Women of the Global Church: Matt McBride highlights stories of Latter-day Saint women from around the world, showcasing their resilience, service, and faith. From pioneering in isolated regions to translating scriptures, these women shaped their communities and influenced church practices. McBride emphasizes the importance of recognizing diverse experiences and contributions to Church history. Read more
Matthew McBride is the web content manager for the Church History Department and a graduate student in American history at the University of Utah. He is the author of A House for the Most High: The Story of the Original Nauvoo Temple and coeditor of Revelations in Context: The Stories behind the Sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. Matthew has also published in the Ensign and the Journal of Mormon History. He lives in American Fork, Utah, with his wife Mary and their four children.
Fire in My Bones: Jenny Reeder tells the story of Sarah Sturtevant Leavitt, an early Latter-day Saint convert, whose unwavering conviction and drive to share the gospel reflect the legacy of faith-filled women in Church history. Reeder delves into the lives of women like Emma Smith and Lucy Mack Smith, highlighting how their devotion shaped Latter-day Saint history and underscoring the powerful spiritual contributions of women to the Restoration. Read more
Jenny Reeder is the 19th-century women’s history specialist at the LDS Church History Department. She is the co-author of At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women, and The Witness of Women: Firsthand Experiences and Testimonies of the Restoration. She earned her PhD in American history at George Mason University, and an MA in history, archival management, and documentary editing at New York University. Jenny also speaks at Time Out for Women.
Lisa Olsen Tait
Takeaways from the Gospel Topics Essays
Takeaways from the Gospel Topics Essays: Lisa Tait discusses the purpose, creation, and theological insights of the Gospel Topics essays. Addressing sensitive topics like the nature of God and women’s roles, these essays provide doctrinal clarity, historical context, and guidance for modern Latter-day Saints navigating challenging questions, reaffirming the Church’s stance on critical issues. Tait highlights the collaborative, revelatory process behind the essays, aimed at faithful accuracy and accessible understanding. Read more
Lisa Olsen Tait is a historian and writer specializing in women’s history at the Church History Library. She earned a PhD in American Literature and Women’s Studies from the University of Houston. Her dissertation and subsequent publications have focused primarily on gender and generational issues in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century Mormondom. Her long-term project is a biography of Susa Young Gates. Her work portfolio currently includes writing (with Kate Holbrook) a history of the Young Women’s organization and serving as a review editor for Saints, the new history of the church. Lisa serves as co-chair of the Mormon Women’s History Initiative Team (MWHIT), an independent group that promotes research and sharing of Mormon women’s history among scholars and in the community at large. Lisa has four children and two dogs and lives in Highland.
“We All Must Be Crazy”: The Plight of a 19th-Century Mormon Missionary Wife: Jenny Lund explores the life of Sanie Lund, a 19th-century Latter-day Saint missionary wife, through her letters. Left to manage a household and five children, Sanie’s experiences reveal the emotional, social, and economic struggles faced by women when husbands were away on missions, often viewed as “missionary widows.” Her story highlights resilience amid loneliness and societal expectations. Read more
Jennifer L. Lund is director of the Historic Sites Division in the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She received a BA in English from the University of Utah and a MA in American history from Brigham Young University. She has worked in the field of museums and historic sites for more than thirty years. The author of a number of articles and book reviews published in professional journals, she is currently editing a documentary edition of letters from the wife of a nineteenth-century Mormon missionary.
Women’s Stories in Saints: Scott Hales introduces Saints, a four-volume Church history project, with a focus on its narrative style and inclusion of women’s voices. These stories feature diverse, lesser-known women whose lives illustrate resilience and devotion, emphasizing representation. Hales explores the significance of role models in history, ensuring that women’s contributions are accurately documented and accessible for all Church members. Read more
Scott A. Hales has been a historian/writer for the Church History Department since 2015. He currently works as a writer and story editor for Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, the new four-volume narrative history of the Church. He has a BA in English from Brigham Young University and an MA and PhD in American Literature from the University of Cincinnati. He has published scholarly articles on Mormon and American literature in several academic journals, including Religion and the Arts and The Journal of Transnational American Studies. He currently lives in Eagle Mountain, UT with his wife and five children.
