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IMAGE: PHOTO OF MTA LOGO

Voting members of the Mormon Transhumanist Association have amended its constitution to extend the Mormon Transhumanist Affirmation. Together, the Transhumanist Declaration and the Mormon Transhumanist Affirmation define the purpose of the association.

The original version of the Affirmation had three points, all of which remain unchanged in the new version. The new version has six points, two of which appear before the original three points, and one of which appears after the original three points. Here is the full text of the new version:

IMAGE: PHOTO OF FUTURE DAY

Future Day is 1 March, and the Mormon Transhumanist Association invites you to join us for lunch and casual conversation about the future at Costa Vida (1621 N State) in Orem, Utah, at 11:45am on 1 March 2016. Bring your friends and family, and of course your thoughts and questions about the ethical use of technology and religion to extend human abilities.

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Dear friends and members of the Mormon Transhumanist Association,

Ten years ago, fourteen of us founded this association: Andrew West, Brent Allsop, Cameron Dayton, Carl Youngblood, Cherie West, Chris Bradford, Cory Funk, Gary Parker, Joseph West, Karl Hale, Leonard Reil, Lincoln Cannon, Marcus Flinders, and Martin Wood. Although we hear from some of these founders more often than others, all remain members of the association today.

When I first began my circular questioning, asking what Gods within nature would look like, and what kind of cosmos would result in the Gods I believe in from scripture, I had no idea how much it would change my understanding of theology. Perhaps the strangest thing is the beautiful imperfections I now see in the heavens.

IMAGE: PHOTO OF 2016 MTA CONFERENCE

Registration now for the 2016 Conference of the Mormon Transhumanist Association^[1][1]!

The 2016 Conference of the Mormon Transhumanist Association will be held on Saturday 9 April 2016 from 9:00am to 9:00pm in Provo, Utah, at the Provo City Library. Speakers will present on the themes of Mormonism, Transhumanism and Transfigurism, with particular attention to topics at the intersection of technology, spirituality, science and religion. The conference is open to the public.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

IMAGE: PHOTO OF MORMON BILLBOARD

Mormons and Modernism: Modernism, Secularism — and the Mormon Response?

Long live Han Solo. We love the space pirate. That’s because he was a reluctant hero.

A reluctant hero doesn’t want to be pulled into life-saving acts but rises to the occasion. After leaving the Rebel Alliance in the original Star Wars, Han returned, enabling Luke Skywalker to destroy the Death Star.

There are those who don’t believe in an afterlife but want to live past mortality. Here’s hoping that they could one day say that they were reluctant heroes.

They are Transhumanists. Transhumanism is about transcending mortality through science and technology.

If they are right, they will save us.

IMAGE: PHOTO OF LINCOLN CANNON

Lincoln Cannon, president of the Mormon Transhumanist Association, is featured at Ozy in an article on “The Intersection of Tech and Church^[3][3]“, part of a series that explores the Big Ideas shaping our tech-driven future.

”Lincoln Cannon was in his late teens when he did a religious double take. Raised Mormon — the descendant, in fact, of a Mormon apostle — he was headed for the traditional Mormon boy-to-man transition: Brigham Young University, a two-year-mission, marriage. Kind of an ‘awkward time’ to drift toward atheism, he reflects now.“

Read more at Ozy^[4][4].

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Dear members and friends of the Mormon Transhumanist Association,

You’re invited to join me in giving a gift to the Mormon Transhumanist Association this Christmas season. We have just received an offer from another generous member to match your donation this year up to $3000!

IMAGE: PHOTO OF SUNSTONE WEST

Mormon Transhumanist Association board members Blaire Ostler, Carl Youngblood, Christopher Bradford, Dorothy Deasy, and Joseph West will speak at the Sunstone West Symposium in Berkeley CA on 30 January 2016.

The theme of the conference this year will be Mormons and technology. A complete schedule and registration are available on the Sunstone West conference website. The Mormon Transhumanist Association is sponsoring recording of the conference, and will make videos available on its YouTube channel afterwards.