Mormonism once strongly advocated against harming animals unnecessarily. Both prophets and scriptures have put restrictions the use of animals for food. During this time of nutritional abundance where the use of animal products is no longer necessary, it is time for Mormons to get back to their doctrinal roots and end the exploitation of animals. …
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2016
Face To Face Foundations For A Mystical Tradition In Mormonism
Mysticism, properly understood and practiced, is the quest for a deep and direct realization of God and Self. It is conscious awakening into the mystery of life itself and therefore vital for vibrant, spiritual living as individuals and as a community. Sadly, a rich mystical tradition has not developed in Mormonism in spite of the …
Conversations With Harry Sectarianism And The One True Church
My ninety-five-year-old friend, Harry Fox, has ministered his whole life in the Church of Christ, which originated in the Campbellite restoration movement, and we have had many conversations about the quest for the true church of Christ. This paper explores the basic issues of these dialogues. Can the true church of Christ be found in …
Misreading Scripture The Abrahamic Sacrifice Reconsidered
Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of his son, Isaac, is often seen as the great paradigm for absolute faith and unquestioning obedience. Blind obedience has become the ultimate obedience—whether it is women acquiescing to polygamy, blacks accepting priesthood limitations, gays practicing celibacy, and, most recently, LDS Church members accepting the official account of the Church’s policy change …
Mormons For Agency Reproductive Revolution In The Mormon Context
Mormons for Agency is a new group that includes Mormons from all walks of life who research, discuss or share their experience and information about LDS views and policies on topics such as reproductive rights, birth control, bodily autonomy, and abortion. M4A seeks an open and public discussion, and advocates for the right of all …
Religion Discrimination And Growing Up Flds
As an outsider to both the FLDS faith and LDS faith, Chatwin has felt the painful edge of discrimination from all sides who misunderstand the complicated life of standing up for victims of Warren Jeffs, as well as growing up in a polygamist family. Following Chatwin’s remarks, Brenda Nicholson will share her experience. Andrew Chatwin, …
Where We Stand Ordain Women Documentary
Where We Stand is a documentary film about a controversial group of Mormon feminists fighting for women’s ordination in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The film follows Abby Hansen, a stay-at-home mom turned vocal advocate for Ordain Women as she navigates the repercussions of her unpopular activism against her church in her …
The Evolution Of The Doctrine And Covenants Text A Preliminary And Exploratory Study
This study uses methodologies developed in the biological sciences to evaluate the development of the D&C printed text. Phylogenetic patterns of a small number of individual sections common in both RLDS/COC and LDS editions will be analyzed. Insights and comparisons between these two textual groups will be presented. These two groups will be distinguished from …
Casa Volunteering And Child Abuse In The Mormon Culture
Through my volunteer work as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) with foster and/or DCFS-identified high-risk children in northern Utah I have identified patterns of child abuse within Mormon culture. This presentation will describe familial structures that lead to cycles of abuse within Mormon families. It will also identify ways of breaking those abusive patterns …
Sunstone Service Project
Each year Sunstone seeks to fulfill the humanitarian part of our mission. For this session, we will be assembling hygiene kits for homeless families in Utah. Pop in if you’d like to help. Ashley Hoopes