From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #42 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Wednesday, May 17 2000 Volume 01 : Number 042 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 14:18:53 -0600 From: Thom Duncan Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS "D. Michael Martindale" wrote: > > Dean FH Macy: "I was wondering if any of you had similar thoughts and > reactions to this portrayal of Him." > > I'd already thought of Jesus in much the same way as this program > portrayed him--minus the obligatory soul-searching and doubt about his > calling that all traditional prophets and men of God seem to be put > through these days from Hollywood and television. Your implication being, I suppose, that this doesn't happen? Why do we think that Prophets and Saviors are immediately and permanently converted with never a shadow of doubt the rest of their days? Especially when Scripture and history shows us this is not the case. (Scripture: Moses not making it into the Promised Land -- not necessarily because he doubted but he failed in one aspect of his mission. History: Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail.) Perhaps we think that admitting our prophets may doubt their callings from time to time demeans them. Exactly the opposite occurs as far as I'm concerned. Learning that a prophet who has seen God and spoken with him can still find the heavens as brass on occasion uplifts me, gives me hope that I, who have never had a vision, can still occasionally get through to touch the divine. > I like how he spoke > his sayings in contemporary English instead of King James quotes, > because I doubt he preached in archaic, formal Aramaic back then. I like > how he took part in life with those around him instead of standing there > looking beatific all the times. I must confess seeing him participate in > a water fight was a bit much for me, as were some other occasional > artistic choices, but you have to expect that. Overall, my biggest > complaint would be that I think by the time he was the age at which the > program portrayed him, he was clear on what his mission was and didn't > need to do the soul-searching they presented. But doesn't Christ seem to be soul-searching when he says, "Father, why hast thou forsaken me?" while hanging on the cross? > Oh, and I'm also sick to death of the assumption on flimsy evidence that > Mary Magdelene was a prostitute. Yes, it's a possible interpretation, > but hardly compelling, and that interpretation's been taken almost 100% > of the time. I'd like to see something different for once. Personally, > I'd like to see someone speculate that Jesus and Mary Magdelene fell in > love and got married. Not if you didn't want every Christian group except Mormons down your throat you wouldn't. Thom - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 14:24:29 -0600 From: Thom Duncan Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS Mary Jane Jones wrote: > > I agree with the opinions expressed so far, that Jesus would have had a great sense of humor. I too was bothered by the self-doubt Jesus seemed to struggle with, even into his ministry. In addition, I didn't like how the disciples were only won over and convinced by His miracles. But this is Scriptural. Remember how they didn't believe Mary and Martha when they told them he'd risen. I don't think they really got the message until Jesus appeared to them in the locked room. >My thought was that Jesus performed miracles to teach and build, not to prove himself or shock the >crowd. What great principle did changing water to wine teach? Thom - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 21:37:44 -0400 From: debbro@voyager.net Subject: Re: [AML] Depictions of Jesus (was: Jesus on CBS) I have to say my favorite depiction of Jesus is in the rock opera, _Godspell_. He's a happy Jesus, who, at times, can be stern when he needs to be. And he has music with a great beat that I can sing at a drop of the hat. I was thrilled when they finally brought it out on video and I own a copy. I love seeing it live by professional and non- professional alike. There is just something about it that draws people (though probably not many Mormons) and I have yet to see a bad Jesus. I have always wanted to be in a producction of it, but at 42, am too old now. Debbie Brown - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 21:12:10 EDT From: Larry Jackson Subject: [AML] MN LDS artist ... expresses religious beliefs on canvas: Orem UT Daily Journal From: Jennifer Livingston To: Mormon News Subject: MN LDS artist known for western subjects expresses religious beliefs on canvas: Orem UT Daily Journal 4May00 A2 Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 08:40:00 -0400 [from Mormon-News] LDS artist known for western subjects expresses religious beliefs on canvas Orem UT Daily Journal 4May00 A2 http://www.ucjournal.com/StoryLink.php3?id=1433168 By Laurie Williams Sowby: Journal Publications PROVO, UTAH -- Artist Gary L. Kapp was recently honored by the Provo Arts Council for his local artistic contributions to the community. The annual award was presented in a reception May 7 held on the lower level of the Utah County Courthouse. Kapp first gained public attention for his paintings of the American West. "Cowboys and Indians have kept food on the table," says Kapp, but his real passion is painting scenes and events from the Book of Mormon. Kapp says his first inspirations came from Arnold Frieberg's Book of Mormon paintings he saw reproduced "The Children's Friend" in his youth. "Those paintings just blew me away. I looked at them for hours," says Kapp. Many of Kapp's religious paintings have been featured in the LDS magazine Ensign over the past few years. Kapp's painting entitled "The First Vision" can be found on the cover of the May issue of the Ensign. This painting was commissioned by Kapp's sister, composer Janice Kapp Perry. In fact, much of Kapp's success has been made possible with the help of interested patrons of the arts who have helped fund his endeavors. One such client, David Larsen, commented, "The arts don't exist without philanthropists. We can't underestimate the value of religious art to bring to life a story that many of us can't visualize otherwise." While Kapp continues to paint Western scenes and landscapes, he admits that he prefers painting religious art. Kapp is encouraged by these words from former LDS President Ezra Taft Benson: "I have seen a vision of artists putting into film, drama, literature, music and paintings great themes from the book of Mormon." Kapp is thankful his dreams to paint important moments in Book of Mormon history are finally being realized. "All I've ever wanted to do is paint the Book of Mormon," says Kapp. >From Mormon-News: Mormon News and Events Forwarding is permitted as long as this footer is included Mormon News items may not be posted to the World Wide Web sites without permission. Please