2015 SUMMER SEMINAR
?ORGANIZING THE KINGDOM:
PRIESTHOOD, CHURCH GOVERNMENT, AND THE FORMS OF LDS WORSHIP.?

Brigham Young University
June 14 ? July 23, 2015

In the summer of 2015, the Neal A Maxwell Institute at Brigham Young University, with support from the Mormon Scholars Foundation, will sponsor a summer seminar for graduate students, CES educators, and other qualified individuals, on ?ORGANIZING THE KINGDOM: PRIESTHOOD, CHURCH GOVERNMENT, AND THE FORMS OF LDS WORSHIP.? The seminar will be held on the BYU campus in Provo, Utah, from June 14 to July 23. Admitted participants will receive a stipend of $3000 with an accommodations subsidy if needed. International participants will also receive some transportation assistance, the amount to be determined by availability of funding. (We are hoping to cover most airfares for the internationals).

The seminar continues the series of seminars on Mormon culture begun in the summer of 1997. This iteration will be conducted by Terryl Givens, Professor of Literature and Religion and James A. Bostwick Chair of English at the University of Richmond. This particular seminar will continue a series begun five years ago on the history of Mormon thought. More specifically, we will study LDS ecclesiology, focusing on the origin and development of church organization, the evolution of public worship services and practices, and related topics. We will examine the outward forms as well as the underlying theology pertaining to these subjects. Each participant will be asked to prepare a paper on some aspect of this general subject area for presentation in a public symposium to be held the final week. Applicants are welcomed from the fields of history, literature, anthropology, sociology, religious studies, philosophy and other humanistic and social scientific fields. Graduate students at any level of preparation are eligible. CES employees are also welcome to apply, as are professionals with demonstrated interest and participation in the field of Mormon Studies. We are especially anxious to receive international applications this year.

Important note: Because spaces are so limited, and generous funding is provided, participants must be willing to devote full time to the seminar during the six weeks it runs. The group will generally meet together two hours a day, Monday thru Thursday. The rest of the time will be spent in independent research and writing.

Applications can be downloaded here. They should be submitted by February 15, 2015. Notifications will be sent by March 15, 2015.

For further information contact:
Terryl Givens, English Dept., University of Richmond, VA 23173
tgivens@richmond.edu