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
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
- Heidi Applegarth, VP, Marketing & Communications
- 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 Opsina, 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
- Jeff Curtis, Bookstore Leads
- Blake Smith, Financial Lead
- Warren Bittner, Music Lead
- Dean & Emmalee Christensen, Hearing Impaired Leads
Conference Program
Keynote Speakers
Friday
7:30am Registration/Meet & Greet
8:30am - 10:00am Opening Session
Conducting: Jeff Bennion
Hymn: Lord, I Will Follow Thee, #220
Musical Number:
Keynote Speaker: S. Michael Wilcox, Ph.D
10:30am - 12:00pm Breakout Session 1
- Plaza Suite C: Navigating Church Discipline with SSA and Transgender Experiences
Presenter: Eric Seymour
Target Demographic: SSA Men, SSA Women, GI/Trans - Plaza Suite E: Parents of GI/Trans (Closed Door)
Presenter: Janine Simons & Monica Phillips
Target Demographic: Parents Gender Identity/Trans - Classrooms 204/205: Love: How Your Definition Can Make or Break Your Relationships
Presenter: Heidi Applegarth
Target Demographic: Spouses, Parents, General - Plaza Boardroom: Laying It All at the Savior’s Feet: Finding Peace Through Trust in Christ
Presenter: Cynthia Miller
Target Demographic: SSA Women, General - Classroom 201: Lord, I Will Follow Thee: Unity, Covenants, and Belonging in Christ
Presenter: Hailey Kynaston
Target Demographic: YSA Only (18-35 years old)
12:00pm - 2:00pm Lunch
2:00pm - 3:30pm Breakout Session 2
- Plaza Suite C: Policy Change
Presenter: Kurt Francom
Target Demographic: Gender Idenity/Trans, SSA Men, SSA Women, Parents of Gender Identity/Trans, Church Leaders - Plaza Suite E: SSA Men (Closed Door)
Presenter: Joseph Stith & Forrest Call
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Classrooms 204/205: My Story
Presenters:- Hailey Kynaston: Turning Life’s Complexities into Triumph: Finding Joy Through Humility and Faith
- Beth Young: The Universal Language of Love
- Amanda Flood:
Target Demographic: General
- Plaza Boardroom: Parents of SSA (Closed Door)
Presenter: Jenn Curtis
Target Demographic: Parents of SSA - Classroom 201: Spouses (Closed Door)
Presenter: Emily Smith & Tiffany Done
Target Demographic: Spouses
4:00pm - 6:00pm General Session
Conducting: Jennifer Gaede
President’s Address: Brent Ebmeyer, President, North Star International
Musical Number:
Hymn: , #
Saturday
7:30am Registration/Meet & Greet
8:30am - 9:40am General Session
Conducting:
Hymn:
Musical Number:
Keynote Speaker: Ganel-Lyn Condie, Walk With Jesus and Never Walk Alone
10:00am - 11:30am Breakout Session 3
- Plaza Suite C: Q&A With North Star Presidents About Their Experience in Church Leadership: A Panel Discussion for Church Leaders
Moderator: Kurt Francom; Panelists: Spencer Thompson, Joseph Stith
Target Demographic: Church Leaders, General - Plaza Suite E: Women of North Star
Presenter: Laurann McGuire
Target Demographic: SSA Women, Spouses, GI/Trans - Classrooms 204/205: Building a Covenant Relationship
Presenter: Adam Anderegg
Target Demographic: General - Plaza Boardroom: Staying on the Covenant Path When Loved Ones Choose a Different Way
Presenter: Janine Simons
Target Demographic: Parents - Classroom 201: Doctrine of the Family
Presenter: Preston Jenkins
Target Demographic: SSA Men, General
11:30am - 1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm - 3:00pm Breakout Session 4
- Plaza Suite C: My Story
Presenters:- Stephen Done: Breaking the Boundaries of Identity
- Kyle Johns:
- Janet Hovorka:
- Skyler Sorenson: Prove Me Now Herewith
Target Demographic: General
- Plaza Suite E: SSA/GI/LGBT Crash Course 101
Presenter: Blake Fisher
Target Demographic: Church Leaders, General - Classrooms 204/205: Creating Zion by Better Supporting SSA/GI/LGBTQ Latter-day Saints
Presenter: Richard Ostler
Target Demographic: General - Plaza Boardroom: SSA Woman (Closed Door)
Presenter: Myrna Moll
Target Demographic: SSA Women - Classroom 201: GI/Trans (Closed Door)
Presenter: David Haralson
Target Demographic: GI/Trans
3:30pm - 5:00pm Closing Session
Conducting: Brent Ebmeyer
Keynote Musical Performer: J209
Hymn:
5:00pm - 7:00pm Dinner
7:00pm Experience Sharing Session, Followed by Refreshments/Closing Social
Conducting: Blake Smith
Opening Hymn: , #
Closing Hymn: , #