2016 Conference
March 17-19, 2016
2016 Conference
Upon the Rock of Christ
March 17-19, 2016
Provo, Utah
Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
101 W 100 N, Provo, UT, 84601
President’s Message
My beloved North Star family,
On behalf of the board of directors and executive committee I welcome you to the 2016 North Star Conference! Whether this is your first time attending or an annual tradition, you are among dear friends who share the desire to live the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The prophet Helaman taught his sons,
“[…] That it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you.” (Helaman 5:12)
Much has happened in the world since our last conference in 2015. As a result of these events, you may have felt thrown about by personal winds of confusion, injured by shafts of unkindness, or beaten down by the hail of rejection. Elder David A. Bednar taught,
“Ordinances and covenants are the building blocks we use to construct our lives upon the foundation of Christ and His Atonement.” (Therefore They Hushed Their Fears, April 2015)
This weekend as we listen to inspired messages, share stories of hope, and demon- strate Christ-like love for one another, let us reflect on how together we can return to our homes and communities with a renewed commitment to the sacred covenants we have made with God, our Eternal Father. As we do, He will help us thrive in our personal lives and find joy in the blessed path of discipleship.
With love,
Greg Harris
President, North Star International
Conference Program
Keynote Speakers
Alonzo Gaskill
Friday Morning
Eve Tushnet
Friday Afternoon
Virginia Pearce
Saturday Morning
Clay Olsen
Saturday Afternoon
Friday
7:30am - 8:45am Registration
9:00am - 10:10am Opening Session
Conducting: Tera Brown
President’s Address: Greg Harris
Musical Number: Blaine Hickman & Lindsay Hickman
Keynote Speaker: [Presentation] Alonzo Gaskill
10:50am - 12:00pm Breakout Session 1
- Ampitheater: Building Trust and Breaking Barriers
Presenter: Dr. Hank Smith
Target Demographic: General - Elm: Being Authentic with People You Love
Presenter: Jena Peterson
Panelists: Laurie Campbell, Kim Shores, Jessyca Fulmer, Krysten McKay
Target Demographic: SSA Women - Birch: Paving the Way: How Can We Be True Examples of Love and Compassion
Presenter: Becky Mackintosh & Scott Mackintosh
Target Demographic: Parents, Church Leaders, General - Cedar: Healing Within the Family
Presenter: Debby Jackson & Meagan Jackson
Target Demographic: Parents, SSA Women - Juniper: Courageous Conversations with Loved Ones About Your Gender Identity
Presenter: Lisa Hansen
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Aspen: Kneading Brotherhood
Presenter: Brad Petersen
Target Demographic: SSA Men, Spouses of SSA Women
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm - 2:10pm Breakout Session 2
- Cedar: A Woman’s Heart
Presenter: Melanie Meszaros
Target Demographic: SSA Women, Women - Birch: Maintaining Your Faith While Exploring Your Gender Identity
Presenter: Nick Gregory
Panelists: Ann Pack, Laurie Hall, Jeremy Adamiak, Beck Miller
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans - Elm: Self Compassion: Developing Charity for Ourselves
Presenter: Nick Klinkefus
Target Demographic: General - Aspen: Understanding the Roots of Your Loved One’s Addiction
Presenter: James Ott
Target Demographic: Spouses, Parents - Ampitheater: Building True Masculinity on the Rock of Christ
Presenter: Doug Nielson
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Juniper: Embracing Diversity from a Christ-Centered Foundation
Presenter: Lisa Hansen
Panelists: Jim Struve, Jerry Buie, David Pruden, David Matheson, Marybeth Raynes
Target Demographic: General
2:30pm - 3:40pm Breakout Session 3
- Birch: Mindfully Mormon: “Resting Transparently in God” During Turbulent Times
Presenter: Jacob Hess
Target Demographic: General - Cedar: Deliberately Choosing Joy – Even While Being Single!
