Events
Annual Mormon Studies Conference

UVU's Religious Studies Program has been sponsoring its annual Mormon Studies conference since March, 2001. These conferences bring together scholars, practitioners, and other presenters to explore a variety of topics and themes in Mormon culture, theology, history, literature, etc. Our program also offers a variety of other lectures, symposia, and conferences that can be seen here.

Thirteenth Annual Mormon Studies Conference  

The Expanded Canon
Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts

 April 4-5, 2013
Utah Valley University

This conference will explore the wealth of new scholarship on the sacred texts of Mormonism. The growth of Mormon Studies has initiated a variety of publications that explore the LDS canon in historical and comparative contexts. Examples include Grant Hardy, Understanding the Book of Mormon  (Oxford University Press, 2010), David Holland,  Sacred Borders: Continuing Revelation and Canonical Restraint in Early America  (Oxford University Press, 2011), Terryl Givens,  By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture than Launched a New American Religion  (Oxford University Press, 2003), Royal Skousen,  The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text  (Yale University Press, 2009)

Participants Include:

2011-12 Conference
"Mormonism and the Internet: Negotiating Religious Community and Identity in the Virtual World"
March 29-30, 2012

The internet has transformed the way we access information and express ourselves.  Without the constraints that have shackled traditional media in the past, it allows information to flow more freely and more rapidly than ever before.  This has not been lost among religious institutions which are increasingly adding the web to their communication strategies. In this conference, we reflect on evolving concepts of Mormon identity and community in the digital age. For information click here.

2010-11 Conference
"Mormonism and Islam"
March 10-11, 2011

The eleventh annual UVU Mormon Studies Conference will engage in a comparative exploration of Islam and Mormonism. Scholars and practitioners will reflect on points of connection and contrast between two traditions that face challenges related to public awareness and social inclusion. This two-day event will explore a variety of issues for Mormons and Muslims including 1) religious freedom and public perception, 2) mutual goals and cooperative endeavors, 3) areas of theological connection and divergence, and 4) efforts at dialogue and bridge-building. For more information, click here.

2009-10 Conference
"Outmigration and the Mormon Quest for Education" 
November 5-6, 2009

This two-day conference reflected on the experience of Mormon migrants who sought to develop themselves and advance the cause of Mormonism through their studies at prestigious colleges and universities. A variety of outmigrants, their biographers, and Mormon studies scholars  joined together to discuss this phenomenon and its connection to broader questions in the Mormon quest for education. click here for printer-friendly version of the program

Previous Conferences

• “Mormonism in the Public Mind: Perspectives on an Emerging World Religion” April 2-3, 2009

• “Restoration Christianity: Commonality and Divergence in Latter-day Saint Movements,” April 1, 2008

• “Mormonism and the Environment,” April 4, 2007

• “Mormonism and the Christian Tradition,” March 30-1, 2006

• “Mormonism and Social Justice,” March 2-4, 2005

• “Mormon Theology Conference,” March 19-20, 2004 (co-sponsored with SMPT)

• “Perspectives on Mormon Culture,” March 19-20, 2004

• “Passing the Portals: Mormon Literature in the 21st Century,” February 21-22, 2003 (co-sponsored with AML)

• “Mormon Philosophy Conference,” March 25, 2002

• “Conference on the Study of Mormon Culture,” March 21, 2001