Taunalyn Rutherford
“For We Shall See Him as He Is”: Understanding Mormon Women in India
For We Shall See Him as He Is: Understanding Mormon Women in India: Taunalyn Rutherford explores the unique challenges and cultural adaptations of Latter-day Saint women in India, including caste influences, marriage customs, and gender norms. She shares personal stories of faith, resilience, and cultural negotiation, illustrating how Indian women integrate gospel principles within their cultural framework while maintaining strong spiritual lives. Read more
Taunalyn Ford Rutherford was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She earned a BA in History and an MA in Humanities from Brigham Young University and served an LDS mission in Stockholm Sweden. Recently she received her PhD in History of Religion at Claremont Graduate University. Her dissertation and her current book project focus on the growth of Mormonism in India. Her work has been published in academic journals and books, but her favorite works are her five children co-authored by her husband Jim Rutherford. She currently resides in Draper, Utah, and is an adjunct professor of religion at BYU.
Lynne Hilton Wilson
Peter and Paul’s Paradoxical Passages on Women
Peter and Paul’s Paradoxical Passages on Women: Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the teachings of Peter and Paul on women’s roles in marriage, the Church, and society, addressing often-misinterpreted passages on submission and gender. By analyzing Greco-Roman cultural contexts, Wilson highlights the radical ideas of cooperation and mutual respect introduced by Peter and Paul, contrasting these with prevailing societal norms and promoting an understanding of early Christian teachings on gender equality. Read more
Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson lives in Palo Alto, California, with her husband Dow R. Wilson. She is mother to seven children—all with red hair. During her under-graduate years at BYU in 1982 she studied nursing and the cello. She received an MA in Religious Studies from Cardinal Stritch University. Her thesis explored Christ’s birth narratives in the New Testament. She received a PhD in Theology and American History at Marquette University where she focused her dissertation on Joseph Smith’s doctrine of the Spirit compared to his contemporaries. She has been an adjunct professor at BYU and iis now the Stake institute director and teacher in the Menlo Park, California Stake for the Stanford single wards. She has written three books and published several papers. She is a popular speaker at BYU Women’s Conference, Education week, the Society of Biblical Literature, the Mormon History Association, Sperry Symposiums, and many others.
Even as Moses Did: The Use of the Exodus Narrative in Mosiah 11–18: Sara Riley examines the structural and thematic parallels between the Exodus narrative and Mosiah 11–18, showing how the story of Alma, Abinadi, and King Noah reflects deliverance, law-giving, and covenant themes. Riley argues these allusions were intentional, reinforcing the Nephites’ identity as a covenant people connected to ancient Israel’s Exodus experience. Read more
Sara Riley graduated cum laude with a BA in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from BYU, and is currently working as a web designer part-time. She has published work on women hand drummers in ancient Israel and is interested in using technology to help spread Book of Mormon scholarship. At the moment, she continues to apply her knowledge of the ancient world to the Book of Mormon, all the while chasing around her toddler.
Have You Been Saved by Grace?: Brad Wilcox explores the Latter-day Saint understanding of grace, clarifying it as a divine, transformative power that strengthens individuals throughout their lives, rather than simply an entry to heaven. By reframing grace as a growth-oriented partnership with Christ, Wilcox emphasizes how grace enables believers to progress spiritually and live as Christ would. He contrasts this understanding with mainstream Christian views, illustrating grace as an ongoing, empowering force in Latter-day Saint doctrine. Read more
Brad Wilcox is a professor in the Department of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University where he also enjoys working with such programs as Especially for Youth, Women’s Conference, and Campus Education Week. He is the author of the book The Continuous Atonement and the BYU devotional “His Grace is Sufficient.” Brad grew up in Provo, Utah, except for childhood years spent in Ethiopia, Africa. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile and later returned to that country to preside over the Chile Santiago East Mission from 2003 to 2006. He and his family have also lived for a time in New Zealand and Spain where he directed study abroad programs for Brigham Young University. Brad has served as a member of the Sunday School General Board. He and his wife, Debi, have four children and six grandchildren. Reading, writing, teaching, and traveling are some of his favorite things. He loves Peanut M&M’s and pepperoni pizza, but he realizes that doesn’t sound too healthy so he is really trying hard to learn to love salads.
