The purpose of the Mormon Studies Brown Bag Series at the University of Utah was to highlight work related to Mormonism or Mormon populations done by members of the University community and to sponsor on-campus discussions on topics relevant to Mormon thought, history, and culture.

The series was launched in November 2001 by John-Charles Duffy (Writing Program) and David Knowlton (Anthropology). They hoped that a Mormon studies brown bag series would promote greater interchange among U faculty and students interested in the academic study of Mormonism. They hoped, too, to create a forum where scholars--seasoned or novice--could present Mormon-related work for discussion.

The brown bag series was an interdisciplinary endeavor, not sponsored by any particular campus organization. Generally, the brown bags were small but highly engaged gatherings of faculty and students from various departments. Occasionally the series hosted a larger event. In March 2002, for example, the series hosted a panel discussion on Olympic media coverage of Mormonism, with panelists from the Deseret News, the Salt Lake Tribune, National Public Radio, and the public affairs department of the LDS Church. About 80 people attended (many standing in the back of the room), and Q&A ran an hour overtime.