What is the relationship between feeling the spirit and knowing that a teaching is true? This paper will examine the nature of religious experience and explore the question of how to understand our own spirituality in light of the vast diversity of religious experiences we observe in other faith traditions. Brian Birch
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2005
‘Posterity’s Companions,’ ‘The Chains Of Events,’ And ‘Wild Horses’: Three Short Stories Created From Mormon Pioneer Diaries
For Mormons whose history troubles them, I have attempted to undermine any sense of discomfort about who they may once have been, and therefore are, in the creation of stories and characters from early LDS diary entries. Even in the darkest events, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, for example, Mormon ancestors can and do emerge for …
The Priesthood Of Mormon Fundamentalism
How do Mormon fundamentalists differ from today’s LDS Church members in their beliefs about priesthood? This presentation details the historical and doctrinal evolution of the fundamentalists’ dissent on this pivotal issue. Brian Hales, Rep. from Apostolic United Brethren
On The Giant’s Shoulders: Hugh Nibley’s Influence On The Rising Generation Of Mormons
The generation of Mormons in their twenties never enrolled in a Hugh Nibley class nor saw him speak in public. To us, he was not a contemporary leader in LDS academia but an established icon whose greatest works had already been published, more of a force than a person. Does our generational distance allow us …
Tracking The Sincere Believer: ‘Authentic’ Religion And The Enduring Legacy Of Joseph Smith, Jr.
Who was the real Joseph Smith, Jr.? Over the past two centuries, he has been portrayed as a great spiritual leader, a prophet, a religious charlatan, and a deeply unstable person. Was he a divine conduit or a mountebank? A caring leader or crafty seducer? Biographers and believers continuously have sought the “real” man beneath …
Godwrestling: What The Physical Trials Of The Prophets Jacob And Joseph Smith Teach Us About The Mormon Doctrines Of Dualism, Redemption, And Revelation
The Genesis account of Jacob’s all-night wrestle with an angel has traditionally been lumped together with athletic myths of other religious figures such as Elijah, Mohammed, and Job. But a comparison with the physical trials of Joseph Smith allows for a literal interpretation of the event and provides great insight into several LDS doctrines. Rick …
A Philosophical Testimony
How does Mormonism fit within the larger religious landscape? This presentation discusses how I as a student of philosophy and religion am able to be an honest skeptic and still have a testimony of the Gospel. Gerald E. Jones, Brian Birch
True To The Faith, The New Mormon Doctrine?
With the July 2004 publication of True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference, the Church has taken another step toward a unified body of authoritative doctrine, something members can rely upon with complete confidence that “this is what we believe.” This paper samples entries from this under-advertised but significant work. Lavina Fielding Anderson, D. Jeff …
A Sunstone Town Meeting
Hear a report from the Sunstone staff and board members on the foundation’s finances, subscription efforts, and new projects. Learn about future plans and how you can become involved. Please bring your questions and suggestions! Sunstone Staff and Board of Directors
Watching Through The Window: Depicting The Tarring And Feathering From Emma’s Perspective
In a four-part illustration of what might have been the longest night of Joseph and Emma’s marriage, I seek to capture the emotions swirling in Emma as she witnessed the near-murder of her husband. I will show the pieces in my series, discuss the source material collected in the research process and the artistic license …