2015 Conference
April 23-25, 2015
2015 Conference
Let Your Light Shine Forth
April 23-25, 2015
Provo, Utah
Utah Valley Convention Center
220 West Center Street, Provo UT, 84601
President’s Message
We hope you will find something here that will be meaningful for your life— that it will be a place where you can connect with others, share your experi- ences, and learn from the experiences of others. The resources provided here are intended to be spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and socially supportive. You are not alone in your desire to find balance, knowledge, and support.
North Star is a place of community for Latter-day Saints addressing issues surrounding homosexual attraction and gender identity who desire to live in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the doctrines and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The purpose of North Star is to be a spiritually uplifting resource for indi- viduals and families facing with these complex issues. It is also to empower individuals to help educate themselves, their family, friends, and Church leaders as they strive to become integrated more fully and lovingly into the Church community.
Ty Mansfield
President, North Star International
Leadership
Board of Directors
- Jeff Bennion, Chairman
- Ty Mansfield, Member
- Preston Dahlgren, Member
- Tyler Moore, Member
- Tera Brown, Member
- Blake Fisher, Member
- Becky Mackintosh, Member
- Julio Ospina, Member
(Current List of Board Members)
Executive Committee
- Ty Mansfield, President
- Sarrah Groves, Vice President
- Dale Larsen, Vice President
- Blaine Hickman, Vice President
- Greg Harris, Vice President
- Kevin Denny, Vice President of Finance
(Current List of Executive Committee Members)
Conference Committee
- Spencer Thompson, Co-Chair
- Debby Jackson, Co-Chair
- Greg Harris, Co-Chair
- Brandon Buhler, Secretary
- Rupert Reyneke, Web & Design
- Janel Reyneke, Web & Design
- Bradley Stoker, Marketing
- Phillip Keeve, Marketing
- Blake Barton, Marketing
- Joseph Stith, Marketing
- Allison Marston, Marketing
- Will Edgel, Marketing
- Krista Kendall, Marketing
- Jerry Van Leeuven, Logistics
- Kevin Denny, Logistics
- Lana Garfield, Logistics
- Wade Bradford, Logistics
- Blake Barton, Program Design
- Myrna Moll, Program
- Anissa Olsen, Program
- Monte Carlson, Program
- Aimee Ibarra, Program
- Nicholas Gregory, Program
- Jenn Curtis, Program
- Justin DeLong, Program
Conference Program
Keynote Speakers
Shannon Rants
Friday Morning
Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four
Friday Afternoon
Jared Halverson
Saturday Morning
Panel Discussion
Saturday Afternoon
Friday (currently under construction)
7:30am - 8:45am Registration
9:00am - 10:30am Opening Session
Conducting: Jeff Bennion
President’s Address: Ty Mansfield, President, North Star International
Musical Number: Come Thou fount of Every Blessing, by Koltyr Wright
Musical Number: The Boat, by Jeremy Adamiak
Keynote Speaker: M. Catherine Thomas
10:30am - 12:00pm Breakout Session 1
- Cascade E: Thriving in the Single Life
Presenter: Jim Kasen
Target Demographic: Men, Single - Ballroom BC: Finding Self Worth & Overcoming Shame
Presenter: Brian Armstrong
Target Demographic: Men, General - Soldier Creek: Daughter of God – Understanding My Identity as a Woman With SSA
Presenter: Liz Darger
Target Demographic: SSA Women - Cascade AB: Serving Together in Marriage – Coming Together During Times of Conflict
Presenter: Blaine Hickman & Lindsay Hickman
Target Demographic: Spouses, Couples, Married - Ballroom A: How to Talk About Same-Sex Attraction in Families and with Friends
Presenter: David Maughan & Charlotte Maughan
Target Demographic: Parents - Cascade D: Introduction to North Star and the Voices of Hope Project
Presenter: Jeff Bennion & Kevin Randall
Target Demographic: Church Leaders, General - Battle Creek: “Now What?” – Understanding the Many Facets of Gender Dysphoria
Presenter: Shannon Rants
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Cascade C: Helping Others Discover a Deeper Connection With God Through Your Experience with Same-Sex Attraction
Presenter: Blake Fisher
Target Demographic: General
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm - 2:00pm General Session
Conducting: Ty Mansfield
Musical Number: Be Still, My Soul, by Brandon Buhler
Keynote Speaker: James Ferrell
2:15pm - 3:30pm Breakout Session 2
- Ballroom BC: The Journey of Healing
Presenter: Jonathan Sandberg
Target Demographic: SSA Men, General - Cascade E: Finding Peace in All Stages of Life
Presenter: Curtis Brown
Panelists: Paul Peterson, Jeff Case, Randy Meier
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Soldier Creek: Understanding the Cycle of Connection
Presenter: Shannon Rants
Target Demographic: SSA Women, Women - Cascade AB: Building and Maintaing an Intimate Relationship
Presenter: Jeff Bennion & Tanya Bennion
Target Demographic: Spouses, Couples, Married - Ballroom A: What Now? – My Loved One Just Came Out
Presenter: Becky Mackintosh & Scott Mackintosh
Target Demographic: Parents - Cascade D: Leading with Love and Dispelling Shame
Presenter: Jeff Christensen
Target Demographic: Church Leaders - Battle Creek: “Journeys of Faith” – Personal Stories of Navigating Gender Identity
Presenter: Nick Gregory
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Cascade C: Get Involved – Serving inNorth Star International and the Voices of Hope Project
