Although the LDS church sees other faiths as lacking truths and authority necessary for salvation, many Mormons engage with other religions, some while maintaining their membership with a local ward or at least retaining some sense of LDS identity. In this panel, several Hugo Olaiz, Lynn Rollins, John-Charles Duffy, Neal Chandler
Speaker: John Charles Duffy
Panel: Author Meets Critic on Devery Anderson’s
Over the years, the LDS church has struggled with how best to convey information about the temple to is members. John-Charles Duffy, Tania Rands Lyon, Devery S. Anderson
ALL APOLOGIES: THE ROLE OF APOLOGETICS IN MORMONISM AND MORMON STUDIES
The recent shakeup at BYU’s Maxwell Institute sent ripples throughout the Bloggernacle and raised questions about what the changes mean to groups such as FARMS, FAIR, and to Mormon apologetics in a larger context. What is the role of apologetics in general—both in and beyond Mormonism? Do Mormon apologists use similar stances or tactics as …
WHAT KEEPS MORMONS AND EVANGELICALS FROM COOPERATING POLITICALLY?
Although Mormons and Evangelicals in the US typically share conservative social values, Evangelicals’ theological opposition to Mormonism periodically generates friction between Mormons and the Evangelical Right. Recent examples include Mitt Romney’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, Focus on the Family’s 2008 decision to pull a Glenn Beck interview from its website, and a 2004 effort …
DIAGNOSING THE SEER: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FIRST VISION
Mormons consider Joseph Smith’s first vision one of the most significant events in religious history; it is by far the most controversial of his visions. Many Mormons maintain that the accounts of the vision are historically accurate, while critics assert that different accounts are inconsistent and historically inaccurate. This session will summarize the various accounts …
SL09172 Panel: Big Love’s Temple Episode: What the Controversy Shows about the World, the Church, and Ourselves
On 15 March 2009, HBO’s series Big Love depicted parts of the LDS temple endowment ceremonies. Although Deseret News editor Joel Campbell called the portrayal “religious pornography,” and a campaign was launched to boycott HBO, some Mormons felt the depiction was in good taste—even inspiring. We will shift away from the HBO depiction to explore …
A New Faithful History That Is Faithful to History?
A New Faithful History That Is Faithful to History? Over the past century, as more Mormons have acquired professional training, they have applied their skills to Mormonism’s foundational narratives. This experience has left our understanding of Mormon history much enriched, but it has inevitably led to the revision (and even unraveling) of many traditional stories. …
Mapping Book of Mormon Historicity Debates: Historical and Social Perspectives
Mapping Book of Mormon Historicity Debates: Historical and Social Perspectives This presentation is designed to orient attendees in the debates over whether the Book of Mormon is an ancient document. This presentation identifies historical developments that affect how and when this debate has unfolded and applies theoretical frameworks from the sociology of knowledge to explain …
Author Meets Critics. Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt
Author Meets Critics. Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt Using very selective presentations of the evidence, many groups target Mormons in the hope of creating doubt and disillusionment. And sometimes they succeed, as many Latter-day Saints are unaware that faith-shaking claims have been addressed time and again. A …
MORMON CINEMA AT FIVE: A HEALTH REPORT
MORMON CINEMA AT FIVE: A HEALTH REPORT Although Mormons have been a topic for films as early as 1905, and LDS filmmakers have been telling quintessential Mormon stories since the 1930s, Richard Dutcher’s films God’s Army (2000) and Brigham City (2001) mark what some consider to be the birth of ‘Mormon Cinema’, feature-length fiction films …