Elder Ahmad Corbitt
Prophets of the Past, Faithfulness in the Present
Elder Corbitt of the Seventy explores whether we are justified in accusing our brethren of the past of racism, even if the accusations are true.
Ahmad S. Corbitt was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 1, 2023. Elder Corbitt has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Puerto Rico San Juan Mission, primary teacher, youth leader, elders quorum president, high councilor, counselor in two stake presidencies, stake president, president of the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East Mission and First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency.
Professional Life:
Elder Corbitt received a bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Richard Stockton University of New Jersey in 1989 and a juris doctorate degree from Rutgers University School of Law in 1993. He has worked as a trial attorney, as vice president and general counsel for a New York public relations firm, and as executive director of corporate communications and government relations and associate general counsel for a Delaware company. He directed the Church’s New York Office of Public and International Affairs and, most recently, trained mission leaders as an Area Mission Specialist.
Personal Life:
Ahmad Saleem Corbitt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 16, 1962. He married Jayne Lillian Joslin in 1985. They are the parents of six children.
Emily Snyder
Your Unique Influence: Women’s Leadership
Sister Snyder asserts that both men and women have been invited to lead out and are more able to as we understand the power of our covenants.
With a teacher-heart, Emily Snyder graduated from BYU with a degree in Elementary Education. From there Emily has had a variety of professional “chapters” in her life: she has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade; worked for the general Relief Society presidency; helped run Professor Clayton Christensen’s world at the Harvard Business School; was the Chief of Staff at Magnolia (Chip and Joanna Gaines’ company in Waco, TX); and was president at Establish Design.
Currently, Emily is consulting with various organizations, and is a Senior Product Manager at Church Headquarters.
Emily received her Master of Business Administration at Columbia Business School in Manhattan. She gets to teach Gospel Doctrine in her ward, served a full-time mission in the St. Petersburg, Russia mission, and is working on her annual round of birthday goals.
Daniel C. Peterson
Appreciating Brother Brigham
Dr. Peterson wants to raise his voice on behalf of Brigham Young, who has always taken heavy criticism- even among members of the Church.
Daniel C. Peterson is the president of the Interpreter Foundation, which publishes the online periodical Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, produces books, convenes conferences, and sponsors a weekly radio program: https://interpreterfoundation.org. He and his wife were the executive producers of the 2021 theatrical film Witnesses and have served in the same capacity for its 2022 docudrama sequel, Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon.
A native of southern California who earned his doctorate at UCLA after study at BYU, in Jerusalem, and in Cairo, he retired on 1 July 2021 as a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at Brigham Young University, where he had taught since 1985.
Formerly director of research and chairman of the board of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), now BYU’s Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, he is also a former president of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology and is currently a member of the board of the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy.
Dr. Peterson 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.
He is married to the former Deborah Stephens, of Lakewood, Colorado, and they have three sons and three granddaughters.
Jennifer Roach Lees
Why Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints Find It So Hard to Talk About Faith
From her unique position as an insider of both Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints, Jennifer offers insight into why common ground is hard to find.
Jennifer Roach Lees holds a Master in Divinity as well as a Masters in Counseling Psychology. She is best known for her research into how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints handles cases of sexual abuse. She has spoken at the annual FAIR conference on this topic, as well as on the dynamics involved in Bishops interviewing teenagers alone. Jennifer is a licensed mental health therapist and lives in Utah.
Matthew Christiansen
That They May Grow Up in Thee’: Preparing Today’s Youth for Edifying Temple Experiences
Brother Christiansen offers insight and practical suggestions for preparing youth to attend the temple for the first time.
In a masterful revelation known as “the Olive Leaf… the Lord’s message of peace to us”, the Savior declared: “I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you” (D&C 88:77–78; emphasis added). Matt Christiansen has spent the last twenty-five years in pursuit of this lofty ideal. First as a missionary rubbing shoulders with Gypsy kings and mob bosses in Romania, then as an MTC instructor successfully wooing the gorgeous Italian teacher as his now wife of more than two decades, and currently as a longtime Seminary and Institute teacher just trying to get Millennials and Gen Z to look up from their phones long enough to let that mustard seed of truth have a chance to take root. Matt’s interests include listening to eclectic music, playing guitar badly, rooting for his beloved Dodgers, and tolerating his dismal Utah Jazz and BYU sports teams. He has a deep respect and appreciation for FAIR, and is honored with the opportunity to be part of this conference.
