2016 Mormon History Association Annual Conference – Early Bird Registration

The Mormon History Association is the single best source for information about Mormon history and to engage in Mormon studies. Every year the association holds a conference where professional scholars, engaged non-professionals, and interested observers gather to present and interact with the latest research on topics ranging from Pioneers to Race, and from Liturgy to Gender. This year the conference will be held on June 9 through 12, at Snowbird, Utah. And to be fair it isn’t the cheapest thing in the world, but it is absolutely worth it. Discounted early bird registration is open until May 7. I encourage you to join us.

The Preliminary Program for the conference is available here. This year, I’m going to be presenting on the evolution of our ordination ritual, and how it relates to changing priesthood cosmologies. I’m looking forward to sharing a panel with Kathleen Flake, who is speaking on Sealings, and Ryan Tobler, who is speaking on record keeping and ritual efficacy in Mormonism. I get all sorts of excited about this type of stuff. But if that is not your thing, at the same time there will be panels on the Nauvoo Council of Fifty, Female ecclesiastical authority, the gift of tongues, Mormon home manufacturing, May and James Talmage, Mission folklore, and Progressive-era church reforms. And that is just the first session!

In fact that will be the hardest part of the conference—choosing what session you want to attend. There is so much cool stuff. Check out the program (link above), and then register. For those with more time (and cash) the conference tours are all excellent. I look forward to seeing you there.