Information for Presenters

Thank you so much for presenting at this year's conference. We look forward to hearing from you! Below is everything you will need to know to prepare for your presentation at our upcoming North Star annual conference, INSPIRE 2026.

Four-fold Purpose of INSPIRE

GENERAL INFORMATION

The following will help you as you prepare for your presentation. Please take some time to read this page thoroughly.

Preparation Check-off List

Please be sure to read everything below, but this quick check-off list will help you see everything we need from you in one small list.

  • Headshot (due ASAP, no later than Dec. 10, 2025)
  • Biography (due ASAP, no later than Dec. 10, 2025)
  • Presentation title and description (due ASAP, no later than Dec. 10, 2025)
  • If doing a "My Story", draft submission is due by January 1, 2026.
  • Register for the Conference. (Discount codes will be sent by email.)
  • Send PowerPoint presentation (due February 13, 2026)
  • Sign the Presenter Agreement Form (see below)

INSPIRE Theme

Please take time to ponder the what INSPIRE means to you. As you do so, please weave this concept into your presentation.

Registering for the Conference

Presenters are given 50% off an annual (full) conference ticket. This discount code will have been sent via email once we received confirmation that you accepted our invitation to present at the conference.

This will be a one-time use code only valid for use with a "Annual Conference Ticket."

If your schedule prohibits you from attending the full conference, please email us and let us know so we can give you a code that will allow you to register for a Friday Only or a Saturday Only conference ticket.

The following are instructions for registering:

  1. To register, click here to PURCHASE TICKETS.
  2. At the top of the page, click on "Add promo code" and enter your code, then hit APPLY. (The code was sent to you by email.)
  3. Your code will give you 50% off an Annual Conference Ticket when you register. This is a one-time use code.

We ask that you purchase your ticket by January 15, 2026.

Register Here

Session Guests

We allow presenters to bring guests to their session of the conference for free. If you have a guest(s) who would like to attend your session, they may register using the code, "2026session".

Your guest must register themselves so they have a chance to sign the agreements included in the registration. (Remember this is for your session only, not the full day.) Of course, your guest is welcome to purchase a ticket for the whole conference.

Book(s) to Sell

If you have written a book, you are welcome to promote and sell your book(s) during and in the break after your session. Please note, we will not have a formal bookstore this year. You will be fully responsible for selling your book(s). All proceeds are yours. If you have any questions, please email conference@northstarsaints.org.

Presenter Agreement Form

Please fill out our presenter agreement form.

Presenter Biography

Please provide us with a personal biography. It would be especially helpful if you could share any connection and special affection you may have to North Star’s audience (SSA/GI/LGBT+).

Please send this biography to conference@northstarsaints.org within two weeks of confirming your acceptance to present.

NOTE: If you already have a biography on North Star, please let us know if you have any changes you would like to make to it, or if you would like to leave it the way it is.

Presenter Headshot

Please provide a quality headshot photo. This is an image of you in business attire, business casual attire, or church clothes. Your photo should be shot directly from the front and the image should be centered on you. Images should be easily cropped into a square with the presenter’s face centered in that square.

Please send this headshot to conference@northstarsaints.org within two weeks of confirming your acceptance to present.

NOTE: If you already have a biography on North Star, please let us know if you would like to change your headshot, or if you would like to keep the one that is already there.

Presenter Expectations

  1. Attire. I agree to present myself in professional attire (business or business casual attire). I agree to refrain from wearing or displaying any clothing or accessories (i.e., bracelets, pins) that convey any messaging. The intent is to create an atmosphere where all are welcome and attendees are not distracted by potentially divisive imagery, such as rainbows, political slogans or any other messaging.
  2. It's crucial for our presenters to understand that while they can share their own feelings, they cannot speak for others nor assume authority they do not possess, such as counseling their priesthood leaders. North Star International does not take the position that we are here to educate God's servants or priesthood leaders, nor do we dictate their actions or words; we trust the Holy Ghost guides them. We can however, share our personal experiences and beliefs and communicate to our attendees and Priesthood leaders what we individually believe we would respond well to.
  3. We also need to keep in mind that we are children of God and members of His Church before any other label. These eternal terms bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father bring power, self-worth, and remind us of our true connection to God. Example: Rather than, "the LGBTQ", say, "as a Saint that identifies as ___________" or "as a member of the church, I experience_________."
  4. Please use inclusive language. You most likely will have multiple demographics present in your session.
  5. Avoid unnecessary negative language. Example: Individuals may experience same-sex attraction without suffering from it or struggling with it.

presentation Specific INFORMATION

The following will help you as you prepare.

Keynote Speaker
Breakout session Presenters
"My Story" Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Length of Keynote

Your keynote presentations is 45 minutes long. The first couple of minutes will be an introduction of you by a member of North Star.

Keynote Description & Title

Please provide your keynote title and description to conference@northstarsaints.org. (There is additional help for this below.) Please provide this to us as soon as possible, but no later than January 15, 2026.

PowerPoint Presentations

If you plan on using a slideshow during your keynote address, please provide that to conference@northstarsaints.org by Monday, February 16, 2026 (10 days before the conference begins). Please send this as a PowerPoint slideshow.

Tech Tips

  • Your keynote session will be streamed live and recorded, so please make sure you speak clearly into your microphone.
  • If you are planning on streaming any video or planning to access the internet during your presentation, we suggest you download the video rather than stream it through the internet to make sure the video runs smoothly.
  • You will have a clicker so you will be able to advance your slides yourself.