Steve Densley & Geret Giles
Barriers to Belief
Barriers to Belief: Mental Distress and Disaffection from the Church: Steve Densley, Jr., and Geret Giles explore the role mental and emotional distress can play in members’ faith crises and disaffection from the Church. They examine social, doctrinal, historical, and psychological factors contributing to disaffection, emphasizing the need for compassion, understanding, and support for those struggling with faith and mental health challenges. The talk encourages adapting ministry efforts to individual needs, acknowledging mental health’s impact on religious participation. Read more
Steve Densley, Jr. is a Utah attorney (J.D., Brigham Young University). He graduated with University Honors from BYU with a combined B.A./M.A. in public policy and political science. He has published articles in the Utah Bar Journal, the Journal of Law and Family Studies, Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, and Meridian Magazine. He currently serves as an executive board member of The Interpreter Foundation. He was the Executive Vice President of FairMormon from 2013-15, a recipient of the John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award, and was a producer of FairMormon’s podcast when it twice won the People’s Choice Award for Best Podcast in the Religion & Spirituality category. He has served as an elders quorum president, high councilor, young men’s president, gospel doctrine teacher, and is currently the 1st counselor in his ward’s bishopric. He and his wife Heather have four children and a grandchild on the way.
Geret Giles is a psychologist in private practice since 1995. He has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University. He treats couples, families, individuals, adolescents, and children for issues such as depression, anxiety, and relationship issues. For the past 15 years Dr. Giles has also worked with Utah’s Division of Human Services to provide forensic evaluations when questions arise as to the competence and mental state of criminal defendants. He is married to the former Kelley Clements. Together they have four children—three of whom are married—and three grandchildren. Their youngest is currently serving an LDS mission in Brazil. Geret and his wife are getting used to being “empty nesters” and are finding the transition more delightful than they expected!
Jeffrey Bradshaw
Stories of the Saints in the DR Congo
coming soon…
Dr. Jeffrey M. Bradshaw is a Senior Research Scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola, Florida. His professional writings have explored a wide range of topics in human and machine intelligence (www.jeffreymbradshaw.net). Jeff has been the recipient of several awards and patents and has been an adviser for initiatives in science, defense, space, industry, and academia worldwide. He chairs the Scientific Advisory Council for the Nissan Research Center—Silicon Valley and is a former co-editor of the Human-Centered Computing Department for IEEE Intelligent Systems. He was a member of the Defense Science Board 2015 Study on Autonomy, the Board on Global Science and Technology for the National Academies of Science, and the National Research Council Committee on Emerging Cognitive Neuroscience Research.
Jeff serves as a vice president for The Interpreter Foundation and is on the Advisory Board for the Academy for Temple Studies. His articles on temple studies and the ancient Near East have appeared in Studies in the Bible and Antiquity, Element: A Journal of Mormon Philosophy and Theology, Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, Meridian Magazine, and BYU Studies. Jeff has written detailed commentaries on the book of Moses and Genesis 1-11 and on temple themes in the scriptures. For LDS-related publications, see www.TempleThemes.net.
Jeff was a missionary in France and Belgium from 1975–1977, and his family has returned twice to live in France: once from 1993–1994 as a Fulbright Scholar and a second time from 2005–2006 as an unexpected “sabbatical” in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. Jeff has served twice as a bishop and twice as a counselor in the stake presidency of the Pensacola Florida Stake. He and his wife, Kathleen, are the parents of four children and twelve grandchildren. In June 2018, they finished two years of service in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa Mission.
