FAIR Partners with the Valiant Conference: Has a New Mopologetic Organization Emerged?

[Doctor Scratch]

I was passed an interesting tidbit earlier by an "informant." It turns out that FAIR Mormon has teamed up with another organization for this year's annual FAIR Conference:

Our partners, the Valiant Conference, join us in nurturing confident expressions of faith both online and offline. FAIR's traditional lineup of scholars and researchers will counter criticism of the Church and provide inspiring evidence to strengthen faith. Additional Valiant speakers will provide practical insight into how families and Church leaders can translate research into spiritual strength.

Stay tuned for exciting updates! Keep an eye on your email and follow FAIR and Valiant Conference on social media for announcements about speakers and topics.

I don't know about you, but I hadn't heard about the Valiant Conference. So what is it? You can check out their website for yourself, but the organization describes itself as "A gathering of Latter-day Saint women who confidently stand with Christ." I perused the website a bit and I admit that I was a bit perplexed by the lack of information. The Valiant Conference hosts 3 conferences each year (including the FAIR Conference), and they do indeed seem to be focused on "confidently stand[ing] with Christ," but something about the whole website cast a pall of uneasiness over my mind as I read. Simply put, it feels as though crucial information is being withheld. Was this originally a grassroots organization, I wonder? Or, instead, was this something that was dreamed up by the More Good Foundation? Or was it financed/spearheaded by the COB? Part of my reasons for wondering these things has to do with the information listed on the Valiant Conference's "Sponsors" page. Their key sponsors are: FAIR, FamilyProclamation.org, and Public Square Magazine: a publication that DCP has mentioned more than once. So is this actually a Mopologetic organization in disguise?

I can't help but wonder, too, about what seems like a rather awkward partnership between Valiant Conference and FAIR. Will Dr. Peterson still be the keynote speaker at this year's conference? Or will equal billing be given to one of the women from Valiant Conference? And to be honest, the Valiant Conference's candid insistence on a primarily faith-affirming approach seems at odds with what FAIR has been doing for the past few decades. Typical FAIR talks from Royal Skousen, John Gee, and Daniel Peterson seem about a million miles away from the Valiant Conference presentations on things like temple garments, temple covenants, and temple preparation.

So what is going on here? Perhaps one explanation can be found in a Testimonial from Karin Brown, a participant from the 2023 South Jordan Valiant Conference, who writes:

"The Valiant Conference was a faith affirming, testimony building experience. I loved hearing from women who are on the front lines of social media, sharing theirs beliefs and testimony boldly and without reserve. I left feeling empowered and motivated to do the same.

(emphasis mine)

Ah, I see! Could it be that this is a means of countering the social media beating that the Church has lately been taking, as documented here on DM by Dr. Moore? Maybe so. On an apparently far-reaching blog named "Called to Share," the owner plugged the Valiant Conference in a post titled, "A Flood of Covenant-Keeping Latter-day Saint Women Who Follow the Prophet Are Standing for Truth on Social Media." A "flood"? And what does he mean when he says that they are "Standing for Truth"? On the one hand, I'm sure that what he's saying is true--at least from his/their perspective. But aren't the critical comments on the Church's Instagram account *also* coming from women who "Are Standing for Truth"? What it looks like from where I am standing, after many years of studying Mopologetics, is that an attempt is being made to pit LDS women against each other--perhaps a "divide and conquer" sort of approach.

I am unaware of any direct responses/attacks on the Instagram criticisms as of yet from the Mopologists, but I think we have to assume that they are coming. Perhaps this will all be purely affirmative, with the Valiant Conference women asserting and affirming their faith, confidence, and obedience to the Prophet and Church leaders. Then again, given past history, you sort of have to expect someone from the hardcore Mopologist camp to go on the attack and start slamming the critical women as 'apostates.' It may be that the whole thing is being seen as a potential powder keg, and so the stakeholders are moving very carefully, trying to figure out the best path forward. But that's unlikely, I think, given how reckless and anger-fueled the Mopologists usually are.

In any case, a very interesting development here. It will be worth watching to see what happens next.

[Gadianton]

I can't help but wonder, too, about what seems like a rather awkward partnership between Valiant Conference and FAIR

Given Juliann's recent comments, this could be awkward.

