From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #471 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 Tuesday, October 2 2001 Volume 01 : Number 471 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 12:01:55 -0500 From: Larry Jackson Subject: [AML] re: The List and the WTC Konnie Enos: I had to respond to the contention that no Mormons were killed in the attacks. ... I do know of at least one member that was killed ... But I don't see why that would make a difference in our responce to this violent act. We are Americans and Americans were killed. _______________ For the record, I know of four members who were killed. A mother and her daughter were on one of the flights into New York, and two men were at the Pentagon. The man who was born in Sugar City was one of those two. I thought I also had heard there was a 5th member killed. There was also an unconfirmed story that a large family from Utah was on vacation in NY at the time and had not been located. I have seen neither followup nor confirmation of that story. But I believe Konnie is right. Religion makes no difference. Our country was attacked, and we who are her citizens and will defend our freedom. One of those freedoms is the privilege to grieve in a very personal and individual way. We saw that here. Melissa Proffitt was ready to move on. By last Friday I was ready to move forward and it seemed everyone else was still grieving. I felt terribly guilty because of it, and I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by seeming callous, but I needed to act. I needed to return to normal. Maryanne Hales, that Sunday, was not. I felt like I was walking through a sea of people with no understanding of what happened and what it means to our country, to our world. ...but so many people want to "be done with the memorials" and "get back to normal life." I'm not saying that life shouldn't go on. I know it must. But the world has changed and pretending that it didn't isn't going to make anything different. Any of a hundred or more names could be put in place of Melissa or Maryanne. We grieve quickly or slowly, deeply or not so, and in an infinite number of ways. We are, after all, personal and individual. The way the events of the 11th touched lives will depend on the background and experiences of those lives. Member or not. Faith in God or not. Pilot or not. Citizen or not. Military service or not. Hundreds of other factors or not. And I feel there is another thing to consider. I believe some have not yet had time to grieve. In a very big way, the NY Police and Fire Departments become an obvious example, along with the thousands of others who are selflessly trying to steady that corner of the world. And those in Washington, whose corner is not so large, but every bit as deep and personal. Ranging from those extremes to my young children who will not need to deeply grieve (but whose lives will never be the same, though they know it not), is a scale where grief comes at an appropriate time when the work slows down. For some, it was on break that day. For others, it was after a fews days to think about what had happened and begin recovering from the shock of it all. For my brother, who was on an international flight that Tuesday which was diverted to Canada, it was only after he had safely set foot back in his home in Utah on Friday. For the Sunday School, priesthood, or Relief Society teacher, it may not have been until after that first Sunday, after having strugged quietly, while trying to prepare their lessons, with the very issues that have occupied our discussion. For me, it was not until I had finished part of a very unusual assignment given me by the stake president. I'll share that story in another post. And finally, I'm really not through grieving, because every day I run into someone whose life has been affected in a way I had never considered. And I have to take time to stop, and ponder, and sometimes cry again. I suspect this will go on for quite some time. It will help me to heal, though, and to remember, and to stay resolved to do what I feel I must do. For many of us, that includes writing. And our life of experience from which to write, sadly, just became much larger. Larry Jackson ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 11:15:38 -0600 From: luannstaheli Subject: [AML] Re: LDS Killed [MOD: Can someone confirm this from an official source? Also, I find it interesting that several List members have written in with different information about who was/was not killed. Anyone care to make a connection with the challenges of doing the research needed for accurate fiction?] There were twelve family members from Springville, UT, also killed. I believe they were LDS. Gerald G Enos wrote: > I had to respond to the contention that no Mormons were killed in the > attacks. I have heard no official comments on this - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001 14:43:43 -0600 From: Steve Subject: [AML] Leading the Music in Gen. Conf. Hi friends, The LDS Lit. connection is a bit tenuous, but I have the delightful privilege of leading some LDS musical literature in the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference, Oct. 6th. It's one of the "home town" choirs--wonderful folks from 10 stakes in Pleasant Grove, Lindon, and Cedar Hills. I hope you'll take a minute and tune in to see and hear us. :-) Steve - -- skperry@mac.