From Deseret News archives:
Sunstone to explore diversity
Scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Salt Lake Sheraton City Centre, 150 W. 500 South, the event has more than 100 workshops and sessions planned.
Sunstone is an annual gathering of some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, scholars and others who are interested in the richness and diversity of Mormon thought. It relies on free and frank exploration and discussion.
"We're a reflective forum," said Dan Wotherspoon, executive director of Sunstone. "We're not out here trying to change the church."
Also, while Sunstone has an open forum, he said it doesn't have an open microphone and no participant can be rude or out to harm the church.
"We're trying to explore all aspects of Mormon culture," he said.
At the same time, he said he and his staff value their LDS Church membership and consider themselves active members.
"Faith seeking understanding" is the motto of the symposium.
Wotherspoon said Sunstone had no shortage of presenters this year in what looks to be the highest participation year ever. He said almost 900 people attended sessions in last year's event and about the same number is expected this year. Some 500 pre-registered for the symposium in 2003.
For many years now, Sunstone has also been holding one-day symposiums in other large U.S. cities, including Dallas and Seattle. These are smaller than Salt Lake's event, but still attract five to 70 people.
He said the symposiums are purposely trying to appeal to a younger audience lately. In fact, students with valid IDs can register for free for all Sunstone events, except the workshops and banquet. About 55 students registered for free last year.
The inaugural Smith-Pettit Lecture is also free to the public. It will be Wednesday, Aug. 11, 8 p.m., with Margaret Starbird, who has written a book about Mary Magdalene, talking about "Reclaiming Magdalene: The Lost Bride in Christian Mythology."
A workshop with Starbird on Aug. 11, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., will also focus on Mary Magdalene.
Centennial Park, Ariz., plural wives will also speak out in a panel discussion Aug. 14 at 11:15 a.m.
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.
