Study and Faith, 2: Mythos, Logos, and Historical Methodology

By March 18, 2024


As I mentioned over at Times and Season, I put together what we call our “safe-space group” to discuss all kinds of topics, and not surprisingly history stuff was one of the genre of topics the group wanted to go over.

As all of my fellow JI bloggers know, that can be a bit of a difficult topic to try to do a crash course in because though our concepts of what happened in the past are very important to the larger culture and our church, we all know the study of history can be a tricky thing that often isn’t understood very well. And if such a discussion can get tricky in our larger societies’ culture war, it is even more so in debates within Mormonism when we often feel that larger religious truths are on the line.

So I thought a lot about best approaches when I was brainstorming how to introduce the topic and all the points that trained historians often want to convey. Things like “the past is a foreign country,” we have to rely on historical documents and good-faith interpretations vary, but that doesn’t mean we just make up whatever narrative we want, good historical interpretations will be supported by historical evidence (etc etc).

Since the historical topics we were going to cover were in the context of our religious beliefs, I thought I would be useful to start with the concept of the Greek ways of knowing: mythos and logos (And yes I’m using the division for my own purposes, feel free to correct!) Mythos is the accepted cultural truth about the Gods (common in all pre-modern societies) while Logos is truth that comes truth discussion (Logos=word), debates, logic, and inquiry; what the philosophers were trying to get at.

Such ways of knowing often clash: the example of Socrates being executed for challenging the contemporary religious system is a good example. Even more so would be the containing angst biblical scholarship can cause. Yet, the example of many such scholars maintaining a religious faith after making adjustments is also an example of something of a reconciliation between mythos and logos. (I know this is an extremely complicated topic with a very long history, just trying to offer some summaries).

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Kirtland Temple Conversations and Resources

By March 16, 2024


If you’re into Mormon history, someone you know has likely asked for resources on learning about the history of the Kirtland Temple and what the sale of the sacred site means for Latter-day Saints and members of the Community of Christ. Here’s a starter pack for you:

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CFP: Book of Mormon Studies Association

By March 10, 2024


DATE: October 10-12, 2024
LOCATION: Utah State University Inn
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: June 3, 2024
SUBMISSION EMAIL: bookofmormonsa (@) gmail.com

The Book of Mormon Studies Association (BoMSA) is pleased to announce its eighth annual meeting, to
be held on October 10-12, 2024, at Utah State University. The event is sponsored by USU’s Department
of Religious Studies and with thanks to Patrick Mason, the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History
and Culture.

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Thoughts on Study and Faith, Part 1: Introduction

By February 27, 2024


I’ve been working my “intellectual biography of Joseph Smith” for a long time now (hope to finish before too long), or an attempt to traced where Smith got his ideas. By “intellectual biography” I mean the focus on his ideas. Framing the project in this way is Inherently controversial from within the faith as his revelatory claims believed by followers are that the ideas came from God or from lost scriptures also with God as the ultimate source.

I’ve been at this a while, but one part of my claim is that JS, it looks to me, would have had access to all the ideas he taught, to Mormonism, including the Book of Mormon, from particular sources. Yes, Mormonism was/is quite different than the prevailing Protestantism, so he wasn’t drawing on orthodox Protestantism for the distinctly Mormon stuff, but those idea were still out there.


No doubt such claims can prompt a lot of debate and can be taken as an attack on the faith. I’ve been at this a while, am still a practicing Mormon, and I recently finished serving as bishop of my ward having been released this last May.

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Juanita Brooks Conference Program and (Free) Registration

By February 18, 2024


Please be sure to fill out the registration form if you plan to attend the Juanita Brooks Conference! It helps us plan the conference more effectively and make the most of our resources.

Registration Link

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Mormon Studies at the 2024 American Academy of Religion Annual Conference

By February 14, 2024


Call for Proposals for November Meeting

The Mormon Studies Unit welcomes papers and/or panels on a variety of themes and topics relating to the Mormon tradition, broadly defined. The proposals should analyze the material in terms of the academic study of religion. For the 2024 conference, we propose a few themes:

  • Mormonism and Activism-We seek proposals that explore the history and practices of various social, political and religious activism in Mormon contexts.
  • Mormonism and Sexuality-We seek proposals that examine Mormonism and sexuality from a historical, ethnographic, or sociological lens.
  • Mormonism and Borderlands-In recognition of being near the US/Mexico border for the San Diego conference, we seek proposals and examine Mormonism’s role in borderlands, physical and metaphorical.

Open Call: Other papers or panels dealing with aspects of Mormonism not mentioned in the previous call will also be considered. Papers may be selected for their relevance to themes which emerge among other submissions.

Panel proposals welcome.

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Global Mormon Studies Conference Registration

By February 13, 2024


Date: 23-25th May 2024
Location: Mexico City, Mexico – National Autonomous University of Mexico

Go thy way unto thy brother, and be first reconciled with thy brother, and then come to me with a full purpose of heart, and I will receive you.” 3 Nephi 12:24

Change, adaptability, and peacemaking are characteristics of Mormonism’s presence as a global religion and cultural movement. Mormonism has also been a source of historical conflict, trauma, violence, and contradiction. The theme “Go Thy Way,” acknowledges the multidimensional reality of what Mormonism’s global presence has meant to various communities and individuals. How can these layered and nuanced experiences be seen, represented, and interpreted? Can they be reconciled towards a sense of greater belonging?

Conference registration is FREE for both presenters and regular attendees.

LINK FOR REGISTRATION IN English

LINKS TO REGISTRATION IN Português

LINKS TO REGISTRATION IN Español


MHA STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS

By February 8, 2024


The Mormon History Association has allocated funds to enable members to participate in the annual conference. Financial assistance of $400 is available for up to five student or independent scholars living in the United States who will be presenting at the annual conference.

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JWHA Conference: Student Scholarships (due April 6, 2024)

By February 5, 2024


From friend-of-JI Katherine Pollock. Thanks, Katherine!

The John Whitmer Historical Association has several student conference scholarships available for Undergraduate and Graduate students for it’s St. George, Utah Conference on September 12-15, 2024. Below are details about the scholarship and how to apply.

JWHA Conference Scholarship includes:

  • Money Award (amount can vary) – received during conference
  • Conference registration fees waived
  • Free Presidential Banquet ticket
  • Free membership (including JWHA journals) for the following year

What you need to apply:

  • Your 100-to-200-word paper proposal submitted
  • Title of your paper proposal
  • A short biographical statement
  • Ability to attend the conference from Thursday – Saturday
  • Your contact and school Information
  • List of your scholarly interests
  • Willingness to help at conference

The scholarship application page can be found HERE. The scholarship application should be submitted before the Call for Papers deadline on April 6, 2024.


Church History Symposium CFP: DEADLINE FEBRUARY 16, 2024

By January 23, 2024


Oct. 24-25, 2024 Biennial Symposium

Theme: “Shall the Youth of Zion Falter?” 

The Young Womenand Young Men Organizations of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

The Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Church History and Doctrine Department at Brigham Young University extend an open invitation for paper presentation proposals for its biennial symposium.  Please see attached call for papers for additional information regarding proposals due FEBRUARY 16, 2024 and forward this to anyone you think may be interested. 

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