In the late winter of 1873, Brigham Young dispatched the first group of colonists sent south of the Colorado river in Arizona. After a few months, the group returned home, beaten and discouraged. The mission was tagged in Church history and literature as a “failure” with all the attention going to the later missions to …
Event: Northwest Symposium 2009
SURE, I HAVE MORMON LITERATURE–UNDER A BUCKET OF WHEAT IN MY FOOD STORAGE
I will give a brief history of Mormon literature and consider reasons why many dismiss it as a waste of time (and acknowledge that I have been guilty of this). I will discuss the more hopeful future, where LDS literature will come of age and when we will see worldclass writing even in Deseret Book. …
MORMONISM’S LAST RITES
The persistent latter-day saint practice of deathbed rites is useful in describing general trends in Mormon ritual development and liturgy. As Mormons ritualized the deathbed, they drew from their native culture—and affronted it. Interacting with Protestant death culture and belief in Providence, Mormonism’s unique sacramentalism traversed the domains of salvation, healing, and community to comfort …
THE WOMEN IN NAUVOO’S
As Joseph Smith began marrying additional wives, he taught other men about celestial marriage and offered an inner circle of 33 men the “privilege” of additional wives. Among the women courted by Joseph Smith and his male confidants, four women exemplify the courtship practices and celestial unions in nauvoo in the 1840s: Emily Partridge, Melissa …
SOME THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS ON THE RESURRECTION
Important as the doctrine of resurrection is, we know remarkably little about the resurrected condition or what life will be like as resurrected beings. This paper explores questions about the potential differences between mortal and resurrected bodies. Though we have no concrete answers now, the author chooses a hopeful, faithful interpretation of what might be …
RESTORING THE OLD TESTAMENT
We’ve invited two dedicated scriptorians to help us prepare for the 2010 Gospel Doctrine course of study on the Old Testament. Owen Clark will share his thoughts on how to study and teach the Old Testament in a Mormon ward. his presentation consists of an example of what’s to be found in the Old Testament, …
PILLARS OF MY FAITH
Pillars is a Sunstone favorite wherein speakers share the events and concepts that animate their religious lives. It’s a little soul-baring, a little intellectual testimony-bearing. This self-reflective session is about the things that matter most. Join our panelists as they reflect on their spiritual journeys in progress. Steve Evans, Jonathan Stapley, Tracy Mullett McKay