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 14:47:51 -0600 From: Terry L Jeffress Subject: [AML] Review Archive Update New Features ============ The archive now fully cross references with the Awards Database. For example, reviews for _God's Army_ have a link to the citation in the Awards Database, and the Awards Database citation page for _God's Army_ provides links to the available reviews. Thanks to the wonders of relational databses, reviews of award winning titles will automatically cross reference with the awards database. Thus, the new review of Eric Samuelsen's _Gadianton_, automatically lets you know that he received the 1997 AML Award for Drama. All this and more at the AML website: . New Reviews =========== Chance Encounter by Jennie Hansen reviewed by Jeff Needle (21 September 2001) Deed of Paksenarrion, The, by Elizabeth Moon reviewed by Kathy Fowkes (27 September 2001) Divided Allegiance by Elizabeth Moon reviewed by Kathy Fowkes (27 September 2001) Gadianton by Eric Samuelsen reviewed by D. Michael Martindale (14 September 2001) Justified by Faith by Stephen D. Nadauld reviewed by Jeff Needle (17 September 2001) Last Pioneer, The: John Taylor, a Mormon Prophet by Samuel W. Taylor reviewed by Eric R. Samuelsen (4 September 2001) Letting Loose the Hounds by Brady Udall reviewed by Andrew R Hall (4 September 2001) Mormon History by Ronald W. Walker reviewed by Jeff Needle (2 September 2001) My People by Gordon Laws reviewed by Andrew R Hall (28 September 2001) Oath of Gold by Elizabeth Moon reviewed by Kathy Fowkes (27 September 2001) Runelords, The: The Sum of All Men by David Farland reviewed by D. Michael Martindale (14 September 2001) Shadow From The Past, A, by B. Weston Rook reviewed by Richard Racer (25 September 2001) Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon reviewed by Kathy Fowkes (27 September 2001) AML-List Review Archive Statistics ================================== Build date: Tuesday, 1 October 2001, 14:28:34 Total reviews: 487 Total reviews this year: 78 Most Prolific Reviewers - ---------------------------------------------------- Needle, Jeff 67 (13.8%) Rasband, R. W. 29 ( 6.0%) Clark, Harlow S. 28 ( 5.7%) Martindale, D. Michael 27 ( 5.5%) Hall, Andrew R 18 ( 3.7%) Parker, Katie 17 ( 3.5%) Parkinson, Benson 11 ( 2.3%) Most Reviewed Authors - ---------------------------------------------------- Card, Orson Scott 32 ( 6.6%) Young, Margaret Blair 11 ( 2.3%) Dutcher, Richard 9 ( 1.8%) Lund, Gerald N. 9 ( 1.8%) Parkinson, Benson Y. 9 ( 1.8%) Hughes, Dean 8 ( 1.6%) Most Reviewed Titles - ---------------------------------------------------- Brigham City 7 ( 1.4%) Latter-day Daughters 7 ( 1.4%) MTC, The: Set Apart 7 ( 1.4%) Children of the Promise 6 ( 1.2%) Work and the Glory, The 6 ( 1.2%) Testaments, The 6 ( 1.2%) Most Reviewed Publishers - ---------------------------------------------------- Deseret Book 104 (21.4%) Signature Books 52 (10.7%) Bookcraft 42 ( 8.6%) Covenant Communications 31 ( 6.4%) Aspen Books 22 ( 4.5%) Tor 16 ( 3.3%) Shadow Mountain 16 ( 3.3%) Notes ===== At the current rate, we should have 104 reviews posted for the calendar year 2001. I know that writing a review can take significant amounts of time, but your fellow list memebers and the Mormon Letters community at large all benefit from you reviews. Please reading, writing reviews, and posting. - -- Terry Jeffress | Never trust the artist. Trust the tale. | -- D. H. Lawrence AML Webmaster and | AML-List Review Archivist | - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001 15:03:58 -0600 From: Gideon Burton Subject: [AML] UVSC Honors Eugene England / Ulrich lecture Charlotte England informed me today that UVSC will be hosting special events to honor Gene England on Wednesday, October 3rd. A tree planting will be held at 5 pm in the quad at UVSC, and at 7 pm in the Ragan theatre Laurel Thatcher Ulrich will speak as a lecture series is created to honor Gene England. Her title: "From Bumper Stickers to Academia: How Well-Behaved Women Make History" Both events are open to the public. Gideon Burton - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 16:48:43 -0700 From: "Jeff Needle" Subject: [AML] Dean HUGHES, _The Writing on the Wall_ (Review) Review ====== Dean Hughes, "The Writing on the Wall" Volume 1 of the new series, "Hearts of the Children" Bookcraft To be published October 2001 (My reading copy is an Advance Reader's Edition. Therefore, page numbers may vary from the final printed edition. No price was given.) Reviewed by Jeffrey Needle Admirers of the "Children of the Promise" series will be very glad to see this newest entry into the saga of the Thomas family. Hughes has created an international cast of characters caught up in the times in which they live. And these characters really come alive in this excellent entry into the larger series. "The Writing on the Wall" picks up the story at the beginning of the Cold War, and at the outset of the civil rights movement. The Thomases have established themselves in Utah, with their children and grandchildren. Another family, still living in Germany, have been cut off from their Utah relatives by the erection of the Berlin Wall. I didn't know what to expect from this book. I had some reservations about some of the