A festschrift for the 50th Anniversary of Mormon Sisters & the Pioneering Work of
Claudia Lauper Bushman
On March 15, 2025, the Mormon Studies Initiative at the University of Utah hosted a festschrift for the
50th anniversay of Mormon Sisters and the pioneering work of Claudia Lauper Bushman.
The event was open to the public and recordings are publicly available below.
The 2025 Sterling M. McMurrin Lecture was given by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich on Claudia Lauper Bushman.
Mothering Mormon Women’s History & Feminism / Jill M. Derr, Judy Dushku, Susan Howe, Martha Bradley Evans, Maxine Hanks
The Enduring Sisterhood of Exponent II / Heather Sundahl, Sylvia Cabus, Margaret Olsen Hemming, Katie Ludlow Rich
Lunch Plenary Speaker: Profs. Claudia Lauper Bushman and Richard Bushman / Caroline Kline, chair
Claudia’s Girls: The Next Generation / Kristine Haglund, Janiece L. Johnson, Rebekah Clark, Katie C. Blakesley, Amy Hoyt
Furthering the Work of LDS Women’s Histories / Taunalyn Ford, Andrea Radke-Moss, Jenny Reeder, Caroline Kline
Expanding Mormon Women’s & Gender Studies /Jana Riess, Tina Hatch, Taylor G. Petrey, Hannah Jung
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich on Claudia Lauper Bushman - Sterling M. McMurrin Lecture 2025
Indigenous Perspectives on the Meanings of “Lamanite”
On August 4-6, 2022, the Mormon Studies Initiative at the University of Utah hosted
a workshop of scholars from around the globe who study Indigenous Perspectives on
the Meanings of “Lamanite”. Two of the events were open to the public and are now
publicly available below.
Keynote address : “My Search for a Lamanite Identity: the Mexican Revolution, Rama
Mexican, Margarito, Eduardo, Aztlan, and The Sant Antonio 4th Ward”
delivered by Dr. Ignacio M. Garcia
Reflections on Discourses about “Lamanites”: A Panel Discussion
with Dr. Robert Joseph, Sarah Newcomb, Dr. Thomas Murphy, and Dr. Amanda Hendrix-Komoto
Building Bridges Conference
Building Bridges for Sexual and Gender Minorities in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints
In an address in 2017, President M. Russell Ballard identified the importance of LGBTQ+
Latter-day Saints having “a spiritual home” in the LDS Church. This annual forum brings
together academic, ecclesiastical, and community voices in a way that broadens what
is too often an entrenched debate around the experience of sexual and gender minorities
and the LDS Church. Without minimizing the conflict or offering simplistic solutions,
this annual forum invites all participants to dig deep into new ways of thinking about
the issue.
On June 8, 1978, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced President
Spencer W. Kimball’s revelation extending the lay priesthood to “all worthy male members…without
regard for race or color.” To mark this event and analyze the LDS church’s ongoing
efforts to achieve racial equality, the Tanner Humanities Center at the University
of Utah hosted “Black, White, and Mormon II: A Conference on Race in the LDS Church
Since The 1978 Revelation” in the Salt Lake City Main Public Library.
In collaboration with the College of Humanities’ Simmons Mormon Studies professor
of history Paul Reeve, the multidisciplinary conference continues the discussion of
race and the LDS church following the 2015 conference by the same name.
The conference began on June 29, 2018, with the Sterling M. McMurrin Lecture on Religion
and Culture delivered by African-American writer, historian, activist and member of
the LDS church, Darius Gray. Gray joined the Mormon church in 1964 and has been a
central figure in pressing for racial change and serving as a voice for African-American
Mormons.
On June 30, 2018, scholarly and community panels will explore how African American
Mormons understand America’s current racial and religious climate, examine the Mormon
church’s racial policies and practices, and survey the impact of the 1978 revelation.
“This conference continues our focus on race and the LDS church,” said Bob Goldberg,
director of the center. “Timed to this special anniversary, it considers how far black
saints have come and how far they may still have to travel toward equality. These
questions, in fact, must be raised in regard to all aspects of American society.”
Black, White, and Mormon I Panels
Opening Plenary: Dr. Lester Bush reflects on the forty-two years since his seminal article was published
in Dialogue which undermined the standing historical narrative that the LDS Church's
priesthood ban began with Joseph Smith. We invited Bush to consider the past forty
years: what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what steps are yet necessary
to bring about change. Bush's lecture served as the keynote address to "Black, White,
and Mormon: A Conference on the Evolving Status of Black Saints within the Mormon
Fold".
