Skip to main content
Intellect

LDS Church administration topic for annual BYU conference Feb. 26

Brigham Young University will host the fifth annual Church History Symposium Friday, Feb. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the BYU Conference Center. The symposium is free to the public, and registration is not required.

“The symposium was established to explore annually a topic of special interest in the experience of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Kent Jackson, associate dean of Religious Education. “In the symposium, historians meet to share the fruits of their research with each other and with a general audience of interested Latter-day Saints and friends.”

Titled “A Firm Foundation,” this year’s symposium will focus on the history of the organization and administration of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Former Columbia University professor Richard Lyman Bushman will open the symposium at 9 a.m. He is the author of “Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling” and one of three general editors of “The Joseph Smith Papers.” Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, will be the keynote speaker at 4:30 p.m.

The symposium will feature several other noted Church historians, including Susan Easton Black, Ronald Walker, Thomas G. Alexander, Richard E. Bennett and many others. Their presentations will be given throughout the day, with lectures on a variety of topics.

For more information, including a schedule of speakers, visit www.ce.byu.edu/cw/churchHistory or contact Brent Nordgren at (801) 422-3293.

Writer: Brandon Garrett

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

Forum: Convergence of Faith

September 29, 2026
Ross G. Douthat, an American author, journalist and television correspondent for CBS News’ 60 Minutes spoke at Tuesday's forum and encouraged BYU students to hold on to their belief in God.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Facing the megadrought: BYU researchers study underground ice reservoirs in the American West

September 17, 2026
Mount Timpanogos, towering 7000 feet above Utah Valley, is more than an iconic view and beloved hiking destination. Snowmelt from mountains like these provides about 95% of Utah’s water supply. Hotter, drier conditions have led to water-conservation statements from both religious and state leaders.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Humans or AI? Who or what can scam you more effectively?

September 15, 2026
Scammers are now tasking AI agents with drumming up deceptive spear-phishing attacks en masse. Recent BYU research examined AI-generated deception across text messages and emails and found they can be even more convincing than human-created scams.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=