In fact, Sunstone as a magazine and an organization strikes me as much more constant in its outlook than the church, its doctrine, its policies, or its membership.

J. Nelson-Seawright pointed out in a recent Mormon Matters podcast that Hugh Nibley said of the court papers that documented Joseph Smith’s treasure digging something to the effect of, “If these documents are legitimate, then this is the most damaging evidence facing Mormonism” (please clarify with the exact quote, J). This may have seemed to be the case in the 1960s, but the perception of Joseph Smith has changed among a large segment of the membership to accept Joseph’s youthful follies. It’s outlets like Sunstone that lead to this kind of gradual reshaping.

In my opinion, the church will never be happy with it’s retention numbers until it is able to bring itself to embrace the Sunstone outlook openly.

Wouldn’t it be great if the leaders of our church encouraged people to engage and embrace all things Mormon? Thomas Monson can quote common poetry or a song from the Les Miserables musical. Would it really hurt the church if he quoted an article from Dialogue or Sunstone?

And let’s be honest: The DHO talk discouraging Mormons from reading “alternative voices” was totally retarded (sorry, I know he’s an apostle, but if anyone here can come up with a better word than that, I’ll use it). Especially since (a) neither the church’s membership nor property are under threat due to persecution, and (b) the internet has made the church’s century-long attempt to exert control over the availability of church-related information utterly futile.

http://sunstoneonline.com/symposium/symp-mp3s.asp

We hope you enjoy.

As near as I can tell, Dan has done a great job moving in this direction. Sounds like John intends to carry that torch.

Exactly – and that is a message that we can’t allow to slip through with all this new energy. Dan has done a marvelous job, and he will continue to do what he does so well with the magazine and symposium.

John brings a new dynamic and a great deal of skills that are needed to now take this to a broader audience. So, while we will continue to tweak and refine and adapt, this isn’t by any means an about-face.

It’s fascinating to watch John and Dan work together, there’s an interesting dynamic involved and they complement one another well. There are certainly some spirited discussions. It’s going to be a fun ride. :)

And John, just so you know, I see your numbers in print above – that Sunstone should be somewhere in the 2%-5% of Mormon homes. I’m gonna hold you to that!

I love you man.

Back then (2001), Dan and others, I believe, were saying exactly what John is saying now — there have been some mistakes in the past, but we hope to do better. As near as I can tell, Dan has done a great job moving in this direction. Sounds like John intends to carry that torch.

Part 1:
http://sunstonemagazine.com/other/SL99322.mp3

Part 2:
http://sunstonemagazine.com/other/SL01212.mp3

Listening to them now! :)

SL01212, ‘Only Your Hearts Know’: Sunstone during the Rector/Stephenson/Peck Years–Part 2: The Elbert Peck Years – All particpants: Gary James Bergera, Eric Jones – symposium: 2001 Salt Lake Symposium – excerpt: ”This paper, the second half of a history of the Sunstone Foundation during the years Daniel Rector, Linda Jean Stephenson, and Elbert Peck served as publishers and executive directors, treats the period Elbert headed the foundation. During this tumultuous time, Sunstone had to confront the impression that it somehow threatened the faith of the members of the LDS church. This included, on a perso (and summary ends there.)

(Dan, or anyone else, please correct me if I’m misremembering.)