Research and a close analysis of scriptures and the historical record strongly suggest that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery did not receive the priesthood in the manner supposed by most Latter-day Saints. This study also shows it to be unlikely that the priesthood was part of ancient Israel’s religious practices until the time of the …
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2002
A Young Man’s Journey Through the Middle East: What Defines a Nation?
In the spirit of Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Bryan Richards has written a novel, Triopia, which expresses a powerful synthesis of ideas that help us understand the various, conflicted cultures of our world. This presentation introduces elements of Middle Eastern history, his novel, and some suggestions for how to proceed …
The Restoration of Questionable Things
In 1840 Joseph Smith declared that animal sacrifices would be restored once the Nauvoo Temple was completed and that this was necessary to bring to pass the “restoration of all things.” While modern Mormons would most likely be shocked at the thought of including animal sacrifices in their temple worship, the requirement to eventually re-establish …
Sin, Skin, and Seed: Mistakes of Men in the Book of Mormon
Are concepts that sinfulness is reflected in skin color consistent with biogenetic understandings of human variation? Are patriarchal concepts of a procreative seed consistent with modern biogenetic procreation? Is Israelite heritage of Nephites and Lamanites reflected in the genes and biology of Native Americans? I will argue that new scientific evidence indicates we should relegate …
Discussion of
Following a brief break at the conclusion of the screening of Chasing a Good Day to Die, film critic Paul Swenson will lead a discussion of the film with its writer/director Paul Larsen and producer Terri Holland. As Sunstone attendees will be among the first groups to see the film, audience comments and suggestions will …
Current Research and the Quest for Personal Meaning
Current Research and the Quest for Personal Meaning What effect has the work of Ian Stevenson, Brian Weiss, Michael Newton, Edgar Cayce, and other “New Age” contributors had on the Mormon world? How do Church members relate experiences with New Age ideas to their gospel roots?
Telling Joseph Smith’s Story: Five Biographers Reflect
Telling Joseph Smith’s Story: Five Biographers Reflect This panel of highly respected authors of forthcoming biographies on Joseph Smith will tell about the approach each of them has taken in trying to produce an accurate yet compelling portrait of the Latter-day prophet. What have been their major conceptual hurdles? How have they approached the most …
Metered Mormon Midrash: Poems Inspired by the Book of Mormon Text
The past decade has seen the publication of several poetry anthologies with entries directly inspired by the biblical text. But what of poetry inspired by the Book of Mormon? Is the Mormon poetic tradition deep enough for a Book of Mormon anthology? Drawing from thousands of poems that have appeared in publications over the past …
A Calvinist Compares Mormonism and Calvinism
There are both striking similarities and large-scale differences between the culture and beliefs of Calvinism, a form of Evangelicalism, and Mormonism, many of which have not been adequately explored. How do these traditions view the importance of covenant in the relationship between God and his people? The importance of family? Work and holiness in Christian …
The First and Great Commandment
This paper explores Christ’s answer to Pharisees who tried to pin him down by asking him to select which of their thousands of laws was the most important. What does Christ’s definition of the First Commandment mean in our lives? What is love? How does God operate through love? How can we be instruments of …