Nearly one hundred scholars, skeptics and spectators will take part in the first Mormon theology conference ever to be held at a non-Latter-day Saint institution along the Atlantic seaboard March 27-29.

"This is the most significant event in Mormon scholarship ever," said Kenneth West, conference organizer. "We are inviting scholars from all over the nation."

The conference, "God, Humanity and Revelation: Perspectives from Mormon Philosophy and History," is set to take place at Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, CT.

Thirty religion experts, philosophers and theologians will discuss Latter-day Saint theology at the three-day conference.

Eleven Latter-day Saint scholars will present various papers on Mormon theology with scholars not of the LDS faith responding to the works. The conference will also include two separate panel discussions.

Seven current BYU professors will be participating in the program.

James E. Faulconer, BYU professor of philosophy, will present a paper titled, "Why a Mormon Won't Drink Coffee but Might Drink Coke: The Atheological Character of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

"I don't think there has ever been a conference like this, whether at an LDS institution or at a non-LDS one," Faulconer said, "I'm sure there hasn't been this kind of a conference at a non-LDS institution."

Faulconer and West will also be working together on a project after the conference.

"Mr. West and I are looking for a publisher and hope to use the papers presented at the conference as the basis for a collection of essays on LDS theology, but we don't have a commitment from a publisher yet," Faulconer said.

Some of the noteworthy LDS scholars presenting papers include Truman G. Madsen, Brigham Young University Emeritus, and Terryl L. Givens, author of "By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion."

"I think it is important for LDS people to know that Mormon ideas are being introduced into scholarly circles," West said. "Here the ideas can be entertained by the academic public."

Kathryn Daynes, a BYU professor of history who will participate on a panel discussion about plural marriage, said having the conference in the eastern United States makes it significant seeing how many people are still unaware of Mormon beliefs.

"I think it's really great that they're having a conference with a forum where people, especially those from Ivy League schools, will become more aware of the beliefs of Latter-day Saints," Daynes said. "It's drawing, we hope, on a broad audience that doesn't usually participate in these types of conferences."

The conference had its inception in 2001 while West was a student at BYU. West discussed the idea with Robert Millet, Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding.

"We were both very skeptical initially," West said. "But then Rebecca Chop, former Dean of Yale Divinity, got really interested with the project, and we started preparing."

West said he understands although mostly faculty will be interested in flying to New Haven for the conference, students would benefit if they were able to go.

"If they have the capacity and the funds to travel and they are interested in Mormon studies, this isn't something they should miss," West said. "Things of this scale don't happen very often, but I know that resources are tight when you are a student."

The conference is being funded by the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts, the Richard L. Evans Chair for Religious Understanding, the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History and Yale University Divinity School.

Daynes said the conference is set up in a way that will branch out to those who don't understand.

"It provides a way at really getting at some very important issues about Mormonism," Daynes said.

Those interested can register online for the conference at www.yale.edu/mormon_conference.



Copyright Brigham Young University 4 Mar 2003