In 2013, the Church began posting a series of essays on LDS.org on various Gospel Topics as a way to more fully explore aspects of Church history and cultural issues. Panelists will explore what impact these essays are having. What role do these documents serve? Who is their intended audience and are they reaching it? …
Event: Kirtland Symposium 2014
Devotional,
Session did not record Russ Osmond
Looking Past the Prophet to Re-envision Early Mormon History
Since 1948, when Fawn Brodie’s No Man Knows My History made Joseph Smith’s story the central element in academic accounts of Mormon beginnings, both LDS and non-Mormon authors have described LDS beginnings as a new religious movement (NRM) with a charismatic leader. In this address, Jan Shipps will return to the Kirtland part of the …
Development of Dissent in the Quorum of Apostles in Kirtland
This presentation will examine the success of the early Mormon missionary efforts from Kirtland and the dedicated efforts which qualified twelve men to be called to serve as the first twelve apostles in the Mormon Church. The conflicting jurisdiction of the apostles and the high council will be examined along with early attacks on the …
Being Color Blind to Faith: Which Died First…Organic Religion or
My “faith” is almost never “your faith” and that is normal: it is equal to what Hegel called the “thesis.” The Hegelian “anti-thesis” is the source of the conflict that drives folks in all faiths into what in the LDS world is sometimes referred to as “the Borderlands.” But, as Hegel declares, there is a …
Mormons, Unitarians, the Community of Christ, and Intern
Jessica Kimball spent her first summer away from her Utah home as a history intern for the Community of Christ in historic Nauvoo, Illinois. Self-identifying as a Unitarian, spending a whole summer living in a historic home, offering tours to mostly Utah Mormons through the Joseph Smith family properties and the Red Brick Store was …
Tending The Garden of Endin; or, My Secret Life as a Weird Mormon Girl
The Garden of Enid is a web comic that explores the day-to-day life and imagination of Enid Gardner, a fifteen-year-old Mormon girl. My presentation provides an overview of the comic’s origins, characters, and themes. It also addresses my experiences writing and drawing the comic, including my thoughts on fan reactions to it. Scott Hales
She Said/He said: Examining Women’s Ordination
We’ve assembled a panel of women and men to engage the question of women’s ordination in Mormonism. What are the benefits of women’s ordination as each side sees them? What are the hurdles? Are the biggest obstacles theological or social in nature? Where does your opinion fall on the spectrum? Christy Ellis-Clegg, Aaron Taylor, Michael …
Still the One: Differentiation and Intimacy after a Spouse’s Change of Faith
John and Ruth Halstead will discuss how John’s decision to leave the LDS Church and Ruth’s decision to stay affected their marriage, their family life, and their children. They will discuss how they are trying to integrate John’s new faith, Paganism, with Ruth’s Mormonism, and how they are choosing to raise their children while also …