On 15 March 2009, HBO’s series Big Love depicted parts of the LDS temple endowment ceremonies. Although Deseret News editor Joel Campbell called the portrayal “religious pornography,” and a campaign was launched to boycott HBO, some Mormons felt the depiction was in good taste—even inspiring. We will shift away from the HBO depiction to explore …
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2009
SL09235 Twenty-five Years Since the Revelation on Women; Women and the Priesthood: The Community of Christ Experience and the Invisible Ties that Bind [Partial]
In April 1984, RLDS Church President Dr. Wallace B. Smith presented to the church’s World Conference a proposed revelation which, among other things, called for the church to begin ordaining women. The issue had been festering in the church for at least fifteen years and was very controversial. Approximately twenty percent of the delegates voted …
SL09311 The Changing General Conference Rhetoric of the Latter-day Saint Prophets
Joseph Smith set the doctrinal table of Mormonism, and a number of succeeding prophets regularly paid homage to him and his distinctive ideas. However, beginning most identifiably with David O. McKay, presidential general conference rhetoric became less devoted to Joseph Smith’s ideas and more devoted to more traditional and historic common Christian themes. Richard N. …
SL09336 Panel: Stay-at-home Moms on the Record
Panelists will discuss their experience as stay-at-home moms, including what motivated their decision to stay home with young children, what the benefits are, what the tradeoffs are, and how they respond to some of the stereotypes and common misconceptions about stay at home moms. Camille Aagard, Courtney Kendrick, Linda Wilkins, Rebecca Buchert, Erika Munson
SL09376 Panel: The Enduring Principles—a 21st-century Approach to the Restoration’s Call
The Community of Christ has a Christian foundation and Restoration heritage. “In faithful response to [this] heritage and continuing experience with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we endeavor to uphold the following enduring principles as essential components of church identity and mission”: Grace and Generosity; Sacredness of Creation; Continuing Revelation; Worth of All Persons; …
SL09122 The Spiritual Director is In
A subtitle for this presentation could be “The Good Red Road,” a phrase referring to one’s sacred path. I will discuss my experience participating in a two-year spiritual direction program and how my perceptions of religion and spirituality changed. I finished the program with my gratitude for my LDS background intact, but my LDS certainty …
SL09173 Panel: Creating Mormon Women: Portraits and Conversations
Mormon Women: Portraits & Conversations, a new book by the late James N. Kimball and Kent Miles, published by Handcart Books, is the basis for this presentation. The book includes first-person interviews with fourteen Mormon women from around the world who talk about their life experience within an LDS context. Miles will discuss the book, …
SL09251 Mapping Mormon Issues: Conspiracy, Delusion or Revelation? The 180-year Controversy Over the Book of Mormon Witnesses
Did Joseph Smith hypnotize the Book of Mormon witnesses? Did he palm off copper or tin plates on them as gold? Were their experiences visions, physical perceptions of ancient artifacts, or the fabrications of a conspiracy? Each of these explanations has been proffered since the witnesses laid down their challenge in the summer of 1829. …
SL09312 Panel: In Memoriam: Truman G. Madsen
Truman Madsen left a significant imprint on Mormon theology and philosophy. Come hear from friends, colleagues, and former students about the lessons learned from this influential Mormon thinker. Following panelists’ remarks, audience members will also have time to share their remembrances. Karen Marguerite Moloney, Bill Heersink, Claudia L. Bushman, Donald Q. Cannon, Jake Zollinger, Charles …
SL09351 Forgiveness: The Healing Gift We Give Ourselves
The need to forgive is universal, yet many struggle to do so. While the scriptures are clear regarding the requirement to forgive, they may not satisfy our need to understand why or how. We may feel confused—perhaps even offended—when we read the scripture, Cheryl Carson