What happens after the church court? What is the fallout for the excommunicated and his or her family and friends? Panelists will discuss how they came to terms with their excommunication. Have they found peace? Carlene George, Maxine Hanks , Don Bradley
Speaker: Don Bradley
Four Views Of Joseph Smith Historians Debate The Prophet Puzzle
“The mystery of Mormonism cannot be solved until we solve the mystery of Joseph Smith,” Jan Shipps wrote. Four decades later, the prophet continues to puzzle. Was he true prophet, sincere visionary, pious fraud, or con man? In a friendly debate, four historians will each advocate a different hypothesis. Opening statements and rebuttals will be …
Life After Church Discipline
What happens after the church court? What is the fallout for the excommunicated and his or her family and friends? Panelists will discuss how they came to terms with their excommunication. Have they found peace? Carlene George, Maxine Hanks , Don Bradley
Four Views Of Joseph Smith Historians Debate The Prophet Puzzle
“The mystery of Mormonism cannot be solved until we solve the mystery of Joseph Smith,” Jan Shipps wrote. Four decades later, the prophet continues to puzzle. Was he true prophet, sincere visionary, pious fraud, or con man? In a friendly debate, four historians will each advocate a different hypothesis. Opening statements and rebuttals will be …
PILLARS OF MY FAITH
This is perennially SUNSTONE’s best-attended session. Hear speakers share the events and concepts that animate their religious lives; a little soul baring, a little spiritual journey, a little intellectual testimony bearing. This reflective night is about the things that matter most, plus spirited congregational hymn-singing. Don Bradley, Maxine Hanks
SW10004: Judaic Primitivism: A New Model of Mormon Origins
Mormonism’s origins have been variously located in Christian primitivism, the bible, and esoterica. integrating these influences, Jan Shipps has proposed that Mormonism formed in successive layers: Christian primitivist, then Hebraic, and finally esoteric. Shipps’ model is informed, useful, and—I will argue—mistaken. Mormonism’s Judaic character is intrinsic, not acquired. The object of this paper is to …
SW10014: Book Preview/Panel: Persistence of Polygamy: A Mormon Anthology
Co-editor Newell G. Bringhurst presents an overview of this forthcoming anthology of 20 never-before-published articles about polygamy. Essays cover Joseph Smith and the beginnings of polygamy, polygamy in Utah after Joseph Smith and reactions to the practice from other restoration groups, and the perpetuation of polygamy among Mormon fundamentalists that emerged in the late nineteenth …
SL10314: Dating Fanny Alger: The Nature, Timing, and Consequences of an Early Polygamous Relationship
Fanny Alger left Joseph and Emma Smith’s home pregnant and under Emma’s wrath in the middle of the night. The incident set Kirtland on fire with rumors of the prophet’s adultery—or was it polygamy? Some scholars argue that the relationship was an 1835 affair, too early for polygamy, others that it was an 1833 marriage. …
SL09251 Mapping Mormon Issues: Conspiracy, Delusion or Revelation? The 180-year Controversy Over the Book of Mormon Witnesses
Did Joseph Smith hypnotize the Book of Mormon witnesses? Did he palm off copper or tin plates on them as gold? Were their experiences visions, physical perceptions of ancient artifacts, or the fabrications of a conspiracy? Each of these explanations has been proffered since the witnesses laid down their challenge in the summer of 1829. …
Written by the Finger of God?: The Book of Mormon Translation Debate
Written by the Finger of God?: The Book of Mormon Translation Debate A crowd of witnesses to the translation of the Book of Mormon report that Joseph Smith literally read the translation through his seerstone. But a century of scholarship has identified language errors and anachronisms inconsistent with a supernaturally perfect translation. Who is right-the …