This Mormon Life

Sunstone Symposium 2008 Preview

Well, it's that time of year again.  The 2008 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium is just around the corner, and this year's preliminary program has been released.  It seems just like yesterday when I attended my first Sunstone Symposium back in 1992, just recently returned from my mission in Indiana.  My, how things have changed since then.

Get the program here.

Here is a list of sessions that look very interesting to me so far:

Some Final Thoughts: Sunstone Symp 2007

I've been meaning to write up a final summary of my Sunstone Symposium experience, and since it had been almost a month since the event, it has allowed some perspective.

I think this has been my best symposium experience since the first time I attended back in 1992 as a fresh faced returned missionary ready to take on the world.  That seems eons ago.  But this past symposium has somehow energized myself to take on my own world in new ways.  The open and honest study of Mormonism is not for everybody in the church, but I am glad there is a place like Sunstone where it is fostered and encouraged.

But more than the sessions I attended, what I enjoyed more was the people I met.  I don't really know how to describe the wonderful community that exists at Sunstone.  I was able to catch up with old friends.  And I made quite a few new friends and acquaintances.  I was able to discuss my spiritual journey with people who have also been along their own unique paths - and we were able to understand each other, knowing were we've been, able to share the challenges that we face.  I met such a wide variety of "Mormons": true believing, bloggers, inactives, feminists, jack, liberals, conservatives, polygamists, atheists, agnostics, really too many to even name, not to mention all the non-LDS who attended.

I shared moments with some people that now I see as very special and important.  I underestimated the community that Sunstone has created.  It has a unique place in Mormon culture that needs to continue to grow.

Was there any disappointments?  There are always thoughts about "what I wish they had more of."  In particular I hope for more sessions on scriptural studies and literature in the future, but I know it's not an easy thing to accomplish.  But overall, I wasn't disappointed. It was a well run conference with plenty to see, do, and discuss.

I look forward even more to the next symposium.  I think I will join in and submit a abstract myself.   I guess I better get writing.

Would You Lie to Get a Temple Recommend?: Sunstone Symp 2007

"Do You Have a Testimony Of ...?" was by far the most enjoyable session of the symposium, and being the last session I attended, it was an entertaining conclusion to three days of Sunstone.  From the program:

People who have much in common can still look at things very differently. Case in point: James McLachlan and Tom Kimball have been enjoying an ongoing discussion about their Mormon beliefs.  Both have contemplated similar historical and philosophical dilemmas, and both are active in their home wards. One holds a current temple recommend while the other doesn’t hold much hope of ever having one again. “Sin isn’t the hold-up. For me, it is an issue of integrity as I don’t believe in the Restoration,” says Tom. “But perhaps you do believe in the Restoration. It may only be a matter of what you think the “Restoration” means,” says Jim.  Come listen in on and join their discussion!

So when you go into get a temple recommend and the bishop asks you "Do you have a testimony of the Restoration?" what exactly goes through you mind?  Is your idea and understanding of the "restoration" different from your Bishop's understanding, and if it is, then do you answer yes or no?

Boys and Girls: Sunstone Symp 2007

In the recent June 2007 issue of Sunstone, Margaret Merrill Toscano published "'Are Boys More Important Than Girls?' The Continuing Conflict of Gender Difference and Equality in Mormonism" (pdf).  The paper was originally given at last year's symposium and is definitely worth the read.  So at this year's symposium there gathered a panel discussing Tocasno's thesis, that comprised of Jana Bouck Remy, Kristine Haglund Harris, Wendy Demandante, Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen, and Margaret Toscano.  The progam suggests that these responses will be published in forthcoming issues.  From the program itself, the questions are asked: "What kind of Equality does God demand?  It there a way to measure the current state of this quest objectively?  If Mormon women report that they feel as equally valued and empowered as men, does that settle the matter?  Or should more overarching and logic-driven arguments continue to call for changes?"

Link Dump 2: Sunstone Symp 2007

With all the posts about Sunstone lately, you think I would be on their payroll. ;-)  I just really enjoyed this year's symposium, so expect several more posts before I'm done.  Then I have big plans on expanding This Mormon Life, so stay tuned.  I recently did a re-design, and added more links.  On the lower right side I added a Gender link list. Even though I am not affected directly by the issue of homosexuality, I've been thinking a lot about the issue lately and I find the stories of gay Mormons fascinating and important.

