2024 Conference
10th Anniversary
2024 Conference
Faith to Move Mountains
June 20-22, 2024
Salt Lake City, Utah
Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel
150 W 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT, 84101
President’s Message
Welcome to North Star International’s annual Conference, Faith to Move Mountains. As President, I am deeply honored to extend my heartfelt greetings to each of you. I am overjoyed to meet with you under the banner of love, faith, and community. We come together from diverse backgrounds and locations, united by our love for the Savior and our desire to live His teachings in our daily lives, through all our imperfections and mortal weaknesses.
Our theme, Faith to Move Mountains, resonates deeply with me. We each face mountains in our lives—obstacles that may seem insurmountable, trials that test our faith, and personal triumphs, great and small. President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Through [our] faith, Jesus Christ will increase [our] ability to move the mountains in [our lives], even though [our] personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest. [Our] mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other personal problems. [Our] mountains will vary, and yet the answer to each of [our] challenges is to increase [our] faith.” (“Christ is Risen: Faith in Him will Move Mountains,” April 2021)
His message reminds us that faith in Jesus Christ is the key to overcoming our difficulties. As we nurture and grow our faith, we unlock the divine assistance of our Savior, who stands ready to help us conquer our mountains, no matter how daunting they may appear. It is my prayer that this conference will provide a unique opportunity to reflect on our individual journeys, share our experiences, and draw strength from our collective faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.
I honor and acknowledge the hardships many are experiencing, including doubts, losses, and countless personal struggles. Each of these trials can feel overwhelming, casting shadows on our paths. Yet, amid these challenges, hold fast to faith and hope. Answers will come and strength will be found. Our Savior is mindful of our struggles and He stands ready to offer comfort, guidance, and peace.
Over the next two days, I invite you to engage in the keynote addresses, in the breakout sessions, and with one another to find solace, encouragement, and renewed faith in Jesus Christ and the enabling power of His Atonement. Let us embrace the power of our collective spirit, support one another with compassion, and remember that through faith in Jesus Christ, we can overcome every obstacle we face. As we strive to live by His example, may we each find the hope, joy, and happiness that comes from keeping our covenants and trusting His promises.
Thank you for being here, for your courage, and for your faith. May this conference strengthen your resolve and inspire you to invite our Savior Jesus Christ to help move the mountains in your life.
With love, warmth, and blessings,
Brent Ebmeyer
President, North Star International
Leadership
Board of Directors
- Jeff Bennion, Board Chairman
- Blake Smith, Treasurer
- Michael Goodman, Member
- Sarrah Hurst Groves, Member
- Rosa Chacon Lauper, Member
- Ty Mansfield, Member
- Monica Phillips, Member
- Lana Garfield, Member
- Brigit Adams, Member
- Erik Thompson, Member
- Cola King, 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
- Steven Anderson, VP, Virtual Peer Communities
- Russ & Jennyfer Gaede, VP, Community Events
- Rebecca Silva, Co-VP, Online Communities
- Keven Harris, Director, Branding & Design
- Myrna Moll, Director, Women’s Community
- Julio Opsina, Director, Hispanic Community
(Current List of Executive Committee Members)
Conference Committee
- Tanya Bennion, Conference Chair
- Denise Smith, Registration Lead
- Russell Gaede Logistical & Technical Lead
- Debra Oaks Coe, Marketing Lead
- Janae Monson, Program Co-Lead
- Warren Bittner, Program Co-Lead
- Myrna Moll, Lead Coordinator
- Joe Meyer, Youth Track Chair
- Vaughn Armstrong, Opening Social Lead
- Marie Johns, Volunteers Co-Lead
- Emily Smith, Volunteers Co-Lead
- Jeremy & Cambria Thompson, Bookstore Leads
- Stephen Forsyth, Mentor Leads
- Blake Smith, Financial Lead
- Dean & Emmalee Christensen, Hearing Impaired Leads
Conference Program
Keynote Speakers
Wendy Ulrich
Friday Morning
Adam T. Anderegg
Friday Afternoon
Kurt Francom
Saturday Morning
Dallyn Vail Bayles
Saturday Afternoon
Friday
7:30am Registration/Meet & Greet
8:30am - 9:45am Opening Session
Conducting: Jeffrey Bennion
Hymn: The Lord is My Light, #89
Musical Number: He Will Carry You, by Cynthia Estrada Miller, acc. by Rich Winsor
Keynote Speaker: Wendy Ulrich
10:00am - 11:30am Breakout Session 1
- Wasatch: What Role Do I play in the Pain I Feel?
Target Demographic: SSA Men, SSA Women, GI/Trans, Spouses, Parents - Powder Mtn/Solitude/Sundance: Healthy Friendships
Target Demographic: SSA Men, SSA Woman, GI/Trans - Deer Valley: 12 Steps to Change: Climbing Life’s Mountains with the Power of Christ
Target Demographic: General - Brighton: Connecting and Belonging: Parents of Children Navigating the Complexities of Gender Dysphoria and Gender Identity
Target Demographic: CLOSED DOOR: Parents of GI/Trans Children - Snowbird: Embracing Your LGBTQ Loved Ones and Your Faith
Target Demographic: CLOSED DOOR: Parents of SSA Children - Alta: Walking the Covenant Path with the Savior at Your Side When You Experience Gender Dysphoria: Part 1
Target Demographic: GI/Trans, General
11:45am - 12:45pm Lunch
1:00pm - 2:15pm Breakout Session 2
- Wasatch: Boundary or Request? Making Your Boundaries Clear to Others
Target Demographic: Spouses, Parents, General - Powder Mtn/Solitude/Sundance: Conflict In the Home: Your LGBTQ Journey Through the Eyes (and Heart) of Your Child
Target Demographic: SSA Men, SSA Woman, GI/Trans, Spouses - Deer Valley: The Covenant Path: What it is. What it is not.
