Skip to main content
Intellect

LDS International Society to meet at BYU April 2

To discuss "In the Public Eye: How the Church is Handling Increased Global Visibility"

Brigham Young University will host the 23rd Annual Conference of the LDS International Society,"In the Public Eye: How the Church is Handling Increased Global Visibility," Monday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni and Visitors Center.

The conference is free and open to the public. Reservations are required for the luncheon at $15 per person, and space is limited. Please RSVP by Monday, March 26, to the David M. Kennedy Center at (801) 422-3377.

A PDF of the conference proceedings will be available on the International Society’s website at www.ldsinternationalsociety.org later in the year for members of the society.For information on becoming a member, visit the website.

The program is as follows:

8:30 a.m. — Welcome, BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson.
 
8:45 a.m. State of the Society — Paul Rytting, outgoing president of LDS International Society.
 
9 a.m. — Keynote address, "Out of Obscurity: Perspectives from Asia," Elder Anthony D. Perkins, First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The 2012 Distinguished Service Award will be presented by Michael Jensen, incoming president of the LDS International Society following Elder Perkins’ address.
 
10:15 a.m. — Networking break.
 
10:30 a.m. — Keynote address, "In the Public Eye: How the Church is Handling Increased Global Visibility," Michael Otterson, managing director, Public Affairs, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 
11:30 a.m. — "The Church’s Digital Communications and Technology Solutions," Michael Colemere, managing director, Internet Communications, the Church of Jesus Christ.
 
Noon — Luncheon., with a video presentation by Michael Colemere.
 
1:30 p.m. — "Causes for the “Mormon Moment,” with moderator Vince Breglio, president, Breglio Consulting, former executive vice president, Wirthlin Worldwide, and international consultant; with panel members Terry Oakes, managing director, Welfare Services of the Church; Lew Cramer, CEO, World Trade Center Utah, former assistant secretary of commerce for International Trade; and Quin Monson, associate professor of political science, BYU.
 
2:45 p.m. — Networking break.
 
3  p.m. — "How the 'Mormon Moment' Looks from Abroad," Sahar Qumsiyeh, database analyst, United Nations Relief and Works Agency and Relief Society president in Israel’s branch of the Church.
 
3:45 p.m. — Concluding remarks, Michael Jensen, incoming president of the International Society
 
4 p.m. Optional free tour of BYU–TV and introduction to its goals and objectives. RSVP required.

For more information, contact Lee Simons, 801-422-2652, lee_simons@byu.edu.

Writer: Lee Simons

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

Geology meets history: BYU professor studies WWII shrapnel on Normandy beaches

June 05, 2025
Eighty years after D-Day, BYU geologists uncover lingering WWII shrapnel on Normandy beaches to study how history still shapes the coastline today.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Forum: Lessons from Noise: Crackle to Calm

June 03, 2025
This year’s Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer, Kent Gee, delivered his forum address on the science of sound and how he and BYU students have contributed to significant research in the acoustics industry.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

BYU study finds the real reasons why some people choose not to use artificial intelligence

June 03, 2025
In a recent study, BYU professors Jacob Steffen and Taylor Wells explored why some people are still reluctant to use GenAI tools. While some people might worry about an AI apocalypse, Steffen and Wells found that most non-users are more concerned with issues like trusting the results, missing the human touch or feeling unsure if GenAI is ethical to use.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=