Summary
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Kirk Magleby
Unforgettable Hugh Nibley
Abstract
In Unforgettable Hugh Nibley, Kirk Magleby pays tribute to one of the most influential Latter-day Saint scholars of the 20th century. Sharing personal stories and insights, Magleby examines Nibley’s intellectual brilliance, moral courage, and enduring impact on gospel scholarship. He highlights how Nibley’s writings—ranging from ancient scripture to environmental stewardship—continue to fortify faith and inspire both rigorous study and spiritual devotion among modern Saints.
Bio
Kirk Alder Magleby is the Executive Director of Book of Mormon Central. Kirk was born in Salzburg, Austria, and raised in Utah and Arizona. He served a mission for the Church in Peru. Kirk has a degree in economics from BYU and has spent his life in entrepreneurial as well as religious and humanitarian pursuits. Kirk is currently the Executive Director of Book of Mormon Central. He and his wife, Shannon, have 4 children and 10 grandchildren.
Ryan Dahle
Evidence Central
Abstract
At the 2021 FAIR Conference, Ryan Dahle introduced Evidence Central, a project by Book of Mormon Central aimed at enhancing faith in Jesus Christ by making evidence supporting the Restoration more accessible and understandable. This initiative focuses on compiling, categorizing, and summarizing scholarly research related to Restoration texts, starting with the Book of Mormon. The platform features an interactive website that presents evidence through user-friendly interfaces, including dynamic tiles and navigation menus, allowing users to explore various categories and individual pieces of evidence. The goal is to provide comprehensive resources that strengthen testimonies and assist those facing doubts by offering clear and engaging summaries of complex academic research.
Bio
Ryan Dahle has a bachelor’s degree in English education from Brigham Young University – Idaho. He has teaching experience in secondary education and works as a researcher for Book of Mormon Central, where he is currently the project manager for Evidence Central. He and his wife Jennie have four children and live in Idaho.
Paul Fields
Book of Mormon Voices
Abstract
Bio
Paul J. Fields, PhD, is a consultant specializing in research methods and statistical analysis. He has worked with the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship on stylometric and authorship attribution studies of the Book of Mormon and other documents related to the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He received his doctorate from Pennsylvania State University. During his academic career he was on the faculty of the United States Naval Postgraduate School and Brigham Young University.
Brittany Chapman Nash
Let’s Talk About Polygamy
Abstract
Bio
Brittany Chapman Nash is a specialist in Latter-day Saint women’s history and coedited the award-winning four-volume Women of Faith in the Latter Days series and Fearless in the Cause: Remarkable Stories of Women in Church History. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Victorian Studies from the University of Leicester in England. Brittany worked as a historian for ten years in the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has served on committees in the Mormon History Association, Better Days 2020, and Young Women general board. She is a member of the Mormon Women’s History Initiative Team, a group dedicated to popularizing the history of Latter-day Saint women. Brittany lives with her husband, Peter, and two young children in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she enjoys working at home with her little ones. She loves learning people’s stories, helping plants to grow, and watching cooking shows with her husband.
Abstract
In this presentation, Jeff Bradshaw honors Hugh Nibley’s pioneering scholarship on ancient Enoch traditions and shares remarkable findings that have emerged since Nibley’s time. Drawing on insights from the Book of Moses and the Book of Giants, Bradshaw examines striking thematic and narrative parallels that support the antiquity of Restoration scripture. He emphasizes the temple-centered nature of the Enoch story and invites listeners to explore how these ancient threads enrich our understanding of modern revelation.
Bio
Jeffrey M. Bradshaw (PhD, Cognitive Science, University of Washington) is a Senior Research Scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) in Pensacola, Florida (www.ihmc.us/groups/jbradshaw; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_M._Bradshaw). His professional writings have explored a wide range of topics in human and machine intelligence (www.jeffreymbradshaw.net). Jeff has been the recipient of several awards and patents and has been an adviser for initiatives in science, defense, space, industry, and academia worldwide. Jeff has written detailed commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis 1–11 and on temple themes in the scriptures. For Church-related publications, see www.TempleThemes.net. Jeff was a missionary in France and Belgium from 1975–1977, and his family has returned twice to live in France. He and his wife, Kathleen, are the parents of four children and fourteen grandchildren. From July 2016-September 2019, Jeff and Kathleen served missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo Kinshasa Mission office and the DR Congo Kinshasa Temple. They currently live in Nampa, Idaho.
