Sports Illustrated Models And LDS Relief Society President To Speak At BYU

[Everybody Wang Chung]

I'm sure Dr. Shades already has his front row ticket for this event, but just in case he missed the announcement:

A “women’s empowerment event" at the Provo school will include Sports Illustrated swimsuit models.

By Tamarra Kemsley
| Oct. 18, 2023, 5:30 a.m.
| Updated: 8:01 a.m.

A “women’s empowerment event,” to be hosted Thursday by Brigham Young University and the Big 12, will feature a range of voices — from the highest-ranking female leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Sports Illustrated swimsuit models.

The odd blending of church-owned BYU, a school whose Honor Code forbids tank tops and shorts above the knee, with an S.I. product famous — and, in some quarters, infamous — for its hypersexualized depictions of women, has not gone unnoticed.

“Did Clark Gilbert approve this?” a commenter asked on a Times and Seasons blog post, referring to the church’s commissioner of education.

Liz Darger, BYU’s senior associate athletic director, acknowledged the partnership represented a “unique pairing” but emphasized that did not make it necessarily a bad one.

“Like our event theme ‘Lean Into Light TogetHER’ states,” she said Tuesday, “we are excited for the opportunity to bring women from different backgrounds, life experiences and belief systems together to uplift and encourage one another as we lean into the light that is within all of us.”

Darger added: “My experience has been that when we do come together with those of different backgrounds and experiences, we find that we have much more that unites us than divides us.”

The homecoming event is part of a series, co-sponsored by S.I. and cosmetics giant Maybelline, taking place at the four new campuses in the Big 12 and will occur Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Provo school’s Marriott Center. The free gathering is open to all female BYU students, faculty and staff.

The program will also feature more familiar BYU faces. President Camille Johnson, leader of the church’s global women’s Relief Society, for instance, will join Darger and Diljeet Taylor, the women’s cross country head coach and associate director of track and field, in a panel discussion dedicated to encouraging women to “recognize the unique light within them,” Darger said, and “seek guidance from and strength through Jesus Christ.”

(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) President Camille Johnson, head of the church's global Relief Society, speaks at General Conference in April 2023. She will speak at BYU's "women's empowerment event" Thursday.

Additional speakers will be Brigitte Madrian, dean of the Marriott School of Business; Lita Little Giddins, associate vice president from the Office of Belonging; and Chanté Stutznegger, a motivational speaker and Instagram influencer focused on diversity and inclusion.

Besides speeches, the program will have activities — from bouquet making to an affirmation board, as well as a beauty bar hosted by Maybelline.

Attendees also can expect performances from the BYU Cougarettes and Miss Utah 2023 Sarah Sun, among others.

Jenn Hunter — the chief impact officer for the Big 12, the athletic conference BYU joined earlier this year — will host the panel with the S.I. swimsuit representatives. Models Mady Dewey, Jasmine Sanders and Berkleigh Wright are slated to speak on mental health.

“Our panelists are strong and dynamic young women with incredible stories, complex backgrounds, dreams, motivations and aspirations just like every other woman,” Hunter said, “and they have beautiful stories to tell.”

In conjunction with the event, Big 12 representatives and BYU student athletes and coaches unveiled a $50,000 makeover Tuesday for a new STEM center at Springville’s Cherry Creek Elementary School. The reveal is part of the College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard Makeover Project.

author
tkemsley@sltrib.com
Follow @tamarranicole

https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/10 ... it-models/

[Everybody Wang Chung]

It looks like the Chapel Mormons over at ldsfreedomforum are up in arms about this:

Post by Cruiserdude » October 18th, 2023, 9:05 am

What we've become is so disappointing... All to appease the world and to enhance our 'appearance' before the world.

Post by Christian ↑October 19th, 2023, 8:30 am

Joining the Big 12 has cost BYU its religious identity. I hope it enjoys the extra bucks it gets for selling its soul to Satan.

Post by Libertas Est Salus » October 18th, 2023, 4:44 pm

Disgusting.
Thanks for the information.

Post by Cruiserdude » October 19th, 2023, 8:57 am

Reminds me of the principle taught by the story of Esau, the one about trading your birthright for a mess of pottage....
It's sad. It's truly sad what we've become(or maybe it's what we have been for a time and I just couldn't see it before)

Post by dreamtheater76 » October 18th, 2023, 9:09 am

If at first you don’t succeed, lower your standards. Seems this is the direction they are going in.

Post by BigFootCain » October 18th, 2023, 7:55 am

"The free gathering is open to all female BYU students, faculty and staff."

Aww shucks, I can't attend. Maybe this is the event where I make my debut as a trans women in order to be admitted.

I better start getting ready, it's gonna take me some time to shave off all this matted body hair and then I have to go shopping for some high heels big enough to cover my oversized feet.

Post by BigFootCain » October 18th, 2023, 7:46 am

Gotta love BYU. Looks like President Shane Reese is going to be as feckless and ridiculous as Kevin Worthen was.

Affirmation, Reps from Office of Belonging, Camille Johnson, Sport Illustrated swimsuit model, this event has it all! (except anything that will actually lead people to Christ through repentance). As long as they broadcast how open minded and diverse BYU can be, that's all that matters apparently.

Post by JohnnyL » October 18th, 2023, 9:48 am

At least we haven't had a pornography General Conference talk directed to men in the past few years. It would have been nice to hear President Nelson say we shouldn't abuse "men" along with "women" and "children" in his General Conference talk. Hopefully he and all future presidents will go the way of a few past prophets and realize the pedestaled view of women is not reality, and the strain it puts on relationships.

Post by TwoChurches» October 18th, 2023, 9:48

knowing truth these days, I feel ashamed of my past BYU affiliation.

Post by Seragon» October 18th, 2023, 9:48 am

At least this time they aren't handing out free tacos at the gay pride event at Porter Park in solidarity with homosexuals.

https://ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=72766

[BeNotDeceived]

If the folks over at LDSFF knew their religion was a fraud, they'd sleep much better at night over this.

[Philo Sofee]

If the folks over at LDSFF knew their religion was a fraud, they'd sleep much better at night over this.

Yeah, they are up in arms over the silliest stuff...

[Moksha]

This presentation by Maybelline will assist coeds to be more attractive to Returning young Elders. The Relief Society can extoll the best methods of greeting that RM at the door with his slippers and cold orange soda, but Maybelline knows the most alluring cosmetics and latest beehive hairdos.

[Dr. Shades]

I'm sure Dr. Shades already has his front row ticket for this event, . . .

Are you kidding? They asked me to sit on the stand in order to give the event maximum credibility.

[Philo Sofee]

I'm sure Dr. Shades already has his front row ticket for this event, . . .

Are you kidding? They asked me to sit on the stand in order to give the event maximum credibility.

Get em Shades baby!