previous series; I thought this would likely be more of the same. I was wrong. "The Writing on the Wall" is nothing short of spectacular. It sparkles with lively dialogue, genuine suspense and thoughtful dialogue. And, to Hughes' credit, he never shies away from the difficult problems that faced the Church, and the world, during those trying years. Without giving away too much of the plot, there are two parallel focuses -- in Europe, it's the Cold War. Readers will recognize the Stoltz family. They are caught behind the Iron Curtain, considered second-class citizens due to their loyalty to the Church. Their son, Hans, desperately wants to leave, willing to risk his life to get away from the Communist regime. In the U.S., it's the problem of racism. And it's this latter subject that Hughes treats so well. From the violence of the Freedom Marchers in the south, to the place of people of color in the Church, Hughes pulls no punches. His brutal honesty sometimes made me cringe, but I knew he was, after all, just telling the truth. Hughes' ear for dialogue has always been good. In a particularly delightful exchange, one of the children, named Diane, is speaking with her dying grandmother. She has just told her grandmother how much she'll miss her when she passes. She reached out and took Diane's hand. "And I'll miss everyone here. I've loved this world. I'm not sure all those purified spirits on the other side are going to take to me. I just hope they have turquoise over there, and red. I look terrible in white." "Gramp is there. Remember that." "I know." She wiped the tears from her cheeks with her thin fingers. "It will be nice to see him." Her eyes drifted away from Diane's. "I just hope all this stuff we believe turns out to be true. What if I get over there and they tell me I should have been a Catholic or a Buddhist or something? Or worse yet, a Baptist. Baptists don't even believe in dancing." "You'll dance, Gram. Even if they have to change the rules. You'll talk them into it." (p. 25) At times Hughes reminds us of the violence of the period, and how insensitive we can be in the face of that violence. I can well remember the day John Kennedy was shot. The incident is permanently embedded in my mind. I was in Junior High School (Middle School), sitting in music class, learning the words to "Surrey With The Fringe On Top." The principal's voice came over the loudspeaker, announcing the shooting. I began to cry. But the fellow sitting next to me had a wide grin on his face. I never thought I'd encounter that grisly emotion again. But here's Diane, sitting in my seat in school, hearing the same announcement. Mr. Galbraith, the Spanish teacher, walked to his desk and sat down. Diane could see that the color had left his face. "I can't believe this," he said. "Who would have done it?" A boy in the back of the room said, "Maybe someone who loved America." (p. 207) Brrrrr. Another of the children, Kathy, has a vision of changing the world. Inspired by the example of her aunt LaRue, Kathy becomes involved in the struggle to make it possible for blacks to vote. In the process, she comes face to face with the bigotry, and the violence, of the American south. Worse, she finds that same bigotry throughout the Church, the Utah school system, and, finally, her own family. The story of Kathy's trip to the South is absolutely blood-curdling. Prior to that trip, she visits the guidance counselor in her school to discuss her trip. She's also troubled that "Negroes" aren't allowed to swim in the same pools as whites. "Well, Kathy, you haven't been around Negroes. You might feel different if you'd been down there and seen the way those people live. I wouldn't want to get into a swimming pool with them either." Kathy was speechless. She sputtered, trying to think of what to say, and finally got out, "Who made them live in poverty? Who --" "Oh, please. Negroes have been using those old excuses too long. The trouble with most of them is that they're too lazy to make a go of it." "They work twelve hour-days in Mississippi, picking cotton. How can you call that lazy?" "No one forces them to pick cotton. They can move away from Mississippi and find a better job if they want to." Kathy knew this was one of those times when she could explode if she wasn't careful. She let her eyes go shut for a moment, took a breath, and then said, in her most patient tone of voice, "They aren't given a decent education, Mrs. Brittain. Their schools are run-down old shacks. Half the time they don't even have textbooks. This just isn't fair. Can't you see that?" Mrs. Brittain has crossed her arms over chest. "That may be," she said. "But a lot of immigrants have come to this country, poor as church mice, and they've made something of themselves. Colored people can do the same thing if they really want to." Kathy was still trying to breathe slowly and deeply. But her voice had a hard edge when she asked, "Is that was Negroes were, Mrs. Britain? Immigrants? My history book said they were property. It was illegal for them to learn to read. Families were broken apart, and every door was closed to them once they got their so-called freedom. But then, I guess you're right. All that doesn't mean we should swim in the same pools with them, does it?" (p. 246-7) Parallel struggles for freedom -- in Communist East