LDSPMA

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

LDSPMA News

How LDSPMA Changed My Life—- and Can Change Yours

By 1 Comment

Some lucky people know what they want to do early in their lives. Their career paths are clear straight lines. Far more frequently, though, career paths wind and twist and turn and tumble. They’re bumpy; they have ruts and potholes. They split off into the trees without road signs or mile markers. Maybe that’s why they’re called career “paths” and not highways or boulevards.

A few years ago, I was on a particularly winding, rut-filled path myself. But in the world of creation, no matter whether you are on a straight path or a winding one, we all are going to need help at some point. We will need guidance, information, or encouragement.

I needed all of that. And that’s what LDSPMA gave — and still gives — to me.

Starting to find direction

When I returned from my mission to Russia in August of 2018, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I had dabbled with health care and law in high school but found both unsatisfactory. I liked sports, I wasn’t interested in it as a career.

When I first got home, I believed what many missionaries do, that I could continue my mission by teaching seminary. That idea faded quickly, and I was left in limbo. 

We all are going to need help at some point. We will need guidance, information, or encouragement.

While I drifted in uncertainty at Utah State University, I took a humanities class taught by former LDSPMA Education Director Joseph Batzel. In the class, we discussed various types of art and media, and learned to evaluate and think critically about their value.

Near the end of the semester, we had a large assignment. I wrote a parody of Sherlock Holmes where he works as a janitor at an elementary school. Watson is split into two separate teachers, Ms. Watson and Mrs. John. There is a little mystery about a tipped-over garbage can and hidden treasure. It’s a piece I’m still proud of today — although I probably would have forgotten about it if it weren’t for Professor Batzel’s reaction.

He wrote a thorough evaluation of my story, brought me in to talk about it, and sang a few of its praises to my classmates. I was embarrassed, but proud at the same time. I’d worked hard on that Sherlock Holmes story, and Professor Batzel recognized that. He knew it wasn’t going to win any awards, but he saw its potential and encouraged me. 

Not long after that, he introduced me to another of his writer friends, who was another LDSPMA member. This friend was putting together an anthology of short stories. I submitted a story, and a few months later I had my first published work ever. And, my first milestone on my new path.

Meeting others on the path

I attended my first LDSPMA conference in 2019. I was nervous, and didn’t know what to expect. Beyond connecting and working with Professor Batzel and a few students in my creative writing classes, I had never really networked before. But on the first day that I walked into the conference, I felt welcomed. 

We started in the Conference Center on the Brigham Young University campus. In the large crowd, I was waved down by Professor Batzel. He introduced me to a member of the Osmond family, Justin Osmond. 

Five minutes later, I was listening to Elder John H. Groberg (as in John H. Groberg of The Other Side Of Heaven) give the keynote address on creating uplifting media. I checked the rest of the schedule. There would be presentations from Lisa Magnum and Chris Schlesinger from Shadow Mountain Publishing, T.C. Christiansen the filmmakers, Janice Kapp Perry the composer, and Jennifer Sterling, sister and assistant to Lindsay Sterling.

I listened to professionals and enthusiasts from all branches of publishing and media present their advice and passion purely for the benefit of others over the course of the weekend conference. In those few days, I learned about networking, marketing, managing writing schedules, how to find an agent and a publisher, and so much more. I went from feeling like writing could be a hobby…to something that I could actually make into a career. 

The power, purpose, and spirit of LDSPMA

Since attending my first conference in 2019, I have attended other conferences and taken part in Zoom meetings with other LDSPMA members. Each interaction has uplifted and encouraged me. 

I love writing for the LDSPMA blog from time to time. Working with the other writers and editors has made me a better writer. Every person not only wants to get better at what they do, but help others get better. 

That’s the spirit of LDSPMA. 

I went from feeling like writing could be a hobby…to something that I could actually make into a career.

