2017 Conference
March 17-19, 2017
2017 Conference
The Worth of Souls
March 17-19, 2017
Provo, Utah
Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
101 W 100 N, Provo, UT, 84601
President’s Message
Welcome!
On behalf of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, I welcome you the 2017 North Star Conference. Whether this is your first time attending or an annual tradition, you are among friends who share the desire to live the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
Following last year’s Conference, we gathered as a leadership team to learn together in our efforts to build this wonderful organization. From that weekend came a new, redefined mission for North Star: “to empower individuals and families addressing sexual orientation or gender identity to authentically and joyfully live the gospel of Jesus Christ and keep sacred covenants.”
Elder David A. Bednar taught, “Ordinances and covenants are the building blocks we use to construct our lives upon the foundation of Christ and His Atonement.” (Therefore They Hushed Their Fears, April, 2015)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe every road leads to the Temple – but the most basic and foundational covenant we make is at baptism when we covenant to follow the Savior, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end.
This weekend, as we listen to inspired messages, share stories of hope, and demonstrate Christlike love for one another, let us consider how we can return to our homes and communities with a renewed commitment to the covenants we made at baptism. As we do, He will help us thrive in our personal lives and find joy in the blessed path of discipleship.
With much love,
Joseph Allen Stith
President, North Star International
Leadership
Board of Directors
- Tera Brown, Chair
- Joseph Allen Stith, Member
- Blaine Hickman, Member
- Becky Mackintosh, Member
- Ty Mansfield, Member
- Kyle Merkley, Member
- Julio Ospina, Member
- Brigit Pack, Member
(Current List of Board Members)
Executive Committee
- Joseph Allen Stith, President
- JJ Berrett, VP, Web Development, Millenials
- Mark Buckley, VP, Online Communities
- Kevin Denny, VP, Finance
- Sarah Langford, VP, Resource & Content Development
- Chris Staggs, VP, Marketing & Communication
- Spencer Thompson, VP, Activites, Conference
- Rob Wood, VP, Information Technology
(Current List of Executive Committee Members)
Conference Committee
- Brigit Pack, Logistics Chair
- Tim Goode, Program Chair
- Ryan Warnick, Marketing Chair
- JJ Barrett, Technical Chair
- Liz Taylor, Secretary
- Vaughn Armstrong, Volunteers
- Justin Bingham, Bookstore
- Malinda Bingham, Bookstore
- Mark Green, Thursday Night Social
- Tricia Smith, Service Project
- Jenn Curtis, Registration
- Karen Dufresne, Registration
- Tina Jenson, Donations
- Tynan Hamilton, Technical
- Christ Staggs, Communication
- Alex Lindstrom, Financial
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 - 9:00am Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00am - 10:30am Opening Session
Conducting: Tera Brown
President’s Address: Joseph Allen Smith, President, North Star International
Musical Number: Jeremy Adamiak
Keynote Speakers: Bennett Borden & Rebecca Borden
11:00am - 12:00pm Breakout Session 1
- Ampitheater: The Worth of My Soul is Great
Presenter: Meg Johnson
Target Demographic: General - Aspen: Tools for Overcoming Compulsive Behavior
Presenter: Danny Caldwell
Target Demographic: General - Birch: Suicide Prevention
Presenter: Dr. Ben Holt, MD
Target Demographic: General, Church Leaders - Cedar: When & How to Talk to Your Kids About Your SSA or Gender Identity
Presenter: Jeff Case
Panelists: Ricardo Rosas, Jenn Curtis, Ann Pack
Target Demographic: Parents - Elm: Introduction to the Transgender Experience
Presenter: Brandon Hannah Jenson
Presenter: Jane Davis, Andy Winder, Kyle Merkley Casey Beres
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans, Church Leaders - Juniper: Rebuilding Trust in Marriage
Presenter: Alisha Worthington
Target Demographic: Couples, Spouses, Married
12:15pm - 1:15pm Lunch
1:30pm - 2:30pm Breakout Session 2
- Ampitheater: A Modern Day Social Crisis: Body Shame, Dieting and Disordered Eating
Presenter: Nicole Hawkins
Target Demographic: General - Aspen: Be Still and Know: Showing Christ’s Love to Others Regarless of Their Path
Presenter: Matt Draper, Elizabeth Snyder, James McGraw
Target Demographic: General - Birch: Living in the Gray: Healthy Grieving vs. Becoming a Victim
Presenter: Kylee Shields
Target Demographic: General - Cedar: Our Worst Enemies: Finding Support in the Transgender Community
Presenter: Brigit Pack
