Help us Keep Sunstone Thriving
Something really interesting happened at the 2023 Summer Symposium.
The two most popular sessions were “Why I Stay” and “Spiritual Paths of the September Six Thirty Years Later.” And, overall, both sessions were attended by the same crowd of people.
Listen to 2023's "Why I Stay"
When we saw this, we realized that one of the most important things about Sunstone is its long-standing community. One that supports the spiritual seeker during their entire journey.
For example, at this year’s symposium, some sessions were presented by students who have just entered the world of Mormon studies. Others were by people who were midway through their journey—the panelists in Why We Stay were all in their 40s and 50s. And there were some who have traveled long and far—such as the September Six and their contemporaries, many of whom are in their 60s and 70s.
Listen to both parts of "Spiritual Paths of the September Six Thirty Years Later"
We were especially moved to see Elbert Peck at the helm of the September Six session. He was Sunstone’s executive director in 1993 and provided crucial leadership during that time. And now he was back, helping the audience process the trauma of September 1993.
When we saw this, we realized that one of the most important things about Sunstone is its long-standing community. One that supports the spiritual seeker during their entire journey.
For example, at this year’s symposium, some sessions were presented by students who have just entered the world of Mormon studies. Others were by people who were midway through their journey—the panelists in Why We Stay were all in their 40s and 50s. And there were some who have traveled long and far—such as the September Six and their contemporaries, many of whom are in their 60s and 70s.
We were especially affected to see Elbert Peck at the helm of the September Six session. He was Sunstone’s executive director in 1993 and provided crucial leadership during that time. And now he was back, helping the audience process the trauma of that long-ago September.
That’s the deep value of Sunstone’s enduring community. It’s a place where we can mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort through all phases of each other’s journeys. As the September Six session showed, even after 30 years, we can still come back together and help each other heal.
2024 will mark Sunstone’s 50th anniversary. Fifty years of providing an essential community that only gains healing power as time progresses.
Listen to four of our most popular sessions from this year
And for all fifty years, Sunstone has run solely on donations. We make enough on the symposium registration fees and magazine subscriptions to cover their costs, but everything else—the rent, the electricity, the server fees, the insurance—all the behind-the-scenes stuff—comes from donations. Thanks for being a part of this essential community. Thanks for being a vital part of its past. Thanks for helping it reach into the future.
Open Donation
Please make check donations payable to Sunstone and mail to 343 North 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Sunstone is a 501(C)3 nonprofit. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.