Breakout Track
The Living Restoration
Symposium
Gather in Christ. Grow Together
A weekend conference for Young Single Adults (ages 18–35) centered on Jesus Christ — featuring devotionals, inspiring speakers, meaningful service, and unforgettable connection.
Track Presenters
Presenter:
Barbara Morgan Gardner
PRESENTER BIO
Barbara Morgan Gardner is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. Her research interests focus primarily on women in religious leadership, international education and religious pedagogy. She is the author of the book The Priesthood Power of Women in the Temple, Church, and Family. She was a co-host for BYUtv’s program “Come Follow Up” and now Hosts “Grounded” a by women for women LDs podcast. Barbara received her PhD in instructional psychology. Her master’s degree is in educational leadership and foundations with an emphasis in international education development. She completed postdoctoral work at Harvard University in higher education administration. She served as institute director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Boston, which included her assignment as the chaplain at both Harvard and MIT. She continues to serve as the chaplain-at-large in higher education for the LDS Church. She is the founder of the non-profit, “Women of Covenant Leadership.” Barbara speaks regularly at Education Week and BYU Women’s Conference. She was born and raised in Salem, Oregon and resides in Highland, Utah. At age 40 Barbara is married to Dustin Gardner, and they are the parents of two beautiful girls. She enjoys her wonderful family, learning, teaching, traveling, people and life! She loves chocolate!
CLASS TITLE
Endowed with God's Power and Your Spiritual Gifts
CLASS DESCRIPTION
You have a unique, divine identity and purpose. God has a mission for you that can only be achieved as you use His power with which you have been endowed combined with your unique spiritual gifts! This class will discuss your divine identity, God's endowment of power and the spiritual gifts He needs you to recognize and use to fulfill your mission on the earth at this time! Be ready to study the scriptures, teachings of living prophets and ponder and meditate on your Patriarchal Blessing and your life!
Gather in Christ. Grow Together
A weekend conference for Young Single Adults (ages 18–35) centered on Jesus Christ — featuring devotionals, inspiring speakers, meaningful service, and unforgettable connection.
Presenter:
J.B. (John Ben) Haws
PRESENTER BIO
J.B. Haws is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University and director of BYU's Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship.
CLASS TITLE
Becoming a Global Church: Important Moments in the Last 120 Years of Latter-day Saint History
CLASS DESCRIPTION
How did The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grow from a Church concentrated in the western United States into a global community of disciples? This session will examine key moments from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including developments in revelation, missionary work, temples, and the Church’s growing cultural reach. Along the way, you will consider how understanding institutional growth and change can deepen your perspective on revelation, discipleship, and your place in a worldwide Church.
Gather in Christ. Grow Together
A weekend conference for Young Single Adults (ages 18–35) centered on Jesus Christ — featuring devotionals, inspiring speakers, meaningful service, and unforgettable connection.
Presenter:
Stephan David Taeger
PRESENTER BIO
Stephan Taeger is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ancient Scripture. He holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Psychology and Technology from BYU. His research focuses on homiletics (the study of preaching), narrative instruction, and ancient scripture. His other academic interests include philosophy, theology, and interfaith dialogue.
CLASS TITLE
Communicating the Gospel with Story
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Many disciples want to share the gospel but struggle to communicate it in a way that feels sincere, clear, and engaging. This session will explore how the Savior used stories and parables to invite reflection and transformation. Learn practical storytelling principles that can strengthen gospel conversations, lessons, talks, and personal testimony. You will also consider how to communicate the larger story of the restored gospel in a way that helps others see its beauty, meaning, and relevance.
Gather in Christ. Grow Together
A weekend conference for Young Single Adults (ages 18–35) centered on Jesus Christ — featuring devotionals, inspiring speakers, meaningful service, and unforgettable connection.
Presenter:
Georges A. Bonnet
PRESENTER BIO
Director of Communications – Salt Lake Temple Renovation Project
Lived in Germany and France as a youth. Joined the Church in France at age 16. The sport of his youth was rugby.
Served a full-time mission in the Papeete-Tahiti Mission (French Polynesia)
Studies at the LDS Business College, BYU-Provo and Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona where he graduated with a BS in Construction Engineering.
Married Carolyn Stubbs of Boulder City, Nevada in the Salt Lake Temple. Georges and Carolyn are the parents of six children, three daughters and three sons born in Salt Lake City, Utah; Phoenix, Arizona; Lake Charles, Louisiana; Papeete, Tahiti; Solihull, England and Sandton, South Africa. Informally adopted Esther, a young woman from Ghana, West Africa.