link to our pages instead. For more information see http://www.MormonsToday.com/ Send join and remove commands to: majordomo@MormonsToday.com Put appropriate commands in body of the message: To join: subscribe mormon-news To leave: unsubscribe mormon-news To join digest: subscribe mormon-news-digest - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 19:05:42 -0700 From: "Maxwell, Frank" Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS Thom wrote, responding to Mary Jane: >>My thought was that Jesus performed miracles to teach and build, >>not to prove himself or shock the >crowd. > >What great principle did changing water to wine teach? First, it demonstrated, in a nonviolent, non-aggrandizing way, his power over the elements -- a power which he did *not* use to turn stones to bread when he was later tempted by Satan. Second, the principle of honoring one's mother! Regards, Frank Maxwell - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 08:27:07 -0600 From: Kathleen Woodbury Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS At 02:18 PM 5/16/00 -0600, Thom Duncan wrote: >But doesn't Christ seem to be soul-searching when he says, "Father, why >hast thou forsaken me?" while hanging on the cross? He could have been trying to sing the 22nd Psalm and not soul-searching at all. (Note particularly verses 8, 16, and 18, for example.) Kathleen Dalton-Woodbury workshop@burgoyne.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 00:12:36 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Jesus on CBS Thom Duncan: "Your implication being, I suppose, that this [soul-searching and doubt] doesn't happen? Why do we think that Prophets and Saviors are immediately and permanently converted with never a shadow of doubt the rest of their days?" It's not that I think it never happens. It's that Hollywood and television never seem to show anything else. It's a question of balance. (My main complaint about Hollywood is not that they should never produce a particular type of work, but that there is no balance in what they produce. It's one-sided, bordering on propagandistic.) We never see the powerful prophet of conviction, converted by the Spirit, that Peter and the apostles displayed immediately after Pentecost. Oh, we'll see them present that facade to "the masses," but alone to themselves, the prophets are always and at every moment wracked with doubt. The reason this happens, it seems to me, is that the makers of these films can't comprehend being that certain. Of course, my very LDS conclusion about that state of affairs is that they haven't experience the testimony of the Spirit. Therefore they either can't take such certainty serious or are not even aware it exists. - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 10:09:30 -0700 From: harlowclark@juno.com Subject: Re: [AML] AML Readings On Sat, 13 May 2000 "Dallas Robbins" writes: > IMHO as a believer in independant booksellers, I would suggest > having readings at King's English, Sam Weller's, Ken Sander's, > Benchmark Books, Scallywag's, or the like. I agree. Independent bookstores can do as much as little magazines to nurture a literary culture. Seattle's Elliott Bay Bookstore created a reading series popular enough that they can charge admission, which means that local writers not only get a chance to read their work and sell copies, but earn money from the readings. They also host a lot of national writers on tour. Probably about half the readings are free, paid for by the publishers. A year or two or three after taking a workshop from Tess Gallagher I was going past the bookstore one night and looked at their schedule of readings. Tess and Raymond Carver reading together. It said something about this being the last chance to hear them. I wondered if they were leaving, didn't have $5, didn't know Carver was ill. A year later the schedule showed Tess Gallagher reading alone, a memorial reading on the anniversary of the first. I may have been vaguely aware Carver had died, but I still didn't have any money, didn't know the import of the event. The schedule said something about this reading being pure gravy. I didn't understand the allusion, but a year or two or three later I turned on the radio one morning and heard Tess's voice. She was talking about Carver and ended the interview reciting "Gravy," one of his final poems. I would love to see the same kind of thing in Utah, or anywhere where there's a large enough group to sustain readings, but I note that all the bookstores Dallas mentions are in Salt Lake. Nothing in Utah County. I guess all the independents here have been driven out of business by Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Media Play. But wait, there's The Read Leaf, http://www.readleaf.com, in Sproingveal. (I'm an equal opportunity punster, my own community is Peasant Grave.) When Margy Layton told a group at UVSC that she would be leaving teaching to open a bookstore with her husband, Roger, she said they were anxious to have readings there. I talked to her at the AML Writers' Conference, where she had a table, and she said they still want to have readings. Their address is 164 S. Main, Sprungfilly UT 84663 (as long as you have the zip code it doesn't matter if the city's name is a bit off. You could even call it Springville (or Summerville, or whatever that movie about the black and white sitcom town is called) and it would get there with the 84663 zip.) They even have a toll-free number 877-287-1332 (801-489-1390 for people who can't stand to use toll-free services, or 801-489-5179 for those who prefer just the fax, ma'am). > I would presume they would be more open to such an idea, > considering they have deeper ties to the community and region; with > a more experienced interest in LDS books. I would think so. > Go in to any Barnes and Noble or Borders, and their > knowledge and stock of LDS books simply lacks commitment. Or it may be that LDS publishers aren't as bookstore-friendly as they could be. About 10 years ago, Beehive Books, just down the hill from the temple- with-a-beware-of-fierce-snarling-dog sign on the gates in Bellevue, WA, told me DB requires a bookstore to carry its whole line if they want to carry any Deseret books. That's a big burden to place on a store that may want to carry a few LDS books. I think I heard, though, that that store is now DB. Harlow S. Clark ________________________________________________________________ YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET! Juno now offers FREE Internet Access! Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 10:25:50 From: Marilyn Brown Subject: Re: [AML] Favorite Characters in LDS Fiction Kathleen wrote: "Every character we create is us." Sell it, Kathleen: "People R Us?" (help me): Creations R Us? Reads R Us? Versions R Us? (Sorry, I just couldn't resist--and I totally agree with you). Marilyn Brown - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #42 *****************************