Anyways, here are more links from around the bloggernacle re: Sunstone.  Some you may have already read, others might be new.  Check'em out.

John Gustav-Wrathall on his this year's and 2005's symposium.

Matthew Bowman's response paper he gave about the beatitudes.

Tom from Nine Moons about the "Inoculation" issue brought up at the symposium.

Download this year's sessions on MP3.

Hugh Nibley Roast from a previous year's symposium.

Free download of "How Effectively Does the Bloggernalce Represent Mormonism."

"Falling" reviewed by Stephen Carter.

"Falling" reviewed by Matt Thurston.

Enjoy!

No Oath of Vengeance? Are You Kidding?: Sunstone Symp 2007

Now one thing about the Sunstone Symposium is that it always has a session on the Mountain Meadows Massacre.  Well this year they didn't have one that dealt directly with the event by itself, but they did have a session called "The Mountain Meadows and The Oath of Vengeance" by the veteran radio host Van Hale, with Will Bagley responding.

Van's thesis is that there was not a "oath of vengeance" in the temple endowment ceremony, thus eliminating a commonly understood motivation for the MMM.  So does he make a case?

Book of Mormon's Secular Strength: Sunstone Symp 2007

Saturday morning my first session of the day was "Making Witnesses: The Book of Mormon's Secular Strength" by Don Bradley, with a response by Mark D. Thomas.

Don is a up and coming historian whose first published piece is "The Grand Fundamental Principles of Mormonism: Joseph Smith Unfinished Reformation," published in Sunstone April 2006.  He also did a session last year on John the Baptist and The Book of Mormon.  He has a fresh approach to early Mormonism that will hopefully develop as he continues to publish more and more.

This was an interesting session in which the question is asked: why is the Book of Mormon so powerful - "to regenerate lives and foster the development of a dynamic community?"  The obvious answer a believing Latter-day Saint would respond with is: because it is an ancient record that testifies of Christ and is the word of God.  But let's put aside any question of historicity or spirit, and instead look at the Book of Mormon solely from a literary standpoint, and ask the same question.  What do we get?

Pillars of My Faith: Sunstone Symp 2007

(Jana Reiss. Another picture stolen from BiV)

Pillars of My Faith is sometimes regarded as the best session of the symposium, but in my experience it can be hit or miss.  You could call it the Sunstone version of testimony meeting, where people share there spiritual journey.  In this case, I don't think I have enjoyed a Pillars this much since Mike Quinn did his years back in the mid-90s.  The session featured John Kesler, who is the founder and executive directer of the Salt Lake Center for Engaging Community; he is also a founding member of the Ken Wilbur-led Integral Institute.  The other speaker was Jana Reiss, who the religion book review editor for Publisher's Weekly, and author of several books including What Would Buffy Do? and co-author of Mormonism for Dummies.

Yes, It's About the Bloggernacle: Sunstone Symp 2007

Friday morning I attended the session “How Effectively Does the Bloggernacle Represent Mormonsim?” (Picture stolen from Hieing to Kolob)

I think this is the first session on blogging that I have attended. I believe they had something similar last year, but I skipped it. The panel from left to right included Russell Arden Fox, Lisa Butterworth (aka fhmLisa), Kristine Haglund, Kaimi Wengler, and Matt Thurston as chair.  This session was discussed by others here, here, and here.  Now on to what I thought.

Link Dump 1: Sunstone Symp 2007

Bored in Vernal over at Hieing to Kolob has some great posts about the symposium.  And she has a ton of pictures.  Check it out.

By Common Consent has an open thread, but you probably already know that.

Dave's Mormon Inquiry is sharing thoughts about sessions on the bloggernacle and inoculation without actually attending.  Geez, why did I bother to go? ;-)

Deseret News: Impact of Romney, Filmmaker Drawn to Big Questions, New Direction for Sunstone?

Salt Lake Tribune: Bloody and Challenging,  Growth Lacking Among Fundamentalists, LDS Beliefs Open Door to Stem Cell Research, Symposium to Focus on Public Face of Mo.