Bob Rees & Charlotte England—And You!
TUES, AUG 5, 2025 | 7:30-9:00 pm MDT
WHERE:
James and Judith McConkie.
3373 S Oakwood St
Salt Lake City, Utah 84109
Thanks to Jim and Judi for hosting this gathering in their home.
THE CONVERSATION:
“Emerson observed that “every great institution is the lengthened shadow of one man” (it’s unlikely a 19th century man would have considered adding ‘woman’’ to that aphorism!). Mormon Studies can not be seen entirely as the lengthened shadow of Eugene England; nonetheless, it is hard to imagine another scholar/teacher/disciple over the past seventy years who is considered as influential as Gene, or one whose shadow has been as long and as long-lasting as his. While some Latter-day Saints, because of position and power, could be said to have had a wider and longer influence on the general Latter-day Saint community, history is likely to show that Gene’s courage, innovation, imagination and pure Christian discipleship will outlast those of most of his Latter-day Saint contemporaries.”
The above from the introduction of the newly published Making Space for Mormon Thought and Culture: The Enduring Legacy of Eugene England (Signature Books, 2025) sets the stage for a conversation about the life of this Latter-day Saint disciple who had an inordinate influence on Latter-day Saint and Mormon culture, an influence that continues to this day, as attested by the forty-six essays in this volume by family, friends, colleagues, associates, and even strangers.
Gene’s wife, Charlotte, and several family members will be on hand to ask questions of and briefly share stories of his life and impact. But most of the time will be offered for those attending to share any stories or reflections of Gene’s influence on them. Signature Books will have copies of the book at the gathering but don’t hesitate to purchase and read prior.
Note: A panel of contributors to the collection moderated by Barbara Jones Brown will take place on Saturday, August 2, at the Sunstone Symposium.
ABOUT BOB: 
Until his retirement in 2012, Bob was Visiting Professor and Director of Mormon Studies at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He has taught at UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, the University of Wisconsin and Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania where he was a Fulbright Professor of American Studies (1995-96). He is the co-founder of the Bountiful children’s Foundation co-founder and president of FastForward for the Planet, an initiative addressing climate change and earth stewardship.
Rees has published widely on Mormon and Religious Studies. His most recent publications are A New Witness to the World: Reading and Re-reading the Book of Mormon (2020) and Why I Stay 2: The Challenge of Discipleship for Contemporary Latter-day Saints (2021), Making Space for Mormon Thought and Culture: The Enduring Influence of Eugene England (2025). The Editor of Proving Contraries: A Collection of Writings in Honor of Eugene England (2005) and the co-editor with (Eugene England) of The Reader’s Book of Mormon. His book-length study, “Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration.” will be published by Kofford Books in 2025.
ABOUT CHARLOTTE: 
Charlotte is an artist and writer, who gathers people for good music, food, conversations, and causes. She likes to create new things out of old stuff—like the home that she and Gene designed and built many years ago. Charlotte values the church and the gospel, and in asking good questions.
EXPLORE BEFORE WE MEET:
Making Space for Mormon Thought and Culture: The Enduring Influence of Eugene England, Edited by Robert A. Rees & Brent Rushforth
Remembering Gene and His Generation | Robert A. Rees, ed., Proving Contraries: A Collection of Writings in Honor of Eugene England
“Remembering Gene” Project: A website About Eugene England
When Conscience and Authority Seem to Collide — The Life of Eugene England: Faith Matters Podcast
Kristine Haglund discusses the work of Eugene England, the ‘last Mormon liberal’: Mormon Land
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE ZOOM CONVERSATION
I’m delighted those who can’t attend in person can join virtually. I’m sorry I can’t give you the same care and attention given to those in person. Please contact me if you have suggestions for improvement.
- 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.
