FAIR Conference 2023

[Tom]

I am very much looking forward to the upcoming FAIR Conference. Moksha, do you recall where the conference is being held this year? I have a faint memory that you mentioned it here. Edit: as pointed out by Moksha in April, the conference will be held on the Lehi Rodeo grounds this year. Yeehaw!

Here is a rundown of the speakers and topics:

Wednesday, August 2

Dan Peterson: Six Days in August (note: Jesus will cry if Dr. Peterson makes a joke about Pee Wee Herman playing the role of James Strang; he will also cry if Strang does not appear in Six Days)
Don Bradley: Joseph Smith's Sincerity
Kerry Hull: Book of Mormon
Avram Shannon: Book of Mormon
Andrew Young: Whistleblowers in the Last Days
Derek Westra: Portrayal of Latter-day Saints in Television
Stephen Smoot: Pressing Forward with the Book of Abraham
Jenet Erickson: For the Strength of Youth: Moving from Compliance and Defiance to Integrity in Covenant Relationship
Michael R. Ash and Ugo A. Perego: The Apparent Genetic Discrepancy between Mormon's Narrative and the Origin of the Native Americans

Thursday, August 3

President Brian Ashton: BYU Pathways
George Mitton: Joseph Smith and the Magical Contest
Neal Rappleye: Material Plates, Spiritual Vision
Janiece Johnson: Convicting the Mormons: The Mountain Meadows Massacre in American Culture (book promotion)
LaJean Carruth (WW Papers): What did Brigham Young really say?
Jen Yorgason Thatcher: Ways to Choose Faith when Questions, Doubts and Persecution Arise
Michaelbrent Collings: Finding Light in the Darkness: The Necessity of Horror in the Gospel
John W. Welch: The Seven Seals in the Apocalypse of John

Friday, August 4

Jenny Reeder: Eliza R. Snow Project
John Gee: The Covenant to Defend the Kingdom of God
Jennifer Roach: Abuse and the Church
Keith Erekson: Making Sense of Your Patriarchal Blessing (book promotion)
Ralph Hancock: The Restored Gospel and the New Liberalism: The Inescapability of Political Apologetics
Tarik LaCour: Facing up to Racism in the Church: Looking Forward by Looking Back
Brant Gardner: Reading Over Mormon's Shoulder: Watching Mormon fulfill the two purposes listed in the Title Page
Steve Densley: Proving the Church is True

Lunchtime recitals and harangues will be provided each day by David Glen Hatch.

[Kishkumen]

Lots of stuff I would like to hear!

[consiglieri]

Especially the talk about whistleblowers in the last days…

[Everybody Wang Chung]

Thanks Tom! Although, I see you forgot two of the keynote speakers:


Mike Parker-- My Year Of Living As A Black Man In Hurricane, Utah While Sticking It To The Man.

Robert Boylan -- Why Hitler's Favorite Video Game Would Have Been Mein Kraft And Other DezNazi Jokes.

[Kishkumen]

Especially the talk about whistleblowers in the last days…

Indeed! That was on my list of must-see/hear FAIR '23 presentations.

[hauslern]

Look forward to Smoot's Pressing Forward with the Book of Abraham" I wonder who is supervising his PHd at the Catholic University of America.

[Shulem]

Stephen Smoot: Pressing Forward with the Book of Abraham

I'll be your friend to the end if you tell me the king's name, Smoot-baby. But if you can't, then I'll have to play rough!

[drumdude]

I hear Elder Bednar will be a surprise guest with his talk “I know you have the faith to be saved, but do you have the faith not to be saved?”

[Everybody Wang Chung]

I hear Elder Bednar will be a surprise guest with his talk “I know you have the faith to be saved, but do you have the faith not to be saved?”

I also hear that David Glen Hatch will be singing ‘Over the Rainbow’ by Judy Garland.

[drumdude]

He’s going to be fabulous!