Becky Squire
Using Your Voice to #ShareGoodness Online
Sister Squire speaks from her experience as a Latter-day Saint influencer on how to make a difference on Social Media.
Becky Squire loves helping others learn how to share the gospel online in easy and effective ways. She believes that God created social media as a way to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Becky has been sharing Latter-day Saint tips and content on her blog for over 6 years and is also published in the Liahona, LDS Living, and The Today Show.
Becky enjoys jump-roping, playing piano, and teaching seminary. Her sweet family lives in Northern Utah (except her missionary who is currently serving in Indiana).
Emma Ellis
Kids, Covenants, and the House of the Lord
As an influencer who tries to share truths about the temple, Emma offers ideas for introducing children to the covenants of the temple.
Emma Ellis was born and raised in Logan, Utah, where she met her husband attending Utah State University. They were married in the Bountiful Utah Temple and have three beautiful children. She loves the rain, graphic design, Birkenstocks, pottery, hot air balloons, and everything related to the House of the Lord. She started her Instagram account, Poherful, to spread the goodness of God’s priesthood and to encourage women to grow their love in attending and learning about His temples.
LaJean Carruth
Brigham Young on Brigham Young: His Life, Conversion, and Faith, in his Own Words
As an expert on Pitman Shorthand, LaJean Carruth provides a view of Brigham Young that has been previously unavailable – through his own words.
LaJean Purcell Carruth is a senior historian at the Church History Library, Salt Lake City, where she transcribes documents written in Pitman and Taylor shorthands and in the Deseret Alphabet. She is fascinated (and often frustrated) by 19th century shorthand documents. She is co-author with Paul Reeve and Christopher Rich of This Abominable Slavery: Race, Religion, and the Battle over Human Bondage in Antebellum Utah, due out this fall from Oxford University Press. She is an avid weaver; her weaving can be seen in historic church sites in Harmony, Palmyra, Kirtland, and Nauvoo.
Chelsea Chipman
Rob Dixon
Sean Dixon
Michael Preece
Seminary and Institute Instructor Panel Discussion
Fortifying Faith in Teens and Young Adults
Four religious educators offer insight into how to strengthen the faith of young adults and teenagers.
Chelsea Chipman currently resides in Orem, Utah. She received a bachelor’s degree from UVU and a master’s in Instructional Leadership from USU. She has been working as a full-time instructor in the Church’s Seminaries and Institutes program for nearly 14 years and is currently the seminary principal at Timpview in Provo. Chelsea absolutely loves the youth and young adults of the Church with all her heart and truly believes in each one. Some of her former callings include: full-time missionary in the Czech Republic, Relief Society presidency member, Sunday School teacher, and ward missionary. In her spare time, Chelsea loves to play pickleball, go to concerts, travel, and hang out with friends and family.
Rob Dixon is a Religious Educator at Provo High for Seminaries & Institutes of Religion. New to the world of Seminary, he has been teaching for 3 years, all in Utah County. Rob is currently in a Master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in training to become a therapist.
He is married to his wife, Lydia, and they are responsible for one of the three grandchildren mentioned in Sean Dixon’s biography! Their son, Walker, is almost two years old. They are expecting another baby in October. They love playing sports, cooking together (Rob always the sous-chef), and being outside in the yard.
Sean Dixon is the director of the Utah Valley Institute Region for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion. He has been a seminary and institute teacher and administrator for the last 30 years. Prior to his role at the Institute, he and his wife M’Shelle presided over the California Redlands Mission from 2016-2019. He currently serves as a stake president in Spanish Fork.
Sean and M’Shelle are the parents of 5 children and 3 adorable grandchildren.
In addition to his passion for teaching the gospel, he loves spending time with his family. He is also a big Utah Jazz and BYU sports fan. He enjoys traveling, hiking, playing racquet sports and any yard game imaginable.
Michael Preece has been a teacher with Seminary and Institutes of Religion for 18 wonderful years. His current assignment is seminary principal in Utah County.
He has been married to his wife, Caitlin, for 17 years. They are the parents of 4 energetic children.
Michael loves to teach the scriptures to anyone that will listen, especially the youth and young adults of the church. His years in seminary have taught him of the expansive love God has for all people.
Sarah Allen
Don’t Fall Victim to One of the Classic Blunders: Building an Immunity Against a Faith Crisis
Sarah talks about building the tools we need to out-maneuver the Adversary in this battle of wits so that we can return home to our Father with our testimonies secure.