Germany and in America -- are presented with skill and passion. The race issue is clearly the dominant theme in "The Writing on the Wall." Here Hughes presents a passionate case for racial equality. I suspect the story in Germany will develop more in the next volume. Yet another theme, one surrounding a young man named Gene, is presented. Gene is handsome, smart, popular with the girls, and anxious to serve a mission. His excitement to serve is tempered considerably when he finally arrives in Europe for his first assignment. Reflections on his expectations, based on what he'd been told by the Church, and the reality of the hardships one experiences on a mission, are told forthrightly and with great emotion. His story alone would have made a fine book. So what is one to make of Hughes' presentation? What are we to make of Kathy's claim that the Prophet Joseph Smith ordained blacks to the priesthood, and that there is no scriptural support for the ban? (Remember, this is pre-OD2.) Her statement goes unchallenged by her parents. What are we to make of such a dismal picture of race relations in Zion? "The Writing on the Wall" was compelling, disturbing reading. Those following the previous series will welcome this entry. Those just entering the story (and you need not have read the previous volumes) will find here a mature, fearless presentation of the realities of life during those difficult years. And most important, this book will make you think. It will make you take a personal inventory of the essence of who you are; you may not be pleased with the result. I know I wasn't. I could not recommend this book more highly. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 07:57:41 -0400 From: "Debra L. Brown" Subject: [AML] Fw: MN Mormon "Kenny Rogers" Looking for Success: Deseret News 22Sep01 US UT SLC A2 Mormon "Kenny Rogers" Looking for Success SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- James Wright wants to be the Mormon Kenny Rogers but he's looking for a wider fan base than Utah. "I don't see myself as an LDS singer," Wright said. "I'm a singer who happens to be LDS. I'd like to think my music would be accepted in the secular world." While "Legacy of Harmony" and "Familiar Strangers" received good reviews, Wright is hoping his third CD will appeal to a variety of tastes. "The Captain" includes "Ship of Dreams" by Sen. Orrin Hatch and Lowell Alexander, "Watching the River Run" by Kenny Loggins, and "Overboard" by T. Graham Brown, Wayland Holyfield, and Verlin Thompson. "The Captain", the title cut, was written by Wright's sister, Karolyn Kay Danielson, and the CD includes several original compositions by Wright. Greg Hansen did the arrangements, adding some nice Celtic-sounding hornpipe to the accompaniment. Source: LDS singer hopes to croon way up charts Deseret News 22Sep01 A2 http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,315008586,00.html By Jerry Johnston: Deseret News staff writer >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 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 07:58:41 -0400 From: "Debra L. Brown" Subject: [AML] Fw: MN The Last Years of the Lord's Ministry Recounted: Deseret Book Press Release 30Sep01 US UT SLC A2 The Last Years of the Lord's Ministry Recounted SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- The second volume of bestselling author Gerald N. Lund's latest series of historic novels is now available. The Kingdom and the Crown, vol. 2: Come Unto Me (Shadow Mountain, $26.95, book on cassettes $39.95), is the follow up novel to last year's The Kingdom and the Crown, vol. 1, Fishers of Men, which has sold more than 100,000 copies, making it the bestselling first volume of an LDS historic series ever. In Come Unto Me, Simeon of Capernaum wrestles with how to undo the damage wrought by his reluctant conversion to a man named Jesus of Nazareth. A similar dilemma faces Miriam of Jerusalem, whose father, along with the other leaders of the powerful Sanhedrin, are determined to stamp out the growing popularity of this preacher from Nazareth. This is the background for author Gerald N. Lund's second novel in his bestselling The Kingdom and the Crown series. Lund continues his dramatic account of Christ's ministry, as seen through the eyes of those who would follow him. From the Galilee to Jerusalem to the great city of Rome, Come Unto Me tells the story of the people whose lives are forever changed by the teachings of a simple carpenter from Nazareth. Lund masterfully blends the biblical account of the greatest story ever told with unforgettable fictional characters in this dramatic epic. Thoroughly researched and fully documented with historical citations and a bibliography, Come Unto Me is the long-awaited follow up to last fall's Fishers of Men, a book featured in more than 200 newspapers nationwide. About the Author Gerald N. Lund's works have sold more than 2 million copies, starting with his award-winning The Work and the Glory series. He was a religious educator for more than thirty-five years and has completed postgraduate studies in Hebrew and New Testament at Pepperdine University and the University of Judaism in California. He is the author of nineteen books and lives in Alpine, Utah. Source: The Last Years of the Lord's Ministry Recounted Deseret Book Press Release 30Sep01 A2 >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 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 08:17:59 -0600 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] AML Website Announcement I agree! I am so thrilled at his work! Marilyn Brown - ----- Original Message ----- From: R.W. Rasband To: Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 6:24 PM Subject: Re: [AML] AML Website Announcement > The new AML-Online website is just first rate. Let's have an "attaboy" to > Terry Jeffress for his excellent efforts. > > > > ===== > R.W. Rasband > Heber City, UT > rrasband@yahoo.com > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com > > > > > -- > AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature > > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 06:34:56 -0600 From: "J. Scott Bronson" Subject: [AML] Akeda Scholar Needed I will be presenting a production of my play, _Stones_, in Springville (at the Little Brown Theater) next month and I'm looking for someone much more intelligent than I who wouldn't mind writing a program note sort of explaining the Akedah and the Atonement as described in my play. Anyone out there game? Or know someone who might be? J. Scott Bronson -- Member of Playwrights Circle - ------------------------------------------------------------------ "The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent upon it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do." Galileo - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 08:18:50 -0600 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] ARRINGTON, _J. Golden_ (Deseret News) We are so excited! We're seeing it tonight! Everyone come to the Villa! Marilyn Brown - ----- Original Message ----- From: Andrew Hall To: Sent: Friday, September 28, 2001 12:13 AM Subject: [AML] ARRINGTON, _J. Golden_ (Deseret News) > Deseret News, Wednesday, September 26, 2001 > 'J. Golden' to open > SPRINGVILLE =97 James Arrington's one-man show, "J. Golden," starring Marvin= > =20 > Payne, will open Friday, Sept. 28, at the Villa Playhouse Theatre, 254 S.=20 > Main, Springville. It continues through Oct. 27. > J. Golden Kimball was one of the most celebrated officials in The Church of= > =20 > Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, making a name for himself not as a=20 > theologian but as a "tell it like it is" comic. > Performances will be Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets=20 > range from $6 to $8, with a family ticket costing $35. For reservations,=20 > call 489-3088. > > (Andrew Hall) > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp > > > > > > -- > AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature > > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 17:08:40 -0600 From: "Eric D. Snider" Subject: [AML] Re: LDS Killed >[MOD: Can someone confirm this from an official source? Also, I find it >interesting that several List members have written in with different >information about who was/was not killed. Anyone care to make a connection >with the challenges of doing the research needed for accurate fiction?] > >There were twelve family members from Springville, UT, also killed. I believe >they were LDS. This story is highly suspect at this point. The Daily Herald was contacted about it, and we've been unable to reach the surviving man whose family allegedly was killed. The convenience store that's collecting donations for him refused to give his current whereabouts, and said only that he used to work there but wouldn't say whether he still did. Our reporter wasn't able to get much further with it than that, and we dropped it. We heard of other news outlets (print and broadcast) also dropping the story over the course of a few days, so I think they may have been similarly suspicious. Eric D. Snider - -- *************************************************** Eric D. Snider www.ericdsnider.com "Filling all your Eric D. Snider needs since 1974." - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 16:10:54 -0700 From: Jerry Tyner Subject: RE: [AML] _Left Behind_ In the movie at the very beginning there is a surprise attack by one of the super powers (Russia if I remember right) on Israel (simulated the whole world since they had all of the Arab world in the attack as well). The premise was that there was an Israeli scientist who had developed a chemical to allow the deserts of the world to grow enough food to feed themselves without relying on the rest of the world's good faith to feed them. There was a miraculous destruction of those armies and air forces. I saw something last week that relates to this and might give someone some research material to write about the last days. This may even add to what was mentioned about John's writings in the Book of Revelations. TROUBLE IN THE HOLY LAND 'Third Temple' event on again Israeli government sanctions laying of cornerstones - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24662 For those wondering this is not an LDS event! Jerry Tyner - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 18:15:32 -0500 From: "Darvell Hunt" Subject: [AML] Re: LDS Killed >[MOD: Can someone confirm this from an official source? Also, I find it >interesting that several List members have written in with different >information about who was/was not killed. Anyone care to make a connection >with