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 …
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2005
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
Steps In The Right Direction? Evaluating New LDS Publications On Homosexuality
This past year has seen the publication of In Quiet Desperation: Understanding the Challenges of Same-Gender Attraction and A Guide for Latter-day Saint Families Dealing with Homosexual Attraction. The Church also recently revised the language on homosexuality in its For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. Other publications with questionable language remain unrevised. This session examines …
Mormon Bioethics: Cloning, Abortion, and Stem Cell Research in LDS Theology
We are at the pioneering stages of embryonic research that promise great medical advancement. However, ethical guidelines have yet to be agreed upon regarding how far we go or how and when we utilize this technology. There is not, as of yet, any established LDS doctrine or official statement regarding the beginning of life nor …
Why Can’t A Woman Be More Like A Man? Sheri L. Dew And The Subversion Of Gender
This presentation highlights gender boundaries within today’s Mormondom through a study of Sheri Dew, the first female president of Deseret Book and a staunch defender of traditional gender roles. Is Dew’s defense of a traditional “woman” subverted by her prominent position and rhetoric? In her speech and actions, does she transgress traditional gender boundaries and …
Mormons, Movies, And Romantic Eschatology
Drawing from insights in the Wizard of Oz, Groundhog Day, and other great movies, this presentation highlights differences between Mormon eschatology (the understanding of last things or the end and purpose of the world) and how LDS approaches to the relation of the divine and the human, atonement, and grace differ from those offered by …
Is The Rational Man An Enemy To God? The Role Of Reason In Living The Gospel
Does faith seek understanding? Does understanding support faith? The scriptures contain many affirmations of the value of the intellect, yet there is a strong anti-intellectual strain in Mormonism. This paper argues that reason plays an essential role in living the gospel. Janice Allred, Bill Hansen
Worship Service. Prejudice: A Clash Between Christ And Culture
This session is a worship service in keeping with the Community of Christ’s emphasis on peace and justice. It features a sermon dealing with racism, sexism, anti-Catholicism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and the inhuman treatment of children born out of wedlock, along with prayers and congregational singing from the Community of Christ peace hymn William D. Russell, …