Commemoration:A Tribute to Those Who Died From Ferguson, Missouri to Saratoga Springs, Utah and
from Baltimore to Charleston, racial violence has shaken the nation. This commemoration
will offer opportunity to remember those who died and reflect on the power that race
holds on our lives.
Race & the Inner City: This panel considers the historical connections between race and the American inner
city in a secular sense and then explores Mormonism's intersections with race and
the urban environment now and in the future.
Race & Mormon Women:This panel discussion considers the place of black women within the LDS tradition.
What does it mean to be black, female, and Mormon?
Elder Joseph W. Sitati:Since joining the Church in 1986, Elder Sitati has served in numerous callings, including
branch president’s counselor, branch president, district president, mission president’s
counselor, stake president, Area Seventy, and mission president. He also served as
the Church's international director of Public Affairs for Africa. Joseph Wafula Sitati
was born in Bungoma, Kenya, in May 1952. He married Gladys Nangoni in July 1976. They
are the parents of five children and currently reside in Salt Lake City, Utah. (via
LDS.org)
Race at Brigham Young University (BYU):A panel discussion of alumni, faculty, and students that explores the experiences
of black students at BYU. The panel considers black Americans vs. African students,
isolation, recruiting, and interactions with the white student population.
Race at the Ward:This panel focuses on the ways race effects how Latter-day Saints fellowship, proselytize,
and teach each other in the ward. Dalyn Montgomery will present, “Obstacles Specific
to African Americans Joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Remaining
Active,” followed by a panel reaction and response.
Black, White, and Mormon II Panels
Opening Plenary: 2018 Sterling M. McMurrin Lecture on Religion and Culture by Darius Gray, "A 54-Year
Journey Toward Racial Equality in the Mormon Church". Trained in broadcast journalism,
at the University of Utah and Columbia University, Darius Aidan Gray worked for KSL
radio and television during the late 60s and early 70s. He especially enjoyed documentary
film production and was privileged to be placed on loan to UNICEF to film grassroots
aid projects in several African countries.
Introduction & Century of Black Mormons Announcement:Tanner Humanities Center Director Bob Goldberg opens the conference, followed by Dr.
Paul Reeve of the University of Utah, who introduces the new database of early black
Mormons, Century of Black Mormons, created in conjunction with the Marriott Library.
Racial Battle Fatigue and Racial Violence:This panel offers an overview of racism in America and in the LDS Church and examines
the obvious and hidden costs of prejudice. Gabriel and Smith will discuss the impact
of racism on African Americans through their research on racial violence and racial
battle fatigue. Vann and Williams will respond by examining how these issues play
out in the LDS community.
Getting Past the Racial Past:This panel addresses racial issues in the LDS Church since the 1978 policy change.
It asks what progress has been made, what has stayed the same, and what still needs
to change. Reeve will outline the historical context and examine the lingering impact
of "whiteness" on Mormonism. Corbitt will address the Church’s outreach toward blacks
and what that outreach might suggest about contemporary senior Church leaders’ perspectives
on blacks in the present and future of the Church. Wain Myers was recently released
from the Genesis Presidency and is the author of From Baptist Preacher to Mormon Teacher.
He will consider the role of Genesis on the African American community from the perspective
of Salt Lake City and from his experience in Genesis outside of Utah. Alice Burch
will discuss her work as the president of the Genesis Relief Society.
Lunch Plenary: Dr. Marcus Martins, Associate Dean of Religious Education at BYU-Hawaii, speaks at
the lunch plenary session for "Black, White, & Mormon II". Filmed at The Leonardo
in Salt Lake City, UT Saturday, June 30th, 2018.
Coming of Age Under the Revelation: This panel addresses the racial and religious issues facing Mormons who came of age
after the 1978 revelation. Rugh will address the sociology of race and Mormonism and
how this impacts its young, black members and the work he has done with students at
BYU on race education and integrated classrooms. Remaining panelists will detail their
generations' experiences in the LDS Church and consider how America's current racial
and religious climate influences their faith.
Race, Religion, & Community:This panel considers the way race intersects in church and community. When racial
issues percolate nationally, such as police shootings, the Charlottesville violence,
and National Anthem sports protests, black Latter-day Saints sometimes feel invisible
among their white congregants. Conversely, while local black churches and community
groups such as the Utah Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and the
Utah Black Roundtable address racial issues regularly, they must do so in a community
dominated by white Latter-day Saints. Together, these panelists will discuss how to
build productive community connections to navigate contemporary racial issues and
concerns.