LDSPMA’s purpose is to “empower Latter-day Saints to become voices of light and truth in publishing, media, and the arts.” 

And I’ve found that to be true. 

LDSPMA gave me a foundation to start a career in something I love. I write for LDSDaily.com, I have published my first book, and I run a podcast called Mission Report designed to instruct future missionaries on how they can better prepare for their missions.

I’m grateful for the resources and knowledge LDSPMA supplies me with. I look forward to attending more conferences, associating with the members of LDSPMA, and gaining more ability and understanding of how to uplift and inspire others. 

From once feeling lost, I now love the path I’m on, and I look forward to what lies ahead down the road.

Tyler Brian Nelson

After serving a mission to Samara, Russia, Tyler graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Creative Writing. Tyler is the author of Away From The Sun, a short collection of his written works, is the host of the Mission Report podcast, and runs the To Be Determined… blog. He lives in Provo with his drop-dead gorgeous wife, enjoys playing basketball, playing the banjo, studying history, and collecting Pokemon cards.

    What Is LDSPMA Really About?

    By Leave a Comment

    By Michael I. Judson

    Years ago, I worked for Novell, a company that, at one time, was the world leader in computer networking software. You might think the way the company got so big was by focusing on beating out all its competitors, but our mission statement was just the opposite. It was: “To grow the networking industry faster than it would without us.”

    That mission statement seemed counterintuitive at first. Why spend time and resources helping everyone else in the industry when we had our own company’s success to look after? But over time, the wisdom of that approach began to manifest itself. You see, personal computers were relatively new at the time, and networking them together was a novel concept, so we needed help to create awareness and demand for products in our industry.

    Without the infrastructure of the industry, our leaders knew the company would never succeed, so we developed our own trade show and aggressively invited other companies to participate. We sponsored training and professional certification programs, started our own industry magazine, and published newsletters for resellers and dealers. And we sought out mutually beneficial partnerships with other technology companies.

    So, what has all of this got to do with the Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association? Of course, we are not out to dominate some “industry.” Rather, we want to bring the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as we can through the creative works of gifted writers, artists, musicians, filmmakers and more. And the best way to do this is by helping everyone who has a similar desire, to reach their goals—including organizations that may look a bit like ours.

    Borrowing a well-known metaphor, we want to be a part of the “rising tide” that helps to “lift all boats.” Yes, we want to succeed as an organization; otherwise, why exist? By collaborating with other organizations and individuals with a similar vision, we can help to inspire more creativity, develop more opportunities for sharing ideas and creative works, and establish more connections with more people who share a passion for spreading praiseworthy works to a sometimes dark and dreary world.

    Announcing . . .

    With that as a backdrop, we are thrilled to announce a partnership with the American Night Writers Association (ANWA), which will begin with LDSPMA and ANWA each promoting the other’s annual conferences.

    ANWA is a professional organization for writers and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose purpose is to encourage, assist, educate, and motivate Church members to write, and, if they desire, to publish their works.
    Learn more about ANWA at their website or on Facebook or Instagram, and watch for additional announcements from LDSPMA about partnerships and sponsorships to help us serve and inspire more Latter-day Saints who are interested in publishing and media.
    And if you are part of an organization that shares our vision and would like to explore partnership or sponsorship opportunities with LDSPMA, please contact me at [email protected].

    Mike Judson is a professional communicator, author, and the LDSPMA Director of Development.

    Remembering Heaven: A Documentary and My Appreciation to LDSPMA For Making It Happen

    By 5 Comments

    By Sarah Hinze

    For many years I have collected stories about heaven. My collection includes not only the heaven we go home to when we graduate from earth life, but the heaven we come from before we are born. The quest to understand these concepts has been a personal one. My search to know my spiritual origin and destiny has always been with me, even as a child.

    From an early age, I was especially eager to learn about God. I ached deep in my heart for an understanding of where I came from. I sensed that I was a child of God and lived with Him before I was born. I missed him and, well, I was homesick for heaven, I guess is one way to put it.