The Bonnet family has lived in Utah, Arizona (3 years), Louisiana (3 years), Tahiti for 4.5 years where Brother Bonner was responsible for the construction of the Tahiti Temple; Germany for three years where Brother Bonnet was the physical facilities manager for Western and Eastern Europe; England for one year where Brother Bonnet had the same position for the UK and Africa area of the Church; South Africa for five years where Brother Bonnet served as the first director for temporal affairs in Africa; Ghana, West Africa for four years to establish the first area office of the Church in West Africa and oversee the Accra, Ghana Temple; another two years in South Africa from 2012 to 2014 as director for temporal affairs for the third time in Africa. Served five years in the Office of the Presiding Bishopric Office. Since August 2019, is part of the project management team of the SL Temple renovation project.
Brother Bonnet serves as a sealer in the JR Temple. He and his wife serve as Primary teachers in their ward which they love."
CLASS TITLE
Spiritual Lessons from the Salt Lake Temple Renovation Project
CLASS DESCRIPTION
The Salt Lake Temple renovation is the most complex project ever undertaken by the Church, now approaching completion. This presentation will convey the purpose of the project through teachings of President Nelson and lessons learned through its design and construction which apply to the strengthening of our spiritual foundation. Pictures of the finish work in progress will be shared.
Gather in Christ. Grow Together
A weekend conference for Young Single Adults (ages 18–35) centered on Jesus Christ — featuring devotionals, inspiring speakers, meaningful service, and unforgettable connection.
Presenter:
Spencer W. McBride
PRESENTER BIO
Spencer W. McBride is a senior managing historian in the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After earning his PhD in history, he worked for more than a decade on the Joseph Smith Papers, including the creation of the project's five podcast series. He is the author of multiple books on religion and American political culture, including Joseph Smith for President: The Prophet, the Assassins, and the Fight for American Religious Freedom.
CLASS TITLE
The Restoration of the Gospel in American History
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Joseph Smith’s questions about his soul and the churches around him emerged during a period of intense religious change in the United States. What was happening in American society that helped set the stage for the Restoration? This session will explore the religious world surrounding Joseph Smith, the events that followed the American Revolution, and the influence of the restored Church on early American religion. Understanding that context can deepen your appreciation for the questions, revelations, and events that shaped the Restoration.
Gather in Christ. Grow Together
A weekend conference for Young Single Adults (ages 18–35) centered on Jesus Christ — featuring devotionals, inspiring speakers, meaningful service, and unforgettable connection.
Presenter:
Lisa Olsen Tait
PRESENTER BIO
Lisa Olsen Tait is managing historian for women's history at the Church History Department. She contributed to the Saints series, the Gospel Topics essays, and Revelations in Context. She is also co-author of Carry On: The Latter-day Saint Young Women Organization, 1870-2024. She received a PhD from the University of Houston, studying American Literature and Women's Studies, and she taught Doctrine and Covenants at BYU-Provo.
CLASS TITLE
Emma, Eliza, and Emmeline: Insights on Latter-day Saint Women's History from The First Fifty Years of Relief Society
CLASS DESCRIPTION
What did early Latter-day Saint women mean when they described themselves as “priestesses” or Relief Society as a “quorum”? How did their faith shape their service, activism, and participation in the growing Church? This session will introduce key women, events, and ideas from the first fifty years of Relief Society. Their experiences offer valuable insight into spiritual authority, discipleship, community building, and the significant contributions women have made throughout the history of the restored Church.
Gather in Christ. Grow Together
A weekend conference for Young Single Adults (ages 18–35) centered on Jesus Christ — featuring devotionals, inspiring speakers, meaningful service, and unforgettable connection.
Presenter:
David W. Grua, Joshua Rust, Rios Pacheco
PRESENTER BIO
David W. Grua is a Senior Historian in the Church History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Lead Historian of the Native Saints project. He holds a Ph.D. in American History from Texas Christian University and is the author of the award-winning Surviving Wounded Knee: The Lakotas and the Politics of Memory (Oxford University Press, 2016). Prior to Native Saints, David worked for a decade on the Joseph Smith Papers. He lives with his wife and three children in Grantsville, Utah.
Joshua Rust is a research assistant in the Publications division of the Church History Department. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from Brigham Young University and will begin his master's degree at the University of Utah in August 2026.
Rios Pacheco Northwestern Shoshone lives in Brigham City,Utah. Descendant of Bear River Massacre Jan. 29 1863 whose survivor's are Yellow(Alma Shoshonitch) & Tickameadiicky(Sarah Shoshonitch. Cultural Resource position for the Northwestern Shoshone . Knowledgeable in history,culture, & lifeways of the Tribe.
CLASS TITLE
Telling the Stories of Northwestern Shoshone Latter-day Saints
CLASS DESCRIPTION
In May 2026, the Church History Department and the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation launched Native Saints: The Washakie Ward, a digital history resource that features the story of a Northwestern Shoshone Latter-day Saint congregation that operated in northern Utah between 1880 and 1966. Presentations in this class will recount the conversion of the Northwestern Shoshone, describe the history of the ward and key community members, and detail the collaboration between the Church and the tribe.