Sarah Allen is on the research team at Scripture Central and is a Senior Researcher for FAIR. She responds to anti-Mormon material on the FAIR blog and is a co-host on the Me, My Shelf & I podcast. She volunteers with the Cavalry missionary group and loves Irish history, books, and true crime podcasts. She is also the 2022 recipient of the John Taylor: Defender of the Faith Award.
Skyler Sorensen
Faith-promoting LGBTQ Conversations & Removing Barriers to Belonging
Skyler addresses how we can remove barriers, show our concern for our brothers and sisters, and still remain true to our covenants while engaging in LGBTQ conversations.
Skyler (Sky) Sorensen grew up in St. George, Utah as the 4th of 8 children. He is an active Latter-day Saint who experiences same-sex attraction. He and wife, Amanda, were married in the Provo City Center Temple in 2018. He graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in media arts and currently works as a filmmaker and podcast producer.
Sky and Amanda host the podcast, “Sit Down with Sky and Amanda,” which is dedicated to defending gospel principles through the lens of LGBT+ issues. Sky also runs the Instagram account for the podcast and enjoys engaging with others through that platform.
In 2019, their first son, Milo, was born 16 weeks early. He weighed a whopping 1 lb 8 oz and was just shy of 12”. After a few weeks of battling for his life in the NICU, he passed away in Amanda’s arms. Their daughter, Remi, is 2, and they just welcomed a new baby girl in July.
Junior Banza
Jeffrey Bradshaw
The Interpreter Foundation Panel Discussion
Not By Bread Alone: Capturing the Inspirational Stories of the Saints in Africa on Film
“Not By Bread Alone: Stories of the Saints in Africa” is a film series exploring the lives of African Saints who thirsted for tranquility and found personal peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Junior Banza was born and raised in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. In October 1979, his parents joined the Church in Geneva, Switzerland, but they returned to the DR Congo soon afterward. Junior was baptized in June 1986 right after the Church was officially recognized there. As a young man, he began his full-time mission in the DR Congo Kinshasa mission and finished in Johannesburg, South Africa. Junior and his family live in West Jordan, Utah, where he works in the financial industry. He and his wife Annie are the parents of two daughters and a son. Department in efforts to encourage outreach and historical engagement.
Jeff Bradshaw is a vice president of the Interpreter Foundation and a Church service missionary for the Church History Department. See www.TempleThemes.net for his Church-related publications. Jeff and his wife, Kathleen, began to research and recount the stories of Church history in Africa during their first mission to the DR Congo in 2016. They have four children and sixteen grandchildren. Professionally, Jeff is a senior research scientist for the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (www.ihmc.us/groups/jbradshaw).
Brent Andrewsen
Preserving and Protecting “Plain and Precious” Truths In Our Families
How do we help our young people avoid deception, or keep them from “stumb[ling] exceedingly”? We keep the “plain and precious” parts of the gospel front and center in their lives.
Brent Andrewsen practices at a regional law firm with offices throughout the Intermountain West. He is the chairman of Sutherland Institute Board of Directors, an independent research and educational institution and think tank, whose mission is to advance civility, sound ideas, and principled public policy supporting faith, family and free enterprise. Brent serves as the chairman of Skyline Research Institute and is the former chairman of the Board of Directors at Kirton McConkie. He has an AV Preeminent peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is recognized as one of Utah’s Legal Elite for estate planning, a Mountain States Super Lawyer for estate planning and non-profits, and a Best Lawyer for trusts/estates and non-profits/charities. He was also honored by Utah Business magazine as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star. Brent earned his B.A. in political science from BYU and a J.D. cum laude from the Washington & Lee University Law School.
Parker Walbeck
Navigating Media Sensationalism: Our Critical Thinking Crisis
How can we recognize and protect against media manipulation? Parker discusses some pitfalls and solutions to discerning between truth and error. It is our job to find truth.
Parker Walbeck is a husband and father of 3. He has spent the last 10 years working with some of the world’s biggest brands as a filmmaker, content creator, youtuber, and social media expert. He recently sold his business and YouTube channel of 2 million subscribers and started a new faith based channel called True Millennial, where he hopes to add his testimony of the light and fruits of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and help others on their faith journey in an increasingly dark world.
Jeffrey Thayne
The Gospel Lens: Making Christ the Center of Our Worldview
Brother Thayne explores four distinct worldviews—expressive, prosperity, therapeutic, and redemptive gospels—revealing the subtle ways in which our core values shape our perceptions.
