If you missed this year’s Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City, audio recordings are now available for purchase at Sunstone’s website. You can splurge on all things Mormon by ordering up the full symposium audio. Or, do what I did: cherry-pick only the sessions you want and pay less. (Does that make me a cafeteria Sunstoner?)

Having scanned the agenda from far away in Michigan, I testify this year saw another great assembly of presenters and topics. These included the latest research and thought on perennial subjects like Book of Mormon origins and polygamy pervasiveness. Tackling our present-day culture, the Mormon Mental Health Association did multiple sessions. These offer practical assistance for people in various stages of faith journey and crisis. They also offer candid insights on marital and sexual wellbeing. As with every symposium, many other niche sessions celebrate we peculiar people and our quirky culture.

Time for Some Spiritual Shopping

If you’d prefer to window shop before paying $5 per session download, I recommend exploring the 2026 Symposium Agenda. Think kid in a candy store. 😁 After previewing session topics and presenters, hop over to the Digital Symposium page to fill your shopping cart. Once you complete purchasing, links will appear enabling immediate download of the audio. You will also receive an email confirmation with links.

My Symposium Session Picks

Every year, the Smith-Pettit Lecture is a must-see experience for attendees. Sunstone brings in a leading voice from outside of Mormonism. This year, former NPR correspondent Sarah McCammon* delivered insights she has learned as a podcaster and author of New York Times best-seller The Exvangelicals. Her experience in evangelical Christianity resonates with Mormon experience, especially concerning the rise of MAGA politics. This session audio is available free-of-charge!

Next, I chose the annual “Why We Stay” session hosted by Sunstone mainstay Dan Wotherspoon. I also downloaded the fascinating session titled “A Plurality of Denials: The Rhetorical History of Polygamy Trutherism in Mormonism.” This included a Community of Christ perspective from John Hamer which sought to balance historical and pastoral concerns. I highly recommend this one; the panel discussion included an appearance by our own Mary Ann. For more on John Hamer, check out Gospel Tangent’s 2025 Sunstone interview with him.

I also selected a couple of MMHA sessions, along with a heartfelt presentation on the YSA ward experience of one presenter. It’s been over two decades since I was an active Latter-day Saint, but the emotional memories persist. Over the years, Sunstone presentations have provided me exposure therapy, a healthy chance to process my own fallout with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while nourishing a deep connection to my Mormon heritage.

My Favorite Session This Year

““If You Want a Future, Darlin’, Why Don’t You Get a Past?”: Notes Towards a Mormon Literary Tradition”

Michael Austin, Provost and Academic Vice President at Snow College, argues that while Mormon Studies thrives today in mainstream academia, there currently is no such commitment to Mormon literary criticism (in or outside of Utah). He makes a compelling case, holding both BYU and University of Utah to account. In fact, I’d argue he takes a harder (but justified) swipe at U of U. And he does all of this while demonstrating the rich and expansive history of Mormon creative writing.

Michael’s session may not be your cup of herbal tea, but I’d be willing to bet there is something in the Symposium’s audio edition which is. So one last time, I strongly recommend you take a look. If you do purchase some audio, come back here and tell your fellow W&T readers what you chose and why.

*Image Credit: Sarah McCammon, photo posted by Lindsay Hansen Park on Facebook.