The Restoration in the 21st Century

Since its foundation in upstate New York in 1830, the Restoration or Latter Day Saint movement has grown in size and diversity of expressions. In our second annual Sunstone Toronto Symposium, we're exploring how the movement has been navigating challenges of life in the 21st century. Presenters will explore intersections between the Restoration and the LGBT community, feminism, First Nations peoples, and other religious traditions, as well as divisions within the Latter Day Saint Tradition. Participants will consider how Restoration scripture, belief, and practice can be understood and made relevant in the 21st century.

Our keynote speaker Gregory A. Prince, author of Power from On High: The Development of Mormon Priesthood, will examine the unintended consequences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' reaction to increasing acceptance of the LGBT communities in North American society. J. Seth Anderson, author of LGBT Salt Lake will look further back and trace the history of HIV/AIDS in Utah. Christine Cusack, co-founder of Mormon Feminist Canada, will examine currents in Canadian Mormon feminism, and Community of Christ apostle Robin Linkhart will share her perspective on seeking the Divine Feminine in the Restoration context.

Mary Johnson will look at what Restoration tradition churches need to begin doing to reconcile with First Nations peoples. Lindsay Hansen Park, host of the Year of Polygamypodcast, will look at how fundamentalist Mormons are still influencing the rest of the movement. Canon lawyer Pete Vere will compare the leadership styles of Pope Francis and Stephen M. Veazey, Community of Christ's current prophet.

The director of Kirtland Temple, Seth Bryant, will look at faithful doubt, while John Hamer of the Infants on Thrones podcast will propose ways to read the Book of Mormon allegorically rather than historically. Harvard University's Michael Adam Ferguson discuss finding new truth in the Restoration tradition by following the inward, spiritual path.

Finally, Brian Carwana of the Encounter World Religions Centre will locate the Restoration within the broader context of religions worldwide and a panel of experts will look at building bridges across the divided groups within the Latter Day Saint movement.



Please join us for a thought-provoking day of sharing ideas — finding new ways to understand and experience the Restoration in our own time and place in history!