    Our family regularly attended our local Protestant church and every Sunday, together as a congregation, we would stand and recite a creed that went something like this, “God is so small he can dwell in your heart and He is so large He can fill the universe.”

    In my heart, I never believed God was like a cloud or a seed. I knew he was a man with a son named Jesus. I knew he didn’t live in the entire universe but in a special place called heaven. I knew heaven was my home and God was my Father.

    My strong desire to know Him continued throughout my young years and on into college. A pivotal moment for me came when I first heard in my University English Literature class the following poem by William Wordsworth.

    Ode on Intimations of Immortality

    Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
    The Soul that rises with us, our life’s Star,
    Hath had elsewhere its setting,
    And cometh from afar:
    Not in entire forgetfulness,
    And not in utter nakedness,
    But trailing clouds of glory do we come,
    From God, who is our home.

    The poem was electrifying. The words sang out like beautiful music to my soul. A strong spirit of holiness rested upon me in my class. I thought, “So that is where I come from. I come from God, who is my home.” But where and how can I learn more?

    My search for God expanded into a search to learn all I could about the human soul, however, many of the philosophies I studied, existentialism for example, left me confused and even depressed.

    One evening, I was with my new friend Mavis, sitting on her front lawn in Brigham City, Utah.  As we looked into the darkness of the evening sky watching for shooting stars, she turned to me and said, “You know we lived in heaven with God before we were born.”

    I sat in silence, amazed at how easily she said something I had only believed in the deepest and most sacred place of my heart. This was the first time I had heard another person say that we lived with God before we were born.  All of my life I had known it was true, but here with this new friend, who was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she shared it like it was common knowledge. This impacted me greatly. I had found people who believed as I did.

    Within weeks I requested the missionary lessons and in September, 1968, I chose baptism into the church.

    Meanwhile I enrolled at Utah State University in Logan, Utah.  My future husband Brent also enrolled there after his mission. We are both converts to the church and were drawn together on a beautiful April afternoon as we shared our testimonies with one another. A few days later Brent invited me on a drive up Logan Canyon, which manifests some of the most majestic views imaginable.

    After about half an hour we had wound our way up the narrow twisting road until we reached a mountain pass.

    We parked the car near a shady meadow alive with wild flowers surrounded by groves of white birch. Brent took my hand as we walked.

    The scenery, the sounds, the smells—it all seemed so familiar. The feeling was sacred and we were quiet, almost reverent. We didn’t speak for a time. Finally I broke the silence. In an unusual display of boldness I said, “I think I have walked with you before. . . . in heaven before we came to earth.”

    “I feel it too,” Brent whispered. From that moment, we sensed one another as we had in the world before we were born and our spirits seemed to renew a relationship from long ago. We could feel there had been love between us before and a divine spark seemed to rekindle those memories.

    Eventually it was time to drive back down the canyon and return to the real world. Our surroundings looked the same, but we were not. Our marriage came a year later in the Salt Lake Temple.

    Soon our children came along. Several of our children’s birth’s were preceded by what I later learned is called an announcing dream.  An announcing dream can be defined as dreams, visions and other spiritual connections concerning a child waiting to be born or conceived.  In some cases one is told what the child’s chosen name is to be.

    It is a humbling experience for a spirit waiting to be born to announce their desire for birth   into your family.  None of us are perfect parents by any means, but it seems our children love us and want to be with us, seeing past our imperfections, perhaps seeing our potential more than  we can.

    I wondered if other parents had these experiences and soon discovered that I was by no means the only one. But what began as curiosity became a quest when I received profound impressions that part of my life’s mission was to research, teach, and write about this special experience occurring to people worldwide. Collecting stories was one thing I could do, but writing about it was something else. I was frightened. It seemed like more than I could possibly do. After much prayer and contemplation, I realized that I needed to be faithful to this assignment.

