D.C. to host symposium on Joseph Smith
Interest in church founder grows as bicentennial nears Interest in church founder grows as bicentennial nears
Library and Brigham Young University officials announced Friday they will co-sponsor "The Worlds of Joseph Smith" at the library in Washington, D.C., on May 6-7, 2005.
The conference will explore Smith's world, his recovery of "past worlds," his challenges to the theological world and his founding of a global religion.
"He's the pre-eminent American visionary," said author Richard Bushman, whose biography of Joseph Smith is due to be published next year by Knopf. "There have been others who have claimed to have revelation, actually many, like Nat Turner, John Brown, Ralph Waldo Emerson. But Joseph Smith is the only one who produced a biblical text. Joseph is the only one who put himself on the level of the Bible. I think that qualifies him as the pre-eminent American visionary."
James H. Hutson, chief of the manuscript division at the Library of Congress, believes the public will be interested to hear distinguished scholars explain how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, founded by Smith with six members in 1830, has grown to more than 12 million members.
"It's a major church, and I think for that reason the symposium will be of interest," Hutson said. "Other religious persuasions important in American history Puritanism, for example traced the same trajectory but, unlike Mormonism, reached a limit from which their influence receded."
Church officials haven't announced plans for commemorating the birth of the faith's first president and appear more interested in spearheading conferences through Brigham Young University.
Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve and the church's commissioner of education asked BYU's Robert Millet to have the university sponsor conferences on Smith during 2005.
The Library of Congress symposium grew out of efforts by Millet, the Richard L. Evans Professor of Religious Understanding and law professor Jack Welch.
Welch and other BYU officials formed a relationship with Hutson when the Library of Congress exhibit "Religion and the Founding of the American Republic" visited BYU in 2000.
Millet and others have successfully planned a second conference on Smith at Claremont College next summer.
Friday's announcement comes less than a month after the National Archives endorsed the "Joseph Smith Papers" project, a compilation by BYU and the LDS Church archives of historical documents by and about Smith.
The first volumes of the comprehensive compilation of Smith's writings is scheduled for 2005.
Comments
- Attempted murder case refiled 1:58 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:38 a.m.
- This weekend on TV 1:38 a.m.
- Birthdays for Saturday, July 11 1:38 a.m.
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza 1:37 a.m.
- S.L. man spots stolen car — his 1:23 a.m.
- Girl critical after run-in with train 1:23 a.m.
- Probe of death treated as slaying 1:22 a.m.
- Taylorsville man arrested in robbery 1:21 a.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 1:20 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Teacher faces new sex charges
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz down Oklahoma City
- Twitter lets fans communicate, interact
- LDS seminary principal arrested
160 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
99 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...
i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...
Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...
Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...
can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...
Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...
These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...
My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...
It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...
You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...



You can be the first to comment on this story.