From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #460 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 Friday, September 21 2001 Volume 01 : Number 460 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 21:11:10 -0600 From: Scott and Marny Parkin Subject: Re: [AML] The List and the WTC Eric R. Samuelsen wrote: >It's been very interesting to me to see the various posts referring >to the Gadianton robbers and the terrorists who perpretrated these >contemptible acts. I have to say, I had never thought of the >Gadiantons in that light. To me, the Gadiantons' main motivation >was financial; they're robbers. They buy into the profit-by-death >thing. I had an interesting discussion with my friend Russell Asplund about this, and he raised a couple of points that I think are worth repeating. Whatever other motivations Bin Laden has, money doesn't appear to be one of them. He's consistently characterized as independently wealthy, and as using that personal wealth to subsidize terrorist efforts. He loses money on every deal. His choice of an ascetic lifestyle suggests that he's not looking for the rewards of wealth and the comforts that go with it. It doesn't appear that his goals are purely political, either. He chose to leave the councils that he could have led in Saudi Arabia. He chose to side with a small but easily manipulated group of extremists where he could take ultimate power rather than serving in a larger and more moderate ruling body where he would have been only one voice among many. In other words, he isn't trying to build anything of general value--there's no grand political motive. I've heard it suggested that he thought he was going to create a great Moslem coalition by forcing an East/West conflict, that Moslems would be forced to support him against the Western aggression that would follow his attack. If he thought that, he was wrong. I don't believe he really thought such an Armageddon would occur; he knew he was at best a fringe player within his own global culture, and I think he knew he would remain marginal regardless of what he did. Certainly the alliance of the majority of Islamic states against him suggests that an attempt at unification on his side of the fence failed. I think what he wants is personal adoration. He wants people to honor him and admire him and to seek his opinion and to accede to his wisdom. Either his corrupt mind allows him to see his personal ambition as an anointed calling compatible with his own interpretation of Islam, or he has long since forgotten the spiritual foundations of his religion and sees it mainly in motivational and political terms. Not unlike many of those who organized the Crusades or the Inquisition or Hawn's Mill or Nauvoo or Mountain Meadows. Bin Laden isn't a Gadianton in the sense of wanting to acquire monetary wealth. His is simple pride and a desire to be worshipped. Not all that different than many of us, though at a more moderate level--I know that I want the respect and even admiration of my friends; most of us do. But I think that he is a Gadianton in the sense of using murder to get gain. In his case the gain is popularity among his chosen peers, honor among his band. He seeks gain, and murder is merely one of many tools to that end. The lives of others are less important than his own personal honor. That he uses the fervor of peoples' religion to build his personal prestige only indicates his lack of concern for the eternal welfare of anyone, even his own followers. That his followers have legitimate issues or complaints merely gives him another tool of manipulation over them, and allows him to claim some moral foundation for works of simple evil. Not significantly different than those who kill in order to get the respect of gang members, or those gang leaders who demand that murder as the price of respect. Sadly, not much of an aberration at all--other than the issue of scale. At least not by modern standards. Scott Parkin - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 21:11:10 -0600 From: Scott and Marny Parkin Subject: Re: [AML] The List and the WTC Eric R. Samuelsen wrote: >Then I think of so much of our Mormon rhetoric about pop culture and >about television and movies. I think we can quite properly express >concern about certain aspects of the entertainment industry--I have, >you have, we all have. But could it be that to condemn it all out >of hand puts us on the brink of (yet another) slippery slope? Isn't >it healthier to see all these issues, issues of media and the >mainstream media take on gender/sexuality/violence/traditional >values/patriotism/spirituality not as a monolith, a forbidding and >evil Structure, Entity that would subsume us all (Hollywood as >Borg), but rather as a forest, infinitely various and lush and >anomalous and strange and potentially both poisonous and >life-saving? Something not to be shunned, but negotiated, mapped, >hiked, explored, with care and sensitivity and judgment? Isn't >fundamentalism itself basically lacking a sense of nuance and >proportion? While I can accept the dangers of fundamentalism and the very real tendency it has to move people from intelligent evaluation to blind mistrust and even hate, I have a very hard time accepting the comparison of