    As I began doing so, I was soon joined in my research by my husband, Brent, who has a Ph.D. in psychology. We proceeded to conduct interviews, collect case studies, give talks, and publish about the marvels and mysteries of announcing dreams.

    Brent and I coined the term “pre-birth experience” or “PBE” to refer to any experience that relates to souls prior to birth or conception. We learned through an analysis of the data that unborn children can warn, protect, and enlighten us from another plane of existence. Most often they appear to announce it is their time to be born.

    Social scientists coined the phrase “announcing dream” to identify dreams about unborn children and other types of PBE, not only in the western world but in cross-cultural studies around the world. It is our belief that PBEs, like NDEs, are universal and occur among all peoples, now and in the past

    After I had published several books, Brent and I had the chance to visit with Elder Hartman Rector Jr. who was staying at a friend’s home after speaking at our stake conference. She had given him one of our books to read, and he was very encouraging. “There will be books, films, music, art, and various forms of media that will share this important information,” Elder Rector said.

    The word film caught my attention. I knew nothing of filmmaking. It seemed like an impossible dream, but I took Elder Rector’s counsel to heart that someday, with the Lord’s help, we would have a film. I knew that with God’s help, all things are possible.

    In 2018, while Brent and I were serving a mission at the London England Temple, I received an email announcing the LDS Publishing and Media Association’s Annual Conference in Provo, Utah which would convene soon after we returned home. While reading the email, I was at our table in our little flat on the grounds of the London Temple. I felt strongly impressed by the Spirit that I needed to be there. I dismissed it, thinking we would barely be home from our mission on the dates of the conference and I would have my seriously annoying jet lag going on!  The promptings continued, so arriving home from London about a month later, my suitcases still packed from our mission, I packed a small suitcase and headed to the conference. I have learned if I do not follow the promptings of the Spirit, I will probably miss out on opportunities the Lord has arranged for me.

    I arrived early the morning of the conference. I recognized a woman who looked familiar as I headed for the door.  It was a Facebook friend I had never met in person, Dr. Trina Boice, who recognized me as the author of a book she had read after she had her own announcing dream with her unborn son.  It was a good feeling to at least have one friend there!  I felt comfortable and welcomed as I walked in, greeting many with smiles and good mornings. 

    It was easy to get into conversation with people, so I networked and talked to people about many of my interests in media, writing, and a film on my prebirth studies.  After attending a panel presentation of several film editors and filmmakers, I waited outside the door to talk to one in particular, Wynn Hoggard, who gave me the name of his friend Tom Laughlin. Within days, Tom and I talked on the phone and my dream of a film began to take shape.

    Tom and I arranged to soon start the filming of our untitled film. We filmed for a total of five days.  Tom had enough footage to spend an entire year editing, and he did it with dedication, heart, and soul. By January, 2021 the film Remembering Heaven was ready!

    Tom went into the film never hearing about the pre-birth experience, not knowing what he would find. As we interviewed people with stories, he was moved by the tender sacred feeling that accompanied the interviews. Later in going through the footage, he stated he was “overwhelmed with the beauty and power of the content.”

    We are so grateful to scholars Terryl Givens, Ph.D. and Daniel Peterson, Ph.D. for their major contributions. Givens and Peterson’s scholarly contributions bring us stunning detailed teachings from major cultures and religious foundations which should make the case for premortality at least a consideration for any true seeker of their spiritual origin.

    Here are a few story previews from the film:

    Christine was a young mother expecting another child. She was aware even before she left to visit her doctor that afternoon that her unborn child had not moved for a time. She was praying at home while waiting for her husband to come home from work. Then a remarkable thing happened… the spirit of her unborn child appeared and spoke to her.