BREAKOUT SESSION PRESENTERS

Length of Presentations

Breakout sessions are 1½ hours long. About half of your presentation should include interaction/discussion with the audience. We ask that this discussion time/Q&A time either be left for the last 30-45 minutes of your presentation or interspersed throughout the session. So please plan NO MORE THAN 45-60 minutes of information so that the remainder can be devoted to discussion time with the audience.

Breakout Session Description & Title

Please send us your breakout title and the session description to conference@northstarsaints.org. The description should include how your talk is especially applicable to the North Star community. (There is additional help for this below.) Please provide this to us as soon as possible, but no later than December 10, 2025.

PowerPoint Presentations

If you use a slideshow during your presentation, please send a .pdf copy to conference@northstarsaints.org for inclusion on the breakout session webpage. (This file can be sent after the conference.) Please provide this by February 13, 2026.

Session Description & Title

Please provide your session title and description to conference@northstarsaints.org. The description should include how your presentation is especially applicable to the North Star community and perhaps even this year's theme. This description should be no longer than 80-100 words, using 3–5 sentences. (There is additional help for this below.) Please provide this to us as soon as possible, but no later than December 10, 2025.

Session Hosts

You will have a session host that will start the session and introduce you and help you with any logistics that you may need during your session.

Tech Tips

  • All sessions are streamed live and recorded. Please make sure you speak clearly into your microphone. Be sure to use the microphone for yourself and any audience participation throughout your session.
  • If you are planning on streaming any video or planning to access the internet during your presentation, we suggest you download the video rather than stream it through the internet to make sure the video runs smoothly. THERE ARE NO WIFI OR INTERNET CONNECTIONS PROVIDED IN THE BREAKOUT ROOMS. If you do want to stream live, you might want to practice using your phone's hotspot to connect to in case there are issues with your connection.
  • If you are bringing an laptop for your presentation, it's advisable for you to bring with you an adapter (dongle) to hook up with the projector. We should have them available, but it's aways a good idea to be as prepared as possible.

My Story SPEAKERS

Length of My Story Talks

Your talk is 10 minutes long. 

My Story Talk Requirements

  • There will be 4-5 Stories during the breakout session. All talks must have a first draft of their talk submitted for review and approval by January 1, 2026. This submission needs to be previously timed to be sure it will only be 10 minutes long, which is about 3-3.5 pages.
  • There is a waiting list to be able to present a My Story Talk. If your talk is not submitted by January 1, your spot will not be guaranteed.
  • Your talk should include your story, your story's theme or lessons learned, and include how you have been "inspired" by the Lord.
  • Submissions are to be emailed to conference@northstarsaints.org.

PowerPoint Presentations

If you use a slideshow during your presentation, please send a .pdf copy to conference@northstarsaints.org for inclusion on the breakout session webpage. (This file can be sent after the conference.)

My Story Talk Description & Title

Please provide your My Story Talk title and description. The description should include how your talk is especially applicable to the North Star community. This description should be no longer than 65-80 words, using 3–5 sentences. (There is additional help for this below.) Please provide this to us as soon as possible, but no later than December 10, 2025.

My Story Talk Q&A

Once all of the Talks for the session have been completed, there will be a chance for the audience to ask questions of the speakers.

Tech Tips

  • Your Talk will be streamed live and recorded, so please make sure you speak clearly into your microphone.
  • If you are planning on streaming any video or planning to access the internet during your talk, we suggest you download the video rather than stream it through the internet to make sure the video runs smoothly.
  • If you are bringing an laptop for your talk, it's advisable for you to bring with you an adapter (dongle) to hook up with the projector. We should have them available, but it's aways a good idea to be as prepared as possible.

Tips on How to Write a My Story Talk

The follow links may help you craft your Talk:

Please remember to factor in audience reaction time (not comments, things like laughter) into your 10 minutes of allotted time.

Writing Your Session Titles & Descriptions

The following may help you with writing session titles and descirptions.

General Guidelines

  • Cover only the session’s most important topics and questions in your description. These will usually be summarized by your title.
  • Remember your audience. Try to think of how someone who might benefit from this breakout session would react to your description. What can you say that would best resonate with them?
  • Use a calm, warm tone. Don’t use flippant or depressing language, but provide solutions and hope.

Template

  • Comprehensive Title
  • Introductory statement that resonates with your target audience’s situation (1–2 sentences). Possible questions that this breakout session will provide the answers to (1–2 sentences). Invitation to attend the session with a short summary of what will be learned there (1–2 sentences).

Examples

  • How to Talk About Same-Sex Attraction in Families and with Friends
  • Many individuals choose not to talk about their same-sex attraction with family and friends—they find it uncomfortable or awkward. But talking about it promotes authenticity, transparency and healing. How can we discuss same-sex attraction as friends and loved ones in a smooth and comfortable way? Join us in this session to learn how to have these most important conversations.
  • Serving Together in Marriage: Coming Together During Times of Conflict
  • Difficulties and conflict come up in marriage, and these challenges can create wedges that slowly erode the marriage bond. What should you do when the inevitable conflict arises—especially with regard to same-sex attraction?
  • Thriving in the Single Life
  • So you aren’t married yet, or maybe you don’t ever intend to get married. What can you do in a culture that puts so much emphasis and purpose on marriage? How can you live your life so that you don’t just survive, but thrive in this culture? Please join us in this session where we will address the principles and tools you need in order to live a happy and meaningful single life.