From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #478 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 9 2001 Volume 01 : Number 478 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 20:09:25 -0600 From: "Amy Chamberlain" Subject: Re: [AML] Lit Class for Enrichment Night Just had to write in and say a quick thank you to all who have responded. These are all fantastic ideas and they've really jump-started my thinking. I especially like the idea of listing books that the attendees like and having them say why. And you've also really gotten me to think more about Mormon lit--there are a lot of Mormon authors I really need to read. I can always use more ideas (the class isn't until November), so if you have one, please send it on. Amy - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 19:43:14 -0700 From: "Jeff Needle" Subject: Re: [AML] UDALL, _The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint_ (Review) I, for one, thought this was a very good review. Thanks for posting this! - ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Hansen" To: "AML-list" Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2001 5:31 PM Subject: [AML] UDALL, _The Miracle Life of Edgar Mint_ (Review) > I've never reviewed a book on the list before, and with all the > well-read and spoken people here it's somewhat intimidating. Not only > that, this particular book has also been reviewed by no less than the > New York Times, the Wall Steet Journal, and Newsweek. So, if you hate > the review, just chalk it up to some poor, ignorant sap who can't tell > the difference between Archie comics and Dostoyevsky. Without further > comment . . . > - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 08 Oct 2001 22:28:03 -0500 From: Linda Adams Subject: Re: [AML] LDS Last Days Lit (was: _Left Behind_) >Has anyone read the books mentioned in Debra's posts about apocalyptic >literature? I think I should try Linda Adams' book to see how her scenario >feels--but I want some good commentary. I think I have the Doctrinal New >Testament Commentary somewhere in my disorganized home office. The point >is that you can't write fiction dealing with these events without a pretty >solid notion of what you think might happen. >barbara hume Well, of COURSE you should try my book, Barbara! :-) I'd like to change your last sentence just a bit though--you need a "pretty solid notion" of what _could_ feasibly happen according to the prophecy and revelation available to us. But yes. You _must_ study or look like an idiot. However, what I have written in _Prodigal Journey_ is nowhere near what I personally "think" will most likely happen (I personally tend to side with those who say we may miss most of the signs until they're over--with the exception of the very obvious ones--such as Jesus splitting the Mount of Olives in two--much of building and establishing Zion is already being done in personal but mundane ways, small and simple things bringing great things to pass). For example, the series I'm writing takes a fictional bunch of events which will lead up to the building of the Temple in New Jerusalem (Independence). My book is (I'd like to think) an interesting story with a twisting, turning plot where many unusual things happen to my characters; yet the real building of the actual Temple in Independence could be as simple as President Hinckley (or whoever is Prophet at the time) announcing it, and it's built, just like all the other temples are being built today. Who knows? It could go either way. That's the beauty of it all. However, as Kathy Fowkes wrote in her post, a major theme must be the sanctification of the Saints. This is one essential thing that cannot be overlooked, no matter _how_ events actually, or fictionally, play themselves out. It is the one key element, the deciding factor, in where we will stand at that Great and Last Day. It's also harder than I thought it would be to depict well because it is largely such an internal struggle. I'd also like to thank Katie and Nadine for writing in with their positive comments on my book. It's very nice to hear them. It's true that I do focus on my characters' lives and development far more than actual "last days" events. A main reason for my doing this is that real people don't go around--very often--yakking about the Last Days _and_ actually being fully involved in bringing them to pass. I've always been more interested in the little guy (like me) watching things unfold, than the stories about _The_ President, _The_ Prophet, etc. So the events begin in the background, until things happen that directly affect the character's lives. Katie Parker wrote: "But I found _Prodigal Journey_ to be quite a page-turner. And while I'm smart enough to know that things will not necessarily go the way you've depicted, I don't remember seeing anything that I completely disagreed with or that seemed out-of-line. Of