    Corenna was dating a young man, but she was confused where to go with the relationship. She had doubts about marrying him. After praying most sincerely, she fell asleep. In a dream she saw this same young man, but then he faded away. A young boy stood before her and called her Mother. She was very drawn to this child, and felt convinced he held a message for her. After the dream, she broke up with the other young man. Years later, she met another young man from the Congo in Africa. Almost immediately they felt very connected to one another. They were married and a year later a wonderful son was born to them.

    Ned is from the East Coast and owned a nightclub in the Hamptons. He himself claims that he was hedonistic, materialistic, and had no interest in God.  One evening after a fight with one of his business associates, Ned died and experienced a near death experience. What he saw on the other side included children who could have been his had he not insisted on his girlfriends terminating them—a startling and shocking revelation.  A Lady of Light showed him a child that could be his son on earth if he would improve his life.

    The legwork of Remembering Heaven was put together by a team of people including Brady Dunn (cinematographer), Tom Laughlin (filmmaker), my husband and I (Executive Producers) and all who have so generously contributed.

    Special thanks to Tom Laughlin who has given of his time and talents in an untiring and dedicated way. Tom has put together some of the most exquisite photographs, videos, and music that bring life and passion to this unique information.

    Plato and Socrates spoke of a pre-life. In biblical times John declared that in the beginning the Son (Jesus) was with God who sent His Son into the world with a mission. (See John 3:16-17) Scriptures, prophets and pre-birth studies suggest this is a pattern for all of us.

    I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Spirit of the Lord for guiding me to attend the LDSPMA Conference and to meet the people who helped to make Remembering Heaven. 

    Remembering Heaven won Best Feature Documentary and Audience Choice Award at the LDS Film Festival in February, 2021.  We are nominated for Best Documentary at the Utah Film Festival and Most Inspirational Documentary at the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, Florida May, 2021.

    **We are looking for stories for our next film, international pre-birth experience stories as well as stories close to home. See my website www.sarahhinze.com for more information on pre-birth experiences or you can read my book The Announcing Dream: Dreams and Visions of Children Waiting to be Born 2016 (On Amazon)

    Please contact Sarah for questions or stories you would like to share at [email protected]

    Sarah Hinze has collaborated with leading experts on near-death experiences and pre-natal psychology while conducting extensive research and hundreds of interviews. She has presented workshops, seminars, and lectures at conferences and universities, as well as on Capitol Hill and at the United Nations. Sarah has been featured in articles and radio and TV shows in the US, Canada and Japan. In addition to English, her books are published in Spanish, Portuguese and German. Her writings have been the source of healing and hope for individuals worldwide. Sarah and Brent Hinze are the parents of nine children and thirty-two grandchildren, so far!

    **Check out the story and journey of our film by following Sarah Hinze and Tom Laughlin on Facebook as well as my website and blog at: sarahhinze.com/home/books/remembering-heaven

    Announcing the Praiseworthy Awards for Emerging Authors!

    By Leave a Comment

    By Katie Wiscombe, LDSPMA Awards Committee Member   

    How are you like the following people: Gerald Lund, Sarah Eden, or even Brandon Sanderson? I’m sure most of you would say you are nothing like these amazing Latter-day Saint authors. But really, you would be wrong. You probably have several things in common, but I’m looking for just one. Any guesses? No? Well, let me tell you.

    You are like these creators simply because they, too, were once unknown authors with the drive, discipline, and talent to take that first step. The first step for you can be right here. If your dreams are tied up in telling the stories rolling around in your head, you’re in the right place. Let me explain.

    In conjunction with our annual Latter-day Saint Publishing & Media Association conference held in October, we offer an opportunity for previously unpublished authors to submit their work to the Praiseworthy Award for Emerging Authors contest. This is a writing contest specifically for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are unpublished and unagented. And this opportunity has a wonderful prize waiting at the finish line for the winners: feedback from the industry professionals at Eschler Editing! What?! Truly, the chance to have a professional in the field help you on your way is worth that first step.

