At our conference, over 450 Latter-day Saint authors, publishers, editors, artists, songwriters, and students gather to develop their professional skills, network with each other, and seek inspiration and support in a faith-fostering environment.

The conference has been held annually since 2015.

What Is the Conference Theme?

Our theme this year is Magnify His Light.

It is our hope that the skills, values, and principles you will learn this October will enable you to magnify not just your influence, not just your readership, not just your career, but the light and glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ, working through you to bless and transform others.

What’s Included?

4 Keynote Speakers

Ally Condie

Author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched series and numerous other books

Friday Morning Session
(Oct 18, 9:00–9:50 am)

Kristin M. Yee

Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency and former production manager at Disney Interactive Studios

Friday Afternoon Session
(Oct 18, 3:30–4:30 pm)

Brigham Taylor

Film producer and executive for Walt Disney Studios

Saturday Morning Session
(Oct 19, 9:00–9:50 am)

Michael McLean

Songwriter, composer, author, performer, playwright, and filmmaker

Saturday Afternoon Session
(Oct 19, 3:00–4:00 pm)

8 Tracks of Breakout Sessions

Over 53 breakout sessions will feature dozens of leaders in publishing, media, and the arts who will share best practices, life lessons, and industry secrets.

At the conference, you’ll pick and choose which sessions to attend which hours, based on your own unique needs.

Fiction Writing

Fiction Writing Track

Scenes That Impact: Balancing Action, Dialogue, and Description in Writing – September Fawkes
Four Steps for a Fool-Proof Plot – Laura Baumgarten
Real-Time Reactions with an Acquisitions Editor – Staci Olsen
How to Build a World That Matters – Kaela Rivera
Writing Through Different Lenses – Lehua Parker
Creating Dynamic Characters Your Readers Will Love – Gale Sears

Nonfiction Writing

Nonfiction Writing Track

EMPOWERED: Publishing & Marketing Options for Your Inspired Book – Bridget Cook-Burch
Writing About Difficult Topics in Memoir – Allison Hong Merrill
Preparing Nonfiction Book Proposals – Rachelle Funk
True Stories Make the Best Stories: How to Bring Your Nonfiction to Life – Dennis Gaunt
A Big-Picture View of Picture Book Writing: Topics, Formats, Support Communities, and Publishing Options – Kevin Klein
Embracing Vulnerability in the Peer Review Process – Leigh Ann Copas

Musical Arts

Musical Arts Track

Music Business 101 – Daniel Blomberg
Making a Masterful Live Performance: How to Create a Worthy Gift for the Most High – Yahosh Bonner
4 Key Parts to Self-Publish Sheet Music – Angie Killian
It’s Not Luck: My Formula for How I Made Over 50 Music Videos Go Viral – Nick Sales
Creating Success as an Independent Artist in Today’s Music Business – Becky Willard
The Missing Link to Mindset Work: Why Thinking Positively May Not Be Enough – Ann Ferguson
Crafting, Collaborating & Releasing Quality Music as a Songwriter – Joelle Einerson

Visual Arts

Visual Arts Track

The Creativity of Illustrated Stories: From Rough Draft to Finished Piece – Mark & Caralyn Buehner
How Cartoonists Use Comics to Tell Stories – Norman Shurtliff
The Meta-Physics of Quilts!: Fabric, Form, Function, and Family – Lynde Mott
Revealing God Through Creation: Nurturing a Creative Vision – Eva Koleva Timothy
Faithful Brushstrokes: Exploring Artists’ Paths to Church Publication – Jason L. Jones
How Art Can Heal – Eugene Tapahe
Creating a Creative Studio Space–Physically, Emotionally, and Mentally: Using Your Favorite Object to Set Your Own Radiating Point® – Rob & Sharyl Adamson