I can't make heads or tails of the site either, but it's suspicious that these are Mormon women advocating for the status quo, and for Mormon women to stay in their lane. "Look at how enthused and energetic we are to stick with 'women's work' and let the men run the show! what a blessing!"

I could be wrong, and they could be the next round of feminists out to kick the shins of Rusty and Oaks. I hope I'm wrong. But I don't think so.

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

This is awesome. Check out some of the bloggers’ titles:

- Poherful. -_-

It reads like ‘poe-her-ful’ instead of ‘powherful’.

- The Haley Clark.

I wonder if she went to The Ohio State University?

- genconflove?

What the heck is a flove?

- onceuponasonrisa?

I kind of like that one.

Anyway. From the page:

Among the real heroines in the world who will come into the Church are women who are more concerned with being righteous than with being selfish. These real heroines have true humility, which places a higher value on integrity than on visibility. Remember, it is as wrong to do things just to be seen of women as it is to do things to be seen of men. Great women and men are always more anxious to serve than to have dominion.

Boy, what a loaded paragraph.

- Doc

[msnobody]

- genconflove?

What the heck is a flove?

I’m thinking General conference love.

I’m feeling a DM year in review in the making.

[Tom]

I was passed an interesting tidbit earlier by an "informant." It turns out that FAIR Mormon has teamed up with another organization for this year's annual FAIR Conference:

Our partners, the Valiant Conference, join us in nurturing confident expressions of faith both online and offline. FAIR's traditional lineup of scholars and researchers will counter criticism of the Church and provide inspiring evidence to strengthen faith. Additional Valiant speakers will provide practical insight into how families and Church leaders can translate research into spiritual strength.

Stay tuned for exciting updates! Keep an eye on your email and follow FAIR and Valiant Conference on social media for announcements about speakers and topics.

I don't know about you, but I hadn't heard about the Valiant Conference. So what is it? You can check out their website for yourself, but the organization describes itself as "A gathering of Latter-day Saint women who confidently stand with Christ." I perused the website a bit and I admit that I was a bit perplexed by the lack of information. The Valiant Conference hosts 3 conferences each year (including the FAIR Conference), and they do indeed seem to be focused on "confidently stand[ing] with Christ," but something about the whole website cast a pall of uneasiness over my mind as I read. Simply put, it feels as though crucial information is being withheld. Was this originally a grassroots organization, I wonder? Or, instead, was this something that was dreamed up by the More Good Foundation? Or was it financed/spearheaded by the COB? Part of my reasons for wondering these things has to do with the information listed on the Valiant Conference's "Sponsors" page. Their key sponsors are: FAIR, FamilyProclamation.org, and Public Square Magazine: a publication that DCP has mentioned more than once. So is this actually a Mopologetic organization in disguise?

Doctor Scratch, you've identified some important connections here. Carol Rice is serving as the conference director. Who is she? Among other things, she is the listed author of a recent "open letter" to the New York Times published on the Public Square Magazine website that criticizes the newspaper's coverage of women who responded on Facebook and Instagram to the church's recent Relief Society broadcast. Here is the full text of the letter:

I write not to presume representation for all Latter-day Saint women. From the Intermountain West corridor to far-reaching global communities, we have different experiences and deep sentiments that shape our perceptions at a moment like this.

Recently, the Church of Jesus Christ released a Relief Society broadcast to the membership of the Church. The overall intent of the broadcast seemed to be focused on how women are essential to the work of the gospel. President Nelson said, “Women have been at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan from the beginning… [and] if the world should ever lose the moral rectitude of its women, the world would never recover.” Despite these touching words, there are some women who have felt the message from the broadcast did not place women on equal footing with men and, additionally, that the Church is keeping women out of positions of power. This has led other news sources to announce that the majority of LDS women feel this sense of disempowerment when it comes to the Church. Our hearts go out to these women who have felt unheard, unlistened to, and underrepresented. We do not deny their personal experience; however, we feel this widely broadcasted message is not giving fair credence to women who have also felt empowered, loved, and valued within the Church.

We are a mosaic of narratives, not a monolith.