    The Details

    Now for a little housekeeping. We open for submissions for all genres on May 1, 2021. Fiction submissions are due by June 1, 2021. Nonfiction submissions are DUE by June 15, 2021. 

    You are welcome to submit up to 2,500 words from any genre and on any topic you would like. Picture books to epic fantasy. Romance to memoir. Historical fiction or nonfiction. Poetry or essays. Do you have a manuscript on how to make goat cheese? Or maybe you have a more serious subject matter that needs to be heard. Send it over.  The sky’s the limit. All you need to do is click here for additional information on submitting your manuscript.

    Winners

    Winners will be announced at the conference in October. Besides the feedback from Eschler Editing, all winners and honorable mentions will receive a certificate and a digital badge to post on their social media pages or website. 

    The Invitation

    I hope you follow that voice in your head that encourages you to take that first step. It’s not impossible to think that you could someday be in the same place as those incredible authors above. Nelson Mandela shared some inspired insight on the subject when he said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” So what are you waiting for? Dust off your manuscript, click the link, and submit your 2,500 words. Impossible no more–you just got it done. One step closer to your dream becoming a reality. 

    We can’t wait to hear your stories!

    Praiseworthy Award Nominations Are Open

    By Leave a Comment

    By Nicole Bay

    It’s that time of year again! No, not the Oscar season—it’s time to send in your nominations for the annual LDSPMA Praiseworthy Awards.

    LDSPMA instituted the Praiseworthy Awards in 2016 to honor entire teams who collaborate to bring excellent work to light. Authors, illustrators, and content writers are extremely important in the initial stages of a new creative endeavor. They have the inspiration for a story, a movie, or a podcast. Then editors, designers, producers, directors, and actors add their magic and vision to refine that work and prepare it to meet the world. We appreciate all the work that goes into creating an outstanding piece of art, so we give Praiseworthy Awards to all members of the winning teams.

    Last year we were thrilled to receive so many high-quality entries. Publishers nominated their best books, but LDSPMA members and friends entered their favorites, too. Past winners include authors published locally as well as nationally. (See the 2020 Awards Winners page.)

    And the Praiseworthy Awards contest isn’t just for books—we want to recognize excellence in audiovisual media, such as podcasts, songs, and films, and in multimedia projects, such as interactive websites, video games, and apps. 

    We welcome submissions from most genres that explore a wide variety of themes and content. A picture book about the first woman to run the Boston Marathon? Yes, please! How about a biography of a prophet or a novel about forbidden love? Absolutely! What about a book that deals with mental illness, a podcast about success in business, or a recording of a rock song? Yes, yes, yes! 

    The common denominators for Praiseworthy winners? A top-notch product whose creators include at least one member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

    We know you’ve either created or loved a book or other work that deserves some recognition. Check out our eligibility and submissions guidelines, and then use this form to submit a nomination. 

    Nominations are open from March 15 to April 16, 2021, for works produced in 2020.

    Keep creating and consuming excellent media! The world needs it!

    Bio: Nicole Bay is the LDSPMA Director of Awards. She teaches linguistics at Brigham Young University and writes children’s fiction and nonfiction. Her favorite things are her husband and kids, homemade bread and cookies, reading, writing, and crossword puzzles.

    Announcing the New LDSPMA Podcast!

    By Leave a Comment

    By Ted Finch

    I am happy to announce the launch of the first episode of The LDSPMA Podcast! In the first episode, I interview Steven Piersanti, who is one of the original members of the Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association. He currently serves as the director of conferences and programs.

    Podcasting is always an adventure for me. I love listening to podcasts and I have enjoyed the few that I have done before hosting The LDSPMA Podcast. To be honest, I never thought of myself as a podcaster. I’ve always seen myself as a writer and storyteller, but sometimes our creative paths lead us in directions we never imagined.

    Podcasting is turning into a medium where we can simply and effectively share our light. We can flood the airwaves with hope and positivity. We can model civility and celebrate differences of opinion and diversity of thought.