Selling Our Birthright for a Mess of Pottage: The Historical Authenticity of the Book of Abraham: John Gee examines the Book of Abraham’s historicity, exploring various positions and arguments for its authenticity. He presents evidence supporting its plausibility, highlights doctrinal insights, and addresses misconceptions about Joseph Smith’s translation process, positioning the Book of Abraham within the ancient scriptural tradition and underscoring its value in modern faith discussions. Read more
John Gee is a Senior Research Fellow, and the William (Bill) Gay Research Professor at the Maxwell Institute. He is the editor of eight books and has edited a peer-reviewed international Egyptological journal. He has published over eighty articles and one book. He has served on the board of trustees of national and international organizations.
Chronological Structure and Symbolism in the Small Plates of Nephi: Randall P. Spackman examines the intricate structure and symbolism within the Book of Mormon’s “Small Plates of Nephi,” focusing on year-related expressions and narrative links. By analyzing linguistic patterns and chronological markers, he reveals intentional symbolic connections to major religious themes, including covenant, prophecy, and the Nephite lineage’s heritage. Read more
For more than thirty years, Randall Proctor Spackman has pursued an avocational interest in the chronological texts of the Book of Mormon. Limited aspects of his work with these texts have been published as a FARMS Preliminary Report and in the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies and The FARMS Review. Since 2010, he has maintained www.bookofmormonchronology.net as a publishing venue for his most recent writings on selected chronological issues. This website was put on hiatus while he and his wife, Susan Sperry Spackman, served two missions as senior missionaries for the Mormon Church in 2015-2017. The website is currently being reorganized to reflect insights gained while they served in Besançon, France. These insights have led to comprehensive linguistic and semantic analyses of the 426 year-related expressions in the Book of Mormon. An introduction to the structure and symbolism of these expressions will be presented publicly for the first time at the 2018 FairMormon Conference.
Randall was born and raised in southern Alberta, Canada. He received B.A. and M.S. degrees from Brigham Young University and a J.D. degree from Duke University. For forty years, his law practice involved franchise, commercial and real estate transactions and litigation management for franchise companies headquartered in southern California. He also served as a member of the Franchise Law Committee of the California State Bar Association and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Fantastic Sam’s, a multi-national franchise company with more than 1,300 franchised hair salons.
Randall and Susan, who is also a published author and was a special education teacher for more than twenty years, have been married for more than fifty years. Their principal residence is in Saint George, Utah. They are the parents of four children and the grandparents of seventeen grandchildren. Their first great grandchild is expected in September 2018.
Joseph Smith in Van Buren’s White House: Lessons in Electoral Politics and Religious Freedom: Spencer McBride recounts Joseph Smith’s 1839 journey to Washington, D.C., where he petitioned President Van Buren and Congress for redress of Missouri persecutions. This experience underscored political barriers to religious freedom and influenced Smith’s later policies in Nauvoo. McBride emphasizes the political dynamics and lessons on advocating for minority rights that still resonate today. Read more
Spencer W. McBride is a historian of early American history. He earned his PhD in history at Louisiana State University and is a historian and documentary editor at the Joseph Smith Papers Project. An expert in the intersections of religion and American politics, he is the author of Pulpit and Nation: Clergymen and the Politics of Revolutionary America (University of Virginia Press, 2017). He is currently writing a book on Joseph Smith’s presidential campaign (under contract with Oxford University Press).
The Presence of Pre-Columbian Horses in America: Wade Miller discusses the archaeological and paleontological evidence supporting the existence of horses in pre-Columbian America. He reviews historical accounts, fossil records, and recent scientific findings to challenge the long-held belief that horses went extinct in North America before the arrival of European settlers, positing that horses may have persisted longer than commonly thought. Read more
Wade E. Miller is a professor of geology and paleontology, retired from Brigham Young University. He earned his MS in geology from the University of Arizona and his Ph.D. in paleontology from UC Berkeley. Besides teaching at BYU, Wade has taught at Fullerton Junior College and at Santa Ana College. He has served, at various times, as paleontological advisor for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the State of Utah, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum, the University of Mexico, and the University of Hidalgo (Mexico). During his career Wade published or co-published over 80 scientific articles or books. He is currently a research associate at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Wade has served in numerous callings, including as a teacher and a bishop. He is married to the former Patricia Haws and is the father of three children (all sons).