course, this is only Volume 1, and for the most part the signs of the times and all that are in the background. The characters' "normal" lives are really what the story's about. (Something Todd Peterson also mentioned he'd like to see.) As you move closer to the Second Coming in future volumes, there will be more doctrinal points that come up that may be harder to deal with. (Or not--you seem to have dealt well with everything so far.)" Yes, as the volumes unfold further, some doctrinal things will get trickier. Without revealing the plot, one challenge I'm having with Vol. 2 is how to depict the United Order truthfully; how, in actuality, is that system going to work? I will most likely be "off" on several counts. That's okay. I'll research and do the best I can with scripture, historical accounts, and my active imagination. (...There is even discussion that the United Order won't have to be brought back in order to establish a city of Zion. But I'm more comfortable including it than leaving it out.) Nadine Young wrote: "The way the government was heading in the book was very believable when you look at how things are going IRL. Just look at the whole thing going on in NYC with trying to get the law changed so the Mayor can stay in office for another term. It's a baby step toward the same direction the book took. Take a long hard look at the way religion has been viewed by the liberals and it's very eerie. You obviously have your finger on the pulse of the nation. " This statement just about gave me the heebie-jeebies! Here I myself have been watching Mayor Guiliani's (sp?) excellent work pulling NYC together, and wondering why they can't just let him stay there a bit longer, given the circumstances... Yet you're exactly right... that's about what my fictional President has set up for himself in the Preface of _Prodigal Journey._ Very creepy to have you point that out! _PJ_ is also meant to be a patriotic book, something all Americans can relate to (especially now), and a look at where this country _could_ go if we discount the Constitution as naught, give up turning to God in crisis, and so on. As for my own study references, I draw most heavily on actual scriptural text, with my main focus being Revelation and certain sections of the Doctrine & Covenants, though Isaiah, Daniel, and Matthew 24 (JST) are also part of it. I have also read _Behold, I Come Quickly_ (forgot the author, it's downstairs, sorry) which I found to be a good, simple text explaining many differences between the actual doctrine and more spurious sources of "revelation," keeping his personal interpretations to a minimum, and _The Millennial Messiah_ by McConkie (who also has his own interpretation of events, but still has much to offer). There are several other less-reliable texts I have lying around the house, not all of which I remember offhand, but including Crowther's famous but rather interpretive _Prophecy: Key to the Future._ Considering that one was published in the 60's during the Cold War, it's fun now to read his views of the USSR. :-) Yet to write anything on the Last Days well, I have to know the hearsay and folkloric prophesies as well as the official ones, and know the difference between them, so I do study both. Frankly, the less-official "prophecies" made by Orson Pratt and the like are sometimes more intriguing, detailed, and interesting! (There is one out there about the Golden Age of the Church being during the time of Presidents Benson to "Maughan," interestingly, a name sounding a lot like "Monson".... things that make you go "hmmm...") But it's _very_ important not to be drawn away from true scripture by these things. Unless you're writing a book and something in there makes for a good story element. I was not much of a student of all of this until I moved to Jackson County, MO. Somehow, living here, there is a tendency to get inundated with questions and funny "facts" about this place. The most obvious and highly believed one, which I _am_ exploring in my series because it makes for a more interesting storyline, regards a prophecy apparently made by Joseph Smith to Alexander Doniphan (I think) that Missouri would be wiped clean before the Saints return to possess it, so much that "there would not be a yellow dog left to wag its tail." Something like that. I'm not near my reference for that (again, my apologies). However, if you study this one much, two things become evident: first, there are no clear, reliable sources that Joseph Smith ever said anything like this; second, from the best sources available, it appears that if he did, he was speaking to Doniphan himself about the destruction _he_ would see in his lifetime, re: the Civil War. (This land _was_ wiped pretty clean then.) But if you actually _live_ here, you get a lot of jokes about, "So, what are you going to do when we all have to leave? Where are you going to