    I still write poems and work on my novels, but I feel my focus, for this time and season in my life, shifting to figuring out how to be the best podcaster I can be. I know that I’ll make some mistakes. I’ll even put out a few episodes that aren’t perfect, but I know that I can’t wait. If I wait—it won’t happen. There are stories to tell that need to be heard.

    So, if you are a podcaster, or want to be, I encourage you to get your message out there. I would also love to connect and learn what is working well for you and what pitfalls to avoid.

    Keep moving and don’t give up.

    Ted Finch – Host of The LDSPMA Podcast

    To be a future guest on The LDSPMA podcast, you can schedule an interview with Ted Finch at [email protected]

    A Reflection of 2020 and the LDSPMA Virtual Conference

    By Leave a Comment

    By Mike Judson

    By now, your recollections of the first virtual LDSPMA annual conference may be fading a bit, so we decided to jog your memory with reminders about what a fabulous conference it was. As a friend used to say, “That’s one in a row!” and indeed it was one worth remembering.

    COVID-19!

    The big news this year was that COVID-19 forced the conference to take place online. The prospect of putting on a virtual conference was scary and daunting at first, but not as much as canceling the conference altogether, which nobody wanted to do. As plans came together, things began to look more and more doable. Speaking from a completely neutral viewpoint (yeah, right!) I’d say the result was not too bad for a first try. Here’s a mix of comments both applauding and lamenting the online format.

    “I really liked the virtual conference.  It keeps the conference affordable—no travel, car rental, nor hotel expenses.” 

    “I would not have been able to attend an in-person conference, so I really appreciate being able to view the session on my own time schedule.” 

    “I only wish we could have sat and had a meal together, and I wish we could have had the book signing thing that has been done before.” 

    “I’m not sure I’m a fan of prepared PowerPoint presentations in Zoom.  The personal interaction was better.” 

    “I think this presentation style actually led to better Q&A sessions.  The biggest drawback was the limited networking potential within the sessions and the necessary decrease in organic teaching with the prerecorded sessions.”

    Survey Results

    A post-conference survey revealed some positive, and somewhat surprising results. For example:

    • More than 300 people attended online, the most of any LDSPMA Annual Conference to-date.
    • Half of those responding to our post-conference survey were first-time attendees.
    • People attended from 24 states and 3 countries.
    • A majority of survey respondents rated the conference as “highly worthwhile.”
    • There were just as many views of the recorded sessions after the conference ended as the live sessions. In other words, people really took advantage of the opportunity to continue watching the sessions long after the actual conference ended. That’s a huge perk of having a virtual conference!

    Spiritual Focus

    This year’s conference had a decidedly spiritual focus that made it that much better for many attendees. Here’s what some had to say:

    “This was the most spiritual conference I have ever been to.”

    “I attend a lot of writing conferences, at least three a year. I think what LDSPMA offers me that others do not is the unique LDS flair.” 

    “I come back every year because I feel the Spirit at the conference.  And every year I forget that that is why I love it.  Then I come back and there it is again.”

    “I attended two years ago and again this year and both times I was blown away. The spirit of the Holy Ghost is strong with LDSPMA. I have attended similar conferences over the years and often notice the void of not feeling the Spirit.”

    One comment from attendee Lynn Steen particularly caught our eye:

    “Wow! As a writer, I loved the Conference! I’m a Nobody in the middle of Nowhere but had the opportunity to feed on so many things! The presenters, those selected to speak, and the subjects I was able to choose, all of that came together with precision with a wealth of information in the mix. I’m still trying to follow up on my notes. Added to that, everyone was LDS. That painted everything: the goals, and attitudes, the advice. I didn’t need to worry about whom to trust as we might do in other situations. The world is too caught up in making the money, not in “how” to do it the Lord’s way. Thank you!!”

