Ninth Biennial Faith and Knowledge Conference

University of Utah, Salt Lake City

May 16-18, 2025

The Faith and Knowledge Conference was established in 2007 by Latter-day Saint scholar Richard Bushman. Its mission is to bring together graduate students and early career scholars from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Community of Christ, and other faith traditions that follow Joseph Smith. The conference aims to explore the interactions between religious faith and scholarship for members of restoration movements. During the past eight meetings, students have shared their experiences as Mormon scholars in the academy with an eye toward the challenges and insights resulting from the intersection of faith and scholarship. These papers and conversations have provided thought-provoking historical, exegetical, and theoretical perspectives, as well as compelling models for locating discipleship through scholarly disciplines. 

As Joseph Smith taught, the separation between the secular and the sacred is more of a perceived than an actual boundary. The pursuit of faithful scholarship is an act of creativity that can be developed through mentorship and fellowship. Restoration scripture teaches that disciples should seek “diligently” and teach one another “out of the best books” to establish houses of faith…[and learning]” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118-119). Rising scholars who seek both spiritual and intellectual knowledge can learn, as President Spencer W. Kimball taught, to speak both in the language of the academy and of the gospel.

In keeping with these past objectives, we welcome graduate students and early career scholars from all Mormon traditions to join the conversation. We invite scholars in the humanities, social sciences, and hard sciences to submit individual proposals addressing historical, exegetical, and theoretical issues that arise from the intersections of Mormon religious experience and academic scholarship. Past speakers have addressed a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from intimate discussions of personal faith to academic reflections on the meaning of religion in the context of  a specific discipline’s theory and methodology. Papers presented at the conference should be brief, pointed comments of eight to twelve minutes. 

This is a supportive and inclusive community. To encourage frank conversation, the Saturday sessions of the conference are closed sessions; the only attendees will be the conference organizers and those whose papers are accepted for presentation. The opening plenary session on Friday night will be open to the public. This plenary session will feature an invited panel of scholars of faith who will discuss their experiences in academia and religious institutions. 

Proposals should include a paper abstract of no more than 250 words and a brief CV. Please submit proposals by January 8, 2025, to faithandknowledgecfp@gmail.com. Questions about the conference or conference-related matters should be directed to Rebekah Call and Cathy Gilmore. Notifications of acceptance or rejection will be sent by January 18, 2025.

The registration fee will be $25 for graduate students and $50 for early career scholars. For individuals whose paper proposals are accepted, hotel accommodations for two nights and all meals on Saturday will be provided; travel expenses will be reimbursed based on a sliding scale.