The Latter-day Saints in Publishing, Media, and the Arts awards programs began in 2016 with the Praiseworthy Awards contest. Since then, the Lifetime Achievement Awards and Spark Awards (originally called the Emerging Author Awards) have been added. At times, the Beacon Award has also been given to select recipients.
Each awards program honors excellent creators and works in publishing, media, and the arts. LDSPMA extends these awards in order to empower and recognize talented creators and celebrate works that align with the standards and vision of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Lifetime Achievement Awards
The LDSPMA Lifetime Achievement Awards recognize outstanding Latter-day Saint individuals in three industries: publishing, media, and the arts. This award celebrates those who have, over their lifetime of a career, made outstanding contributions to the world through their industry. These recipients are known for promoting and personally exhibiting excellence in their craft. Additionally, those who receive this award have been an inspiration, mentor, and supporter for others.
Praiseworthy Awards
The LDSPMA Praiseworthy Awards program recognizes works that are “of good report or praiseworthy” (Articles of Faith 1:13) in multiple categories across the fields of publishing, media, and the arts. Each year, the Praiseworthy Awards recognize works released during the previous year that are held up to a professional standard.
We understand that it takes a number of devoted professionals to create a high-quality product. So, unique to LDSPMA, awards are granted not only to the primary creator but also to the entire team involved in the publication (e.g., author, artist, editor, designer, composer, producer, actor, etc.). Because LDSPMA connects faith to skill and creativity, we also recognize that at least one member of that team is a current member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Spark Awards
A primary purpose of LDSPMA is to lift creators from where they may be struggling to find new inspiration, hope, and opportunities. Part of the way LDSPMA fulfills this mission is to recognize aspiring, “emerging creators” in a variety of categories in publishing, media, and the arts. These creators receive not only the Spark Award, which recognizes their potential and talent, but also valuable resources and scholarships to propel their creative career forward.
Beacon Awards
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is run in part by many incredible members who are able to use their talents to build the Kingdom of God as well as provide for their families. Because these creators have resources that are often unavailable to other self-employed creators, LDSPMA has created a unique award for creators who produce works in publishing, media, and/or the arts for the Church. The Beacon Award is given selectively when such praiseworthy works produced by the Church are nominated by either the creators themselves or the public to receive recognition.
The LDSPMA Awards Gala
The LDSPMA Awards Gala is held annually alongside the annual LDSPMA conference to recognize the Lifetime Achievement recipients, Praiseworthy Award finalists and winners, Spark Award winners, and occasional Beacon Award recipients. The gala includes a catered dinner, delightful musical entertainment, and unforgettable experiences celebrating exceptional creators and works. The funds raised at the gala go toward benefiting the Spark Award winners and propelling LDSPMA’s other programs such as our master classes, mentorship program, and conference, all of which fulfill LDSPMA’s purpose to lift and inspire creators.