Mormons who reject some (or even all) films with Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban. It's more than a difference of degree; in my opinion it's also a difference of kind, with many many steps between here and there. I think you used too big of a hammer on this one, Eric, and in so doing damaged your excellent point on the dangers of fundamentalism. I just can't accept the extended comparison--to me it seems lacking a sense of nuance and proportion to the crime. Scott Parkin - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 21:48:53 -0600 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] The List and the WTC At 09:02 AM 9/20/01 -0600, you wrote: >I've believed for some time that a key scripture in this regard is 2 Nephi >29: 10-14. And frankly, that opens the door, as far as I'm concerned, to >regarding Mohammed as a very great prophet, leading a dispensation of the >gospel adapted to a specific time and place, creating circumstances that >would help bring about the Restoration, leaving behind a holy book of >enormous importance and truthfulness and value. I've come to believe this as well. Mohammed never claimed to be divine; he simply sought truth by means of revelation and wrote it down to share with people. I think that God talks to different groups of his people in different ways bcause he has to reach us through the filters of our cultural environments. I've been looking at the Koran online--I simply typed "Koran text" into Google and there it was. (Interestingly, the site where I found it also has the text of the Book of Mormon.) Go there and read some of it. It isn't a cohesive narrative--I'm not sure what it is--but it doesn't say anything so far about butchering those not like you. barbara hume - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 20:55:22 -0700 From: "Jeff Needle" Subject: [AML] Jennie HANSEN, _Chance Encounter_ (Review) Review ====== Jennie Hansen, "Chance Encounter" 2000, Covenant Communications Trade Paperback, 231 pages, $14.95 Reviewed by Jeffrey Needle Jennie Hansen has made an art form of combining romance and suspense in a way that does justice to both. Her stories are always entertaining, a pleasure to read. "Chance Encounter" is the story of two people, both single, both lonely, brought together by fate (or by God, depending on your point of view). Kendra Emerson is a 35-year old accountant in Salt Lake City. After the death of her father, Kendra was left to raise her two younger sisters while their mother worked to support the family. As a consequence, she never developed the normal romantic interests of a young woman. Chase Kirkham lives alone on a sheep ranch, having lost his family in a terrible fire some years ago. His face is scarred from that fire; his discomfort with his appearance only adds to his desire for solitude. Chase had given up on ever finding happiness again, and elected a solitary existence, not even a telephone. En route to a Christmas celebration with her sisters in California, Kendra suffers a flat tire and stops in a small town to get it fixed. With time on her hands, she decides to do a little last minute Christmas shopping at the local department store. There she meets a little 5-year old boy named David Rolando. Armed robbers arrive at the store, taking Kendra and little David hostage. They are subsequently released, left to freeze to death in a snowy wilderness. But Kendra and David somehow make their way to the main road where Chase Kirkham spots them. He takes them back to his ranch, where they spend the next several days together. No surprise -- Kendra and Chase fall in love. It takes several days before they can get word out that Kendra and David are all right, and David is eventually reunited with his family. But the three have formed a strong bond that only adversity can effect. This bond helps them as the robbers stumble upon Chase's farm, and the three must escape their evil intentions. By far, the strongest part of the book is the middle section, where Chase, Kendra and David learn the true spirit of Christmas. They celebrate December 25 together with little more than their ingenuity and a developing love for each other. I was genuinely touched by the strong message of this book -- the centrality of Christ to any celebration, and the relative meaninglessness of material things. True to Hansen's style, the main characters have difficulty expressing their feelings for each other. I wonder if Hansen doesn't overdo this in her books. Because of the genre, we've all pretty well figured out how it will end up. So have most of the people around them. The protagonists seem to be the only ones who are clueless. I've only read a few of Hansen's books, so I don't know if this formula is a constant. Wouldn't it be fun if the hapless lovers *didn't* get together at the end? Find a copy of "Chance Encounters" before this Christmas, and read it with an open heart. There's a richness in this story that will stay with me for a long time. I'm glad to have read this book. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 01:24:07 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Desensitization (was: The List and the WTC) Thom Duncan wrote: > Can desensitizing really occur? I watch every disaster movie that comes > out but I still wept watching the towers collapse and,later, seeing the > families of missing people talk about their loss. I keep waiting for > the desensitizing to occur, but it hasn't seemed to kick in yet. Who are > "they" talking about when they say that movies can desensitize us? I have more or less the same feelings. I've seen a billion violent scenes in TV and film since I was born. I don't get upset over screen violence like some people do. I just haven't seen the negative impact that people claim for it in my or my kids' lives. (Gratuitous gore is another thing entirely, which I detest.) I still don't own a gun, let alone gone on a rampage with one through a high school or a Luby's cafeteria. I still can't comprehend the mindset that thinks killing Bambi is a pleasurable pasttime. I suppose I have become desensitized to action-style violence: Arnold Schwarzeneggar type stuff that's not supposed to be taken seriously. But if you show fictional violence that is supposed to be taken seriously, or real violence captured on video, I am not desensitized. I can't stand to look at a real image of someone falling--it turns my stomach. One of the most horrendous scenes of screen violence was in _Braveheart_. No, not the gory battle scenes, but the close-up of William Wallace's face as he was tortured. We didn't see one lick of the violence, but we knew how he was being eviscerated and why, and it impacted me greatly. I believe when we talk about screen violence desensitizing people, we are talking about people who are so naive, or ignorant, or inexperienced, that they haven't come to understand violence yet. Like, for example, sheltered, pampered teenagers. Will Columbine students ever get desensitized to images of gun violence? Will Scott Parkin ever get desensitized to images of homes threatened with fire? Will people within a block or two of the World Trade Center on Sept 11 ever get desensitized to images of buildings tumbling down? These are extreme examples, and I'm not suggesting we all need to experience something tragic to avoid desensitization. We just need to learn to feel for others. Desensitization to violence is really desensitization to the feelings of human beings. That doesn't happen in a movie theater or in front of the TV. That starts in the family. - -- 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: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 01:38:08 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] What's Wrong with Me Annette Lyon wrote: > I beg to differ. Without a crystal ball, there is no way to know how "we" > would do any of this stuff, let alone not feel bad about it. For a week I'd been hearing people talk about the terrorists in absolute terms: they are utterly evil, they are incomprehensible. I understand this reaction. But I can't accept the assumption behind it. These people do not think they are evil. They have reasons for what they did, and they think they are good reasons. I don't think it hurts to try to understand those reasons, even if we violently disagree with them, even if we think their logic is hopelessly flawed. As Spock once said, "I said that I understood, not that I approved." I tried to paint a scenario that might give us a glimpse of what these terrorists are thinking. It doesn't surprise me that my attempt may have been imperfect. But I think we would be wise to look for other reasons for what they did besides "the devil made them do it." After all, Americans felt justified in incinerating many innocent Japanese citizens to end World War 2. We don't see what the terrorists did in New York as being remotely justifiable. But they do. We'd be wise to try to understand those reasons, even if we can't accept them. - -- 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: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 08:51:12 -0300 From: renatorigo@bol.com.br Subject: Re: [AML] Where Were You? It was a very sunny day...the same sunny day peopleo had in N.Y... I watched on TV I was at work...It was about 10:00 a.m. in Brazil when I received the terrible news...After the news I couldn=B4t concentrate at work anymore...The world was different...I thought immediately about Jesus Crist... Was He arriving at that moment.... I got very sad...Humanity has no limits.... I spent the whole day in the internet reading the news all over the world...american, italian and brazilian journals... GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THE WHOLE WORLD... Renato Rigo - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 08:59:32 -0300 From: renatorigo@bol.com.br Subject: Re:[AML] The List and the WTC I really don=B4t like Guns=B4n Roses songs...but in Brazil they got a wide success.... One of these songs: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE...is a perfect description of the human behavior....the possibility of creating an Armagedon ...HELL X HEAVEN... I got very sad... : - ((( The world got very sad.... Renato Rigo Brazil - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 08:58:42 EDT From: OmahaMom@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] Catharsis and Other Peoples' Stories Perhaps some of what we seek will only come with time. When we've had time to mentally and