This is the exception taken with the recent article published by The New York Times, which demonstrates a lack of professionalism, sensitivity, and respect towards our community. Our experiences cannot be constrained within cultural constructs. We recognize it is difficult to fathom our feelings without a lens of faith. However, to answer your question, we feel elevated and empowered in our efforts. While an extensive review of the claims made about women’s religious experience could be necessary, it goes beyond the scope of this letter. However, we choose not to view all human relationships through the lens of ‘power differentials.’ Quite simply, we believe it is inaccurate to paint all individuals as inherently self-interested. Power, as described in certain ideologies as a measure of control, is not an unimportant concept, but it does not have a place within the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see ourselves and our place in the church beyond the dichotomy of ‘privileged’ and ‘oppressed.’

While not every woman would articulate these thoughts in identical terms, in our collective voice, we ask that The New York Times editors and its readership please hear this:

We choose to follow Him.

Our religious conviction and membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reflect a resolute commitment that is not merely a convenient affiliation; it is rooted in profound reverence for Jesus Christ, His priesthood, His plan, His redemption, and His church. He is the source of our joy; the God of our fathers—and our mothers.

Our belief rests on the assurance of a very personal Savior who can and does heal our individual pains because we do not expect perfection from our leaders or claim it of ourselves.

Protesting against His prophets and criticism against His church is not our way.

Nothing holy is born out of grievance. Nor is sustainable testimony fueled by anger.

It is our hope that discussions regarding our community be approached with greater consideration for the deeply held convictions that guide us. We seek conversations rooted in understanding and mutual respect. Sadly, it is you—while posing questions about our empowerment—that we feel unheard by.

The letter is co-signed by at least three women affiliated with the Valiant Conference.

The bio for RIce beneath the letter states that she is "the president of Skyline Research Institute and the Director of Communications for Public Square Magazine, a joint project of the Elizabeth McCune and the John A. Widstoe Foundation."

The Skyline Research Institute is a non-profit organization that runs a website extolling the virtues of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." It's unclear to me whether Skyline has any other functions.

I would note that the 2022 FAIR Conference featured three speakers with connections to the Skyline Research Institute. Brent Andrewsen, chairman of Skyline (as well as chairman of the Sutherland Institute Board of Directors), delivered a paper at the 2022 conference titled, "Foundational to Our Faith: 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World,'" Carole Rice spoke on "Teaching and Communicating the Doctrine of the Family to the Rising Generation," and Angela Fallentine gave an address titled, "Why Marriage? Why Family? Introducing a New Framework."

I note that the 2024 FAIR and Valiant Voices Conference is being held at the American Heritage School campus in Salt Lake City. Valiant's press release announcing the conference describes the campus as "stunning" and as "a convenient and inspiring space." The FAIR website gushes that the venue is "extraordinary," "remarkable," and "captivating." Why is the conference is being moved to the American Heritage campus? According to its website, American Heritage is a K-12 private school that

strengthens teachings of the restored Gospel throughout our academic curriculum in a variety of ways. For example, teachers gather every morning to sing a hymn, pray and listen to a brief devotional before beginning classroom instruction. Homeroom teachers begin each day in class with a morning devotional for the students and each grade presents a class devotional once per year for the entire School. . . . Moral and religious education is incorporated daily in every class and every subject – not as a separate subject and not in a separate location. Students read a large variety of literature from Shakespeare to Tolstoy to writings of the prophet Joseph Smith. All literature that we study is virtuous, of the highest academic standards, original source material and teaches moral truths. A providential view of history is taught and re-enforced through the use of timelines in each classroom that begin with pre-mortal life, continue with developments in the Bible and Book of Mormon as well as world and American history and end with the Second Coming. Additionally, students are taught to see the hand of God particularly in the establishment and preservation of America through stories that are shared from American history.

https://af.americanheritageschool.org/our-method/

I recall that Elder Ronald Rasband dedicated American Heritage's Salt Lake City campus in November 2022. According to a Deseret News article dated November 18, 2022, the campus "was a multi-year effort following an invitation from Elder Rasband to consider bringing the school to the state’s capital." Rasband dedicated the former LDS meetinghouse as "a house of learning ... that will teach truth and prioritize integrity, faith, charity, freedom and discipleship." (One of Rasband's children is on the school's board of trustees.)

