Ultrarunning, especially in the mountains, often takes on spiritual and religious dimensions: sacrificing the body and pushing beyond one’s natural limits to experience transcendence. In this session, two ultra runners—one in his thirties and one in his late fifties—will share their experience of conversing with God through this sport, placing it in the context of …
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2017
Damned by the Courts: The Conflation of Church Discipline with the Criminal Justice System
Sometimes aspects of church discipline are determined not by one’s religious leaders, but by the criminal court system. This can introduce inequities into a system that should be designed to help heal and redeem. This presentation will examine relevant differences across jurisdictions and use real-life anecdotes to show circumstances under which an overreliance on the …
The Agency Blueprint vs. The Doctrine of Privation
“As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” Mormons: we almost got it right: but that statement only applied in Eden prior to the Fall. Other Christians: you mostly got it right. God was/is ever righteous from eternity to eternity. Maybe we sould rewrite that couplet to say: “As man chose, …
Social Responses to Mormon Feminists: “No One Else Was Talking About It, So it Must Be Taboo”
This session presents a study drawing on interviews, blogs, and podcasts examining the motivations and consequences individual Mormon women have faced when engaging in feminist activities. What motivates them to engage in such activities? What happens to their persona in their religious communities? How does this shift impact their private lives? How have LDS Church …
Out of the Luminous Silence: Connecting with the Divine Feminine through Women’s Rituals
LDS women are among a growing number who find the male-defined and dominated structures of traditional religions increasingly stifling, leading them to seek a connection with the Divine that embraces Heavenly Mother and expresses their own divinity. For millenia this yearning has been satisfied through women’s rituals, which were also part of the beginnings of …
Shame with No Name: Identifying and Healing “Aspirational Shame” in Mormon Women
The term, “aspirational shame,” names a common experience among Mormon women: the feeling of shame for having aspirations outside of the Church’s emphasis on women’s roles in the home. In this session, I will share case examples that define and illustrate the concept and will suggest ways to resolve this shame and to challenge the …
An Unruly Faith: The Making of a Documentary about Kate Kelly and Gender Equity in the Mormon Church
Three years ago, Cindy Madsen Reid, a first-time documentarian, read about Kate Kelly and the Ordain Women movement. Thinking it might make an interesting story and wanting to explore a career in film, she called Kate and asked her if she could follow her with a camera. Three years later, the story continues. Come get …
Good, Better, Best. Discovering transformative service and charity after going on Mormon sabbatical.
During my longer-than-planned Mormon sabbatical, I have discovered a different type of service. Not a check-list service. Not an assigned good-deed service. But the soul-charging, spirit-changing service that comes when not trying to rescue anyone. I call this “Jesus service.” This presentation explores what “Jesus service” means and how the LDS organization might hinder or …
Linger Longer with Elna Baker and Mindy Gledhill
Every year, the Sunstone symposium ends with a closing banquet called a “Linger-Longer.” We invite participants to join us for this event to hear Elna and Mindy perform. Tickets are $18 per person (in addition to a regular conference ticket). Space is limited. You can purchase Linger-Longer tickets here: https://sunstone.org/registration/ Elna Baker Mindy Gledhill
Mormon Socialization, Women’s Education, and Online Support Groups
In contrast to national trends, women in Mormon-dominated Utah attain college degrees at a much lower rate than men, reporting that they value some college experience but not necessarily graduation. This session presents findings from a study focussing on an online support group (OSG) for Mormon women pursuing a college degree. The OSG provided academic …