the challenges of doing the research needed for accurate fiction?] > >There were twelve family members from Springville, UT, also killed. I believe >they were LDS. Yes, apparently a family of twelve from Springville was on the observation deck of one of the towers when it was hit by terrorism. Follow the below link for the report from the Deseret News (9/20/01): http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,315008268,00.html I have seen no indication from any of the reports (including from KSL-TV news) saying whether they were LDS or not. Darvell _____________________________________________ Free email with personality! Over 200 domains! http://www.MyOwnEmail.com - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 19:34:08 EDT From: Turk325@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] LDS Killed In a message dated 10/1/01 4:29:00 PM, LuAnnStaheli@prodigy.net writes: << [MOD: Can someone confirm this from an official source? Also, I find it interesting that several List members have written in with different information about who was/was not killed. Anyone care to make a connection with the challenges of doing the research needed for accurate fiction?] There were twelve family members from Springville, UT, also killed. I believe they were LDS. >> The original story, published about two weeks ago in the Deseret News and on KSL, was that two stepsons of a man named Mendenhall (living in Springville) and their families were in New York the week of the tragedy. About twelve people altogether. They called Mr. Mendenhall on Monday the 10th to tell him they were visiting the WTC the next morning. He heard nothing from them since (which would have been about a week at the time of the story). Mendenhall worked for Flying J truck stops. Donation tubs appeared in the truck stops. Mendenhall, though, refused to talk with the press, citing privacy considerations. Then the tubs disappeared from the truck stops. A brief note indicated they had suspended collections until they could determine all the facts. Silence since. It sounds like an attempt for sympathy or attention gone horribly bad. Kurt Weiland - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001 17:33:36 -0600 From: "Tyler Moulton" Subject: [AML] LDS Last Days Lit (was: _Left Behind_) Jerry said, echoing Barbara: >>>I want to see a series of books that are LDS point of view of the last = days. It might not be popular around the evangilical world but neither was = God's Army.<<< ____________ As the acquisitions editor for Covenant, I have been looking for a well = written series on this theme for some time. Several of you talented = writers on this list already know that because I've spoken with you = personally about it.=20 There are already a handful of LDS series about the last days currently = out there, but none to my knowledge has been able to attract much of an = audience. This wouldn't be the first, so it would need to be the best. I too would like to see a book/series set in the context of what we do and = don't expect of the last days from a particularly LDS POV. I would like to see that the author has done her/his homework to become = familiar with what has been said on the subject--both from established and = speculative sources, and that they recognize the difference. I would like to see a gripping page-turner of a story that assumes an = eschatology distinct from that of evangelical Christianity. I would like to see a faithful tale that wouldn't alienate the market with = gratuitous inclusions (I imagine I'll hear objections from Thom and others = on this, so I'm ready), but which could still speak to a broad audience--so= mething I would read even if I weren't being paid for it.=20 And I would love to see all of this expertly woven together in brilliant, = artistic, gifted, masterful prose. Several of you have told me that's not your gig. So I'll open it up to the = group. Anybody out there got an interest--and the ability to pull it off? (Please respond personally and not to the group.) Tyler - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 18:00:54 -0600 From: "Gae Lyn Henderson" Subject: RE: [AML] Juanita Brooks Query Marilyn, I think I have the first version of your book. Can you summarize for us what material you added and what significance that has? Thanks. Gae Lyn > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-aml-list@lists.xmission.com > [mailto:owner-aml-list@lists.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Brown > Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 8:52 AM > To: aml-list@lists.xmission.com > Subject: Re: [AML] Juanita Brooks Query > > > Thank you for the recommendation, Margaret. It's entirely > possible that some > of Brooks's scrap paper was burned. Check out Anna Jean Backus, WITNESS at > Mountain Meadows. I discovered material AFTER PUBLICATION (which is now > included in the second printing) that Brooks might have known but did not > write. When the book came out, Leon Matheson came to me at a Cedar City > signing and wanted me to talk to his 97-year-old father Alva. I sat down > with him in his kitchen while he haltingly told me he had been a boy of > eight years old playing on the steps of the mill when he heard > with his own > ears John Lee's working partner JOHN HIGBEE, tell some things > that were not > in