emotionally process all of the things that last weeks event are going to mean to us personally (whether the loss of loved ones affected us personally or not) and to us as a nation...when we have a little more perspective. This past week, we've been a little too close to the forest to see the trees--with the media replaying the events every five to fifteen minutes. It often takes little to bring tears to my eyes. If I find something touching, beautiful--I have to do a bit of dabbing...and I have done that a lot in the past week or two--as they hung a monster flag in the Davenport River Center at the Genealogy Conference, as 1400 genealogists sang "America the Beautiful" together, as I saw our flag flying at half mast in front of government facilities, and in front of so many homes. I am angry that people can hate so much as the terrorists do. I want justice done--I want the terrorism stopped, even if others will die in the stopping...because if we make no attempt to stop it, they will continue to terrorize whomever they want, whenever they want. I know innocents on both sides will probably die in the efforts to stop it. I can almost imagine the processing that went on last week on the other side, as angels were called into emergency positions for the sudden influx of people. Except, they probably knew in advance what was going down--and for them, it was just putting extras into position for the occasion. I mourn for those whose family members aren't here any more--especially for those who don't have the same faith in the after life as I do. For them, it is infinitely more tragic, because many of them have no hope of seeing their loved ones again--and anything I say or do won't change that. Even as this happens on the national front, a friend has been placed on hospice, and is not expected to last through the end of the week. I told her home teacher last night that it is all a matter of perspective: she is doing worse than she has ever done before--but in an eternal perspective, better than ever for she can number the painful hours in shorter timespan than weeks, months or years. Soon her soul will be at peace, as she greets those who have gone before. Already though, her husband, who more than 20 years older than her & who might have been expected to pre-decease her, is feeling the pain of her leaving. Life goes on for all of us. We each have different experiences, different stories to tell, different things we want to bring to the attention of those in our authorship audience. It is important, however, as time begins to move forward even faster, that whatever we write shares a witness in all times and all places, however blatant or subtle we choose to make that witness. We must stand and be counted, and make what we write count. Karen Tippets - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 10:40:09 -0500 From: "Darvell Hunt" Subject: Re: [AML] World Trade Center Events Barbara Hume wrote: > At 06:19 PM 9/17/01 -0500, I (Darvell Hunt) wrote: > >Even if we were to completely conquer our enemies > >today, they have permanently stolen our sense of security. And that theft > >makes me very angry. > > But if it was a false sense of security, are we not better off without it? > Those who hate us were there on September 10, plotting our destruction. > America was just blithely unaware of it. The fact that it had not yet been > called to our attention doesn't mean that we were not vulnerable before the > attack. It's our perception that has changed. Is it not better to be aware > and alert than complacent and smug? This from someone who has been quite > strident on the side of escapist literature--but I'm talking reality here. > > barbara hume I've thought about responding to this question since it was posted a number of days ago -- the idea that we are better of without a false sense of security. An attack like this on American soil hasn't occurred for almost 60 years. 60 long years. That's a lifetime to some people. To have the homeland safe from attack for 60 years does not seem like a false security to me. I understand times have changed and our true sense of security may have faded to a false sense of security without anyone noticing it and without an outward sign of attack. The threat may have invisibly evolved from true sense of security to a false sense of security over many years of safety. But the reality of it all is that we have not been attacked like this for 60 years, and for some 130 years or so if you don't include Pearl Harbor. The reality is that the U.S. is NOT attacked on it's own soil. Until last week. I would contend that we are not better off without our sense of security, whether one considers it false or not. But however you define the terms, our lives have changed forever. As President Bush said last night, with time, our lives may return to almost normal. But we will never return to "completely normal." We have lost our innocence, whether we call ourselves innocent or not. And we will never get that back. That's MY reality. Darvell _____________________________________________ Free email with personality! Over 200 domains! http://www.MyOwnEmail.