    Keynotes

    All of the keynote sessions rated exceptionally well in our survey. 

    “Bonner Family, Brandon Mull, Hafens, Hilary Weeks—all inspirational and practical.” 

    “I loved the keynotes.  They were inspirational.”

    “The keynote addresses were all fantastic!  The Hafens were so humble about having worked to produce a wonderful biography about Elder Maxwell.  Hilary Weeks emphasized her seeking to honor Christ through her music and give him credit for her new marketing strategy.  The Bonner Family members were so refreshing with their commitment to the faith.  Brandon Mull’s entire presentation told how he was led by Christ to be where he is today—even when times were challenging.  Well done, team, in selecting such meaningful presenters.”

    Brandon Mull’s presentation received the most comments and the most enthusiastic comments. 

    “I loved the session with Brandon Mull.  It was inspirational to me to hear of his journey from childhood and how he eventually became a successful writer.” 

    “I was grateful to hear of Brandon Mull’s journey as an author.  It was incredibly relatable to my own experience, and it encouraged me to ‘press forward in faith.’” 

    “Brandon Mull was wonderful and informative about what he had to do to get going.  That was so useful and good to hear.” 

    “I loved hearing about the spiritual side of Brandon Mull’s career.  That isn’t something I’ve had the experience to hear him share in public.”

    “I have so many thoughts about the conference, but the session that has stayed with me the most is the Brandon Mull Keynote Session. His message blended the best of the professional and spiritual sides of the work. I loved it.”

    The really good news about Brandon Mull’s address is it is being made available to LDSPMA members soon and to those they invite to join the Association! You will see a special access link near the top of our home page on the website starting in January. Tell your friends and co-workers to sign-up so they can enjoy Brandon’s powerful message too!

    What Lies Ahead?

    Plans are already underway for our 2021 conference. Will it be in person? Online? A combination of both? Time will tell. One thing is certain, you won’t want to miss it!

    Here’s proof I’m not the only one who loves the idea of a hybrid conference model. Another member recently wrote:

    “I love that it is online. I would never have been able to attend otherwise. I also love that all the material is available to watch for a month afterward–so helpful!  Whatever you do, I hope you keep the online capability–whether that means live-streaming it or recording it and archiving it after the fact. For an LDSPMA member like me who lives abroad, it was a goldmine.”

    We want to hear what YOU think, so please fill out the survey you were emailed last week. All of the decisions the Board and the Conference Committee make are based on your preferences. We want to offer the tools and resources that can best help you share your creative talents with the world!

    Thanks for attending this year’s conference. Here’s to another great one in 2021!

    In case you missed out on some of the fun, here are some links to some of the sessions you can check out that we uploaded to our LDSPMA YouTube channel:

    The Bonner Family were keynoters and spoke and sang about “Bringing People to Unity in Christ through Music”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h84dUQ-N57I&feature=youtu.be ).

    In the Lifetime Achievement Awards Ceremony, Dean Hughes, Emily Watts, and Christopher Robbins were honored and spoke about their lives and careers, with Carole Mikita as the emcee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOy_RNgQlZk&feature=youtu.be

    And here is a link to view the Praiseworthy Awards Ceremony that gave out publication awards in about a dozen categories, with Amanda Dickson as emcee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uj4sA-YT_w&feature=youtu.be

    Merry CHRISTmas!

    By Leave a Comment

    We want to thank you for making LDSPMA a part of your busy life by being a member and sharing your creative talents with others.

    This year has been a pretty crazy one, so the light you shine in the dark world has been especially important. We’re constantly amazed by all of the things you’re doing to make the world a better place.

    We hope you feel our love for you as we create events and services to help you grow your professional talents and business. More important, we hope you feel the Savior’s love during this Christmas season.

    We have some VERY exciting new developments for 2021 that we’ll tell you about in January! Until then, we wish you a very Merry CHRISTmas and a Happy New Year!

    The LDSPMA Board