Strengthen Thy Brethren: Bolstering Those in Faith Crisis: John Lynch discusses how to support loved ones through faith crises, advocating for a compassionate, non-judgmental approach. Drawing on personal experiences and scriptural principles, he emphasizes patience, active listening, and the importance of remembering spiritual experiences. Lynch provides strategies to reassure individuals in distress, helping them reconnect with faith by fostering supportive relationships and understanding their unique struggles. Read more
John Lynch is a Silicon Valley sales and marketing executive specializing in high-tech startup ventures. He is a member of the Board of Directors of FAIR and serves as its Chairman. Having served in many missionary callings, including twice as a Stake Mission President, multiple times as a Ward Mission Leader, and having worked at the Provo Missionary Training Center as a teacher and trainer, John has seen the impact of both well-prepared and poorly prepared defenders of the faith.
Elder Kevin W. Pearson
A Sacred and Imperative Duty
A Sacred and Imperative Duty: Elder Kevin W. Pearson calls members to support the worldwide mission of sharing the gospel, emphasizing the duty to help others find faith amidst confusion. He highlights obstacles like lack of awareness and misunderstandings about the Church, advocating for clear, engaging content and social media presence to share accurate gospel messages. Pearson underscores the importance of consistent personal habits, compassionate outreach, and the strength that comes from sacred covenants in this collective effort. Read more
Elder Kevin W. Pearson was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008. At the time of his call, he had been serving as the president of the Washington Tacoma Mission. He previously served as a counselor in the Europe East Area, President of the Pacific Area, and as an assistant executive director of the Missionary Department. He is currently serving at Church headquarters as an area assistant with the North America Southwest Area. Elder Pearson also serves on the Communication Services Committee and Strengthening Church Members Committee.
Elder Pearson received a bachelor of science degree in finance from the University of Utah in 1981. In 1983 he received a master’s degree in business administration in corporate finance from Harvard Business School. Prior to his call as a mission president, he was working as the chief executive officer at Ingenix, Inc.
Elder Pearson has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Finland Helsinki Mission, stake missionary, elders quorum president, ward Young Men president, high councilor, counselor in a bishopric, bishop, and mission president.
Kevin Wayne Pearson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on April 10, 1957. He married June Langeland in June 1980. They are the parents of six children.
Arise from the Dust: Digging into a Vital Book of Mormon Theme: Jeff Lindsay explores the ancient symbolism of “dust” in the Book of Mormon, linking it to covenant-making, resurrection, and divine empowerment. By examining scriptural motifs and parallels, Lindsay highlights how the Nephite writers draw on dust themes to convey complex ideas of redemption and covenant loyalty, showing the theological and poetic depth within Nephite teachings. Read more
Jeffrey Dean Lindsay and his wife, Kendra, are residents of Shanghai, China. Jeff has been providing online materials defending the LDS faith for over twenty years, primarily at JeffLindsay.com. His Mormanity blog has been in operation since 2004. He also wrote weekly for Orson Scott Card’s Nauvoo Times from 2012 through 2016. Jeff has a PhD in chemical engineering from BYU and is a registered U.S. patent agent. He serves as Head of Intellectual Property for Asia Pulp and Paper, one of the world’s largest paper companies. Formerly, he was associate professor at the Institute of Paper Science (now the Renewable Bioproducts Institute) at Georgia Tech, then went into R&D at Kimberly-Clark Corporation, eventually becoming corporate patent strategist and senior research fellow. He then spent several years at Innovationedge in Neenah, Wisconsin, helping many companies with innovation and IP strategy. Jeff has been in China for five years, where he works with various APP companies and mills in advancing their intellectual property and innovation. Since 2015, Jeff has been recognized as a leading IP strategist by Intellectual Asset Magazine in their global IAM300 listing based on peer input. He is also lead author of Conquering Innovation Fatigue (John Wiley & Sons, 2009). He is active in the chemical engineering community and was recently named a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Jeff served a mission in the German‑speaking Switzerland Zurich Mission and currently serves as counselor in the district presidency of the Shanghai International District. He and his wife Kendra are the parents of four boys and have nine grandchildren.
