Mormon Studies is a field of growing academic interest, and many young LDS scholars are making it their professional focus as well as a personal interest. This panel brings some of the bright young minds in Mormon Studies together to discuss what drew them to this field of study, what kinds of academic work they are doing, what Mormon topics are generating interest in the academic world, what stereotypes they have encountered doing work in this field, and what if any impact their academic study has on their own religious/spiritual life? And what of those who are teaching and mentoring LDS graduate students? We’ll hear from them, too.

Brian Birch, Elizabeth Pinborough, Brittany A. Chapman, Matthew Bowman, Loyd Ericson, Boyd J. Petersen