Tarik D. LaCour
Intro to Mormon Natural Theology
Abstract
In Intro to Mormon Natural Theology, Tarik D. LaCour explores the relationship between faith and reason, showing how Latter-day Saints can use philosophical reasoning to build a rational case for God’s existence. Drawing on thinkers like David Hume, Richard Swinburne, and William Lane Craig, LaCour examines arguments for theism that align with LDS theology and proposes ways to engage in meaningful dialogue in an age of rising atheism. This thoughtful presentation encourages Saints to integrate reason with revelation as they defend belief in God.
Bio
Tarik D. LaCour is a Ph.D student in philosophy and MA student in neuroscience at Texas A&M. Primary research interests are in philosophy of neuroscience, philosophy of mind, moral psychology and epistemology. He is a traditional Latter-day Saint and author of the blog Mad Dog Naturalist. He has interest in developing rigorous apologetic arguments rooted in an empirical philosophical approach and plans on continuing his contributions to Latter-day Saint apologetics.
Abstract
In this presentation, Edwin E. Gantt critiques modern social science views that frame sexuality as driven by abstract forces beyond personal control. Instead, he proposes a Latter-day Saint perspective in which sexuality is an agentic, embodied phenomenon—one that reflects divine potential and moral purpose. Gantt explores the philosophical and theological implications of this view, challenges reductionist narratives about sexual identity, and offers a hopeful framework for addressing sexual issues in a way that honors truth, agency, and the plan of salvation.
Bio
Edwin E. Gantt is currently Professor of Psychology at Brigham Young University and a Research Fellow of the Wheatley Institution. He received his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Duquesne University. He is the author of over 80 scholarly articles and book chapters. His primary research interests revolve around the questions of moral agency and the relationship between religion, science, and psychology. He is co-author (with Richard N. Williams) of Hijacking Science: Exploring the Nature and Consequences of Overreach in Psychology, editor of the textbook series Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Psychological Issues, and Co-Editor of the journal Issues in Religion and Psychotherapy (the official journal of the Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychologists). He teaches courses in the History and Philosophy of Psychology, Personality Theory, Qualitative Research Methods, Psychology of Religion, and (his favorite) LDS Perspectives on Psychology. He and his wife Anita live in Springville and have four wonderful sons, two amazing daughters-in-law, and two beautiful grandsons.
Abstract
Bio
Dr. Jeffrey Thayne graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology. He completed his doctorate in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at Utah State University.
He runs the popular Latter-day Saint Philosopher blog, and spends time engaging in worldview apologetics (articulating and exploring the worldview assumptions that inform our faith). He currently resides in Washington state with his wife and two children.
Abstract
Carl Trueman’s presentation, “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution,” examines how contemporary society’s focus on personal identity and self-expression has reshaped moral and cultural norms, especially concerning sexuality. He discusses the concept of “expressive individualism,” where personal feelings and desires are paramount in defining identity, and critiques the societal shift away from historical and communal values, highlighting the consequences of this evolution.
Bio
Carl R Trueman is a graduate of the Universities of Cambridge (MA) and Abderdeen (PhD) and formerly served on faculty at the Universities of Nottingham and Aberdeen and Westminster Theological Seminary (PA). Before joining the Grove City College faculty in 2018, he was the William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life at Princeton University.
He is married with two adult sons and is also an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He is the author of numerous books, including Histories and Fallacies and The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, both from Crossway, and joint editor (with Bruce Gordon) of The Oxford Handbook of Calvin and Calvinism (Oxford University Press, forthcoming).
Abstract
Bio
Stephen O. Smoot is a doctoral student in the department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literature at the Catholic University of America.
He previously earned a master’s degree from the University of Toronto in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, with a concentration in Egyptology, and Bachelor’s degrees from Brigham Young University in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, with a concentration in Hebrew Bible, and German Studies.
