Were the Apologists Ordered to Avoid Sunstone?

[_Doctor Scratch]

That would seem to be the case, in this comment from a senior Mopologist:

I agree that that's a problem. I used to speak at Sunstone symposia and even, once in a while, to contribute to Sunstone magazine -- and I caught a great deal of flak for it from certain quarters. Still, I thought it worthwhile. Some of the audience that I wanted to reach could be most efficiently reached there.

I stopped when, while we were meeting about something else, a couple of very powerful figures suggested (in a friendly way, and stressing that they weren't giving me an order) that I might want to consider whether my occasional appearance in or at Sunstone might lend credence to concerns held by some they knew about what was then called FARMS (now, more or less, the Maxwell Institute). Instantly recognizing that I was far more committed to FARMS (of which I was already a fairly visible face) than to Sunstone, I resolved then never to speak at or appear in a Sunstone venue again. And, I think, with the exception of one interview, I've kept to that.

For years, though, the then-editor of Sunstone (a friend, as several of its editors have been) would call to invite me to speak, or to write for them, or at least to suggest somebody on my side of the ideological divide who might be willing. He always lamented the difficulty of recruiting "conservative" Mormons, and thus maintaining some sort of balance -- particularly after the famous speech by Elder Oaks about "alternate voices."

The trouble is that, once a sort of "critical mass" of ideological imbalance has been attained or perceived -- whether it's one or the other makes little difference, I think -- it becomes quite difficult to restore balance, or even to maintain the degree of balance that actually exists. The ideological trend becomes fixed, or, sometimes, grows rapidly worse.

[_Tavares Standfield]

Of course, Dr. Scratch. This was the official policy at BYU in the 90s If I recall correctly. No Sunstone. No Dialogue.

I actually once asked Dr. Peterson to join me on a Sunstone panel but he declined because University policy would not allow him to participate.

[_Kishkumen]

I would love to hang out with classic-FARMS guys at Sunstone. It is a real shame that everyone scurries off to their own little events and the Church has stigmatized going to Sunstone. That said, I met Kevin Barney at Sunstone. I know that Kevin Barney vehemently disagrees with me on a whole host of issues, but, dammit, I really like that guy. Meeting him at Sunstone was a real treat.

Maybe by breaking bread and sipping root beer together we could cultivate more goodwill and a greater inclination to give others the benefit of the doubt.

Mingling with people face to face is at the very least palliative, and might even be downright salubrious. I was nearly bowled over when a friend told me about all the fun he had lunching with Daniel Peterson and William Hamblin.

Dropping such a prohibitive policy would be a real sop in the post-Dehlin era.

[_Yahoo Bot]

I published a very short piece in Sunstone in 2009. I was somewhat surprised at how grateful they were to receive something from a "faithful" member, and went out of their way to tell me so.

I have been on an internet list with a couple of the editors. I once or twice complained about the continued emphasis upon homosexuality to the point that one or two issues a year were devoted to it. I remarked that there were many social issues they could review, and to return repeatedly to just one was tiresome. They commented nicely about my complaints but didn't change their interest.

The reason faithful scholars tend to avoid Sunstone is that there was a letter to bishops and stake presidents about it in the very early 1990s, counseling members to avoid "symposia." I cancelled my subscription then but then re-upped several years later.

[_Maksutov]

I published a very short piece in Sunstone in 2009. I was somewhat surprised at how grateful they were to receive something from a "faithful" member, and went out of their way to tell me so.

I have been on an internet list with a couple of the editors. I once or twice complained about the continued emphasis upon homosexuality to the point that one or two issues a year were devoted to it. I remarked that there were many social issues they could review, and to return repeatedly to just one was tiresome. They commented nicely about my complaints but didn't change their interest.

The reason faithful scholars tend to avoid Sunstone is that there was a letter to bishops and stake presidents about it in the very early 1990s, counseling members to avoid "symposia." I cancelled my subscription then but then re-upped several years later.

Bot, are there other Mormon studies periodicals you would recommend?

[_Zadok]

I stopped when, ... a couple of very powerful figures suggested (in a friendly way, and stressing that they weren't giving me an order) that I might want to consider whether my occasional appearance in or at Sunstone might lend credence to concerns held by some they knew about what was then called FARMS (now, more or less, the Maxwell Institute).

I love how in the church, non-orders in the form of gentle suggestions quickly turn into unchangeable dictates and immutable doctrine.

[_Fence Sitter]

Bot, are there other Mormon studies periodicals you would recommend?

I like the Journal Of Mormon History

[_Yahoo Bot]

I published a very short piece in Sunstone in 2009. I was somewhat surprised at how grateful they were to receive something from a "faithful" member, and went out of their way to tell me so.

I have been on an internet list with a couple of the editors. I once or twice complained about the continued emphasis upon homosexuality to the point that one or two issues a year were devoted to it. I remarked that there were many social issues they could review, and to return repeatedly to just one was tiresome. They commented nicely about my complaints but didn't change their interest.

The reason faithful scholars tend to avoid Sunstone is that there was a letter to bishops and stake presidents about it in the very early 1990s, counseling members to avoid "symposia." I cancelled my subscription then but then re-upped several years later.

Bot, are there other Mormon studies periodicals you would recommend?

Dialogue
MHA's Journal
The Interpreter
Sunstone
Old and new MI publications

Then there's the USU's publication, Western Historical Quarterly or something like that, which has lots of Mormon articles. As well as the Utah Historical Quarterly, or something like that.

Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

[_Ludd]

I published a very short piece in Sunstone in 2009. I was somewhat surprised at how grateful they were to receive something from a "faithful" member, and went out of their way to tell me so.

I have been on an internet list with a couple of the editors. I once or twice complained about the continued emphasis upon homosexuality to the point that one or two issues a year were devoted to it. I remarked that there were many social issues they could review, and to return repeatedly to just one was tiresome. They commented nicely about my complaints but didn't change their interest.

The reason faithful scholars tend to avoid Sunstone is that there was a letter to bishops and stake presidents about it in the very early 1990s, counseling members to avoid "symposia." I cancelled my subscription then but then re-upped several years later.

Bot, are there other Mormon studies periodicals you would recommend?

I know this probably doesn't qualify as a "periodical", but I know several people who believe it is right on the cutting edge of "Mormon Studies":

Mormon Astronomy Domine

Make sure you listen to this while reading the site. It will help you focus.

[_moksha]

Pretty sure the event to which Dr. Peterson alludes was touched upon in the latest chapter by Elder Bob Bobberson. Referring to that might help us avoid needless speculation.