Saturday, June 15, 2024
10:15 am
Keith Erekson
Real vs. Rumor: How to Dispel Latter-day Myths
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)?
Keith Erekson is an author, teacher, and public historian who has published on topics including politics, hoaxes, Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley, and Church history. He grew up in Baltimore, served a mission in Brazil, and earned advanced degrees in history and business. He works for the Church History Department in efforts to encourage outreach and historical engagement.
11:00 am
Daniel C. Peterson
“The Logic-Tree of Life, or, Why I Can’t Manage to Disbelieve.”
The logical possibilities regarding the truth or falsity of the Book of Mormon aren’t infinite. In fact, they’re few in number and quite simple. And clearly laying them out is a useful exercise—an exercise that, when the evidence is taken into account, seems to point us in one unmistakable direction.
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.
11:45 am
Jeffrey Thayne
What is Your Greatest Treasure?
How do we define happiness, the good life, and human flourishing? What we treat as our greatest treasure shifts how we understand everything else in our lives, including what we see as the purpose of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Understanding the purpose of the Gospel helps us build spiritual resilience in the face of life’s disappointments, and protects us from subtle counterfeits of the Gospel that might derail our faith and trust in God.
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.
13:15 PM
DeLayna Beck
Stay by the Tree
This talk explores the emotional and spiritual challenges parents face when their children make choices that differ from the faith and values they were raised with. Drawing parallels from Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life, the speaker introduces the acronym S.T.A.Y.—Stewardship, Trust, Agency, and Yield—to guide parents in navigating these trials while maintaining faith in God and love for their children. By staying true to their beliefs and demonstrating Christlike love, parents can support their children’s spiritual journeys without controlling or forcing change. The talk emphasizes trusting in God’s individualized plan for each child, respecting agency, and cultivating enduring hope through the Savior’s Atonement. Through this approach, parents can foster an environment of love, peace, and personal growth, trusting in God’s infinite wisdom and timing for their families.
DeLayna Beck has been working with FAIR since 2017 and currently serves as Operations Manager. She has a BA from Brigham Young University and has over two decades of experience across technology, project management, education, theater and publishing. A life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, DeLayna served as a missionary in the Oslo Norway mission and has served in many other capacities in the church. She, her husband and four children live in Utah.
14:00 PM
Ben Spackman
Science and Scripture: Friends, Enemies, or Other?
My goal is to decrease science/religion conflict by establishing two points. First, the historical diversity of thought by Church leaders about scripture, science, and particular issues shows that Church members can take a variety of approaches. Second, there are significant reasons to avoid the assumption that ancient scripture in particular intended to reveal scientific facts.
Ben Spackman is a historian of religion, science, and scriptural interpretation. His formal studies include ancient near eastern history, ancient Semitic languages, and American religious history. His doctoral dissertation examines the Latter-day Saint conflict between evolution and creationism in the 20th century.
14:45 PM
Scott Gordon
I Learned it on the Internet: Maintaining Faith in Today’s Online World
It used to be that criticisms of the Church were discussed by those few people who read the books written by professional critics. Now with the Internet, those old criticisms have been resurrected and repackaged into engaging videos consumed by our youth. Internet influencers now drive the discussion. What is to be done?
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.
