Only-in-Provo Department

[_brade]

For whatever it may be worth, we're tentatively planning to hold the 2012 annual meeting of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology on the campus of Eastern University, near Philadelphia.

My only real reservation is that our contact there is pushing for May, which is bad for me, personally.

Nice to know. Thanks.

[_Inconceivable]

I'll be speaking in a couple of weeks down in Maricopa, Arizona, on the topic of "The Revelations of Joseph Smith: Evidence and Witnesses." For any who might be interested, here are the relevant details, as supplied to me by the organizer:

[color=#0000BF]Saturday, February 26, 2011
7:00 P.M.
Maricopa Stake Center
(37280 W. Bowlin Rd. Maricopa, Arizona 85138)

Maricopa? Nice fanbase. Certainly you must be going for some other reason than speaking in this whole in the ground. Who in their right mind would pay to go there?

Nice place to hide if you're in the Witness Protection Program. Contrary to Wikipedia it is not part of the Metropolitan area of Phoenix. It's 35 miles away and 15 from the interstate.

This is where the church bought Ira Fulton's land at a horrific loss as the market was in it's death throws: http://www.rickross.com/reference/Mormon/mormon568.html

weird.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I'll be speaking in a couple of weeks down in Maricopa, Arizona, on the topic of "The Revelations of Joseph Smith: Evidence and Witnesses." For any who might be interested, here are the relevant details, as supplied to me by the organizer:

Saturday, February 26, 2011
7:00 P.M.
Maricopa Stake Center
(37280 W. Bowlin Rd. Maricopa, Arizona 85138)

Maricopa? Nice fanbase. Certainly you must be going for some other reason than speaking in this whole in the ground.

An old friend of my wife lives there now. Her husband organized this. I'm doing it as a favor to a friend.

While there, we'll visit with my wife's brother and with a husband and a wife, good friends of ours, who have just returned from a mission to Samoa.

[_honorentheos]

The timing is bad. I have another commitment on that evening, or else I would strongly consider attending. If it falls through, I'll make it a point to try and get there.

Inconceivable is right, though. The City of Maricopa is somewhat akin to Santaquin or maybe Nephi in Utah County if one were to compare Phoenix to Provo. I think Bristol Palin lives there now, for whatever that is worth.

[_McKay Jones]

Maricopa? Nice fanbase. Certainly you must be going for some other reason than speaking in this whole in the ground. Who in their right mind would pay to go there?

You mean a “hole” in the ground, right? Can there any good thing come out of Maricopa? . . . :-)

It’s actually not the “whole” you’re making it out to be. Seven wards, its own stake (including other outlying cities), has grown steadily over the last nine years (the housing collapse notwithstanding). It is also a good venue for a DCP fireside, as we have a tradition of apologetics-oriented community firesides. My ward (Maricopa 5th) has put on a series of these, with Q&A sessions, going back to 2008. Over 130 non-Mormons and some anti-Mormons came to the first two (“Are Mormons Christian?” and “Book of Mormon: Fact or Fiction?”):

http://www.fillthenet.com/AMCpres09.pdf (Are Mormons Christian? slides)

http://www.fillthenet.com/AMChand09.pdf (Are Mormons Christian? handout)

http://www.fillthenet.com/BoMFF.pdf (Book of Mormon: Fact or Fiction slides)

http://www.fillthenet.com/BofMPresTrans.pdf (Book of Mormon: Fact or Fiction fireside transcript)

http://www.fillthenet.com/BofMQAtrans.pdf (Book of Mormon: Fact or Fiction Q&A transcript)

http://www.fillthenet.com/BoM_fireside_handout.pdf (Book of Mormon: Fact or Fiction handout)

The speakers were my ward mission leader and primary president, both of whom did an outstanding job. Both also helped answer questions in the Q&A sessions. I presented at a third, “Can Mormon Prophets Stand Up to Scrutiny?”, which covered “the Bible test of a prophet,” true/fulfilled prophecies, polygamy, and the priesthood ban. Don’t have a transcript yet.

Nice place to hide if you're in the Witness Protection Program. Contrary to Wikipedia it is not part of the Metropolitan area of Phoenix. It's 35 miles away and 15 from the interstate.

Notwithstanding, I think there’s a good chance that there will be a good turnout of non-members and some antis (in addition to stake members and members from the "Phoenix metropolitan area" --- Dan is a draw). I’ve let “the usual suspects” know, and we’ve let the stakes within Arizona know as well (letters from my stake president).

This is where the church bought Ira Fulton's land at a horrific loss as the market was in it's death throws:

You mean “throes,” right? :-) We were hoping that this might be land for a “BYU-Arizona/BYU Southwest,” but it appears to just be an accounting/bookkeeping purchase (at a loss) to offset taxes in other areas. That’s what my other counselor, an accountant, thinks. Too bad, though. Maricopa, right off of an interstate and a state highway, would be a good location for a church school serving the Arizona, Nevada, and SoCal Mormon populations. That would really have sent the Maricopa economy into the stratosphere, too.

We may be able to record this, and possibly share it (subject to Dan's permission).

[_Daniel Peterson]

I can't think of any reason to object to its being recorded.

Incidentally, do I have the time for the fireside right? 7 PM? My wife thinks that she heard that it would be at 5:30, which seems rather unusual.

[_McKay Jones]

Yes, 7:00 PM is correct.

[_Daniel Peterson]

Muchas gracias.

I think I'll attend.

[_Daniel Peterson]

On 25 March, I'll be speaking in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany, on the topic "Die Offenbarungen Joseph Smiths."

On the following evening, 26 March, I'll be speaking in Offenbach-am-Main, Germany, on the subject "Der Islam aus mormonischer Sicht."

Both lectures are free (I think) and open to the public.

[_McKay Jones]

The fireside was outstanding, as expected. Thank you, Dr. Peterson!

Roughly half of those in attendance were not from the stake, and were unknown to me or the stake presidency. There were also some obvious non-members in attendance, as well as some people who are struggling with their testimonies (but obviously have an interest in hearing Dr. Peterson discuss and answer questions). My ward (Maricopa 5th) was fortunate to have Dr. Peterson answer questions and share experiences and stories with the combined priesthood, Relief Society, and youth/youth leaders for the 3rd hour on Sunday, so we were thrice blessed.

We will have audio and a transcript, and will make it available when it's ready. In the meantime, here is a reconstruction of my ca. four pages of notes.

http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/53417-dan-peterson-fireside-notes