Dr. Jeffrey Thayne graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology. He completed his doctorate in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at Utah State University. He spends time mentoring students at Brigham Young University-Idaho and writing about the intersection of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and culture.
Hayley Clark
Why the Garment?: An Ancient Purpose in a Modern World
Discussion of the garments of the Holy Priesthood from the perspective of a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Hayley Clark is a mother, wife, entrepreneur and devoted disciple of Christ. After being introduced to the Church in Washington then moving to Utah, she was baptized at age 18 as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Joining the Church later in life and being exposed to Latter-Day Saint culture outside of Utah has given Hayley a unique perspective and testimony of Jesus Christ and His church, which she shares about online in between home schooling her kids and running her modest swimsuit company.
Josh Coates
Moral Foundations of Current and Former Latter-day Saints
Brief summary of results from the 2023 Current and Former Latter-day Saints Survey, specifically results related to Jonathan Haidt’s Moral Foundations Theory.
Josh Coates serves as the Executive Director of the B. H. Roberts Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit focused on education and research related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Prior to his role at BHR, Coates founded and/or led several tech companies in the data storage and education technology sectors. Coates went to school at Berkeley, served a mission in Boston and married a girl from Idaho. He enjoys restoring old military vehicles, building combat robots, and is an amateur astronomer, welder, and machinist.
Steven Harper
CES Letters
CES Letters launched in 2024 as a multimedia ministry that seeks to respond faithfully, hopefully, and charitably both to Jeremy Runnels, author of the CES Letter (2013), and anyone else who shares his questions, concerns, and desires for sound, informed answers.
Steven C. Harper is a covenant son of God who strives to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. His primary work is to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that help students develop resilient faith in, and become lifelong disciples of, the Savior. He is married to sculptor Jennifer Sebring. They are the parents of five and grandparents of one. Harper is a professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University, editor in chief of BYU Studies, and executive editor of The Wilford Woodruff Papers. From 2012 to 2018 he was the managing historian and a general editor of Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days. From 2002-2012 he was a volume editor of The Joseph Smith Papers.
Matt McBride
Lessons Learned from the Joseph Smith Papers
This presentation highlights some of the big takeaways from the Joseph Smith Papers project. These include insights about the Prophet’s life and character as well as perspectives on the Church’s efforts to better understand its own early history.
Matthew McBride is a historian and the Director of Publications for the Church History Department. He received an MA in American History from the University of Utah, and is the author of A House for the Most High: The Story of the Original Nauvoo Temple, and co-editor of Revelations in Context: The Stories behind the Sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. Matthew was co-editor of Joseph Smith Papers: Documents, Volume 13, and a contributor to Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter-days. He and his wife Mary have four children and live in American Fork, Utah.
Mandy Davis
Viewing Today’s Culture Through the Lens of the Gospel
Rumors, hoaxes, conspiracy theories, forgeries . . . our culture is currently awash with misinformation and disinformation about everything from politics to health care to religion. How can we recognize rumors? Are Latter-day Saints particularly susceptible to them? How can we discern and embrace what is “real” (Alma 32:35)?
Mandy Davis grew up in Alberta, Canada. She graduated from Utah State University with a Communications degree. While there, she met her husband and they now reside in Cache Valley with their 3 children.
Mandy has had the opportunity to attend meetings at the United Nations both in the United States and abroad. Her experiences at the United Nations deepened her resolve to defend the family at a time when it was becoming unpopular to do so. Her Instagram account, @ChristianOverCulture helps encourage people to view trends in society through a gospel lens. She teaches how to put Christ over the culture of the world and practice intentional discipleship.
Sonrisa Hasselbach
Finding your confidence in today’s world: A Christ centered perspective that can change everything
Rumors, hoaxes, conspiracy theories, forgeries . . . our culture is currently awash with misinformation and disinformation about everything from politics to health care to religion. How can we recognize rumors? Are Latter-day Saints particularly susceptible to them? How can we discern and embrace what is “real” (Alma 32:35)?
Sonrisa Hasselbach is a religious educator/spiritual coach to 300 kids, two of which are her own. After experiencing a divorce and struggling to find confidence again, she became passionate about sharing the gospel through humor and short messages. Despite working her dream job at Seaworld, her greatest love is helping teens and people find Christ-centered confidence in an image-driven world.
