 Scott Kenney, one of Durham's Institute students who would later found "Sunstone" magazine, was inspired to study theology and teach Institute because of Durham's classroom explorations of controversial issues in a historical context, which highlighted the humanistic elements of the church.Despite his position as a local religious teacher for the church in his area, Durham was on good terms with Jerald and Sandra Tanner, well-known opponents of Mormonism, and was known to have purchased materials from them.In a 1972 speech he explained how he is motivated by the Tanner's criticisms