I’m in South Texas now doing some oral histories with some of the pioneering saints out here. I hope to have more to report as I get it all straightened out. And to my fellow blog mates, I still have some notes that are on my computer. I’m very much stuck in the stone age out here I hope tomorrow to post the remaining notes from the conference and notes I took on Saturday morning.

I was able to participate in the session where Jared and Stan presented. (I read my friend Newell Bringhurst’s comments since he couldn’t be present.) I was teasing Jared and Stan that Newell was going to be harsh, but actually both papers were captivating and Newell’s comments were primarily laudatory and constructive. For decades Newell has been reminding us to consider the critical issues of race, gender, and ethnicity in Mormon studies. Jared, Ed (and fellow session presenter Paul Reeves) are right on target, plowing new ground.

BTW: Jan Shipps later reminded me of the story of the first time Newell ever presented at an MHA — way back in the 70s. His topic was also related to race and his fellow presenter that session was Bill Russell. The commenter, Marvin Hill, wasn’t able to be present, so Jan read his responses, which were reportedly strong (to put it mildly). Jan had told everyone beforehand that she guessed they would have to think of her as “Marvin Hill in drag” — so I guess you guys could have thought of me as Newell Bringhurst in a wig.

I also got to sit in on Christopher, Ed, and Mark Brown’s session on the development of the LDS Church in the Southeastern US in the late 19th/early 20th century. In a great conference, that was probably my favorite session. I think the branches and the missionfield comprise the “great untold story” of Mormonism — the periphery is routinely ignored in our normally obsessive focus on the church’s core elite. Among other things, I loved Christopher’s phrase “ungathered Saints” and his comparison/contrast of church structure and practices between the core and periphery and I loved Ed’s model for considering the relationship between the missionfield and headquarters.

I wish I’d been able to attend the rest of your sessions — the only reason I missed any was because it was impossible to attend all due to the many concurrent offerings.

Great work!