Target Demographic: General - Brighton: Jennifer Kemp, My Story
Target Demographic: SSA Women, General - Snowbird: Faith to Move—or Climb—Our Mountains
Target Demographic: General - Alta: Maintaining Your Own Identity
Target Demographic: CLOSED DOOR: Spouses of GI/Trans
2:30pm - 3:30pm Breakout Session 3
- Wasatch: Connection Through Shared Experience
Target Demographic: CLOSED DOOR: GI/Trans - Powder Mtn/Solitude/Sundance: Identity and Belonging: Owning Who We Are While Navigating a World That Says We’re Wrong
Target Demographic: CLOSED DOOR: SSA Men - Deer Valley: Navigating Marriage Relationships When Parents/Couples Are Not On the Same Page
Target Demographic: Spouses, Parents, General - Brighton: Avoiding Seclusion, Embracing Inclusion, Truly Seeing Each Other
Target Demographic: Church Leaders, General - Snowbird: Where Can I Turn For Help? Finding Your Life Impacted and Affected by a Loved One’s Sexual Behavior
Target Demographic: Spouses - Alta: Together We Help Build Faith in Each Other
Target Demographic: CLOSED DOOR: SSA Women
3:45pm - 5:45pm General Session
Conducting: Monica Phillips
President’s Address: Brent Ebmeyer, President, North Star International
Keynote Speaker: Adam T. Anderegg
Musical Number: Consider the Lilies, Phillip Keeves on Cello, acc. by Rich Winsor
Hymn: We’ll bring the World His Truth (Army of Helaman), #172
Saturday
7:30am Registration/Meet & Greet
8:30am - 9:45am General Session
Conducting: Rosalinda Chacon Lauper
Hymn: Our Savior’s Love, #113
Musical Number: I Know that My Redeemer Lives, by The North Star Conference Choir, conducted by Warren Bittner, acc. by Vaughn Armstrong
Keynote Speaker: Kurt Francom
10:00am - 11:15am Breakout Session 4
- Wasatch: Impacts of Abuse and Moving Through It
Target Demographic: SSA Men, SSA Women, GI/Trans, Spouses - Powder Mtn/Solitude/Sundance: Reconciling with God When You Haven’t Been Getting Along
Target Demographic: General - Deer Valley: Mourning With Those That Mourn, Learning To Live With Unanswered Questions
Target Demographic: Spouses, Parents, General - Brighton: Clean & Clear Communication
Target Demographic: General - Snowbird: Ministering to Our LGBT Members and Their Families
Target Demographic: Church Leaders, General - Alta: Straight People 101
Target Demographic: SSA Men, SSA Women, Spouses of SSA, General
11:30am - 12:30pm Lunch
12:45pm - 1:45pm Breakout Session 5
- Wasatch: A Comfort Pack for Parents, Family and Friends
Target Demographic: Parents - Powder Mtn/Solitude/Sundance: How to Listen to God
Target Demographic: General - Deer Valley: Exaltation and the Single Latter-day Saint
Target Demographic: SSA Men, SSA Women, GI/Trans - Brighton: Finding and Creating Joy in Your Marriage as a LGBTQ Latter-day Saint
Target Demographic: CLOSED DOOR: Married SSA Men, Married SSA Women, Married GI/Trans - Snowbird: Learning How Church Leaders Can Support and Invite All to Come Unto Christ
Target Demographic: Church Leaders, General - Alta: Learning to Love the Law of Agency: Creating Connection Within Marriages
Target Demographic: CLOSED DOOR: Spouses of of SSA Individuals
2:00pm - 3:00pm Breakout Session 6
- Wasatch: Transforming Your Inner Critic Into an Inner Coach
Target Demographic: General - Powder Mtn/Solitude/Sundance: North Star Relief Society: No More “-ites” Among Us
Target Demographic: Women - Deer Valley: Walking the Covenant Path with the Savior at Your Side When You Experience Gender Dysphoria: Part 2
Target Demographic: GI/Trans, General - Brighton: Developing a Relationship of Love and Trust with Your Child
Target Demographic: Parents - Snowbird: Ministering to the One (Panel of Church Leaders for Church Leaders)
Target Demographic: Church Leaders - Alta: Emotional Intelligence Unveiled: Nurturing Divine Connections Within
Target Demographic: General
3:15pm - 5:00pm Closing Session
Conducting: Brent Ebmeyer
Keynote Musical Performer: Dallyn Vail Bayles
Hymn: I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go, #270
7:30pm Experience Sharing Session, Followed by Refreshments
Conducting: Blake Smith
Opening Hymn: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, #72
Closing Hymn: God Be With You Till We Meet Again, #152