LDS FAIR CONFERENCE 2023
A Few Thoughts from the First Day
The FAIR 2023 Conference continues, and it has been great thus far.
These were the talks today:
Dan Peterson
Understanding History Backwards
10:00 am
Michael R. Ash
The Apparent Genetic Discrepancy between Mormon’s Narrative and the Origin of Native Americans
11:00 am
Kerry Hull
Luminosity and the Sacred
11:30 am
Lunch *Special presentation – art display provided by Meetinghouse Mosaic
Catering by Green Hollow Catering: Roast Turkey, Ham or Steakhouse sandwiches, potato or macaroni salad, chips, cookie
12:30 pm
Avrahm Shannon
“Written in the Books of Moses”: Mosaic Authorship and Authority in the Book of Mormon
01:00 pm
Andrew Young
Whistleblowers in the Last Days
02:00 pm
Derek Westra
Portrayal of Latter-day Saints in Television
02:30 pm
Stephen Smoot
Pressing Forward with the Book of Abraham
03:00 pm
Afternoon Break – consider browsing all the new books or tasting a delicious brownie or other confection from Sugar Lane Sweets!
03:15 pm
Jenet Erickson
For the Strength of Youth: Moving from Compliance and Defiance to Integrity in Covenant Relationship
04:15 pm
Don Bradley
Knowing Brother Joseph: How the Historical Record Demonstrates the Prophet’s Religious Sincerity
I introduced Daniel Peterson’s talk in my previous post. Michael R. Ash’s presentation on “The Apparent Genetic Discrepancy between Mormon’s Narrative and the Origin of Native Americans” was also excellent. He and Ugo Perego explained many matters related to the Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, DNA, and early population of the Americas.
From where did the earliest New World people come? The early American view was that after the Noachian flood and the dispersion of the tribes of Israel, some of those people came to the Americas. Like most thoughtful members of the Church, Ash believes that the Lehites encountered and were absorbed into larger populations that were already present on the American continent. It was a small incursion into a larger population. The lost 116 pages may have included more information about the populations that were already present when the Lehites arrived, but the Book of Mormon text that we currently have also contains many possible hints about these preceding populations.
Ash’s presentation confirmed to me that genetic analysis, although interesting and important, will not always produce the most accurate or reliable information. Ash is also the author of the book Rethinking Revelation and the Human Element in Scripture: The Prophet’s Role as Creative Co-Author.
I very much enjoyed Kerry Hull’s presentation on “Luminosity and the Sacred” as well. I recommend this talk if you would like to learn more about the connection between the the light and glory of God and the Divine luminescence of sacred objects. It caused me to wonder about the Divine luminescence of the Jaredite record and the gold plates from which Joseph Smith translated to produce the Book of Mormon.
I need to catch up on Avrahm Shannon’s talk on Moses, but the little that I listened to already has been excellent. Andrew Young shared some fine thoughts from the Book of Isaiah. Derek Westra’s presentation was an eye-opening experience for understanding how “Mormons” (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) are being portrayed in the media. This is an important talk, and something that members of the Church ought to understand.
I also need to catch up on Stephen Smoot’s presentation on the Book of Abraham and Jenet Erickson’s presentation on the strength of youth. I am currently listening to Don Bradley’s excellent presentation on the character of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This is the kind of presentation that everyone in the world ought to watch in order to better understand who the Prophet Joseph Smith really was. This is a great talk.