On the heels of last year’s success, the independent Faith Matters group is back with another “gathering” aimed at bringing together members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from across the belief spectrum in a space that makes room for questions and a celebration of faith.
“Restore: A Faith Matters Gathering” will be held Oct. 12-14 at the Mountain America Exposition Center in Sandy. It will feature speakers ranging from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to football Hall of Famer Steve Young, in addition to musical performances from the Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir and the Millennial Choirs & Orchestras, among others.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) The Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir sings at the 50th anniversary of the Genesis Group in the Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City in 2021. The troupe will perform at the coming Restore gathering as well.
The event represents “a place for those seeking a positive, hopeful and audacious encounter with the divine,” Faith Matters Executive Director Zachary Davis said, noting that nearly all 3,000 tickets are nearly sold out and advising that anyone hoping to buy one should do so by early next week.
“We set a goal of doubling our attendance when compared to last year’s gathering,” Davis said, “and we’ve achieved it.”
What attendees can expect
(Faith Matters) The Christian band The King Will Come performs at the 2022 Restore gathering.
The event will kick off Thursday night with a mixer and an exhibit showcasing devotional art by primarily Latter-day Saint artists curated by Esther Candari, art editor for the Faith Matters’ Wayfare magazine and director of programming at the Writ & Vision gallery and bookshop in Provo.
“If I could use one word to describe the collection of work,” Candari said, “it would be vibrant.” There is “an energy and depth across the very diverse pieces” that “speaks to the richness of the contemporary Latter-day Saint art scene and the hearts of the artists behind it.”
The evening will end with an evensong led by the choir Sound of Ages.
During the next two days, attendees can expect more live music performances, including by The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers, who will also speak about his personal faith journey.
“How often,” Davis said, “does a rock star talk about God and Jesus in front of 3,000 people?”
Additional speakers, meanwhile, include sex therapist Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, authors and scholars Terryl and Fiona Givens, mindfulness instructor Thomas McConkie, retired federal judge Thomas Griffith, and historian and religion scholar Patrick Mason.
(Faith Matters) Latter-day Saint sex therapist Jennifer Finlayson-Fife speaks at the 2022 Restore gathering.
Attendees will recognize many of those names from last year’s event. New to this gathering, however, are live poetry readings, an interfaith prayer, and a designated “immersive” contemplation room.
Also new is a Generation Z- and millennial-focused Friday night event headlined by Mallory Everton of “Studio C” fame.
Individual tickets cost $200, or $75 for students and individuals under age 25. Those unable to pay the full price are encouraged to email info@faithmatters.org.
Separate tickets are also available for $12 for Friday night’s young adult mixer.
About Faith Matters
(Faith Matters) Thomas McConkie, author of the newly released “At-One-Ment," leads a meditation at the 2022 Restore gathering.
Launched initially as a podcast in 2017, Faith Matters has since evolved into a foundation with its own publishing arm. Among its growing list of titles is Mason’s “Restoration,” life coach Jody Moore’s “Better Than Happy” and McConkie’s just-released “At-One-Ment.”
Guiding all these efforts is the group’s mission statement: “Exploring an expansive view of the restored gospel.”