go? Better buy your land now, ha ha!" There's this pervasive feeling of "temporariness" among some people here because of a vague belief in this possible prophecy, while in all likelihood, it was fulfilled over a hundred years ago. Most people haven't even looked it up to know where it comes from. Still, the idea made for a good jumping off point for my imagination, coming up with something that would leave the land wiped clean of life yet leaving most of the buildings and structures intact. If you want to know what the something is, you'll have to read the book. :-) Just remember it's only my imagination. Well, I've been blowing my horn long enough. Whew. (deep breath, gasp for air, pant pant) Break time! Linda ================== Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 23:53:03 -0600 From: Scott and Marny Parkin Subject: Re: [AML] Stories about War A series of questions based on what Roy Schmidt wrote. ROY SCHMIDT wrote: >Here's one: lots of books are written about wars: The Book of Mormon, >Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, the Bible... Are these books really *about* war? If so, how is war defined--as a specific battle between nations, or as any conflict between people? The reason I ask is that never considered the scriptures to be *about* war, though these works certainly contain portions that deal *with* war (though I'm having a hard time remembering which parts of the D&C deal with war except in the broadest possible sense). I tend to think there's a difference; the issues you focus on change. Along the same lines, is there a difference between the stories written as counsel, as history, and as fiction as relates to issues such as war? I think we clearly differentiate between essay (or scripture), history, and fiction in our criticism, but do we approach the core issues any differently when we sit down to write in these different genres? I know that when I write a journal I take a slightly different approach to presenting conflicts or questions or issues than I do when I write fiction. Different audiences, with different fundamental goals I think. The story written as journal entry is one of many techniques for revealing story, but I tend to see them as fundamentally different forms. What do others of you think? Scott Parkin - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 23:53:03 -0600 From: Scott and Marny Parkin Subject: Re: [AML] Stories about War I just started reading Marilyn Brown's _A Wine Dark Sea of Grass_ and the question occurred to me: As people around the world wait for the next terrorist attack, has anyone considered that the fear and anticipation (small or great) that we now feel must be some shadow of the fear that Mormons in Utah must have felt in 1857 as they waited for Johnson's Army to come and quell the so-called Mormon Rebellion? Sometimes it's quite easy to judge the fear and anxiety of a people from a safe historical distance and find that fear unjustified. But as we wait to see what retaliation Terror will take for the temerity of the US for defending itself, I can't help but believe that we must be feeling some shade of the frustrated, angry helplessness of that people. It makes me rethink my blithe dismissals of their terror. It makes me want to read stories--both based in fact, and just made-up stories--that explore this issue. It makes me want to see if I'm the only one who feels the way I do. I will be quite interested to see how Marilyn presents this idea in her novel (no pressure, Marilyn; review forthcoming). Just curious. Scott Parkin - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2001 01:54:48 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: [AML] Participation in AML Writers Conference If you've ever had an idea for a topic you'd like to present to a group of budding and/or accomplished writers, especially if its about LDS writing, here's your chance. Please e-mail me privately to suggest your presentation for consideration for the AML Writers Conference coming up on November 3rd. - -- 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 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2001 09:52:55 -0600 From: Thom Duncan Subject: [AML] Re: LDS Last Days Lit Barbara Hume asked Thom Duncan: > What are your favorite sources for LDS end times teachings? I'm thinking in >terms of resources a writer might use in developing fiction set in those >still-to-come times. My brief response: _Prophecy, Key to the Future,_ by Crowther, though controversial, is an excellent source for End-time stories because he forces a fairly logical timeline on events. The "Signs of the Times" article in _Mormon Doctrine_ and other articles ("The Second Coming" among them) in that same book also give some interesting ideas. Thom Duncan - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2001 10:49:45 -0600 From: David Hansen Subject: [AML] re: Gen. Conf. Music