church and recognizing the condemns abuse and supports severing family various groups in the Mormon Fundamentalist ties if other means of protection are ineffective. movement as branches of the Church of the Son. LeBaron also reinterpreted the Mormon concept abstract This panel will explain the culture of handling abuse in the Mormon community. of dispensations as never-ending spiritual jurisdictions, adding his own eighth dispensation moderator DANIEL WEBB which would usher the second coming of Adam. room 300-D moderator NATALIE SPERRY MANDELIN
room 200-B
CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 3:45PM–4:45PM 361. THE GREAT DAY OF THE LORD: THE 363. A NATIVE PERSPECTIVE ON IMPORTANCE OF THE MILLENNIUN IN PIONEER DAY: PIONEER TRAUMA SALVATION presenter FORREST CUCH was born and raised on the presenters JANICE ALLRED is an independent scholar Uintah and Ouray Ute Indian Reservation in who speaks and writes on theological topics. northeastern Utah. Since October 1997 he has She is the author of God the Mother and Other been director of the Utah Division of Indian Theological Essays. Affairs. He’s the editor of the book History of Utah’s American Indians. abstract One of the main obstacles to faith in God is the problem of evil. How could a just and loving abstract This session includes a presentation and God create a world in which so much evil dialogue regarding the impact of Mormon exists? Clearly there are great inequities among settlement on the native population. The people, and many people have little opportunity presentation will focus on misinformation to develop the characteristics required to and trauma as it applies to native people and live in the kingdom of God. Understanding Mormon people alike. Misinformation has the importance of the Millennium in the plan resulted in denial which has contributed to of salvation gives us important insights in confusion and disillusionment among both
44 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY 28 JULY
native and Mormon people. This denial has also moderator CHERYL BRUNO been used by the patriarchy to create a new story-line—or a new order—based on the values room 300-A of the patriarchy. Presenter and attendees will discuss the possible outcomes of this new order and its ramifications for the entire nation. 366. GAINING PERSPECTIVE DURING THE MORMON #METOO MOVEMENT moderator JO OVERTON presenter MATT LONG is an attorney in Arizona who room 200-C specializes in representing individuals affected by sexual abuse. He has represented and currently represents Mormon suspects, 364. EX-MORMONISM AND THE ALT- defendants, victims, and bishops. RIGHT: A COMPARISON OF COUNTER-CULTURE MOVEMENTS abstract Matt Long discusses what he’s learned about the LDS Church’s response to the Mormon #metoo presenter JOHN LARSEN holds a BA in linguistics from movement after representing defendants, BYU and a MBA from WSU. He is the former victims, family members, and bishops affected host of the Mormon Expression Podcast. John is by sexual abuse in the Mormon context. He will a employed at the University of Utah. He writes also discuss the Church’s sexual abuse policies and podcasts occasionally at Johnlarsen.org. and what changes are likely or unlikely to occur He lives in SLC with his four children and step and why. children and is married to Kimi Mayo. moderator ROY SCHMIDT abstract Recent years have seen the rise of online communities that unite a disaffected group room 300-B whose shared identity is formed around counter culture. Ex-Mormons and the Alt-Right are two of these groups. We will look at their 367. MORMONS AND DEATH: READINGS methods, tactics and sub-cultures to see what FROM MOTH AND RUST comparisons and conclusions can be made. presenter STEPHEN CARTER is the director of moderator LLOYD ELDREDGE publications for the Sunstone Education Foundation, editor of Moth and Rust: Mormon room 200-D Encounters with Death, and author of Mormonism for Beginners. 365. NEW LIGHT ON THE NATURE OF THE BRIAN STUY is the editor of Collected COUNCIL OF FIFTY AND JOSEPH Discourses, and numerous historical articles in SMITH’S “LAST CHARGE” Sunstone, Dialogue, and the Journal of Mormon History. He is the father of three amazing presenter JACOB VIDRINE is a student, independent daughters and is married to Longlan Stuy. historian, and researcher. JERILYN HASSELL POOL lives in Provo, Utah. abstract While traditionally understood to be a political She is a freelance graphic designer and the organization, a variety of sources in the founder of QueerMeals, a nonprofit that feeds aftermath of the Succession Crisis indicate that and provides a safe space for LGBTQ people the Council of Fifty was to be a new governing in Provo. She is married to Jeffery Pool and priesthood body – Kings and Priests – holding together they have four children. She likes priesthood authority that “no tribunal in the candle salads, punching up at power structures, church could control.” Though new evidence telling jokes, and Provo. has come to light in the Nauvoo-era Council of Fifty minutes, released in 2016, the question JOHN HATCH is an editor at Signature Books. still remains: What event or actions caused this He earned a BA in history from the University belief to arise among almost every breakoff of of Utah and is the editor of Danish Apostle: The Nauvoo Mormonism? This presentation explores Diaries of Anton H. Lund, 1890–1921. He has new evidence, and gives a possible explanation published in the Journal of Mormon History for this historical mystery. and Sunstone. He is currently researching a biography of Lorenzo Snow.
