The Temple and Observatory Group, which has sponsored other events in Utah, Virginia and New York, is offering a seminar for those in the midst of a faith transition or crisis in the Minnesota area. The event features Terryl and Fiona Givens and Spencer Fluhman. Come listen to the three speak about negotiating LDS history, faith challenges and transitions on Saturday, September 27th from 10:30am – 3:30pm at 6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 (library). Lunch will be provided. Please sign up on the Facebook page as seating is limited.
Note: there are no tickets for this event and registering on the Facebook page is not required to attend. It just helps the organizers estimate the number of people who will be attending.
Minnesota, eh? Be prepare for some Q/A along these lines:
Bishop Pedersen: You see, my wife here says she’s hav’in problems with the whole polygamy thing …
Sister Pedersen: . .. polyAndry, Norm, it’s called polyAndry …
Bishop Pedersen: … poly-whatever. You see, the point here is she’s hav’in problems.
Sister Pedersen: You’re darn tootin’!
Sister Bredesen: Yah, and don’t forget abut the whole blood atonement thingy.
Sister Pedersen: Yah, that’s a good one too.
This is such a wonderful thing the Givens are doing. Nathaniel, please keep posting about these events! I wish they’d come back to Utah. I loved The God Who Weeps and look forward to their next book.
Does the “observatory” part involve astronomy? (sincere question, sorry if it’s ridiculously misunderstanding what’s going on)
Josh-
There’s an explanation of the logo and the name of the group in their vision statement here: http://templeandobservatory.org/?page_id=40
Short version: it’s not about astronomy. :-) It’s about “the LDS ideal of incorporating reason and learning into the life of faith.” The temple represents faith. The observatory represents reason.
Thanks. Sorry for the silly question. It sounds like a wonderful and needed effort.
Oh man. Oh man, oh man, oh maaaaaan.
I saw this and my heart jumped, and then it sank. This is literally minutes from my front door. I could bike there in no time. I’m actually looking out the window right now at that very address. But I have un-moveable activities with my parents (in town for the weekend) and my kids from roughly 9 to 4 this Saturday. Any other day, and I would clear my schedule. Oh, how I want to be there.
I heard Terryl Givens at the BYU library many years ago (Viper on the Hearth, maybe?). It was one of the high points of my college experience. Any chance you guys want to hang out on Saturday night? Or Sunday evening?
Loved the new book, here’s wishing it would be quoted at General Conference….