Don't know anything about Saturday conference, but most of Sunday were Mack Wilberg and Barlow Bradford's arrangements. We've (Utah Chamber Artists) recently recorded a new disc of "ward choir" pieces (ha!) which include "Did you think to pray?" and "Nearer My God to Thee" which were sung Sunday. It apparently won't be out until next Spring, but you'll be able to buy sheet music as well as the CD. I know that the women didn't hear it, but I thought the best music in conference was "There is a Green Hill Far Away" in the Priesthood session. And for the first time ever, the choir sang with instrumentalists besides just the organ in "Nearer My God to Thee." Amazing! Dave Hansen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 13:24:37 -0400 From: "Tracie Laulusa" Subject: [AML] BENNION, _Falling Toward Heaven_ (Review) [MOD: Tracie starts this post by saying she doesn't know how to write a review and doesn't have time to do so--but it sure seems like a review to me. So I've added publication information from the review already on AML-List Archives, and waved my magical moderator's wand, and am calling this a review, Tracie--like it or not...] Falling Toward Heaven By John Bennion Signature Books, 2000. Trade paperback: 312 pages. ISBN: 1-56085-140-6 Suggested retail price: $19.95 (US) Reviewed by Tracie Laulusa I don't know how to write a review and don't really have time anyway, so = I'm just going to note a few of my impressions.=20 I'm not even sure if this book is published yet. I was reading an--I = think it's called an advanced galley--that I somehow got on someone's = list for and received quite a while ago in the mail. I read the first = couple pages months ago, didn't connect at all, and put it away for = another time. This time was a better time. Also, I think being on the AML list has made it difficult to read a book = by a Mormon just for pleasure. I found myself being a little analytical = the whole read. I wondered why this Mormon wrote this story. Why any = other Mormon would want to read it. Why a publisher chose this = manuscript over the masses being submitted. I don't know how much to say about the story without ruining it. The = main character is Howard, a missionary in Houston TX. Various other = missionary figures are minor characters. Allison is the woman Howard = falls in love with. Various of her relations and her boyfriend are = minor characters. Howard's mother, Emily is also a major character. = His dad, Walter, a little less so. And lots of his other relatives, = alive and dead, appear as minor characters. =20 If I hadn't known who the author was and I had just picked up this book = of a library shelf, a scan through the first third of the book would = have left me the impression that it was written by someone with = anti-mormon leanings. The book opens with Howard, a faithless = missionary, questioning every belief he's ever held, and obssesed with = women and thoughts of sex. His pre-mission immorality seems to have = made it easier for him to fall into this temptation, his previous = experience making it easier for him to obsess about what it would be = like with Allison. He 'makes it' through his mission, only to walk off = the plane he has just boarded, seek Allison, and commit sexual sin = before even returning home. And none of the other Mormon characters is = 'normal'. His companion comes off as fanatical, the other missionaries = introduced are each wierd in their own way, and the Mission President is = too shallowly portrayed for him to make an impression on anyone as to = what a 'normal' Mormon is like. Of course, I wonder myself if there is = really a normal Mormon, but no where in the book is there a person just = living the gospel and liking it. Just from this opening I would predict that it will not be the next = Mormon best-seller. I think people on this list may enjoy it, but I = can't imagine many of the women sitting in my Relief Society getting = past the first few chapters. And your average Priesthood holder would = probably be offended during the next third of the book. One problem I had with this book is that I didn't get Howard's = attraction to Allison. Maybe it's just because I'm not a guy. But = there didn't seem to be any real reason except proximity and any other = woman who had been at that place at that moment would have done just as = well. Here was a Mormon missionary, struggling granted, who is = attracted by a woman who swears her head off, is already in a live-in = relationship with someone else, ridicules any kind of religious belief, = gets totally bombed, vomits all over, and is in general totally = disagreeable, and he is so attracted he can't stay away from her and = ends up fornicating with her. Somehow that list of qualities is the = attraction. I can understand the physicalness of the attraction, even a = spiritual one--the questioning Elder coming