First Annual Expound Symposium in Provo, May 14th!!!!

I just wanted to alert you, especially those who live or will be in Utah next month, to the imminent advent of the First Annual Expound Symposium, to be held Saturday, May 14th, at the Brigham Young Academy in Provo, Utah.  I will be coming all the way from Scotland to speak at this event — and if that’s not enough to get you to come out, there will be several other (likely more interesting) speakers there as well. You won’t want to miss this one!!! There is no entrance or registration fee. Check out the following from the symposium’s website, http://expoundlds.com:

Mark your calendar!

The  first  annual  EXPOUND symposium will be held on Saturday, 14 May 2011 at the historic Brigham Young Academy building in Provo, Utah (only three blocks from the south edge of Brigham Young University). Come join us for engaging and insightful presentations related to the rich heritage of LDS history, scripture and belief. Drawings will be held for publications from some of the speakers.

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Presenters and Presentations

Kurt Graham
The Future of the Church History Museum

Ugo A. Perego
Is Decrypting the Genetic Legacy of America’s Indigenous Populations Key to the Historicity of the Book of Mormon?

David J. Larsen
The Psalms as a Key to Understanding the Rituals of the First Temple

Jeffrey M. Bradshaw
“Standing in the Holy Place”: Ancient and Modern Reverberations of an Enigmatic New Testament Prophecy

Mark Alan Wright
Nephite Daykeepers: Ritual Specialists in the Book of Mormon

David M. Calabro
Body Symbolism in Latter-day Saint Scripture

Larry E. Morris
“Such a Godless Place Would be Difficult to Imagine”: The Historical Setting for the Arrival of the First Mormon Missionaries in Missouri

Matthew B. Brown
Cube, Gate and Measuring Tools: A Biblical Pattern

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I really need to update my paper title and abstract, as my presentation will more nuanced than what the information on the site indicates.  That title and abstract was given months ago before I actually wrote the paper — but that’s my fault for not sending them an update.  I’ll try to do that soon.

I am really excited about this conference.  The organizers are great guys and I am very interested in hearing all the other presentations, which cover quite a wide variety of topics!

The symposium goes from 9am to 5:30pm. That may sound like a long day, but I encourage you to stay for the whole thing (especially because I’m not speaking until 3pm)! Seriously, I don’t think you’ll want to miss any of these speakers. If you can make it, I look forward to seeing you there!!

Book Signings with Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

For any Utah readers that have an interest in the book In God’s Image and Likeness discussed recently here on my blog, you can pick up a copy of the book and meet author Jeffrey M. Bradshaw at the upcoming signing events:

• BYU Bookstore, December 18, 12:00-1:30 PM
• Eborn Bookstore (South Towne Center) December 19, 4-5:30 PM
• Eborn Bookstore (Valley Fair Mall), December 19, 6:00-8:00 PM
• Eborn Bookstore (Provo Towne Center) December 22, 10-11:30 AM

Ascent to the Mountain of the Lord's House

I apologize for the dearth of posts recently.  I have moved from Wisconsin and am now staying in Utah for the next couple of weeks until I fly out with my family to Scotland.  Needless to say, I haven’t had much time for writing good posts.

I have, however, greatly enjoyed spending some quality time with my family here in Utah. Driving from Wisconsin through the great plains and up into the heights of the Rocky Mountains, it has been great to once again “ascend” to this land of Zion, where the “mountain of the Lord’s house” has been established on the top of the mountains (Isaiah 2).

In the short amount of time that I’ve been here, I’ve been able to see five LDS temples, all within less than an hour’s drive from where I am staying.  I am posting a few pictures that we have taken so far (these are all around Temple Square in Salt Lake City — I will post more later).

The Salt Lake City, Utah Temple — photo taken from across the street to the North-West

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