Media

Media Track

What if Jesus Posted Reels? Creating Authentic Connections With Short-Form Video – Austin Falter
Coming Together in Christ: How a Latter-day Saint and an Evangelical Christian Have Worked Together to Build Bridges of Understanding – Pastor Jeff McCullough & Kurt Francom
A Manner of Curious Workmanship: Being in Hollywood, but not of Hollywood – Paul Cartwright & Jade Gottfredson
Keeping It Real: Sharing Other People’s Story Truthfully – McKay Stevens
Men of Faith: How Our Media can Promote God’s Visions for Manhood – Kurt Francom
One by One: Leveraging the Power of Media and Technology to Minister in the Savior’s Way – Paul Schwartz
Mindful Media Consumption: Navigating Entertainment Choices as a Person of Faith – Marshall and Michelle Moore

Editing/Design

Editing/Design/Production Track

2024 AI Developments for Writers and Publishing Professionals – Christopher Cunningham
Freelance Editing: Balancing Business and Life – Laura Baumgarten
Using InDesign for Interior Book Formatting – Natalie Brianne
How to Analyze Fiction: A Class for Developmental Editors – Jana Miller
Microsoft Word Tricks and Shortcuts to Increase Editing Speed and Accuracy – Suzy Bills
Podcasting Made Easy with Descript – Maleah Warner

Marketing

Marketing Track

Marketing Safety: Five Ways to Both Promote and Protect Yourself – Erika Sargent
Funding Your Creative Project with a Kickstarter Campaign – Jeana Atkison
How To Derail Your Marketing Campaign in 10 Easy Steps – JoLynne Lyon
Building and Marketing an Effective Customer–Centric Business Using the Hero’s Journey as a Model – Michelle Dennis Christensen
Advertising: Harness the Power of Social Media and Amazon Ads to Sell Your Books – Julie Matern
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome by Embracing Your True Identity: Learning to Genuinely Market Yourself by Understanding and Implementing Your Divine Gifts – Emily Gould
More Efficient Marketing: 3 Keys to Increase Impact by Leveraging Speaking, Writing, and Media – Connie Sokol

Leadership/Entrepreneurship

Leadership/Business/Entrepreneurship Track

Achieving the 90th Percentile: Becoming an Extraordinary Leader in Publishing, Media, and the Arts – Jack Zenger
Legally Protect Your Art Like Taylor Swift: Lessons in Establishing/Defending Artistic Rights from Being Threatened by a Pop Princess – Seth Johnson
Keys to Building Strong Business Networks, and Why You Should Care! – Barry Rellaford
Entrepreneurial Lessons We Learn from Trees and Other Cool Stuff – Steven and Ginger Hitz
Your Vision As a Leader Holds Great Potential! Create a Massive Social and Spiritual Ripple to Inspire the World – Bridget Cook-Burch
The 86400 Concept: Moving from Employee to Entrepreneur – Steve Goveia
Enlightened Business Systems That Support Your Creative Ministry – Daniel Blomberg & Doug Pew

Browse All Session Details

8 Interactive Sessions

Interactive sessions are among the most popular features of the conference each year. These sessions provide fun, engaging ways to learn, network, and receive instant feedback on your work:

Fast Pitch: Pitch your book project to agents and publishing company representatives. (Available both in-person and online.) See details.

Quick Critiques: Receive free feedback on your manuscript from the professional editors at Eschler Editing. (Available both in-person and online.)

Networking Hour: Make friends, find potential collaborators, and lay the groundwork for later conversations in a series of three structured networking blocks.

Internship Fair: Where students can connect with potential employers, and employers can recruit talented students. FREE and open to non-conference-participants. Sign-up here.

Real-Time Reactions: Get instant feedback from a panel of professionals about your fiction query letter, nonfiction back-cover blurb, or book cover design.

Online Presence Audit: Get a professional evaluation of where you land in a Google search and how to improve the visibility and clarity of your branding.

Mass Book and Media Signing: Meet many conference speakers as well as other authors and artists; view their books, audios, videos, and other works; purchase any you are interested in; and get them signed.

Professional Headshots: Get a professional headshot for only $55. (Normal photo shoots are $150–$300.)

