Conference Announcement – “Mormonism and the Temple: Examining an Ancient Religious Tradition”

Speakers at the symposium “Mormonism and the Temple: Examining an Ancient Religious Tradition”

A couple days ago I received notice of a new conference that will be taking place at Utah State University, in Logan, Utah, on October 29, 2012.  The topic will be “Mormonism and the Temple: Examining an Ancient Religious Tradition.”  This symposium comes as a collaboration between a new U.S. based temple studies organization called Academy for Temple Studies together with Utah State University Religious Studies program.

This looks like it will be a singular event, with a fantastic line-up of well-known scholars speaking about the temple throughout history!  I will certainly be in attendance, and hope to see many of you there too.  Please help spread the word of this inaugural conference by sharing news of this event with your friends and family.  It’s easy, you can click the “Like” button below to quickly share this link on your Facebook timeline with all your friends, or click the “Send” button below to quickly send this link privately to certain friends, family, groups, or any email address.  (Note, these buttons are only visible on the TempleStudy.com website.)

Here is the full press release about the conference:  

Conference Announcement

“Mormonism and the Temple: Examining an Ancient Religious Tradition”

A symposium to be held on the campus of Utah State University, in conjunction with the USU Religious Studies program, and hosted by Professor Philip Barlow.

Throughout the history of civilization, diverse societies have used temples and temple-places to both worship, and to commune with deity. This conference examines that tradition and its links with the temple tradition of the Latter-day Saints.

The Logan Utah Temple

The newly-formed Academy for Temple Studies and the Utah State University Religious Studies program announce an important conference, to be held on October 29, 2012, on the campus of Utah State University.

The academic field of Temple Studies has grown in interest and importance among scholars in recent years, with thousands of articles and books focusing on the temple traditions of the Judeo-Christian religions alone. This is conference will interest both academic specialists and other informed students of the ancient temple — as typified by the temple of Solomon in Jerusalem — and its modern significance for and links to Mormonism.

Featured speakers (whose personal religious traditions include Methodism, Catholicism, and Mormonism) are noted for their expertise in these domains. The creative research of keynote speaker Dr. Margaret Barker has drawn attention both of critics and admirers in temple studies in England and the United States during the past generation. Additional speakers include the Reverend Dr. Laurence Hemming, Gary N. Anderson, Frederick M. Huchel, Danel Bachman, John W. Welch, and Drs. Le Grande Davies, John L. Fowles, John F. Hall, and Daniel C. Peterson.

Registration for the day-long conference will be $50.00. Students with a valid student ID will be admitted for $20.00.

This conference marks an important milestone in Temple Studies in the United States. Seating will be limited. Call (435) 797-1300, to reserve your seat.

More detailed information on the conference will soon be made available.