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Elm: Honoring My Wife While Maintaining Close Male Friendships
Presenter: Jim Mock
Target Demographic: SSA Men, Married - Juniper: Building Your Support Community as a SSA/Gay Woman
Presenter: Jenn Curtis
Panelists: Sita Kinikini, Lissa Wyble, Anne Adamiak, Jenenne Redd
Target Demographic: SSA Women
2:45pm - 3:45pm Breakout Session 3
- Ampitheater: Gratitude & Grief – Finding Meaning in Seemingly Conflicting Emotions
Presenter: Courtney Merrill
Target Demographic: General - Aspen: Finding Healing: Forgiving Myself & Others
Presenter: Wendy Ulrich
Target Demographic: General - Birch: Challenging Your Beliefs: Making the Gospel Work
Presenter: Kyle Reid
Target Demographic: SSA Men, SSA Women, Gender Identity/Trans - Cedar: Seeking a Higher Love: Loving Ourselves and Others in God’s Way
Presenter: Dr. Ty Mansfield
Target Demographic: General - Elm: Finding Joy in the Gospel as a Daughter of God (Who Also Happens to Experience SSA)
Presenter: Becky Borden
Target Demographic: SSA Women, Women - Juniper: Strengthening Your Marriage With Your Transgender Spouse
Presenter: Shannon Rants
Target Demographic: Spouses of Gender Identity/Trans
4:00pm - 5:15pm General Session
Conducting: Blaine Hickman
Musical Number: Rob Moffatt
Keynote Speaker: Tom Christofferson
5:30pm - 6:30pm Evening Performance
Special Guest Performer: Jason Lyle Black
Saturday (currently under construction)
7:30am-8:45am Registration
9:00am - 10:15am General Session
Conducting: Joseph Allen Stith
Musical Number: North Star Conference Choir
Keynote Speaker: Ally Isom
10:30am - 12:00pm Breakout Session 4
- Ampitheater: Understanding Same-Sex Attraction & Gender Dysphoria for Church Leaders
Presenter: Joseph Stith, Kyle Merkley, Jeremy Adamiak
Target Demographic: Church Leaders - Aspen: How Can Local Church Leaders Create a Welcoming Environment?
Presenter: Kurt Francom
Panelists: Carl Hull, Myrna Moll, Travis Steward, Scott Mackintosh
Target Demographic: Church Leaders - Birch: What Does It Mean to be “Loving,” “Compassionate,” or “Inclusive” (And Why That Matters More Than We Think)
Presenter: Jacob Hess
Target Demographic: General - Cedar: Meeting My Core Needs as a SSA/Gay Man
Presenter: David Matheson
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Elm: How to Live Without Fear and Have Peace – No Matter What
Presenter: Kim Giles & Nicole Cunningham
Target Demographic: General - Juniper: Making and Keeping Healthy Relationships With Other Women
Presenter: Shannon Rants
Target Demographic: SSA Women
12:15pm - 1:15pm Lunch
1:30pm - 2:30pm Breakout Session 5
- Ampitheater: Overcoming Codependency in Male Relationships
Presenter: Mark Chamberlain
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Aspen: Utilizing the New MormonandGay.lds.org Website in Personal, Family and Church Ministry
Presenter: Steve Kohlert
Presenter: Ricardo Rosas, Elizabeth Rosas, Jessyca Fulmer, Laurie Campbell, Tonya Miller, Josh Searle
Target Demographic: General - Birch: Trusting His Plan for My Life
Panelists: Courtney Jensen & Rachelle Wofford
Target Demographic: SSA Women, General - Cedar: Understanding My Spouse’s Need for Friendships
Presenter: Tera Brown, Tanya Bennion, Maryann Broberg
Target Demographic: Spouses - Elm: Dry Bones Come Alive: Befriending Loneliness and Depression
Presenter: Jodie Palmer
Target Demographic: General - Juniper: Navigating Gender Dysphoria Withi the Gospel
Presenter: Sean Crandall
Panelists: Nick Gregory, Justin Bingham, Malinda Bingham
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans
2:45pm - 3:45pm Breakout Session 6
- Ampitheater: Finding Gold in Our Wounds: Seeking Wholeness in Christ
Presenter: Spencer Thompson
Target Demographic: General - Aspen: Making and Sustaining Healthy Male Connections
Presenter: Blaine Hickman
Panelists: JJ Berrett, Jeff Case, Lucas Jones, Tom Brocksome
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Birch: Loving and Supporting My SSA Child
Presenter: Lana Garfield
Panelists: Janae Monson, Charlotte Maughan, Shauna Elwood
Target Demographic: Parents of SSA Children - Cedar: Lift Where You Stand: Create Community Wherever You Are
Presenter: Julio Ospina
Panelists: Nestor Talero, Ben Schilaty, Karen Penman
Target Demographic: General, Church Leaders - Elm: Supporting My Transgender Family Member
Presenter: Neca Allgood
<em?Panelists: Tyler Jenson, Alyssa Pack, Abbie Armstrong
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans, General, Church Leaders - Juniper: Becoming a “Joy Master”
Presenter: Peggy Matheson
Target Demographic: General
4:00pm - 5:15pm Closing Session
Conducting: Ty Mansfield
Musical Number: Rachelle Wofford & Courtney Jensen
Keynote Speakers: Terryl & Fiona Givens