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 45 SATURDAY 28 JULY abstract Sunstone editor Stephen Carter has assembled a 372. MILLENNIAL MORMONS: POINTING book of forty-six essays discussing death from THE WAY TO CHANGE IN THE LDS a Mormon perspective. Four of the essayists CHURCH will join this panel to present a thoughtful discussion on what is often a taboo topic. presenters JANA RIESS is a senior columnist for Religion News Service, where she writes moderator STEPHEN CARTER about Mormonism, politics, popular culture, and spirituality. She has a PhD in American room 300-C religious history from Columbia University and is the author of numerous books, including The Next Mormons: Millennials and the Future of CONCURRENT SESSIONS, 5:00PM–6:30PM the LDS Church. She is a ward Relief Society teacher and stake self-reliance facilitator. 371. COMMUNITY OF CHRIST TRANSITION: FROM WHO WE WERE ANNABEL JENSEN is an LDS transgender TO WHO WE ARE woman who has spent her adult life trying to bring about lasting change in her community presenter KARIN FRANKLIN PETER is a coffee-dependent through service, awareness, and activism, with bibliophile, a once-a-year baker, an arts- a focus on keeping families together. In 2015 at and-crafts dabbler, and a Liturgical Calendar age 26, she was diagnosed with terminal brain nerd. She lives in Olympia, Washington with cancer. her spouse, Ray, and their multi-level blended family. Karin is a Community of Christ minister GLORIA PAK is a first-generation Korean and serves on the Council of Presidents of American and freelance graphic designer and Seventy. illustrator based in Salt Lake City. She is also the creative director of the Lower Lights School LACHLAN MACKAY is a member of the Council of Wisdom. She lives with her husband and of Twelve Apostles in Community of Christ, collaborator, Thomas McConkie, and their pup, assigned to the Northeast USA Mission Field. Luna. He also serves as Historic Sites director and Church History and Sacred Story Ministries abstract Millennials are more likely than older Mormons Team lead. He co-authored A Time of Transition: to support LGBT rights, drink a little coffee now The Kirtland Temple, 1838–1880. and then, and say they’re bothered by women not holding the priesthood. Most are also NANCY ROSS is a faculty member in the strong believers, with the highest missionary Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Department service rates of any generation and a deep at Dixie State University, where she has been commitment to serving their neighbors. Riess teaching for 11 years. Her PhD is in art history has gathered all this data into the book The Next but she moonlights as a sociologist of religion. Mormons. She will present some of her data in She recently co-edited a book with Sara K.S. this session, while two of the Millennials she Hanks titled Where We Must Stand: Ten Years of interviewed respond to the chapters that feature Feminist Mormon Housewives. their stories, offering their observations about gender identity, missionary service, and why so abstract Ever wonder how Community of Christ got from many people are leaving the Church. its 1844 Nauvoo, Illinois roots to the progressive international world church it is today? This moderator BRUCE VAN ORDEN session will provide a multifaceted overview of the mission, history, context, culture, scripture, room 200-B identity, and beliefs of this Restoration people in the 21st Century. 373. REDEEMING THE ENDOWMENT: A moderator KRISTINA OLERGÅRD TENNEY CHRISTOLOGICAL EXEGESIS room 200-A presenter PAUL TOSCANO is a consumer bankruptcy lawyer practicing in Salt Lake City. Some of his books available through Amazon include The Serpent and the Dove: Messianic Mysteries of the Mormon Temple, The Sabbath of Death, and The Sacrament of Doubt.
