2025 Mortensen Award Call for Nominations
The Affirmation Mortensen Award is the highest honor Affirmation can bestow on an individual member. It is named in honor of Paul Mortensen, one of the founders of Affirmation and the first to receive the award.
Presented each year at the annual conference of Affirmation, the Mortensen Award recognizes members of Affirmation whose leadership and commitment to service in Affirmation have made a real difference in the lives of those within the LGBTQIA+ Latter-day Saint community and contributed significantly toward Affirmation’s mission.
Potential award winners are nominated each year by Affirmation community members. We invite all to nominate deserving candidates for the 2025 Affirmation Mortenson Award. Nominations must be submitted by November 21, 2025.
Who Should Be Nominated
The criteria for selecting a nominee should be:
- Someone who has demonstrated outstanding leadership & service,
- A member of Affirmation dedicated to its goals and working to achieve those goals,
- A person making a difference in the lives of others,
- An individual who is a self-starter and a motivator of others.
If there is a member of Affirmation who has impressed or inspired you and meets the criteria above, please nominate them to be considered for this year’s Mortensen Award.
How to Submit a Nomination
Nominations must be submitted by November 21, 2025. Only on-time nominations will be considered. To submit a nomination:
Write a letter describing, in your own words, what is unique about the nominee and what they have done that makes them deserving of your nomination. Your letter must be as detailed as possible, as the award committee may not know your nominee. Specifically, your letter should include:
- Stories that demonstrate the character of your nominee.
- How your nominee has demonstrated leadership.
- How long your nominee has been involved in Affirmation.
- Which Affirmation chapters and affinity groups your nominee has been active in.
- What service your nominee has performed for Affirmation or the greater LGBTQIA+ Latter-day Saint community.
- How your nominee has made a difference in the lives of others.
Submit your letter to mortensenaward@affirmation.org. In addition to your letter, you may attach news articles, photos, or other documentation supporting your nomination. Also, please ensure that your contact information is correct, as the award committee may reach out with questions or request additional information. You may ask questions about any aspect of the process by emailing the same address.
Do not share, post, or publish your letter. Nominees should not know that they have been nominated. The selection of a winner will only be based on the letter and supporting documents you submit.
Selection of a Winner and Announcements
All nominations of individuals currently members of Affirmation and submitted by the deadline will be reviewed and considered by the Mortensen Award Committee. This committee is comprised of past Mortensen Award recipients. The current chairperson of the committee is Olin Thomas.
For 2025, all Mortensen Award nominees and the winner will be announced during the Affirmation Virtual Holiday Celebration, currently scheduled for December 14, 2025.