His areas of academic study and research include the Hebrew Bible, ancient Egypt, and Latter-day Saint scripture and history. From 2015 to 2020 Stephen was a research associate with Book of Mormon Central and is currently a research associate with the B. H. Roberts Foundation.
Stephen served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in northern New England (the New Hampshire Manchester Mission), which included six months at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in Sharon, Vermont.
Rebekah Clark
Abstract
Bio
Rebekah Clark is co-author of the book Thinking Women: A Timeline of Suffrage in Utah and works as a historian for Better Days, a nonprofit public history organization dedicated to expanding education about Utah women’s history. She holds a law degree from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University, studied as a visiting student at Harvard Law School, and practiced law in Boston for four years. She graduated with a degree in American History and Literature from Harvard University, where her honors thesis focused on Utah women’s activism in the national suffrage movement. She has worked at the LDS Church History Department and taught as an online adjunct faculty member at BYU-Idaho. Her work has appeared in journals such as the Utah State Historical Quarterly, the Journal of Mormon History, BYU Studies, Pioneer Magazine, and BYU Law Review and in podcasts by the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Church News, What’s Her Name, Zion Art Society, and the Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. In addition to her work with Better Days, she currently serves on the board of the Mormon Women’s History Initiative Team. Rebekah lives in Highland with her husband Andrew and their five children.
Derek Sainsbury
“We mean to elect him”: Electioneer Experiences during Joseph Smith’s 1844 Presidential Campaign
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Bio
Derek R. Sainsbury has worked for 26 years in the Seminaries and Institutes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Currently, he is an instructor in the Church History and Doctrine department at Brigham Young University. He holds a PhD in American History from the University of Utah. He is the author of “Storming the Nation: The Unknown Contributions of Joseph Smith’s Political Missionaries,” the award-nominated first book-length treatment of Joseph Smith’s presidential campaign. He has also authored other academic articles and conference papers. He volunteers for Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants Central. He resides in Bountiful, Utah with his wife Meredith and their three sons and three dogs.
Jennifer Ann Mackley
Discovering Church History: The Wilford Woodruff Papers Project
Abstract
In this presentation, Jennifer Ann Mackley highlights the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project’s ambitious goal of transcribing and publishing all of Wilford Woodruff’s writings. She explores Woodruff’s unique role in documenting 65 years of Latter-day Saint history, particularly in the development of temple doctrine. Mackley discusses how these primary sources illuminate the Restoration’s unfolding and offer a vital resource for deepening faith and understanding Church history in context.
📖 Book by the speaker: Wilford Woodruff’s Witness: The Development of Temple Doctrine
Bio
Jennifer Ann Mackley, JD, is the Executive Director of the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation, which she co-founded with Donald W. Parry in 2020. In addition to her legal practice as a partner in Mackley & Mackley, PLLC, Jennifer has authored or edited 21 books including Wilford Woodruff’s Witness: The Development of Temple Doctrine. She has been serving as a historian for the Wilford Woodruff Family Association since 2014 and has made numerous presentations and podcasts based on her research of Wilford Woodruff’s life and, through his records, the development of temple doctrine in the 19th century. Jennifer served in the Minnesota Minneapolis Mission and has been a temple worker in the Provo, Washington, D.C, Chicago, Salt Lake, and Seattle temples. She and her husband Carter are the parents of three adored children.
Stephen Smoot
An Egyptian Context for the Book of Abraham
-Interpreter Foundation Lecture Series
Abstract
Bio
Stephen O. Smoot is a doctoral student in the department of Semitic and Egyptian Languages and Literature at the Catholic University of America. He previously earned a master’s degree from the University of Toronto in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, with a concentration in Egyptology, and Bachelor’s degrees from Brigham Young University in Ancient Near Eastern Studies, with a concentration in Hebrew Bible, and German Studies. His areas of academic study and research include the Hebrew Bible, ancient Egypt, and Latter-day Saint scripture and history.
From 2015 to 2020 Stephen was a research associate with Book of Mormon Central and is currently a research associate with the B. H. Roberts Foundation. Stephen served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in northern New England (the New Hampshire Manchester Mission), which included six months at the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in Sharon, Vermont.
