By Suzanne Briggs
Scholars from various academic disciplines will gather to discuss God”s role in modern world history from a Latter-day Saint approach at a two-day symposium Thursday and Friday.
“The purpose of this symposium is to combine insights on spiritual perspectives with traditional historical topics,” said Brian Cannon, chief coordinator of the symposium and an associate professor of history.
Academic professionals from the fields of history, religion, law, technology and education will talk about their disciplines in comparison with growth in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They will bring different insights from the scriptures, modern prophets and apostles.
“We will discuss the gospel as an interpretive event,” Cannon said. “We will discuss topics such as Christopher Columbus and the Holocaust with the scriptures.”
Elder Alexander B. Morrison, emeritus member of the Quorum of the Seventy, will give the keynote address titled “God in History” on Thursday.
Roy A. Prete, symposium coordinator, has been organizing this event for a long time.
“I came to BYU on sabbatical in 2000 and taught a undergraduate honors course titled ”Secular and the Divine” and I had guest speakers come in and talk about these different perspectives in our church,” Prete said.
Prete said God has shaped modern history for the accomplishment of his purposes. The most important purpose from a Latter-day Saint perspective is the restoration of the gospel and teaching the gospel to the rest of the world.
The symposium is an attempt to showcase the work of the professors and to inform the community of their work.
“The talks will be compiled into a book that we hope to publish this fall,” Prete said.
Three themes of work will be presented at the symposium: the rise of freedom in America and the world, the outpouring of knowledge in scientific and technological fields, and the positioning of the church to accomplish its worldwide mission.
The symposium will be held in the HBLL Auditorium Thursday Feb. 6 from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. For more information, contact Brian Cannon at 422-5211.
