As suggested by the term “active” applied to fully engaged Latter-day Saints, Mormons are often characterized as emphasizing “doing” over “being.” The sensibilities and practices of many Eastern traditions reverse this emphasis, encouraging adherents to be “still,” to separate in various ways from the hustle and bustle of life. This session features Latter-day Saints who …
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2005
Joseph Smith, William Miller, Ellen G. White, And Mary Baker Eddy: Four American Prophets’ Perspectives On Slavery, Race, And Ethnicity
This presentation compares and contrasts Joseph Smith’s views and practices on the issues of slavery, race, and ethnicity with those of others, who, like Smith, were founders/prophetic leaders of major indigenous American religious denominations. Why did Smith’s views diverge from those of these other New England-born leaders, whose views were generally abolitionist and comparatively more …
Contemplating Recent Biographies Of Joseph Smith
It has been thirty-one years since Jan Shipps issued a challenge in her essay, “The Prophet Puzzle,” for writers to develop thorough portraits of Joseph Smith that show the “whole man.” Although more biographies are scheduled for release by year’s end, this paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of nine post-1974 biographies of the founding …
Guerrilla’s Seed: Corruption, Power, And Context Of Mormonism In Bolivia
This paper discusses the case of a Church disciplinary council in Bolivia that illustrates the Church’s tenuous relationship with social history, collective memory, types of social action, ethical values, and modes of leadership in South America. David Clark Knowlton, Ricardo Diaz
The Ethics Of Doubt
Periods of doubt are a natural part of human development. But in cultures where doubting is considered a serious defect, people find themselves facing ethical dilemmas about how much, if anything, to say to family, friends, and Church leaders. This panel discusses how different Latter-day Saints have faced the challenges of dealing ethically with themselves …
When Beliefs Lead To Estrangement
While LDS beliefs often focus on eternal unity, when differences of belief arise in LDS families, estrangement is too often the result, especially when the differing beliefs involve controversial issues such as apostasy, excommunication, inactivity, joining another faith, and sexual orientation. This panel consists of counseling professionals who deal regularly with estrangement issues, and with …
Poets and the Prophets
While it may be true, as he said of himself, that no one knew Joseph Smith’s history, poets from the early days of the Restoration have attempted to capture the Prophet through the power of poetic language. This session consists of readings of poets from W. W. Phelps and Eliza R. Snow to modern Mormons …
God Is Not A Great Deceiver: What’s Wrong With Intelligent Design
Recently the Intelligent Design creationism movement has promoted its agenda to public schools across the U.S. and now has targeted Utah as well. What is this movement really up to, and what are the theological difficulties with this philosophy? David H. Bailey, Clifton Sanders
A Management Consultant Looks At Today’s Church
Although some prefer to think of religious organizations as fundamentally different from other types of organizations, they all face similar issues of structure, staffing and supervision, positioning and marketing of services, and management development. This interactive presentation highlights some of the organizational challenges facing the Church as it pursues its twenty-first century mission, asking audience …
American Prophets: Edgar Cayce And Joseph Smith
Two American farm boys have come to be honored and revered over the world for their understanding of the divine, their inspirational advice, and their prophetic insights. From their first visions to their mystical revelations, this paper explores the similarities, differences, and legacies of these two American prophets. Jennifer Chandler Jones, Doe Daughtrey