John Gee
Lessons on Doing Apologetics
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Bio
John Gee is the William (Bill) Gay Research Professor in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University. He has authored over one-hundred and fifty publications including three books and editor of eight books and has edited a peer-reviewed international professional journal. He has served on the board of trustees of national and international organizations.
Jenny Reeder
First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith
Abstract
Jenny Reeder delves into the life of Emma Hale Smith, emphasizing her integral role in the early Latter-day Saint movement, including her leadership as the inaugural president of the Relief Society and her resilience through personal hardships. Reeder draws parallels between Emma’s experiences and those of Eve, highlighting themes of redemption and grace amid trials.
Bio
Jenny Reeder is the nineteenth-century women’s history specialist at the Church History Department for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has a PhD in American history from George Mason University, and an MA from New York University in history, archival management, and documentary editing. Jenny is on the Church Historian’s Press Editorial Board, the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts Advisory Board, the Mormon History Association’s book awards committee, and the editorial board of Mormon Historical Studies. She has taught at BYU Education Week and has been a featured speaker at BYU Women’s Conference, the BYU Easter Conference, and Time Out for Women. She recently published First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith with Deseret Book, and past publications include At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women and Witness of Women: Firsthand Experiences and Testimonies of the Restoration. She leads the “Discourses of Eliza R. Snow” project, collecting and publishing all of Snow’s sermons on the Church Historian’s Press website and a selection of discourses in an upcoming print volume.
Abstract
In Rethinking Revelation and the Human Element in Scripture, Mike Ash examines how prophets participate in the revelatory process as creative co-authors. Drawing on insights from ancient and modern scripture, he explains how divine truths are recontextualized through prophetic minds, introducing cultural and personal elements while preserving sacred power. Ash explores how this model clarifies issues like scriptural errors, translation processes, and Joseph Smith’s revelations, offering a thoughtful framework for understanding the divine-human interplay in scripture.
📖 Rethinking Revelation and the Human Element in Scripture: The Prophet’s Role as Creative Co-Author 2
Bio
Michael R. Ash, a FairMormon member for more than twenty years, has been featured in nearly 90 podcasts and 30 videos. In more than two decades of writing LDS-themed material, and as a former weekly columnist for Mormon Times (owned by the Deseret News), his works include over 160 on-line articles, as well as articles in periodicals such as the Ensign, Sunstone, Neal A. Maxwell Institute’s FARMS Review, and Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought.
Michael is also the author of four LDS books. In 2008 FAIR published his book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt (which is available in English, German, and Italian). Mike quickly followed this publication with his second book, Of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. In 2015 Michael published Bamboozled by the CES Letter: An honest response to the .pdf pamphlet entitled “Letter to a CES Director”, and this year he has introduced his newest book, Rethinking Revelation and the Human Element in Scripture: The Prophet’s Role as Creative Co-Author.
Abstract
In Real vs. Rumor, Keith Erekson offers practical tools for distinguishing truth from error in the information age. Drawing on his experience as a historian and Director of the Church History Library, Erekson examines how rumors, myths, and misinformation distort our understanding of faith and history. He provides strategies for developing intellectual reflexes, evaluating evidence, and cultivating habits of careful investigation to strengthen testimony and help others avoid crises of faith.
📖 Book by the speaker: Real vs. Rumor: How to Dispel Latter-day Myths
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Bio
Keith Erekson is an award-winning author, teacher, and public historian who has published on topics including politics, hoaxes, Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley, and Church history. He grew up in Baltimore, served a mission in Brazil, and earned advanced degrees in history and business. He works for the Church History Department in efforts to encourage outreach and historical engagement.
Abstract
In this engaging presentation, Ben Spackman explores the historical and theological forces that shaped modern Latter-day Saint perspectives on Genesis and evolution. He highlights the role of fundamentalism, hermeneutics, and cultural trends in the rise of young-earth creationism, and contrasts these with alternative approaches to scripture that harmonize faith and science. Spackman provides a thoughtful framework for understanding the complexities of evolution in LDS thought while encouraging deeper reflection on how we read and interpret sacred texts.