46 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY 28 JULY abstract The purpose of this presentation is to provide 375. AFFINITY FRAUD IN MORMONISM a cogent, coherent, and internally consistent interpretation of the Mormon temple endowment presenters RYAN MCKNIGHT is the founder of ceremony as a Christian sacrament while MormonLeaks.io and executive director of The avoiding its rejection either as a mere fiction Truth and Transparency Foundation. He has a plagiarized from Royal Arch Masonry or as master’s degree in accounting from UNLV and is a random cluster of symbols open to private a former agent with the Nevada Gaming Control interpretation by free-association. The Board. presentation focuses on the Gods of the temple, the temple rituals, and their relationship to the ALYSON DRAPER is the founder Christ myth. abstract This panel will explore what factors Make moderator SARA LAKE Mormons particularly vulnerable to affinity fraud. room 200-C moderator MICA MCGRIGGS
room 300-A 374. RACE AND MORMONISM: A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION presenters NEWELL G. BRINGHURST is a professor 376. NAVIGATING AND STRENGTHENING A Eemeritus of history and political science at MIXED-FAITH MARRIAGE the College of the Sequoias. He is the author presenters SARA HUGHES-ZABAWA is a licensed clinical of Brigham Young and the Expanding American social worker (LCSW), wellness coach, and yoga Frontier, and Fawn McKay Brodie: A Biographer’s instructor (LCSW) who specializes in treating Life, and co-editor of numerous titles, including trauma, depression, and anxiety. She often Black and Mormon, and The Mormon Church and works with LGBT+ individuals and their families Blacks: A Documentary History. to foster acceptance and advocacy skills as well LASHAWN WILLIAMS is a divorced mother of as individuals and couples experiencing life three children under ten years old. She is a full- transitions related to their faith. time faculty member, part-time time therapist, ANTHONY D. MILLER, MBA, MSFS, CFP® is and lifelong member of the LDS Church. a business owner and education enthusiast. DEVERY S. ANDERSON is marketing manager He traversed a Faith Crisis that began after at Signature Books. He has published several stumbling across the LDS Church History books and articles on Mormon history and has a Gospel Topics Essays while searching for passion for the American civil rights movement. resources to support his adult gay son. His acclaimed book Emmett Till: The Murder That Anthony frequently contributes to online Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights support groups about faith transition and blogs Movement was released by the University Press at unpackingambiguity.com. of Mississippi in August 2015. JANA SPANGLER is an integral professional DARRON SMITH is an African American coach. She works with Symmetry Solutions scholar, author, and blogger, his research and specializing in faith transitions and their impact writing focusing on injustices impacting African on identity, relationships, and spirituality. She Americans and other marginalized groups. He is a student at The Living School under the studies the impact of race on US health care, direction of Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, studying the practice of white parents adopting black and contemplative wisdom traditions. biracial children, religion, sports, and politics. abstract As more Mormons experience faith transitions and abstract This session presents a roundtable discussion on faith awakenings many couples find themselves the LDS Church’s former race-based restrictions, unexpectedly in mixed-faith marriages. This the fortieth anniversary of the revelation on session presents both personal and professional priesthood, the “Be One” event, and the recent insights into honoring both the challenges and satire/hoax apology scandal. benefits of differing beliefs in a marriage. We will highlight the gifts associated with individualization moderator BRIAN WHITNEY and fostering mutual respect for each person’s spiritual journey. We will offer suggestions for room 200-D
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 47 SATURDAY 28 JULY
reducing conflict, improving communication, and 378. THE RESTORATION’S SHATTERED strengthening a couple’s emotional connection and PROMISES AND GREAT HOPE intimacy. presenters DENVER SNUFFER, JR. was an active member moderator JONATHON ENGLISH of the LDS church for 40 years until he was excommunicated in September 2013 on the 40th room 300-B anniversary of his original baptism date.