Presenter: Greg Harris & Joseph Stith
Target Demographic: General
3:50pm - 5:00pm Breakout Session 3
- Ballroom BC: Becoming the Man God Intends You to Be
Presenter: Rob Chidester
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Cascade E: How Your Experience with Same-Sex Attraction Can Bless and Impact Others
Presenter: Preston Dalgren
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Soldier Creek: Coping with Same-Sex Attraction
Presenter: Tera Brown
Panelists: Allyson Gibson, Jenn Curtis, Krista Kendall, Brooke Silvester
Target Demographic: SSA Women - Cascade AB: The Power of Open Communication in Marriage
Presenter: Blake Smith & Denise Smith
Target Demographic: Spouses, Couples, Married - Ballroom A: Supporting My Son or Daughter in Their Teenage Years
Presenter: Tom Brocksome
Target Demographic: Parents - Cascade D: Creating a Loving and Welcoming Atmosphere in a Ward
Presenter: Dale Larsen
Panelists: Joseph Stith, David Rickey, Myrna Moll
Target Demographic: Church Leaders - Battle Creek: Fostering Self-Acceptance and Shedding the Shackles of Shame
Presenter: Jeff Robinson
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Cascade C: Overcoming Perfectionism
Presenter: Sue Bergin
Target Demographic: General
5:30pm - 7:00pm Social Mixer/Evening Refreshments
Saturday (currently under construction)
7:30am - 8:45am Registration
9:00am - 10:00am General Session
Conducting: Becky Mackintosh
Musical Number: Where Can I Turn For Peace, by Nathan Kristjansen
Keynote Speaker: Chad Hymas
Musical Number: Where Can I Turn For Peace, by Nathan Kristjansen
Keynote Speaker: Chad Hymas
10:20am - 11:30am Breakout Session 4
- Ballroom BC: Recovery From Addiction: The Power of the Atonement
Presenter: John Murdock
Target Demographic: SSA Men, General - Cascade E: Navigating the Dating Scene
Presenter: Briggs Alsbury
Panelists: Brandon Langford, Sarah Langford, Mike Miles, Jillian Miles, Ethan Marston, Allie Marston
Target Demographic: Single, Couples - Soldier Creek: Discovering Peace in Time of Loneliness
Presenter: Maryann Broberg
Target Demographic: Women, General - Cascade AB: Understanding and Fulfilling the Needs of Your SSA Spouse
Presenter: Megan Dahlgren
Target Demographic: Spouses of SSA Men, Spouses of SSA Women - Ballroom A: Understanding the Needs of a Child or Sibling Who Exxperiences SSA
Presenter: Stewart Weed & Josh Weed
Target Demographic: Parents - Cascade D: Tools and Resources for Leaders of Those Who Experience SSA
Presenter: Tyler Moore
Target Demographic: Church Leaders - Battle Creek: Navigating Gender-Related Conversations with Priesthood Leaders
Presenter: Ed Hayward
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Cascade C: Understanding Homosexuality and Same-Sex Attraction
Presenter:
Target Demographic: General
11:30am - 12:30pm Lunch
12:30pm - 1:40pm Breakout Session 5
- Ballroom BC: Overcoming the Negative Effects of Body Shame
Presenter: Tyler Moore
Target Demographic: SSA Men, General - Cascade E: Developing Healthy Relationsihps with Men
Presenter: Chris Adams
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Soldier Creek: Developing Healthy Relationships with Women
Presenter: Shannon Rants
Target Demographic: SSA Women - Cascade AB: Understanding and Fulfilling the Needs of Your Non-SSA Spouse
Presenter: Rosa Lauper & Bronson Lauper
Target Demographic: Spouses, Couples - Ballroom A: Loving Those Who Are Pursuing Same-Sex Relationships
Presenter: Aimee Ibarra
Panelists: Lana Garfield, Bryan Garfield, Dale Larsen, Unhui Larsen
Target Demographic: General, Church Leaders - Sidewinder: Showing Empathy to Help Others Heal
Presenter: Monte Carlson
Target Demographic: Church Leaders - Sidewinder: How Do I Support My Transgender Loved One?
Presenter: Karen Penman
Panelists:
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Sidewinder: From Conflict to Growth: What I learned by Befriending My Enemy
Presenter: David Matheson
Target Demographic: General
2:00pm - 3:10pm Breakout Session 6
- Ballroom BC: Why It’s Worth It – Staying Strong in the Gospel
Presenter: Rod Olson & Will Edgel
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Cascade E: Creating a Personal Support Network
Presenter: Danny Caldwell
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Soldier Creek: How Can I Use My Experience to Bless Other Women?
Presenter: Myrna Moll & Jena Peterson
Target Demographic: SSA Women - Cascade AB: Creating a Resilient Marriage
Presenter: Josh Weed
Target Demographic: Spouses, Couples, Married - Ballroom A: Finding Personal Healing in Relation to My Loved One’s Same-Sex Attraction
Presenter: Dave Pruden
Target Demographic: Parents of SSA Children - Cascade D: Ministering With Love and Compassion to Those Who Experience Same-Sex Attraction
Presenter: Julio Ospina
Panelists: Steve Olsen, Jeff Christensen, Spencer Thompson, Meagan Jackson
Target Demographic: Chuch Leaders - Battle Creek: Keys to Creating a Resilient Marriage When One Spouse is Transgender
Presenter: Ty Mansfield
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Cascade C: Impacting Your Community – Starting the Conversation About SSA
Presenter: Jeff Bennion
Target Demographic: General
3:30pm - 5:00pm Closing Session/Awards
Conducting: Julio Ospina
Musical Number: Meagan Jackson
Keynote Speaker: Mariama Kallon