“I’ve been reading some things about the Church.”
For many faithful Latter-day Saints, those words now arrive through a text message, a podcast recommendation, a social media clip, or a quiet conversation late at night.
Parents hear them from children. Spouses hear them from each other. Friends hear them after church meetings, institute classes, or family gatherings. Sometimes the questions are sincere. Sometimes they are emotional. Often, they are both.
The challenge is not simply knowing what to say. It is learning how to respond with both honesty and faith — without panic, anger, shallow answers, or fear.
That is one reason more members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are turning to FAIR.
FAIR is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping faith in Jesus Christ flourish through scholarship, historical context, scripture study, and charitable dialogue. Through articles, podcasts, videos, conferences, and personal responses to submitted questions, FAIR helps members navigate difficult topics surrounding Church history, doctrine, scripture, and modern faith challenges.
This year’s FAIR Conference may be especially timely.
FAIR Conference 2026 focuses on real questions facing real families
The 2026 FAIR Conference will take place August 5–7, 2026, at the Showbarn at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah.
Rather than avoiding difficult issues, the conference directly addresses many of the questions faithful members increasingly encounter online and in personal conversations, including:
- Joseph Smith and treasure digging
- plural marriage
- Book of Abraham questions
- evaluating historical sources
- temple questions
- Black Saints and the priesthood restriction
- apologetics and faith crises
- doctrine, relationships, and discipleship
- Book of Mormon questions and scholarship
Speakers include respected historians, scholars, educators, therapists, and researchers such as Anthony Sweat, Mark Ashurst-McGee, Brian Hales, Casey Griffiths, Keith Erekson, Wendy Ulrich, Jeffrey Thayne, Brant Gardner, and Daniel C. Peterson.
The tone of the conference is notably different from what many people expect from apologetics.
The focus is not on argument for argument’s sake. It is on helping faithful members better understand difficult issues, place information in context, strengthen discipleship, and respond thoughtfully to the people they love.
Who benefits from FAIR Conference 2026?
FAIR Conference 2026 may be especially valuable for:
- parents with children asking difficult questions about the Church
- grandparents trying to support struggling family members
- bishops, Relief Society presidents, elders quorum presidents, and youth leaders
- institute and seminary teachers
- returned missionaries
- college students encountering challenging online claims
- members navigating their own faith questions
- spouses trying to strengthen faith-centered communication
- Latter-day Saints who want clearer understanding of Church history and doctrine
- members who want to respond with confidence rather than fear
For many attendees, one of the most meaningful parts of the conference is simply discovering they are not alone.
“You helped me help someone I love.”
FAIR survey feedback consistently reflects gratitude from members who felt overwhelmed by difficult questions and finally found trustworthy, faithful context.
One attendee wrote:
“You have provided answers and strengthened my faith over many years. You have helped me help others.”
Another described FAIR as their:
“Go-to for reliable answers to questions we hear from real members, old and new.”
Others expressed appreciation not only for the scholarship itself, but for the tone in which it was presented — calm, thoughtful, charitable, and rooted in faith rather than fear.
That combination matters.
Many faithful members are not looking for simplistic responses or combative debates. They are looking for trustworthy information that helps them remain spiritually grounded while honestly engaging difficult topics.
FAIR’s approach reflects that need.
Faithful scholarship in an age of online confusion
Today, information about the Church is more accessible than ever before. Historical claims, criticism, commentary, podcasts, videos, and social media discussions appear constantly online — often stripped of context, nuance, or reliable sourcing.
For many members, the volume alone can feel overwhelming.
FAIR exists to help provide context.
Its resources encourage careful source evaluation, historical understanding, and Christ-centered discipleship rather than reactionary fear or hostility. FAIR also offers “AskFAIR,” where members can confidentially submit personal questions and receive thoughtful responses from volunteers familiar with Church history and doctrine.
That kind of support can be especially meaningful when difficult questions become deeply personal.
A place for both conviction and compassion
At its best, apologetics is not about winning arguments online.
It is about helping people remain connected to truth, faith, and each other.
It is about learning how to respond patiently when someone you love says they are struggling.
It is about understanding history well enough to place difficult information in proper context.
And it is about remembering that questions themselves are not enemies of faith.
“At FAIR, we want people to know they do not have to choose between honesty and faith,” said DeLayna Beck, Operations Manager for FAIR. “We want them to find answers that are reasonable, charitable, and rooted in Jesus Christ.”
For many faithful Latter-day Saints, that combination feels increasingly important.
FAIR Conference 2026 offers an opportunity not only to hear thoughtful scholarship, but also to become better prepared for the conversations many members are already having in their homes, wards, friendships, and families.
Come ready to learn.Leave ready to respond.
The 2026 FAIR Conference will be held August 5–7, 2026 at The Showbarn at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. Whether you are navigating your own questions, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking faithful, well-researched perspectives on the gospel of Jesus Christ and the history and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, FAIR Conference offers a place for thoughtful learning, meaningful connection, and renewed confidence. Learn more at fairlatterdaysaints.org.