Juanita's book. I added them as best I could (perhaps to the > detriment of > the point of my story). However, I still think my story came through as > Michael Martindale so generously dealt with it in his review (as > opposed to > the ungenerous and inaccurate one in IRREANTUM). Michael said, "I > felt Brown > gave us some good insight into how it happened." He didn't always > agree with > my style, etc., but he didn't accuse me of inaccurate research > for rumors I > had only portrayed from the SETTLERS' point of view. Thank you. Marilyn > Brown > > > -- > AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature > > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2001 18:07:43 -0600 From: "Jacob Proffitt" Subject: RE: [AML] WHIPPLE, _The Giant Joshua_ (was: Homogeneity in Art) - ---Original Message From: Veda Hale > Jacob Proffitt "hated" THE GIANT JOSHUA. I'm searching to try > to see his view point. But something he wrote at the end of > his post of 9/28/2001 brought me a valuable insight. He wrote: > > ". We all > make decisions about what hills are worth dying > on and what battles we > are willing to lose in order to preserve > ourselves for the coming day. > Perhaps our homogeneity can be seen as a form of > preserving our strength > for matters we consider more important." > > Whipple has Erastus Snow say on page 132: > > "But togetherness -- you couldn't whip the desert without > togetherness. The Group Faith -- the ability to live outside > oneself for something greater than oneself, to sacrifice > oneself for the Common Good. Someday they would be strong > enough to afford dissenters -- now salvation lay only in > complete and disciplined togetherness. Except you be one, ye > are not mine." > > ". . . . You have to be ruthless to colonize." Since this is one of the parts I hate most, I'll respond to it specifically. The gospel has nothing to do with sacrificing yourself for the Common Good. We can and should serve others, and we should be willing to sacrifice for the good of God. Conflating the Common Good with Good of God is one instance where Maureen Whipple fails to grasp what to me are fundamental gospel principles. She has a lot of places where she takes gospel doctrines and clothes them in secular expressions that eviscerate the power of those doctrines (which is a method shared by another author whose books I despise--Steven Covey). Also, living in misery all your days is *not* a part of the gospel and somebody who can live in unrelenting misery is doing something wrong. I hate the stupid philosophy here attributed to Erastus Snow--a man who should know better than to spout this drivel about being strong enough to afford dissenters and that salvation lies in complete and disciplined togetherness. Unity was needed by the early saints as it is needed now, but Unity is not conformity. Sharing a purpose is *not* the same as sharing the means. A servant of God should never, ever, utter the words "you have to be ruthless to colonize". It elevates colonization to be more important than the savior's love. > And Orson Pratt Jr. who couldn't express a testimony in the > standard way was excommunicated and left. I have no idea what the truth is about Orson Pratt Jr. so I cannot comment. I tend to doubt that any excommunication ever happened because someone didn't express a testimony in the standard way, though. Excommunications (er, non-morality ones) happen due to irreconcilable differences, usually when an individual won't stop preaching a doctrine that violates core *church* tenets or doctrine that he (or she) has been told to stop preaching. I'm not sure if this is in the book, it has been so long since I read it. > My struggle to understand where Jacob is coming from in > relation to THE GIANT JOSHUA was helped with this. Maybe the > reason he "hated' the book so much was that he senses we need > to "preserve ourselves for the coming day," and he feels > paying attention to negative facts only decreases our > homogeneity, which is our strength. Erastus Snow knew this. > "You have to be ruthless to colonize" Maybe those in charge > of our homogeneity have to chose their battles and some of > the issues artists want to deal with are a threat "to the > coming day," therefore artists who rub our noses in some > facts of the past have to be ignored, even ridiculed in order > to "preserve our homogeneity and thus our strength." I have no such need. *I* have no problem with negative facts and I don't *want* to keep our homogeneity because it *isn't* our strength. And I don't see that anybody is "in charge" of our homogeneity (no single body enforcing it). If some artist wants to rub my nose in the past, more power to them, but they had better be accurate or they will earn my ire. As does Maureen Whipple. The words she gives Erastus Snow are things he wouldn't ever think, let alone express to some poor woman who has been beaten down all her life. Which brings me to my point. Our homogeneity is not enforced by anyone but our artists themselves. Maureen Whipple received the ire of her audience not because she stepped out of our comfort zone, but because she violated some of our individually held core beliefs. Clory was abused throughout the novel with no succor in sight--except the savior and the gospel which were supposedly all around her, but never, ever, a