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Let’s start creating a list of cool LDS folk to interview. Heather — do you think your Dad would do an interview? Would your Mom be a cool interview?
Other ideas?
Wow, John. I honestly don’t know whether either of my parents would want to be involved in something like this. That’s a tough call. I think they are wary of all-things-internet. You would have to very carefully articulate your goals/objectives. I’ll have to think about that. What’s your criteria for selecting people to interview? I have a friend in SLC who might agree to do this–if he were assured that our/your motives your pure. But he’s not anyone “famous” in terms of Sunstone, Dialogue, or anything–just someone I’ve talked to about some of my and Brent’s issues with the church.
???
Hmmm. I understand. Logistically, we could handle it all by phone, or by computer if they have a good headset. Do your parents still live in Huntsville?
The interview would go something like this:
– Talk about your “early years” in the church (either as a convert or in your youth). We’d be looking for cool stories, mostly.
– Were there ever times that you struggled w/ the church? What were some of the issues? How did you work through them?
– What types of things do you love most about the church? (stories fit here as well)
– End w/ your testimony.
That would be the basic flow of the interviews. Seems like it would be pretty safe. I’m not interested in digging into stuff. More in how they resolved stuff in their own minds.
Elder Ballard has pretty strongly encouraged folks to share their testimonies on blogs and in podcasts (I can probably find 4 speeches he’s given over the past year where he’s done this, including in a recent Ensign) — so I think they’d be on safe ground.
And I think that this has the potential to help tens of thousands of people (Mormon Stories has probably reached 20,000 by now).
Anyway, just a thought. No pressure.
Thanks for considering!
I am a family friend of Brian Hauglid, who is a religion professor at BYU. He was a convert to the chruch, and his specialty now is the Book of Abraham. He’s done some stuff for FAIRLDS though, so maybe you don’t want him? However, the last talk he gave at the FAIRLDS convention was about how to treat people who are struggling with respect -an article about his talk is here: http://mormontimes.com/people_news/education/?id=2353 It was similar to the Bushman article about the dissafected… Anyway, let me know if you’re interested and I’d be happy to contact him.Margaret Young would be a fabulous person to contact about race within the Church. She has access to Darius Gray and others. I think you could have an amazing discussion with her, and I’m sure she would love to do something to help those who are disaffected because of that topic. She also could do two separate interviews – one focused on understanding from a white perspective and one focused on understanding from a black perspective. I would be fascinated by that interview. Here’s another I know, although I’m not sure he’d be a good fit since as far as I know he’s VERY TBM… However, he is incredibly knowledgeable about the church, another ancient scripture professor at BYU – Richard Draper. A great guy though, and an incredible speaker. Ross Peterson, professor of history at USU, lives in River Heights, Utah, has been a bishop at one time or another, and has been in Dialogue and Sunstone now and again on race and temple issues. Haven’t heard from him much lately.
BYU and the U of U would be good places to grab people. I suspect Seth Payne is not what you’re looking for here?
Alex Caldiero at Utah Valley State, Dennis Potter, Scott Abbott(if we’re talking cultural divergence these two would be great on film for their appearance and mannerisms alone, to say nothing of the substance of their comments.
Some of us too?
Ummm, I took a class from Draper. Nice guy, but you might as well interview a General Authority. Roger Keller would be a better choice from the BYU religion faculty.
These are people who should have made some unconventional religious choices for a Mormon, I strongly feel.
Dathon from New Order Mormon. I have the greatest respect for him. He really does a tremendous balancing act. He’s there in every thread to soften the blow of angry people who are new and venting at the Church. These people would float right on by into the angry, hateful pits without his gentle reminder to respect the sincerity of others’ faith.
I had a great, in-person talk with him for several hours earlier this year. He is a non-believer (maintains membership though), but he passionately defends the potential for goodness in the Church. His wife and family are believing members.
Dathon is such a class act!
nikkiscott wrote:Here’s another I know, although I’m not sure he’d be a good fit since as far as I know he’s VERY TBM… However, he is incredibly knowledgeable about the church, another ancient scripture professor at BYU – Richard Draper. A great guy though, and an incredible speaker.
Wow flashback! Richard Draper, is he from Sandy? If it’s the same guy I thought he was really cool while I was on my mission. I served in Utah, Salt lake South (this would be 1986/7) Sandy was my first area. One “eternal investigator” couple we were teaching had a date set for baptism until someone showed them The Godmakers and blew them out of the water. Richard went with us over to their home to watch it again with them to answer questions and put it “in perspective”. He also took us sightseeing up the canyon one P-day, and maybe out to dinner one time.
Amazing how a name can take you back.
I don’t think it’s the same Richard Draper. He was living in Utah County in ’86-87. I agree with jrnilsson that he might not be the best choice for an interview, but I do have a lot of respect for him, and I was just throwing out names of people big in religion that I know. nikkiscott wrote:I don’t think it’s the same Richard Draper. He was living in Utah County in ’86-87.
Yes probably, but my experience could have been during the holiday break. I’m pretty sure he was going to school at the time. The clincher would be if he’s from Sandy. Sorry to derail the discussion, the name just caught me. I agree with the other comments.
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