17 Virtual Preconference Classes

Our conference starts long before we gather in-person. For two months leading up to the event, meet other attendees and learn from top-notch speakers with our preconference class series (with recordings available to watch later!):

Marketing As Ministry: The Most Effective Way for Creatives to Build Impact, Influence, and Income – Doug Pew & Daniel Blomberg
- Thursday, August 22, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
- Get a taste of the conference! Watch the recording for free.
I Don’t Do Numbers, I’m a Creative! How to Navigate Business Finances and Avoid IRS Sharks While Staying True to Your Craft – Sandi Dawn Rytting-Bradford
- Thursday, August 29, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Discover Your Word Effect: Unlock Your Inner Leadership with Three Simple Words – Becky Kemp
- Saturday, August 31, 10:00–11:20 am Mountain Time
The Art and Science of Intellectual Property Law for Creatives – Britten Sessions, Esq
- Tuesday, September 3, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Navigating the World of Children’s Books – Kiri Jorgensen
- Saturday, September 7, 10-11:20 am MST
Make ‘em Laugh: The Mechanics of Written Humor – Whitney Hemsath Owens
- Tuesday, September 10, 6 – 7:20 pm Mountain Time
Amplify Your Impact: Turning Live Performances into Profitable Keynotes – Ashley Ludlow
- Saturday, September 14, 10-11:20 am Mountain Time
10 Million Subscribers Later: How to Succeed on YouTube – Sarah Skye
- Tuesday, September 17, 6-7:20 pm Mountain Time
Leadership 101: How to Be the Leader God Wants You to Be – Kiri Jorgensen
- Wednesday, September 18, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Sharing Christ Through Chinese Art – Julie Yuen Yim
- Thursday, September 19, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Three Facets of Managing a Private Music Teaching Studio – Stacey Leybas
- Saturday, September 21, 10-11:20 am Mountain Time
Ten Mistakes to Avoid as a New Author (What I Wish I’d Known) – Julie Matern
- Tuesday, September 24, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Crafting a Creative Business Strategy – Ted Finch
- Thursday, September 26, 6:00–7:20 pm Mountain Time
Writing Latter-day Saint Stories that Resonate With a Wider General Audience – Abel Keogh
- Saturday, September 28, 10-11:20 am Mountain Time
The Artist as a Conduit for the Spirit – Nnamdi Okonkwo
- Tuesday, October 1, 6-7:20 p.m. MST
Marketing Your Freelance Business like the Boss You Are – Suzy Bills
- Thursday, October 3, 6-7:20 pm Mountain Time
Publishing in Church Magazines – Norman Hill
- Tuesday, October 8, 6-7:20 pm Mountain Time

4 Months of Session Recordings

You can only catch so much at an in-person event. That’s why we record every keynote session, preconference class, and breakout session and make them available to you through the end of February 2025—so that you don’t miss a thing!

Is there a virtual option?

Yes! You can register at half the price of in-person registration and get access to all the preconference classes and recordings of all the keynote sessions, in-person breakout sessions, and preconference classes.

Comparison between in-person and online-only updated

What if I come from out of state?

We got you covered!

Get a discounted rate (with free cancellations until the day of) at the Hampton Inn & Suites across the street from UVU campus. Book a discounted room here. Only 25 available.

Do you offer intensive workshops?

Most certainly! The day before the main conference, we over a dozen hands-on, half-day workshops as optional add-ons.

These deep-dive workshops are consistently reviewed as one of the most impactful parts of our conference. The four-hour format and small classroom setting (capped at 30 people) allow for thorough learning, hands-on application, and real-time feedback from the instructor.

Morning Deep-Dive Workshops
Thursday, October 17, 8 am – 12 noon

Cracking the Code of Great Writing: Powerful Techniques to Master Your Writing on a Line Level
Kathryn Purdie

Getting Published: How to Find the Right Agent, Attract the Right Publisher, or Cost-Effectively Self-Publish Your Book
Sabine Berlin & Lindsay Flanagan

How to Thrive as a Freelance Editor: Strategies for Efficiency, Project Management, and Attracting Clients
Liz Kazandzhy

Watch the Pros Produce a Song in Real Time! (Includes a field trip to Noisebox Studios)
Daniel Blomberg & Dave Zimmerman

Buzzworthy Podcasts: How to Develop, Produce, and Market Your Podcast for Success
KaRyn Lay