Making Saints: A Look into the Writing of the New Church History: Steven C. Harper outlines the Saints project, a Church history in narrative form aimed at the rising generation. This history uses storytelling to create a relatable, faith-affirming narrative, detailing major events like the restoration and the challenges faced by early Church members. The project emphasizes themes of covenant, faith, and resilience, designed to help members understand and connect with their shared history. Read more
Steven C. Harper is a historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who has served as an editor of The Joseph Smith Papers, working on volumes in the Documents series and the Revelations and Translations series. He taught religion at BYU from 2002 to 2012 and religion and history at BYU–Hawaii from 2000 to 2001. He earned his PhD in early American history from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He is the author of Joseph Smith’s First Vision: A Guide to the Historical Accounts (2012), Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants (2008), and Promised Land: Penn’s Holy Experiment, the Walking Purchase, and the Dispossession of Delawares 1600–1763 (2006), as well as multiple published articles on early Mormonism and the early American republic. Two of these were awarded the T. Edgar Lyon and Juanita Brooks awards by the Mormon History Association.
Jeff Robinson
Thinking Differently About Same-Sex Attraction
Thinking Differently About Same-Sex Attraction: Jeff Robinson discusses the complex experiences of Latter-day Saints with same-sex attraction, challenging cultural labels and focusing on responses over causes. He encourages individuals to view attraction as a learned behavior, akin to language, and emphasizes maintaining faith and chastity through nuanced understanding and self-compassion. Robinson advocates for supportive approaches that reduce shame and honor personal experiences without enforcing restrictive classifications. Read more
Dr. Robinson received his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University. His doctoral dissertation was a qualitative study in of married Latter-Day Saint men with histories of homosexual activity. For the last 25 years he has worked in private practice specializing in assisting individuals experiencing a conflict between their experience of same-sex attraction and their religious beliefs and/or personal values. He has given numerous presentations on the issue of same-sex attraction and has conducted training for therapists and a variety of settings. He and his wife Wendy are the parents of eight children and the grandparents of eight.
Daniel Peterson
Apologetics: What, Why and How?
Apologetics: What, Why, and How?: Daniel C. Peterson discusses the purpose and approach of apologetics within the Latter-day Saint faith, emphasizing defense as an expression of belief and compassion. Using scriptural and historical examples, Peterson explains the need for respectful, reasoned responses to religious questions and challenges. He encourages members to engage thoughtfully, advocate faith with clarity, and tailor responses to individuals’ unique backgrounds, affirming apologetics as an important part of sharing gospel messages. Read more
A native of southern California, Daniel C. Peterson received a bachelor’s degree in Greek and philosophy from Brigham Young University (BYU) and, after several years of study in Jerusalem and Cairo, earned his Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Peterson is a professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic at BYU, where he has taught Arabic language and literature at all levels, Islamic philosophy, Islamic culture and civilization, Islamic religion, the Qur’an, the introductory and senior “capstone” courses for Middle Eastern Studies majors, and various other occasional specialized classes. He is the author of several books and numerous articles on Islamic and Latter-day Saint topics–including a biography entitled Muhammad: Prophet of God (Eerdmans, 2007)—and has lectured across the United States, in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and at various Islamic universities in the Near East and Asia. He served in the Switzerland Zürich Mission (1972-1974), and, for approximately eight years, on the Gospel Doctrine writing committee for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also presided for a time as the bishop of a singles ward adjacent to Utah Valley University. Dr. Peterson is married to the former Deborah Stephens, of Lakewood, Colorado, and they are the parents of three sons.
2018 marked the 20th Annual FAIR Conference. At that time, it was called the “FairMormon” conference.
Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo, Utah.
