LDSPMA

Empowering Latter-day Saints to spread light and truth by connecting them at the intersection of faith, creativity, and professional skill

Collage of pictures from past conferences

Welcome to the largest gathering of Latter-day Saint writers, artists, media creators, and publishing professionals!

The 2025 LDSPMA Annual Conference

October 16–18
UVU Sorensen Student Center, Orem, Utah

Registration for the 2025 LDSPMA Conference will open May 15th.

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Sessions
Workshops
Gala
FAQ’s

What Is the LDSPMA Conference?

The annual conference for Latter-day Saints in Publishing, Media, and the Arts (LDSPMA) is a 3-day event for networking and professional development.

At our conference, over 450 Latter-day Saint authors, publishers, editors, artists, media professionals, musicians, and other creators 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 Our Work, His Glory.

It is our hope that the skills, principles, and techniques you will learn this October, along with the people you will meet, will enable you to more effectively consecrate your artistic influence to the work and glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you to our sponsors for making this conference possible!

What’s Included?

4 Keynote Speakers

Brad Wilcox

Professor of religious education at BYU and former member of the Young Men General Presidency

Friday Morning Session
(Oct 17, 9:00–9:50 am)

J. Scott Savage

Award-winning author of 23 published novels for adults and children

Friday Afternoon Session
(Oct 17, 3:30–4:30 pm)

Brad Pelo

Executive producer of The Chosen television series and president of 5&2 Studios

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

Harry and Debra Bonner

Patriarch and Matriarch of the Bonner Family, a leading Christian performing group

Saturday Afternoon Session
(Oct 18, 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.

Business/Leadership/Entrepreneurship

Business/Leadership/Finance/Entrepreneurship Track

Editing/Design/Production Track

Fiction Writing Track

Marketing Track

Media Track

Musical Arts Track

Nonfiction Writing Track

Visual and Performing Arts Track

Browse All Session Details

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

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

Real-Time Reactions: Get instant feedback from a panel of professionals about your query letter, book cover design, or songwriting project.

Meet the Creators Event: Meet many conference speakers as well as other authors, musicians, and artists; view their books, audios, videos, and other works; purchase any you are interested in; and get them signed.

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!):

Is there a virtual-only option?

Yes! Virtual-only attendees may attend pre-conference virtual sessions in the weeks before the main conference. In addition, virtual-only attendees will also have access to the recordings of all virtual and in-person breakout sessions and keynote sessions after the main conference takes place.

We are also offering an online Fast Pitch session and online Quick Critiques. Workshops are not available virtually.

Deep-Dive Workshops

The day before the main conference, we offer 15 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 16, 8 am – 12 noon

More Than an Actor: Becoming a Well-Rounded Creative – Jade Gottfredson and Patience Ray

Sharing Your Sacred Experiences: A Writing Workshop That Harnesses the Power of the Divine to Change the World – Bridget Cook-Burch

How to Grow Your Podcast – Lisa Valentine Clark and Becca Hurley Luong

How To Make a Viral Music Video (From Someone Who Has Made More Than 90 of Them) – Nick Sales

Choosing the Right Art Publisher vs. Self-Publishing – Steevun Lemon

The Art & Science of Breakthroughs: Using Neuroscience-backed Tools to Break Through Blocks and Create Success in Your Craft – Ann Ferguson

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

The Write Start: Mastering Craft, Building Confidence, and Navigating the Path to Publishing – Samantha Millburn

Afternoon Deep-Dive Workshops
Thursday, October 16, 1:30–5:30 pm

Writing Your Debut Novel – Shelly Brown

Book Marketing for Authors: How to Publicize, Promote, and Launch Your Publication – Scott T. E. Jackson

A Nonfiction Writing Workshop: The Ins and Outs of the Most Overlooked Genre – Krista Isaacson and Whitney Hemsath

Developmental Editing for Fiction: Character Development, Dialogue, Pacing, Setting, and Head-Hopping – Suzy Bills

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

Your True Voice: If You Can Speak You Can Sing – Debra Bonner

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 Sharon Eubank.

Sharon Eubank is the global humanitarian director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and formerly served in the General Presidency of the Relief Society.

Keynote Title: The Stories We Tell: In life, art, and history — thinking about gathering glory from everyday work.

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.”

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.

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!

Do you offer a student discount?

Yes! We offer a half-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.

Can children and youth attend the conference?

We welcome youth ages 12–18! They get a steep discount—half off!

Babes 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.

See All Frequently Asked Questions