Introduction to Mormon Beliefs & Culture
Class - Spring Only | Registration opens Monday, January 5, 2026 9:30 AM MST
Moving to the St George area can come as quite a culture shock. Not only is the area dominated by red rock and sand, and heat, but many of its residents also associate with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as “Mormons” or “LDS.”)
This class will attempt to help students understand what Mormons believe and some of what the LDS culture is all about. Understanding others helps us appreciate each other and reduce misunderstandings that can lead to offenses, imagined or real.
The format of the class will consist strictly of explanations about doctrine and practices, with ample opportunities to ask questions about things you have heard, don’t understand, or are just curious about. There absolutely will be no attempts to proselytize, sermonize, or to criticize beliefs of others.
NO CLASS on Jan. 27 (Utah Tech Make-Up Day)
NO CLASS on March 10 (Spring Break)
Read Gilgen
Read Gilgen has a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature. His dissertation was: Short Story of the Absurd in Latin America. Read taught 5 years at University of North Carolina and 3 years at University of Wisconsin and was the language technology director at Wisconsin for 26 years. He has 30 years experience providing technology support for faculty at Universities of Wisconsin and North Carolina and for ICL. Read is the author of several technology books and is the PowerPoint and technology coordinator for ICL.