The Future of Mormonism

Exploring Mormonism’s past while confronting a future in which the faith becomes increasingly diverse in culture, race and nationality occupied much of the discourse in the 40 sessions at the 49th annual conference of the Mormon History Association that convened in San Antonio Thursday and ends Sunday.

A major highlight of the non-denominational gathering of scholars and enthusiasts was a Friday presentation by members of the history department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints giving a glimpse into the Nauvoo-era minutes of the Council of Fifty. The council minutes are in a record that has been shrouded in mystery and has been a topic of speculation because it has remained unavailable for scholarly study until last September, when it was announced the 1840s record would be published as part of the Joseph Smith Papers Project.