strength or comfort. Clory has no joy, ever, as a result of the gospel and I find that rather difficult to swallow. This core discomfort is then blown sky high by the whole Erastus Snow scene where every gospel sense I have is stunned that anyone can seriously think that a prophet of God would spout such drivel. Step out of my comfort zone all you want, and if you give me a new, useful insight I'll even thank you for it, but violate my core beliefs like that and I'll not only not thank you for it, but I'll tell you and everyone else listening that I believe that you are wrong. My point is that our homogeneity is not the Church preserving its strength, but an individual choice by our authors to preserve their own strength by avoiding issues that generate violations of core beliefs. In other words, since our gospel core beliefs are so diverse, our art has to be homogeneous to serve it or risk ostracizing the intended audience. Each artist draws their own line about what audience they want and since most artists want the largest possible audience, our art tends to be homogeneous. I'm trying to describe, not proscribe. I don't like our homogeneity, but I think that we had better understand it if we want to overcome it. Unfortunately, in this case, understanding it (if it truly works the way I describe) isn't going to help us very much except to help us understand what market forces are acting on us and what our decisions truly imply as consequences. > Whipple seemed to know this. To me the message in the book is > just that. So. polygamy was hard. So. Clory lived an > unfulfilled life. So. a good man who didn't have an orthodox > testimony was excommunicated. So. John D. Lee had to be > sacrificed. So a lot of other unfair situations we don't like > to know happened. The big battle was won. It was represented > in the book as the people finally building a dam that > conquered the river and saved the mission. Whipple didn't use > the word "homogeneity" she used "togetherness" "The Grand Idea." She used a lot of pop-pabulum to describe a motivating factor for the colonization that was all necessary to avoid the one, real factor there--the unity of purpose brought by the gospel, lived by imperfect people, but still enervated by a Truth that goes beyond those individuals magnifying their efforts into something grand. By the end of the book I was so tired of looking for anybody to stand up and express a true gospel principle that I threw the book at the wall in disgust when I was finished. Such a large volume and not a soul in it who believed in finding joy in the gospel--or even comfort. A lot of nicely researched detail to support a finely crafted lie. Sure it was well written and it had lots of interesting detail of frontier life. But it failed utterly to express anything I consider to be true gospel doctrine and the salvation found in belief in God and the comfort of prayer and faith. Togetherness without God is hollow and may accomplish great tasks, but misses the point entirely. I can't believe in a God that would sacrifice individual souls just to tame the desert. "I'm not going to comfort that poor Clory in any way because I'm too busy making sure this colony survives." Nope, I'm not going to buy that. Sorry. > I'm still struggling and rereading to find just where in the > book Jacob sees that it "violates ...core doctrine..." is > "faithless and misrepresentative of my faith because of the > godless barrenness presented as truth." If anyone can help > me, I'd appreciate it. I have spent 12 years writing Maurine > Whipple's biography and Lavina is ready to help bring it to > completion. It tells of a true talent who perhaps chose the > wrong battle to fight. What do you AML writers think? If > Whipple did chose the wrong battle to fight, what about the > advice so often heard "to write what you know." That's just > what she did. It isn't that she chose the wrong battle to fight, it's that her battle was in the wrong war. She may have written what she knows, but she neglected to know anything about the gospel as I see it. The world depicted in "Joshua" is a bleak existence devoid of a personal God who cares and expresses his care to his children. That loving God should be evident in the lives of our pioneers, no matter how bleak their world may have been. It was our men of God who could work slavish hours on a temple they would never see completed and still dance into the wee hours of the night in celebration. We are *not* a dour people unless you compare us to the sloppily jovial partying ideal currently pressed on us by our popular media. We enjoy humor, good laughs, and true joy even in the deepest pits of despair. Leave out the joy and you've created a people who don't really know God, no matter how much you have them accomplishing on the outside. And then have a man of God, supposedly intimate with God, say that other faiths are as true as our own and you have lost me completely. And then end the novel with some "great smile" image of God and you'll have me throwing the book against the wall in frustration and anger. I'm not willing to judge Maureen Whipple, but I can't stand "The Giant Joshua" and will express that distaste every time occasion allows. Jacob Proffitt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #471 ******************************