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 10:04:16 -0600 From: Lynette Jones Subject: Re: [AML] Polygamy (was: Joseph Smith Story) I think that one of the most beautiful treatments of polygamy is the story of HEARTS AFIRE, by Blaine Yorgason. I think there are many sacred stories out there, like the story of Lucy Walker, which the families keep because they are sacred. Perhaps the time will come for a proper treatment of the subject. On the other hand, polygamy could not end too soon. A wise treatment of the subject is found in the book titled "Letters of a Woman Homesteader by Elinore Pruitt Strewart, pg.256. LCJ [Lynette Jones] - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 10:07:17 -0600 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] What's Wrong with Me I love this picture of Amy yelling at the TV while her baby watches, concerned. Amy is right, to a point. I was noticing how "fallen" the New Yorker magazine looks. Their last issue came two days after the attack. When I opened it up I was embarrassed by the ads. You didn't see this "flesh-baring" in the New Yorker until about five years ago. When our TV programs and news get more and more titillation just to get viewers, what do they do next? Get more. I'm sorry. I used to love Bazaar until it became absolutely Bizarre. The popular novels now are about children without mothers, or mothers in prison, or children certainly without fathers. Oh yes, there ARE responsible parents, but more and more and more irresponsible ones. I'm sorry, Amy, but I'm older, I guess. I've seen a President lie on TV, and a married congressman congressing with an intern and then perhaps getting away with "murder," like OJ. I see unblinking acceptance of fornication and adultery. I'm sorry, but I definitely see a marked decline. It will be interesting to see what the next New Yorker Magazine looks like. Marilyn Brown - ----- Original Message ----- From: Amy Chamberlain To: Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 11:43 AM Subject: Re: [AML] What's Wrong with Me > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Gae Lyn Henderson > To: > Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 12:04 AM > Subject: RE: [AML] What's Wrong with Me > > > > Letterman asked Rather if he could help him understand why we are so > hated. > > Rather said that bin Laden and associates see themselves (although they > > would never admit it) as the losers of the world. They are filled with > > intense jealousy, anger, bitterness. They hate us with an unmitigated > rage > > that only wants our death and destruction. He said that to any in the > > Western world, much less the United States, such unqualified hatred, such > > evil, is not comprehendible. He believes we are faced with evil of such a > > nature that we almost cannot conceive of it. > > > I like Rather's answer. I've also found that the tree of life dream in the > Book of Mormon offers a hint on this subject. Nephi sees that the people in > the great and spacious building are pointing, laughing, and mocking those > holding to the iron rod. I've always thought, well, if I were in that > building, I wouldn't waste my time with that. I'd be partying--drinking > cocktails (always been curious about champagne), eating decadent chocolates, > and socializing. And completely ignoring the people at the rod. After all, > it's a great and spacious building, with probably lots to do inside. Why > would these people spend their time making fun of people who are leaving > them alone? > > It took me a few more years to realize the answer: people who are good, who > are trying to do the best they can, or who are successful to any degree will > always draw fire from those who aren't. In the few times in my life when > I've stuck to my guns and done what was right, I experienced withering scorn > and contempt from those who were doing otherwise--and the reaction was far > greater than my piddling little actions would justify. > > While America is far from perfect, as a country we're far enough ahead of > others in matters of liberty, personal freedom, and stability that we are a > natural target for hate and envy. On TV this week, a member of the clergy, > when asked what we Americans had done to be so hated, said "It's time for > all Americans to take a long, hard look at ourselves and repent of what we > have done to create such enemies." I seethed. In fact, I yelled at him, "We > haven't done ANYTHING to deserve such enmity! That's just what evil does!" > (My one-year-old looked concerned.) I don't want to paint with too broad a > brush, or condone everything that Americans do. Certainly we have plenty to > repent for. But the assumption held by some in the media that we must have > done something terrible to bring such acts on our heads is wrong. > > Amy Chamberlain > > > > > > - > AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature > http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm > - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 10:17:17 -0600 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] The WTC and the Death of Irony and Satire This is for Eric Snider! We're glad you're funny! Absolutely! People will smile at funerals to see loved ones. They will laugh at funerals if there's a good (and appropriate) joke. Absolutely! We're very glad you're funny, Eric! Keep the spoons of