I have recently become very impressed by a little-known but important work, the Complete Concordance of The Book of Mormon, by George Reynolds (1842– 1909), a former secretary to the First Presidency, who began work on the concordance while imprisoned for polygamy. This session focuses on the story of this book, it’s author, publishing history, …
Event: Southwest Symposium 2003
SIN, SKIN, AND SEED: MISTAKES OF MEN IN THE BOOK OF MORMON
This presentation critically examines the use of folk biology to naturalize the power and authority of white men in Mormon scripture. It identifies challenges facing Latter-day Saint communities in light of recent advances from the biological sciences. Is the Book of Mormon’s assumption that skin color reflects sinfulness consistent with biogenetic understandings of human physical …
IN SUPPORT OF POLYANDRY
Recent Sunstone symposiums have given a public forum to defenders of Mormonism’s past practice of polygamy. It’s time to consider the benefits of an alternative lifestyle! Glenn Cornett, Richard Rands, Mary Ellen Robertson
TRADITIONAL SACRED HARP SING: MORMON HYMNS IN THEIR PRIMITIVE VERSIONS
Many familiar hymns in the LDS hymnal are borrowed from a 17th-century tradition known as “shape-note singing.” Join in to learn this exuberant style of community singing, and enjoy the origins behind some of our favorite hymns! Chris Thorman
DISCUSSION: FATIGUE IS A FEMINIST ISSUE
Many long-time Mormon feminists are tired. Some say we’ve lost ground over the years and are discouraged. Come join in a guided discussion/strategy meeting to discuss Mormon feminism, the issues we explore, and what we can do to rejuvenate. Some questions to start the discussion: • What issues still engage us? • What issues move …
THE WAR WITH IRAQ THROUGH A RELIGIOUS LENS: HOW DOES RELIGION INFORM OUR CHOICES?
The intersection of religion and war is complex and complicated. Whether we look at the causes of war, processes for avoiding war, ways of resolving conflicts, or the moral imperatives of peace, Christianity and other major world faiths often have a seat at the table of influence. Stan Christensen, Robert A. Rees, Bill Benac, Paul …
THE CHURCH’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF RACE: New Perspectives
A re-visitation of the 1978 Black Revelation from new and different perspectives. The presenters, co-editors of a forthcoming volume, Blacks and Mormons: Race in in American Church, will consider events and circumstances surrounding the revelation within the context of the Church’s “unfinished business of race.” What conditions brought about the revelation? How have Latter-day Saints …
RAISING OUR MIDDLE EAST I.Q.: WHAT? WHY? WHO? HOW CAN I HELP?
Israel and Palestine. Egypt and Jordan. Gaza, the West Bank, and the Settlements. The PLO, Labor, and Likud. Arafat and Sharon. We hear these terms and names but often only vaguely understand what they mean. We know we should understand why the Holy Land and events in the Middle East are important but often don’t. …
101 REASONS TO AVOID THE OMNIS
Christian theology pays significant obeisance to the idea of God as omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omnific. Some Mormon thinkers have begun to endorse this idea, but there are many important reasons to avoid inconsistencies in these claims. David H. Bailey, Kim McCall
COULD JOSEPH SMITH HAVE WRITTEN THE BOOK OF MORMON? Part III: The Case Against Automaticity
For several years, I’ve been examining various challenges to Joseph Smith’s claim that he translated the Book of Mormon through the gift and power of God. In this third installment, I examine the theory some naturalist critics have turned to as a more rational explanation: that it was the product of “automatic” or “spirit” writing, …