Jan Shipps, professor emeritus of history and religious studies at Indiana University-Purdue University, who has independently studied Mormonism for 45 years, will talk about "Prophets and Prophecy in the Mormon Tradition" on Aug. 13 at 10 a.m.

While the symposium has some offbeat offerings, it also addresses mainstream LDS subjects, including quality teaching (Aug. 11, 2-5:30 p.m.), church members with disabilities (Aug. 14, 11:15 a.m.) and managing grief and loss (Aug. 13, 2:15 p.m.)

For entertainment, a panel discussion with Salt Lake Tribune columnist Robert Kirby and three others will highlight "Television Shows that have Enhanced my Spiritual Life" (Aug. 12, 4:45 p.m.).

Here's a sampling of sessions:

• "Noah's Flood: Modern Scholarship and Mormon Tradition," by Duane E. Jeffery, professor of zoology at Brigham Young University. (Aug. 12, 10 a.m.).

• "Anti-Claus Lecture and Other Santa-at-the-Manger Myths," by L. Kay Gillespie of the criminal justice faculty at Weber State University. Aug. 12, 10 a.m.).

• Panel: "Truth or Fiction? Reading 'The Da Vinci Code.' " (Aug. 12, 11:15 a.m.).

• "In Praise of Good Women: The Social Construction of Mormonism's 'Ideal' Women," by Lavina Fielding Anderson. (Aug. 12, 3:30 p.m.).

• "100 Years of Mormon Novels," by Lael Littke. (Aug. 13, 10 a.m.).

• Panel: "Internet Mormons vs. Chapel Mormons." (Aug. 13, 11:15 a.m.).

• Panel: "Real Goddesses Have Curves." (Aug. 13, 4:45 p.m.).

• Panel: "The Best Idea in Mormonism." (Aug. 13, 4:45 p.m.).

• Panel: "Faith, Doubt and Disbelief: The Paths of Returned Missionaries." (Aug. 13, 4:45 p.m.).

• "On the Verge: Will Mormonism Become Christian?" By Shawn Aaron McCraney. (Aug. 14, 8:45 a.m.).

• Panel: "How 'Christian' Should Mormonism Strive to be?" (Aug. 14, 11:15 a.m.).

• "A Funny Thing Happened on My Way to the Temple: A Story about Mormons and Jews and Becoming Both," by Clifton Jolley of Dallas. (Aug. 14, 2:15 p.m.).

• Panel: "What's Behind 'The Da Vinci Code' Craze? Uncovering the Divine Feminine." (Aug. 14, 4:45 p.m.)

Full advance registration for the symposium is $75. A half-day advance registration is $25. For more information or to download a complete schedule, go online to www.sunstoneonline.com.

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E-mail: lynn@desnews.com