sugar coming! Marilyn Brown - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2001 12:50:32 -0400 From: "Debra L. Brown" Subject: [AML] Fw: MN The Light of the World (Pt. 1) [AML-LIST MOD: For length reasons, this announcement is being split into two posts.] The Light of the World SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Light of the World, A Celebration of Life, a multimedia theatrical and musical production from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was announced today in the Conference Center. The program is intended to contribute to the positive experience of visitors to Salt Lake City during February 2002. Ten performances will take place during the Olympics. In making the announcement, Elder Robert D. Hales, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said the production will celebrate life and the universal light within each individual that inspires greatness. He commented: "In the wake of last week's tragic events, we believe this light has burned even more brightly and intensely in the hearts and minds of Americans and others throughout the world. We have seen acts of bravery, courage and compassion that cause us to pause and reflect on the sanctity of life. It is this light which reflects the glory of God and the spirit of mankind that we wish to celebrate with the world." Traditionally, the Conference Center auditorium has been used for worship services and concerts. But in five short months, it will be transformed into a state-of-the-art theater capable of entertaining thousands of people. Specially trained performers will literally rise and descend over a panoramic stage as hundreds of others dance upon a uniquely designed set. Sophisticated lighting, projection of images and sound techniques from accomplished artists will also add to the experience. Co-director Randy Boothe said, "This venue provides a marvelous gathering place for people of the world with a canvas for performers to celebrate life on a previously unparalleled scale in the Conference Center." Light of the World includes an international cast of more than 1,500 participants including the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, performing groups from Brigham Young University and the community, and celebrated local artists. As many countries as possible are being represented in Light of the World to create a program that has the ability to cross cultural boundaries, ethnic distinctions and language barriers. Music is a universal language and, as such, will play a prominent role in the production. The original score represents a collaborative effort of five award-winning Latter-day Saint musicians who have donated their time and talents anonymously as a gift to the production. Mormon Tabernacle Choir director Craig Jessop said, "Their desire to participate is not for recognition, but rather, the challenge of composing compelling music for an international audience." Elder Hales stressed: "We hope this program will inspire those of all nations, cultures and religious faiths. Its message is universal. If a visitor to Salt Lake City has a positive experience because of Light of the World, we hope it is reflected in their impression of Utahns as a whole." Tickets for Light of the World will be available on 9 October via the Internet at www.events.lds.org or by mail. Orders sent by mail must be accompanied by an order form, which can be obtained either in the Church News or from ward bulletin boards in individual meetinghouses. Biographical information - directors and cast members Steve Lindsley, Executive Producer Steve Lindsley is the chairman, chief executive officer and founding partner of WOW Digital TV, a leader in digital television. Prior to forming WOW in 2000, Lindsley was the president of the KSL-TV broadcast group (KSL-TV, KCSG-TV, Video West Productions, Sportswest Network) in Salt Lake City, Utah. KSL is the dominant broadcast organization in the Intermountain West and is continually ranked in the top 10 of all major markets in news audience delivery. During Lindsley's 12 years with KSL, he served in a variety of leadership positions including vice president-sales, KSL-TV/KSL Radio; vice president-station manager; vice president and general manager, KSL-TV and KCSG-TV, Cedar City/St. George; and president, KSL-TV. Randy Boothe, Co-director Randy Boothe is currently an associate professor in the Brigham Young University School of Music and artistic director for the world-renowned Young Ambassadors. His international tours over the past 21 years have taken him to over 40 countries. Boothe has worked as an international consultant and show development team member for the EPCOT Center and a live entertainment consultant for Walt Disney. He has also directed and produced numerous recordings, television and video productions. His compositions and arrangements have been published, widely performed and recorded. Janielle Christensen, Associate Director Janielle Christensen became active in professional theater and music at an early age, co-hosting a daily television show at 12 and playing with the Musicians Union at 14. She has traveled around the world as artistic director for the Brigham Young University Young Ambassadors and currently for Living Legends. Christensen