The past year brought many new developments, including the launch of the LDS Church’s website MORMONSANDGAYS.ORG, the Church’s amicus brief regarding Proposition 8, the new blog No More Strangers, Mormons Building Bridges and marching in gay pride parades across the US, the LDS Church pulling support from the anti-discrimination law under review in the Utah …
Speaker: Laura Compton
Effects of Postmodernism: A Case Study on the Gospel Teaching Approach for LDS Youth
The Church recently announced a restructured Gospel teaching approach for Church youth. Videos were produced explaining this new approach and were shown in many Wards including to adults. The theme of this new approach was that instructors will be presenting Gospel topics is a more thematic manner and are to act as Randy Rummler, Laura …
SUNSTONE TOWN HALL MEETING
Bring your compliments and complaints to this session and let the SUNSTONE leadership know what we’re doing well—and where we can improve. SUNSTONE board members and staff will report on the past year and describe new initiatives and projects for the years ahead. Laura Compton, Michael J. Stevens, Stephen Carter, Mary Ellen Robertson
COMING OUT AS AN ALLY: THE IMPACT OF STRAIGHT MORMONS IN ADVANCING LGBT ISSUES IN THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD
From the launching of Mormon “It Gets Better” videos to the formation of Mormons for Marriage Facebook groups, from the organizing of “Circling the Wagons” conferences to the participation of straight Mormons in pride parades, 2012 will be remembered as the year when straight, progressive Latter-day Saints came out massively in support of LGBT Mormons. …
Relief Society Herstory: The Women We Come From
In light of President Julie Beck’s call to focus on the history of Relief Society, we’ll look at some of the highs and lows of this auxiliary, including stories from lesser-known women who were Relief Society members throughout the decades. Join us as we walk uncorrelated in their shoes and find out the big–and the …
The Spin of Art: How Art Influences the Message of History
By framing what you see and how you see it, a painter is in charge of history. Similarly, a composer can ‘spin’ our understanding of what ‘really’ happened. Considering examples from centruies of Catholic and LDS art and music, we will look at how artists have left their (often subversive) mark on the historical record …
Binding Up the Wounds: Healing Efforts Following California’s Vote on Proposition 8
Many of us are all too familiar with the damage and human cost from Proposition 8. In the years since, what efforts have been made by LDS church members, leaders, and by people of other faiths to help heal from this divisive chapter that pitted politics and religion against each other? What can straight/Mormon/religious allies …
SL10151: Line Upon Line: How the New Personal Progress/Duty to God Programs Are Defining Tomorrow’s Leaders
I compare and contrast the new Personal Progress/Duty to God programs and discuss how the requirements, suggested goals, and reading assignments are similar/different for girls and boys. I will also explore how the Proclamation on the Family has been integrated into the Primary program, discuss what seems to be the most-quoted portion of the Proclamation, …
SL10251: Responses to the Documentary 8: The Mormon Proposition
Billed as a documentary but made in a style that some find reminiscent of anti-Mormon exposés, LAURA COMPTON, ROBERT A. REES
SL10323: Getting It Right: Changes in the Gospel Principles Manual from 1979 to 2009
This paper examines teachings in the 1979 Gospel Principles manual that have been eliminated, revised, or downplayed in the manual currently used in Sunday classes. Included are teachings about abortion, fasting, following the prophet, the responsibility of women to keep a “clean” house, the Word of Wisdom, rape, the roles of men and women, and …