Are FAIR and the Valiant Conference paying to use the American Heritage campus in August? Does American Heritage open its space to other organizations for their events?

In any case, I hope the FAIR-Valiant Conference partnership works out better than FAIR's disastrous partnership with This is The Show.

[Tom]

I don't know about you, but I hadn't heard about the Valiant Conference. So what is it? You can check out their website for yourself, but the organization describes itself as "A gathering of Latter-day Saint women who confidently stand with Christ." I perused the website a bit and I admit that I was a bit perplexed by the lack of information. The Valiant Conference hosts 3 conferences each year (including the FAIR Conference), and they do indeed seem to be focused on "confidently stand[ing] with Christ," but something about the whole website cast a pall of uneasiness over my mind as I read. Simply put, it feels as though crucial information is being withheld.

I share your feelings. Is the Valiant Conference a non-profit organization? When was the organization founded? Who founded it? The website doesn't say. The photograph posted on the "About Us" page may provide an indication of the demographics of the organization's supporters. It seems to be a very homogenous group of women (aside from the older man seen in the left side of the photo). It appears that the organization is very new. Why is FAIR partnering with an organization with such a brief history?

[Res Ipsa]

I don't know about you, but I hadn't heard about the Valiant Conference. So what is it? You can check out their website for yourself, but the organization describes itself as "A gathering of Latter-day Saint women who confidently stand with Christ." I perused the website a bit and I admit that I was a bit perplexed by the lack of information. The Valiant Conference hosts 3 conferences each year (including the FAIR Conference), and they do indeed seem to be focused on "confidently stand[ing] with Christ," but something about the whole website cast a pall of uneasiness over my mind as I read. Simply put, it feels as though crucial information is being withheld.

I share your feelings. Is the Valiant Conference a non-profit organization? When was the organization founded? Who founded it? The website doesn't say. The photograph posted on the "About Us" page may provide an indication of the demographics of the organization's supporters. It seems to be a very homogenous group of women (aside from the older man seen in the left side of the photo). It appears that the organization is very new. Why is FAIR partnering with an organization with such a brief history?

I couldn't locate an organization corresponding to the Valiant Conference. I'm guessing that it's organized and funded by Skyline Research. Skyline was granted tax free status in January 2024. It was founded in 2020. Here is the information from the Utah Secretary of State.



I've ordered copies of the paper filings, which should be here in a day or two.

ETA: Brent Andrewsen was formerly with Kirton McConkie and served as its chairperson. He is Chair of the Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank founded in 1995. https://sutherlandinstitute.org/our-team/

[I Have Questions]

This conference exists so that we can collectively strengthen our beliefs and become confident disciples of Jesus Christ. When covenant keeping women gather, there is a powerful spirit that cannot be contained.

https://www.valiantconf.com/our-story

Doesn’t the Church already deliver this, officially, at no additional cost?

Is this group saying that General Conference and the General Relief Society Presidency aren’t doing sufficient?

Given that this Conference is not endorsed by the Church, is it potentially an apostate group giving unsanctioned talks on topics that female members might see as authoritative? What if one of them teaches something slightly off, and isn’t corrected? Will the General Relief Society Presidency be there in an official, endorsing capacity?

What is the organisational structure?
Will they be publishing transparent financial accounts?
Are the speakers and hierarchy paid?

[Moksha]

This experiment with a lighter and more entrepreneurial approach to the FAIR Conference may prove successful. A focus on domestic issues and a prosperity gospel could energize the crowd.

ETA: Brent Andrewsen was formerly with Kirton McConkie and served as its chairperson. He is Chair of the Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank founded in 1995. https://sutherlandinstitute.org/our-team/

Additionally, this is a chance for FAIR to proclaim that Donald Trump is the Davidic Servant, and to issue the call to free Jodi and Ruby.

[Tom]

Thank you, Res Ipsa.

Public Square Magazine is a joint project of the Elizabeth McCune Institute and the John A. Widtsoe Foundation. Where do these organizations get their funding?

USC made a grant of $600,000 to the Widtsoe Foundation in 2018. The Foundation reported $1.2 million in contributions and grants in 2017. Book of Mormon Central made a contribution of $35,375 that year. Ancient America Foundation gave $12,500 and Book of Mormon Central gave $42,500 to the Foundation in 2016.