2025 Conference

February 27 – March 1, 2025

2025 Conference
Lord, I Will Follow Thee

February 27 – March 1, 2025
West Vally City, Utah

Utah Cultural Celebration Center
1355 W 3100 S, West Valley City, UT 84119

President's Message
Leadership
Keynote Addresses
Conference Program

President’s Message

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, it is with great joy and excitement that I extend a warm welcome to each and every one of you to the 2025 Annual North Star Conference! It is an honor to spend the next couple of days with you as we strive to follow the admonition, “Lord, I Will Follow Thee.”

This conference serves as a testament to our collective dedication in fostering a community where all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can find solace, understanding, and spiritual growth. We firmly believe in the inherent worth of every soul and embrace the differences that enrich our lives and strengthen our faith.

Over the course of this conference, we have curated a program that promises to enlighten, inspire, and empower. Our speakers, hailing from various backgrounds and experiences, will share their wisdom, knowledge, and insights on the intersection of SSA/LGBT experience and the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Together, we will explore the power of compassion, acceptance, and love, as we strive to live true to the covenants we have made.

This conference is not just an opportunity for learning; it is a time for connection and fellowship. I encourage you to engage with one another, to share your stories, and to find support and understanding in the company of like-minded individuals who share aspects of your unique journey. Let us celebrate the strength and resilience that resides within each of us, as we forge lifelong connections and build a network of love and support.

To each one of you, both familiar faces and new friends, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your presence. Your commitment to both your faith and your personal experiences serves as an inspiration to us all. By coming together in this sacred space, we affirm the divine worth of every person and affirm that love knows no bounds.

May this conference be a transformative experience, a wellspring of hope, and a catalyst for positive change in our lives and in our world. Together, let us follow the Lord as we are guided by the principles of love of God and neighbor and the eternal teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Welcome to our annual conference!

Brent Ebmeyer

President, North Star International

Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Jeff Bennion, Board Chairman
  • Blake Smith, Treasurer
  • Michael Goodman, Member
  • Sarrah Hurst Groves, Member
  • Ty Mansfield, Member
  • Lana Garfield, Member
  • Erik Thompson, Member
(Current List of Board Members)

Executive Committee

  • Brent Ebmeyer, President
  • Vaughn Armstrong, Senior Vice President
  • Dana Hudrlik, VP, IT & Web Development
  • Russ & Jennyfer Gaede, VP, Community Events
  • Rebecca Silva, Co-VP, Online Communities
  • Jennifer Curtis, Director, Women’s Community
  • Eric Seymour, Director, Men’s Community
  • Julio Ospina, Director, Hispanic Community
(Current List of Executive Committee Members)

Conference Committee

  • Tanya Bennion, Conference Chair
  • Denise Smith, Conference Co-Chair
  • Russell Gaede, Logistical & Technical Lead
  • Debra Oaks Coe, Marketing Lead
  • Mary Knapp, Registration Lead
  • Vaughn Armstrong, Opening Social Lead
  • Marie Johns, Volunteers Co-Lead
  • Steven Busch, Bookstore Leads
  • Blake Smith, Financial Lead
  • Warren Bittner, Music Lead
  • Dean & Emmalee Christensen, Hearing Impaired Leads

Conference Program

Keynote Speakers

S. Michael Wilcox, Ph.D

Friday Morning

Ganel-Lyn Condie

Saturday Morning

J209

Saturday Afternoon

Friday

February 28, 2025

7:30am Registration/Meet & Greet
8:30am-10:00am Opening Session

Conducting: Jeff Bennion
Hymn: Lord, I Would Follow Thee, #220
Musical Number: The Painter’s Hand, by Nikki Andreasky, accompanied by Eric Seymour
Keynote Speaker: S. Michael Wilcox, Ph.D

10:30am-12:00pm Breakout Session 1
12:00pm-2:00pm Lunch Break

Join us for lunch in the Great Hall.
We’ll have two different food trucks onsite for you to choose from. Purchase your food and then join your friends, or make new ones, as we eat together in the Great Hall.

Below are the menus for the two food trucks today: Jurassic Tacos and Sonoran Hotdogs.

 

2:00pm-3:30pm Breakout Session 2
4:00pm-6:00pm General Session

Conducting: Jennyfer Gaede
President’s Address: Brent Ebmeyer, President, North Star International
Musical Number: Come, Come Ye Saints, performed by Rich Winsor
Q&A with the Board: Facilitated by Jeff Bennion
Hymn: Abide with Me!, #166

Saturday

March 1, 2025

7:30am Registration/Meet & Greet
8:30am-9:40am General Session

Conducting: Ty Mansfield
Hymn:
Musical Number: Lord, I Would Follow Thee, sung by the North Star Choir, conducted by Vaughn Armstrong, accompanied by Kyle Johns
Keynote Speaker: Ganel-Lyn Condie, Walk With Jesus and Never Walk Alone

10:00am-11:30am Breakout Session 3
11:30am-1:30pm Lunch Break

Join us for lunch in the Great Hall.
We’ll have two different food trucks onsite for you to choose from. Purchase your food and then join your friends, or make new ones, as we eat together in the Great Hall.

Below are the menus for the two food trucks today: Jurassic Tacos and Comfort Bowl.

1:30pm-3:00pm Breakout Session 4
3:30pm-5:00pm Closing Session

Conducting: Brent Ebmeyer
Keynote Musical Performer: J209
Hymn:

5:00pm-7:00pm Dinner Break

For those of you staying for dinner, dinner will be served at 5:30. This dinner is catered by Meyers Chicken.

7:00pm Experience Sharing Session, Followed by Refreshments/Closing Social

Conducting: Blake Smith
Opening Hymn: , #
Closing Hymn: , #