abstract This session presents a candid assessment of 377. WHAT MORMONS CAN LEARN the trajectory taken by the Restoration during FROM . . . Joseph Smith’s lifetime and following his demise. The landscape of current restorationist factions presenters BOB REES is the Director of Mormon Studies at will be considered. Our present disappointments Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. will be considered against the background of hope to be found in the blueprint of the future CLIFTON HOLT JOLLEY is known in Utah as a presented in the Book of Mormon and Joseph newspaper columnist and host of PBS’s Civic Smith’s teachings. Dialogue; he has been published in the New York Times, Dialogue, Sunstone, Western Folklore, and moderator NATALIE SPERRY MANDELIN other venues. His two PBS documentaries were nominated for Emmys. room 300-D
PHIL BARLOW is a Harvard-trained scholar who specializes in American religious history, LINGER LONGER PICNIC, 7:00-9:30 PM religious geography, and Mormonism. In 2007 he became the country’s first full-time professor of The picnic requires a separate registration fee of $35, either pre- Mormon studies at a secular university, having purchased online or on-site, to cover the cost of the meal. This been appointed as the Leonard J. Arrington Chair will also cover admission into the session. of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University. If you didn’t purchase a dinner ticket in advance, ask about JO OVERTON is an enrolled member of the availability at the Symposium registration desk. Rosebud Sioux Tribe. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work and is passionate advocate for the marginalized. Her 11 grandchildren are her deepest joy and she happily spends a lot of time 391. LOVELOUDLAUGHTER planning activities to pass on the ways of her presenters ROBERT KIRBY was raised in a military people to the next generation. family. Then, following an LDS mission to South America, he became a police officer. abstract As a New-World, restorationist religious After eleven years, he left law enforcement to movement, Mormonism has much to teach the world, but it also has much to learn from pursue the idiotic notion of becoming a writer. teachers, prophets, visionaries, artists, scientists, Robert has been the Salt Lake Tribune’s” fool movers, and shakers from other traditions. This in residence since 1994. His culture column session includes seminal lessons for Latter-day appears every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, Saints from the world’s great teachers, texts, where it is closely followed by church and world traditions, and creative expressions. leaders. He is the author of ten books, most recently The Essential Kirby Canon. The recipient moderator RICK BENNETT of a number of literary awards, Kirby is most proud of being named grand marshal of the room 300-C 2010 Green River Melon Days Parade. He lives in Herriman, Utah with one wife, three married daughters, and nine grandkids. GINA COLVIN is a research fellow at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand with an interest in cultural and post- colonial studies. She is an international editor for Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
48 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM SATURDAY 28 JULY
COURTNEY CLARK KENDRICK (C. Jane SUNDAY 29 JULY Kendrick) is a writer, blogger, columnist, speaker, and community advocate. For twelve years she has cultivated her award-winning The Community of Christ will hold a post-Symposium Sunday blog CJaneKendrick.com where she writes service on Sunday 29 July at its Salt Lake City chapel. personal essays on a wide range of topics. As a lifetime resident of Provo, Utah, she 10:00 am: Sunday School for all ages — adult class taught by co-founded, produced, and hosted downtown President of Seventy Karin Franklin Peter on the topic Scrip- Provo’s Rooftop Concert Series, as well as the tures in Community of Christ annual celebration of Provo Women’s Day. She’s a former columnist for the Deseret News, and 11:00 am: Worship with Sacrament of Communion. Sermon by has recently been featured on NY Magazine’s Apostle Robin Linkhart. The Cut and Scott’s Simon’s Weekend Edition on NPR. After three years as the civic outreach 12:00 pm: Community lunch. All are welcome. advisor for the Provo City Mayor’s Office, Courtney left to pursue campaign strategy The Salt Lake City Community of Christ chapel is located at and communications consultancy. She lives 2747 Craig Drive (2747 East 3640 South) Salt Lake City, UT, in Provo’s Tree Street community with her 84109. husband Christopher and four children. Directions from the Exposition Center: ANGELA SOFFE is a recording artist, songwriter, performer, composer, pianist, Get on I-15 N from State St and W 9000 S 5 min (1.7 mi) and mother from Yakima, Washington. Her musical sensibility includes an amalgam of folk, Take I-215 E/Belt Route to Wasatch Blvd. Take exit 4 from bluegrass, and touches of new age and classical I-215 E/Belt Route 10 min (11.3 mi) music. She uses the spoken word and music to share her story of recovery, focusing on female Take 3900 S to E Craig Dr in East Millcreek empowerment and establishing healthy mental health habits to create a life of purpose and joy. During her first music career, she recorded albums, toured the US, and earned local radio spins and prime synch placements in religious movies and documentaries. Her latest album documents the many stages of an awakening, including the difficult consequences of making life changes. The album sits nicely alongside works by Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Natalie Merchant, Mat Kearney, and Ben Rector. DAVID OWENS has been playing music for more than two-thirds of his life. Trained in jazz and classical guitar at Central Washington University, David has brought his talents into the bluegrass/folk arena and currently performs as a solo artist and in various groups around the Northwest. abstract Every year, the Sunstone symposium ends with a closing dinner called a “linger-longer.” Tickets are $35 per person. Space is limited. moderator LINDSAY HANSEN PARK room MAIN CONCOURSE
SUBSCRIBE AT SUNSTONE.ORG | 49 50 | SUNSTONE 2018 | SUMMER SYMPOSIUM