Sonrisa’s greatest desire is to connect with people who may be losing hope to find strength, love, joy and confidence through Jesus Christ and His gospel. Her dream is to travel the world connecting with other people and faiths, talking about Jesus Christ. You can find her sharing on Instagram @onceuponasonrisa
Aaron Miller
Church Finances in Context: An Overview of History, Law, and Recent Controversies
This session will review the recent details and controversies, and discuss the legal, strategic, ethical, and spiritual topics that arise from this historically unique set of circumstances.
Aaron Miller (JD, MPA Brigham Young University) is a teaching professor in BYU’s Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics in the Marriott School of Business, where he teaches business ethics, nonprofits, and social innovation. He is a coauthor of The Business Ethics Field Guide and the host/author of the How to Help podcast and newsletter (how-to-help.com).
Prior to teaching at BYU, Aaron practiced law in areas including small business, nonprofit, taxation, and governance. He serves on the boards of the Nu Skin Force for Good Foundation and University Impact. He and his wife Katie have four boys.
Lynnette Sheppard
We Do Not Doubt Our Mothers Knew It
Parenting in a time of war is not for the faint of heart. But here we are.
Lynnette Sheppard is a writer, gospel enthusiast, parenting coach, and host of the Stand with Lynnette podcast. On her podcast and social media platforms, she aims to help Latter-day Saint women stand firmly with Jesus Christ and raise righteous, well-prepared kids. She graduated from BYU with a degree in Family Science, but most of her practical knowledge has come from hands-on experience raising her five highly determined children, four of whom are now grown. She is currently in the process of publishing her first book entitled “Stripling Mothers.” In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, working as a temple ordinance worker, and being a grandma.
Kirk Magleby
Radical Ecumenism: Fulfilling the Great Commission by 2033
2033 is the 2,000th anniversary of the Resurrection and Pentecost.
Kirk Magleby is 1) a disciple of Jesus Christ, 2) Shannon’s eternal companion, 3) father to 4 and grandfather to 10, 4) a retired tech entrepreneur, 5) volunteer Executive Director of Book of Mormon Central 2015-2023, and 6) currently volunteer Chief Evangelist of Scripture Central. He served a mission in Peru and has served as bishop in two wards. He was an early volunteer director of FARMS 1980 – 1985.
Priscilla Davis
Becoming Spiritually and Emotionally Resilient in Christ
We can learn to be resilient in Jesus Christ and deal with any opposition that comes our way. We are here on earth not just to endure to the end, but to find Joy.
Priscilla Davis became a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at age 14 and received a journalism degree from BYU. She married her high school sweetheart and together they have 3 children. She enjoys time with her family, photography, and sharing goodness online with her social media account: @SheSharesGoodness. She talks about eternal truths and shares the good news of Christ. As a certified brain health & family life coach, Priscilla also shares how to be emotionally resilient in these latter days and how to deal with life’s challenges while being centered in Christ.
Carol Rice
Civil Discourse
In today’s world, where conflict and division often take center stage, the call for peacemakers has never been more crucial, as Carol Rice illustrates.
Carol Rice is the Director of Communications for Public Square Magazine, a collaborative initiative of the Elizabeth McCune and the John A. Widstoe Foundation. With over two decades of experience in communication, marketing, and outreach, she has played a pivotal role in providing specialized communication and messaging training for numerous non-profit and non-governmental organizations, including engagements at the United Nations. Carol’s expertise extends to her board positions at FAIR and Skyline Research Institute.
Throughout her career, Carol has cultivated partnerships with prestigious storytelling organizations such as the Timpanogos Storytelling Institute, the National Storytelling Network, and the International Storytelling Center.
She is currently in the final stages of completing her graduate degree in Strategic Communications, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Marriage and Family Relations from BYU-I. Based in Alpine, Utah, Carol resides with her husband Scott.
Scott Gordon
I Learned it on the Internet: Maintaining Faith in Today’s Online World
Once, criticisms of the Church were discussed by those few people who read the books written by professional critics. Now those old criticisms have been resurrected and repackaged on the Internet.
Scott Gordon serves as President of FAIR (Faithful Answers, Informed Response) which
can be found online at www.fairlatterdaysaints.org. FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping members deal with issues raised by critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has an MBA and a BA from Brigham Young University. He is currently an instructor of business at Shasta College in Redding, California and teaches business classes online at BYUI. Scott has held many positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including serving as a bishop, ward mission leader, seminary teacher, and member of the elder’s quorum presidency. He is married, has five children and 14 grandchildren.
