Updated with video: Mormonism and the Art of Boundary Maintenance

The 2016 Mormon Studies Conference convened on April 12-13th at the Utah Valley University campus. You can watch such speakers as Michael Otterson, Jana Riess, Ross Douhat and Neylan McBaine discuss “Mormonism and the Art of Boundary Maintenance” here.

Among the most important features of religious communities is the way in which they establish and maintain boundaries. Religious beliefs, practices, and identities are shaped by a complex variety of internal and external forces. From its beginnings, Mormonism has challenged the boundaries of Christianity orthodoxy and its status as a legitimate form of Christianity continues to be debated.

Conversely, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has increasingly faced boundary questions within the community. From divisions over polygamy and spiritualism in the nineteenth century to more recent debates over same-sex marriage, women’s ordination, and prophetic authority, the Church continues to wrestle with questions of diversity within its ranks. This conference will explore how Mormonism at once both challenges Christian boundaries and is challenged to enforce its own borders in the effort to maintain unity and integrity as a tradition.

This year’s conference is hosted in partnership & collaboration with the Center for Constitutional Studies’ annual Religious Freedom Symposium. For a complete schedule of their 2016 symposium, click here.