Presenter: Emily Snyder
Target Demographic: Single - Juniper: Defining Love: Romance vs. Charity
Presenter: Ethan Marston
Target Demographic: General - Elm: Coming to Terms With My Child’s Same-Sex Attraction/Gender Identity
Presenter: Charlotte Maughan
Panelists: Debby Jackson, Neca Allgood, Linda Barney, David Barney
Target Demographic: Parents - Aspen: Healing Wounds in a Relationship
Presenter: Wes Matheson
Target Demographic: Married, Spouses, Couples, Parents - Ampitheater: Stories of Thriving: Personal Narratives of What Has Brought Sucess and Growth
Presenter: Jenn Curtis
Panelists: Justin DeLong, Kyle Merkley, Jim Mock, Tammy Stevens
Target Demographic: General
4:00pm - 5:10pm General Session
Conducting: Ty Mansfield
Musical Number: Christoffer Hansen, Greg Reichmann, Katharine Matis Adams, Jennifer Call
Keynote Speaker: [Presentation] Eve Tushnet
5:30pm - 7:00pm Social Mixer/Evening Refreshments
6:00pm - 7:00pm Up Close and Personal Q&A With Eve Tushnet
Saturday
7:30am-8:45am Registration
9:00am - 10:10am General Session
Conducting: Becky Mackintosh
Musical Number: Choral Number, cond. by Cecil Sullivan
Keynote Speaker: [Presentation] Virginia Pearce
10:30am - 12:00pm Breakout Session 4
- Cedar: Working Through Depression and Suicide Prevention
Presenter: Karson Kinikini
Target Demographic: General - Juniper: Finding Wholeness by Healing on Four Levels: PEMS Healing
Presenter: Maryann Broberg
Target Demographic: Women - Aspen: Understanding Same-Sex Attraciton and Gender Identity for Church Leaders
Presenter: Joseph Stith, Chris Staggs, Ed Hayward
Target Demographic: Church Leaders - Elm: Finding Joy Through the Journey
Presenter: Sarrah Groves & Lana Garfield
Target Demographic: Parents - Ampitheater: Avoiding the Friendship Trap: Building Healthy Male Friendships
Presenter: Scott Owen
Target Demographic: SSA Men - Birch: Developing Real Intimacy in Marriage
Presenter: Alisha Worthington & Kristin Hodson
Target Demographic: Spouses, Couples, Married
12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm - 2:10pm Breakout Session 5
- Aspen: Protecting Against Pornography
Presenter: Clay Olsen
Target Demographic: General - Ampitheater: Emotional Self-Care for Women
Presenter: Dr. Julie de Azevedo Hanks
Target Demographic: Women - Cedar: Healing in Christ (Part 1) – Power to Change Hearts for Meaningful Growth
Presenter: Joseph Stith
Target Demographic: General - Birch: Breaking Through Loneliness: Feeling Connected in an Isolated World
Presenter: Kylee Shields
Target Demographic: General - Juniper: Searching for Peace in My Transgender Relationship
Presenter: Terri Busch & Brandon Jenson
Target Demographic: Gender Identity/Trans, Spouses of Gender Identity/Trans - Elm: Breaking Out of Trauma
Presenter: Jeff Case
Target Demographic: General
2:30pm - 3:40pm Breakout Session 6
- Juniper: Women’s Testimony Meeting
Presenter: Meagan Jackson
Target Demographic: SSA Women - Cedar: Healing in Christ (Part 2) – Power to Change Hearts for Meaningful Growth
Presenter: Joseph Stith
Target Demographic: General - Birch: Turning Conflict into Closeness
Presenter: Emil Harker
Target Demographic: Spouses, Couples - Aspen: Becoming Whole: Traveling from Shame to Self-Love
Presenter: Kayla Burningham
Target Demographic: General - Ampitheater: I don’t Have to Make Everything All Better – Empowering Others to Solve Their Own Problems
Presenter: Gary Lundburg
Target Demographic: Parents, Spouses - Elm: Youth/Young Adult Q&A Panel
Presenter: Preston Dahlgren
Target Demographic: Youth, YSA
4:00pm - 6:00pm Closing Session
Conducting: Jacob Hess
Musical Number: Jordan Call
Keynote Speaker: [Presentation] Clay Olsen
Leadership
Board of Directors
- Tera Brown, Chair
- Greg Harris, Member
- Jacob Hess, Member
- Becky Mackintosh, Member
- Ty Mansfield, Member
- Kyle Merkley, Member
- Tyler Moore, Member
- Julio Ospina, Member
(Current List of Board Members)
Executive Committee
- Greg Harris, President
- Mark Buckley, Vice President
- Sarah Langford, Vice President
- Spencer Thompson, Vice President
- Joseph Stith, Chief of Staff
- Kevin Denny, Vice President of Finance
(Current List of Executive Committee Members)
Conference Committee
- Spencer Thompson, Co-Chair
- Brigit Pack, Co-Chair
- Kyle Merkley, Co-Chair
- Debby Jackson, Co-Chair
- Tim Goode, Financial
- Luis Merino, Web Design & Development
- Chris Staggs, Marketing
- Blake Barton, Program Design
- Tina Jenson, Thursday Night Social
- Phillip Keeve, Volunteers
- Alex Lindstrom, Registration
- Kiel Reid, Bookstore
- Tammy Stevens, Program
- Paul Peterson, Program
- Ethan Marston, Program
- Meagan Jackson, Program
- Lana Garfield, Program