Bio
Ben Spackman is a PhD candidate in American Religious History at Claremont. His dissertation examines the intellectual roots of LDS creationism and evolution in the 20th century.
Prior to his work at Claremont, he received a master’s degree and did PhD work in Old Testament languages and literature at the University of Chicago.
He is a guest editor of a special edition of BYU Studies dedicated to biological evolution and LDS faith, and writes at BenSpackman.com.
Brian Hales
Mind the Gap!
Abstract
In Mind the Gap, Brian Hales examines the significant disparity between Joseph Smith’s limited education and the sophisticated literary, historical, and theological features of the Book of Mormon. Using a “reverse engineering” approach, Hales highlights the text’s complexity—including its narrative structure, linguistic patterns, and doctrinal depth—and argues that naturalistic explanations fall short of accounting for its origin. This analysis reinforces the belief that the Book of Mormon is a miraculous work and serves as an intellectual validation of spiritual testimonies.
Bio
Brian C. Hales is the author or co-author of several books dealing with Joseph Smith and plural marriage. He and his wife, Laura Hales are co-webmasters of JosephSmithsPolygamy.org. He is also the author of several articles dealing with the origin of the Book of Mormon. Brian is currently pursuing an MA degree (history) at Arizona State University.
Dan Peterson
The Book of Mormon Witnesses: Sincerity and Reality
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Bio
Daniel C. Peterson (PhD, UCLA) is a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at Brigham Young University and founder of the university’s Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He has published and spoken extensively on both Islamic and Mormon subjects. Formerly chairman of the board of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) and an officer, editor, and author for its successor organization, the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, his professional work as an Arabist focuses on the Qur’an and on Islamic philosophical theology. He is the author, among other things, of a biography entitled Muhammad: Prophet of God (Eerdmans, 2007). Dan currently serves as the president of the Interpreter Foundation.
Bonus Presentation: Steve Mayfield
The Mormon Murders, Murder Among the Mormons, and the Hofmann Forgeries
Abstract
In this riveting presentation, Steve Mayfield—one of the foremost experts on the Hofmann forgeries—examines Mark Hofmann’s fraudulent documents, the resulting murders, and their profound impact on Latter-day Saint history. Mayfield provides unique insights from his decades of research, including behind-the-scenes details about the Netflix documentary Murder Among the Mormons. He explores the implications of Hofmann’s actions for Church history, apologetics, and the ongoing efforts to authenticate historical documents.
Bio
Steven L. Mayfield was a veteran law enforcement professional and historian with deep expertise in Latter-day Saint history. After serving as a missionary in Colorado and Nebraska, he worked for the FBI and later as a deputy sheriff in Jefferson County, Colorado. He spent nearly four decades with the Salt Lake City Police Department as a crime scene photographer and crime lab technician. An avid historian and documentarian, Mayfield became one of the foremost experts on the Mark Hofmann forgeries and bombings. His extensive research and unparalleled collection of historical materials—including thousands of photographs from LDS conferences and symposia—made him a trusted voice in discussions about Mormon history and archival preservation.
Speakers
Ben Spackman, Brian Hales, Brittany Chapman Nash, Carl Trueman, Dan Peterson, Derek Sainsbury, Edwin E. Gantt, Jeff Bradshaw, Jeffrey Thayne, Jennifer Ann Mackley, Jenny Reeder, John Gee, Keith A. Erekson, Kerry Muhlestein, Kirk Magleby, Michael Ash, Paul Fields, Rebekah Clark, Ryan Dahle, Stephen Smoot, Tarik D. LaCour.
Topics
John Taylor Award
Hanna Seariac
Hanna Seariac is a MA student in the Comparative Studies program at Brigham Young University. Her research interests are the intersections of Greco-Roman literature with literature from Second Temple Judaism and the first two centuries of Christianity, especially as it pertains to human sacrifices and the death of revolutionary figures. She graduated from BYU with a BA in Classical Studies. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research and teaching assistant for several professors in the Ancient Scripture and Religious Education departments. She is currently employed by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute as a research assistant for Chris Blythe on Mormon fundamentalism and by BYU Studies as a research assistant on the Thessalonians New Testament commentaries.
