Maxine Hanks, Patricia Quinn, Jan Carter, and Jim & Judith McConkie, Barbara Jones Brown

THUR, MAY 2, 2024   |  6:30-8:30 pm MDT

Be enlightened by a panel discussion of the remarkable and enigmatic life and legacy of Michael Quinn.

IN-PERSON GATHERING:

THE CONVERSATION:

The first of this year Signature Books published Chosen Path: A Memoir, by D. Michael Quinn. Signature has been the publisher of most of Quinn’s books over his career and so likely, has unique insights into his views and life.

Some years ago I had Michael lead a conversation for FaithAgain. I also spent a little time with him on several other occasions through our mutual friends, Jim and Judith McConkie. I always enjoyed these encounters with him and I appreciate the important and groundbreaking work Mike did helping Mormon history become more accurate and therefore more honest and helpful. Despite his excommunication with others of the “September Six” and being unabashedly gay he remained very much a believer in the Restoration. Few people knew the history of the church—from the good to the bad—so thoroughly as Quinn.

I have assembled a panel who, all except Barbara, knew Mike personally, and knew him well over the majority of his life. Except for Jan and Patty, whom Maxine was thoughtful enough to facilitate participating, all the panelists have led exceptional discussions for my ThinkAgain-FaithAgain group over the years and are brilliant and kind in their own right. My hope is that we will bring additional air and light to this good man and how and why he held on to his faith despite all odds.

ABOUT BARBARA:

Barbara Jones Brown is the director of Signature Books, and was the editor and lead annotator of Chosen Path. Previously she was the executive director of the Mormon History Association, historical director of Better Days 2020, and content editor of the award-winning Massacre at Mountain Meadows (2008). She is co-author of the book’s sequel, Vengeance Is Mine, The Mountain Meadows Massacre and Its Aftermath. Brown earned a Master’s degree in American history from the University of Utah and a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and English from Brigham Young University.

ABOUT MAXINE:

Maxine Hanks is an historian and theologian whose work focuses on gender in religion, particularly in Mormon Studies and Christian liturgy. She did her B.S. in Gender Studies at the U. of U. where she lectured for ten years, and did her master’s work in history at ASU and grad studies in theology at Harvard. She writes and speaks about gender and empowerment, spirituality, spiritual formation, theology, and liturgy in Mormon and Christian traditions. She is a chaplain and spiritual director who facilitates the personal search for an authentic inner path of the soul.

ABOUT JAN:

Jan Carter is the former wife of D. Michael Quinn and mother of all four Quinn children. Upon separating from Mike in 1985 after 18 years of marriage, she took on the momentous challenges of single parenthood while re-defining her identity. Feeling a strong need to disassociate from her environment as well as her personal history, she rented out her house in Salt Lake, packed up her family and moved to Missoula, Montana, where they lived for four years. While living in Montana, she completed her college education with a B.A. from the University of Montana in 1991.

Returning to Salt Lake that year and resettling in the old “Quinn” residence on 3rd Avenue, she was employed at Utah Industries for the Blind, where she worked as Executive Director until her retirement in 2019. Those years in Montana served as a vital awakening in personal awareness. They also laid a foundation for many areas of enduring passion, including a love of outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, birding, biking, and camping. She continues to frequently enjoy these activities with her current husband Jim, who she married in 2002.

ABOUT PATRICIA:

Pattie is the youngest sister of D. Michael Quinn. She is a Doctor of Social Work and was educated at the University of Southern California, her research effectuated synergistic programs to eradicate youth trafficking and homelessness.  As Adjunct Faculty in the Spanish Department at Brigham Young University, her research embodies medieval Spanish transcription furthering understanding of America’s colonization and transformation.  Her greatest love is her beautiful family of four children, five grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

ABOUT JIM & JUDITH:

James W. McConkie has JD from the S. J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah. His practice has focused in the area of torts and civil rights for more than four decades. He has taught Church History and New Testament courses for BYU’s Division of Continuing Education for over 15 years with his wife Judith and is the author of Looking at the Doctrine and Covenants for the Very First Time and has published in BYU Studies. In 2017 he and his law partner Bradley Parker created the Refugee Justice League, a non-profit organization of attorneys and other professionals offering pro-bono help to refugees who have been discriminated against on the basis of their religion, ethnicity, or national origin.

Judith E. McConkie has an MFA in printmaking from BYU and a PhD in philosophy of art history and museum theory from the University of Utah. She was the Senior Educator at BYU’s Museum of Art and Curator of the Utah State Capital during its major renovation project from 2004-2010. During that time she authored With Anxious Care: The Restoration of the Utah State Capital. She continues to teach in BYU’s Division of Continuing Education with her husband James. She has published in Sunstone and Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and has presented at Sunstone’s annual symposium. Her prints and watercolors have been exhibited nationally and in the Henry Moore Gallery in London, England.

EXPLORE BEFORE WE MEET:

Suggestions from Jay:

• Read Deseret News D. Michael Quinn, who wrote 10 books on Latter-day Saint history, dies at 77
• Read and listen to the Salt Lake Tribune ‘Mormon Land’: A scholar who was excommunicated for his devotion to honest LDS history
• Read Slate’s The Case of the Mormon Historian
• Read Signature Books Chosen Path: A Memoir D. Michael Quinn
• Read Frontline Interview D. Michael Quinn
• Watch this Gospel Tangents Interview: 24: Michael Quinn: The Entire Interview

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RECORDED ZOOM CONVERSATION

• Click on the Zoom link above for either last month’s recorded conversation (if the event date has passed) or the live conversation now. If you are participating in the live conversation keep reading.
• When you are connected you will either be waiting in a lobby and will let be in shortly or you will immediately be able to see other participants. Please make sure that you are muted and that your video is on if you choose to have it on. (Love to see and hear you live, but we’ll take curious lurkers also.)
• If you can’t hear the host, me, or others, find your settings and make sure you have a working microphone and speaker selected. OR maybe the problem is on my end so please let me know if it is.

ZOOM ETIQUETTE: 

• Please mute your microphone before entering and when you are not speaking so noises are not heard by everyone else.
• If you are going to multitask—not recommended—or wander around a lot, please turn off your video and make sure you are muted. No one wants to be distracted by you eating or using the loo.