Use Short-Form Videos to Attract Loyal Fans!
Austin Falter

Afternoon Deep-Dive Workshops
Thursday, October 17, 1:30–5:30 pm

[SOLD OUT!] ~~Crafting Commercial Fiction: How to Create and Sell Impactful Stories~~
Brandon Mull

Self-Publishing Step-by-Step: How to Prepare Your Manuscript for Physical and Digital Publication Like a Pro
Debbie Rasmussen

Don’t Tell Me About Paris . . . Take Me With You: Hooking Your Nonfiction Readers With Sensory & Emotional Depth
Krista M. Isaacson

Praises We Sing: Infuse Your Vocal and Instrumental Performances with Greater Confidence, Musicality, Stage Presence, and Soul
Dave Kimball & Bret Bryce

How to Stand Out Online in a Noisy World: Creating Your Subscriber-Getting Machine from Start to Finish
Doug Pew & Daniel Blomberg

Unleash the Video Potential of Your Smartphone: How to Plan, Film, and Edit Book Trailers, Short Films, and More with Only Your Phone
Brian Howard

If you register for BOTH a morning AND an afternoon workshop, you will receive a catered lunch and a lunchtime keynote from 12:00 to 1:20 pm.

Our lunchtime keynote speaker is Aaron Sherinian, managing director of communications for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Explore Workshop Details

What If I Need to Cancel?

Life happens to the best of us. That’s why we offer a 100% refund for cancellations received by September 3 and a 50% refund for cancellations received between September 4 and October 10.

And if something comes up right at the eve of the conference? You can transfer your ticket to someone else at no charge.

What Past Attendees Are Saying:

“I took so many notes and know what I need to focus on next in building my brand and marketing my design.”

“I have gained way more knowledge than I imagined possible.”

“What sets this conference apart from the rest is the spiritual component, which I really appreciate. I also love the camaraderie and genuine feeling of rooting for each other.”

“I liked the smaller nature of LDSPMA. Other conferences I’ve attended have been overwhelming in attendance and class sizes.”

“It’s a great conference—a hidden gem of the industry.”

“I didn’t know what to expect coming here, but it was fantastic. A bit of sensory overload for a novice like myself, but it made me put myself and my work out there a little more, and that is incredibly valuable to me.”

“This conference really helped me get a foothold of understanding the writing and publishing world, meet people who could help me, and feel a little less alone on my writing journey.”

“I hoped to gain information about getting published and I got SO MUCH MORE!”

“I wanted to feel the Spirit and be uplifted. I came to enjoy the people and the ambiance. And I did.”

“What I love about this conference that I don’t get out of most other writing conferences is the publishing and marketing tracks. I love coming and getting to learn how I can better promote my fiction novels to my audience and think of what a publisher is looking for.”

“I wanted to gain contacts and instruction for my editing career and inspiration for my writing hobby. All of my expectations were exceeded.”

“This was probably the best conference I’ve ever been to in Utah, and I’ve been to a LOT of them.”

“The sessions I attended strengthened my spirit and invited me to elevate my vision and personalize it for reaching hearts.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to attend?

Definitely not! LDSPMA is an international organization for members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who work in media, the arts, and publishing, or seek to do so. Please come and enjoy!

Can children and youth attend the conference?

We welcome youth ages 12–18! They get a steep discount—two-thirds off!

Babies in arms (approximately 12 months or younger) are allowed for free as long as they do not overly disrupt the conference experience of other attendees.

To preserve the conference learning environment, we ask that you not bring children between 1 and 11.

Do you offer a student discount?

Yes! We offer a two-thirds-off discount to anyone who will be a part-time or full-time college student at the time of the conference.

Do you offer bulk registration discounts?

Yes! If you order 5 or more registrations at one time, you get 10% off the current discount rate. Email us at info@ldspma.org to arrange a bulk registration. This option is ideal for publishing companies, universities, or other organizations who want to send several of their employees or students to our conference.

See All Frequently Asked Questions

One-Day Only Options Are Now Available!

Full Package: $300
Friday Only or Saturday Only: $150
Online-Only Ticket: $135

The 2024 LDSPMA Annual Conference

Session recordings from the 2024 LDSPMA Conference are now available!

Learn from over 60 experts in media, publishing, writing, music, and art

What Is the LDSPMA Conference?