is a producer for the School of Music and artistic director for the annual homecoming spectacular at BYU. For the past 30 years, she has been involved in producing and directing summer theater, performing groups, trade shows for national corporations, a family-oriented TV series and large multimedia outdoor pageants. Christensen recently received the highest administrative award for excellence from the College of Fine Arts and Communications at BYU. Dr. Craig D. Jessop, Music Director In 1999, Craig Jessop was appointed music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir organization, which includes the Temple Square Chorale and the Orchestra at Temple Square. He had served as associate director since 1995. Prior to his appointment with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Jessop served as lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force music programs from 1980 to 1995. He has also served as music director of the Maryland Choral Society, the Rhineland-Pfalz International Choir of Germany and the Omaha Symphonic Chorus. Jessop is a winner of the Utah State Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera auditions. John Featherstone, Lighting Director John Featherstone was theatrically trained at the National Youth Theatre in the United Kingdom. He has spent 10 years of his career as a lighting designer and director for some of the biggest names in contemporary concert touring. He was employed by artists such as Van Halen, Janet Jackson, INXS and Bryan Adams. Featherstone moved to the United States in 1989 and continued to tour extensively but also began applying a blend of theatrical and rock-and-roll lighting techniques to an expanding business theater and corporate client base. In 1993 he co-founded Lightswitch with partner Norm Schwab to concentrate on business theater. Lightswitch is well known across the country and has offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Orlando. Janet Swenson, Costume Designer Janet Swenson has been a professor of theater and media arts at Brigham Young University for the last 29 years. Nine of those years have also been spent as a costume designer for the Utah Shakespearean Festival and 15 of them as the resident designer at Sundance Theatre in Provo, Utah. In 1997, she received the Karl G. Maeser Award at BYU for her outstanding teaching, research and creativity. Swenson received her bachelor's degree in music from the University of Utah and a master's degree in music from BYU. Al Harrington, Principal Al Harrington graduated from Stanford University in1958 with a bachelor's degree in history. In 1968, he made his acting debut in the hit television show Hawaii Five-O as a member of the Five-O team. Harrington also co-starred in Charlie's Angels, and has made guest star appearances in a variety of television shows including Magnum PI and The Jeffersons. Most recently, Harrington starred in Disney's film White Fang II and played principal roles in the independent films Creator's Game, Long Road Home and Into Paradise. He is skilled in Polynesian and Native American dance and speaks six different Polynesian dialects. Along with his role in Light of the World, he is currently producing for an independent film maker. Dallyn Vail Bayles, Principal Dallyn Vail Bayles currently attends Brigham Young University and will graduate in 2002 with a degree in music dance theatre. He played a Ziegfeld tenor in Funny Girl at Sundance Theatre last summer and previously had the lead role in Savior of the World, performed in the Conference Center Theater. Bayles garnered much of his experience performing in musical theater and with BYU's Young Ambassadors. He has also had leading roles in BYU's production of Children of Eden, Barefoot in the Park and The Pirates of Penzance. Biographical information - Elder Robert D. Hales Elder Robert D. Hales was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 2 April 1994. Elder Hales received his call as a General Authority on 4 April 1975. He served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and later as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He was Presiding Bishop of the Church from April 1985 until being called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles nine years later. He was a regional representative for five years prior to his call as a General Authority. He earlier served as a branch president, bishop, stake high councilor and stake president's counselor. He was president of the England London Mission in the late '70s and has served as first counselor in the Sunday School general presidency. Prior to his call to full-time Church service, Elder Hales had a distinguished business career, serving in executive positions with three major national companies. Elder Hales was born in New York City. He is a graduate of the University of Utah and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet fighter pilot. He married Mary Crandall Hales, and they have two sons. Source: The Light of the World LDS Church News Release 19Sep01 A1 http://www.lds.org/news/article/0,5422,116-6310,FF.html >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/ - - 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 #460 ******************************