Download a detailed grid schedule of October 20–21 here (PDF).
Location: UVU Sorensen Student Center, Orem, Utah
September 5–October 12
Preconference Virtual Classes (included with both In-Person and Online Only conference tickets)
Each class lasts 1 hour and will be followed by 20 minutes of networking in breakout rooms.
To access the Zoom links for these classes, see the Attendee Portal. (Only conference registrants have access to the portal.)
Thursday, September 7
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Kickoff Session: Program Your Mindset for Success
(Open to ANYONE, not just conference registrants)
Monikah Ogando
Saturday September 9
10:00–11:20 am Mountain Time
The ABCs of Freelance Writing
Stacey Nash
Tuesday, September 12
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Orientation Session: The Best-Kept Secrets of the LDSPMA Conference
(Open to ANYONE, not just conference registrants—so feel free to share with your friends)
Jeremy Madsen
Thursday, September 14
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
When Do I Need to Look for an Editor?
Kyle Lund
Saturday, September 16
11:00 am–12:20 pm Mountain Time
The Modern Publishing Landscape
Bret Newton with Friesen Press
Tuesday, September 19
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Creating a Podcast for a Latter-day Saint Audience
Kurt Francom
Friday, September 22
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
How to Tell If Your Book or Product Idea Will Make Any Money (If You Build It, Will They Come?)
Trina Boice
Tuesday, September 26
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
In Defense of Writing Slowly
Katherine Cowley
Thursday, September 28
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Four Keys to Writing an Inspirational Nonfiction Book
Michelle Wilson
Tuesday, October 3
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Taming the Inner Perfectionist: Turning a Potential Enemy into Your Ally
Suzy Bills
Thursday, October 5
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Writing Meaningful and Memorable Songs
Shawna Edwards
Tuesday, October 10
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Understanding Copyright and Fair Use
Jonathan Kirsch
Thursday, October 12
6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
First-Time Attendees Networking Session
LDSPMA Community Committee
Thursday, October 19
Thursday Deep-Dive Workshops (purchased separately)
8am–12pm: Morning Workshops
1pm–5pm: Afternoon Workshops
Publishers’ Council (by invitation only)
12:30pm–5pm: Roundtable discussion of industry developments, challenges, and opportunities. By invitation only.
VIP tour of the Motion Picture Studio (by invitation only)
3:30pm–4:30pm: Guided tour of the Church’s Motion Picture Studio in Provo. By invitation only. If you have been invited, sign up here.
Networking Dinner (free and open to all; pay your own dinner)
5:00-6:30 pm: Mingle with LDSPMA leaders and conference attendees in the UVU food court.
Film Screening and Q&A (open to all; small donation encouraged)
6:30-8:30 pm: Screening of Tom Laughlin‘s documentary A Reel Legacy, which is about the founding of the Church’s motion picture studio in the 1950s and the central role of Judge Whitaker, who left a promising career as an animator for Disney to build the studio from scratch. It will be followed by a Q&A with MPS alumni and other filmmakers.
Friday, October 20
Main Conference, Day 1 (included with In-Person conference ticket)
8:00 – 8:30 am: Check-In and Badge Pick-up
8:30 – 9:00 am: Conference Welcome, Prayer, Warm-up Activities, Presidential Message, and Announcements
9:00 – 9:50 am: Opening General Session: John Bytheway
10:00 – 10:50 am: Breakout Sessions
11:00 – 11:50 am: Networking Hour
12:00 – 12:50 pm: Lunch (provided for all attendees)
1:00 – 1:50 pm: Breakout Sessions
2:00 – 2:50 pm: Breakout Sessions
3:00 – 4:00 pm: General Session: Deseret Book president and intercultural team
4:10 – 5:00 pm: Mass Book and Media Signing
LDSPMA Awards Gala (banquet and show each purchased separately)
5:00 – UVU Sorenson Ballroom doors open
5:30 – Buffet dinner served by UVU Catering
7:00–9:00 – Awards program in Ragan Theater
9:00–9:30 – Dessert and mingling in Ballroom
Saturday, October 21
Main Conference, Day 2 (included with In-Person conference ticket)
8:00 – 8:30 am: Check-In and Badge Pick-up
8:30 – 9:00 am: Prayer, Warm-up Activities, President-Elect Message, and Announcements
9:00 – 9:50 am: General Session: Bonnie L. Oscarson
10:00 – 10:50 am: Breakout Sessions
11:00 – 11:50 am: Breakout Sessions
12:00 – 12:50 pm: Lunch (provided for all attendees)
1:00 – 1:50 pm: Breakout Sessions
2:00 – 2:50 pm: Breakout Sessions
3:00 – 4:00 pm: Closing General Session: Steven Sharp Nelson
4:10 – 4:50 pm: Mass Book and Media Signing
Annual Leadership Meeting (free; anyone invited to attend)
5:00 – 6:30 pm: LDSPMA Annual Leadership Meeting
Held in room 206C of the Sorensen Student Center
Motion Picture Studio Tours (free; anyone invited to attend)
4:30–6:00 pm: Tour 1
6:00–7:30 pm: Tour 2
Friday–Saturday, October 27–28
Virtual Fast Pitch (included with both In-Person and Online-Only conference tickets)
- Friday, October 27, 1–3 pm Mountain Time
- Saturday, October 28, 2–3 pm Mountain Time
Virtual Fast Pitch sessions will be held over Zoom for in-person and online-only conference attendees. Sign-ups are accessed through the Attendee Portal.
After the Conference
Recordings of the virtual breakout sessions, the in-person breakout sessions, and the keynote sessions will be available on the Attendee Portal from mid-November through February 29, 2024 (included with both In-Person and Online-Only conference tickets).