Pew Forum Hosts Conference on Mormon History
A recent conference hosted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life brought together historian and Mormon scholar Richard Bushman and leading journalists to explore the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its relationship with American politics.
The conference generated lengthy and robust discussion on Mormonism — something rarely seen in the rushed environment of today’s media. The extended question-and-answer session gave journalists ample opportunity to ask questions and voice their opinions on a variety of subjects.
Professor Bushman, an accomplished academic but not an official Church spokesman, offered his views and interpretations ranging from social transformations within Mormonism to the nature and role of prophetic revelation. A member of the Church, Bushman is professor emeritus at Columbia University and an editor of the Joseph Smith Papers project, which aims to publish a comprehensive collection of historical material related to Joseph Smith.
The entire transcript of the conference can be found at www.pewforum.org.
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