face to face with a sensual = woman doing and saying all the things that he is repressing. It just = doesn't seem like enough in the end for him to have made him act the way = he did. The other problem I have with the book is that it seems to try and = address too much. Enter Howard's family and the issues of poligamy, = patriarchal rule (righteous or unrighteous), feminism, Priesthood = authority and so on. All the issues are interrelated in the story, but = because there are so many they all detract from each other. And, again, = where is the just normal Mormon trying to live faithfully without some = major question or failing looming in the background. It's not that all = the senerios aren't plausible. It's not that all the questions don't = get asked. But did all have to happen in the pages of this one book? = (After reading this paragraph I realize that the Mormons that are = portrayed in any favorable light are in Alaska. So maybe part of weird = Mormonness of this is some statement about Utah Mormons.) (I just mentioned to my 17 yr old that I'd like her to read the book and = share her opinion--she's my OCC fan--has read everything he's written. = My 18 year old said "That's a stupid book. I read the first couple = chapters and just skipped to the end and you know everything that = happened." I don't happen to share her opinion. She missed a lot, = probably stuff she wasn't ready for. But it was her impression of the = first few chapters that sealed the book's fate for her. It starts off = as such a faithless story that she just couldn't believe it. And I = don't think that her opinion will be very different from that of the = average Mormon reader.) All that said, I stuck with the book. There are parts of the book I = thought were very well done. There were moments when the characters = were real enough to care about. I even cried through a few pages here = and there. I thought John wrote the perspective of women quite well. = There were questions asked that I ask myself. And I think it is = important that they are asked and in a public forum. I just don't think = that very many Mormons are willing to ask the questions or listen to the = answers. They see these types of discussions as showing a lack of = faith. Maybe they are right and I am somehow lacking in faith. But for = those of us who have questions it's really nice to know that we are not = the only ones asking them. =20 In the end, the book was not about sex, or feminism, or poligamy, or = male-chauvanism, or Priesthood and church courts, or even about love and = loss. It is not even, as the front page blurb said, a story about a = self-discovery. It was about one man's search for God. Not the God = created and recreated in the image of men, but God as he truly is. Or = even more acurately, as They truly are. And that is a road of discovery = many of us travel. Tracie Laulusa - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2001 12:03:59 -0600 From: "Eric R. Samuelsen" Subject: [AML] Correlation (was: MN 'New Era' to Drop Fiction) Todd wrote: >Eric obejcted to Church-published fiction because it would be correlated. = =20 >Of course, just about everything published is "correlated" after a = >>fashion. Almost all literary decisions are made by committee, and thus = >suffer from that fact. Only rarely do you get some editor who can force = a >book into the mainstream against the tide of an editorial board where = it >can find itself a success. Sure there are stories, but they are the = >exceptions that prove the rule. >Is the "correlation" issue an issue of why the decisions are being made = >(i.e. spiritual rather than economic) or is it something else? Quick admission: My experience with correlation is not extensive. And of = course, everything Todd says about the corporate processes of publishing = houses is spot-on. I would say that my objections to correlation (which = are admittedly more anecdotal than based on my actual experience) are that = correlation is not based on spiritual values, but on a misplaced and = fearful anticipation of what others might perceive the spiritual values of = a piece to be. The result (I think unanticipated result) of correlation = is the de facto establishment of a certain kind of cultural and doctrinal = orthodoxy, which may or may not have anything to do with the actual = reception of a piece by an actual audience, and which have absolutely = nothing with the Restored Gospel, or the workings of the Holy Ghost. An anecdote: A few years ago, BYU Theatre used to do a show for Education Week. The = show we selected one year was Brian Friel's Philadelphia Here I Come. If = you don't know the play, it's lovely; a young man (played by two actors, = one who portays his Public persona, the other, his Private thoughts) is = leaving his Irish village to move in with a relative in Philadelphia. As = he prepares to leave, he has to deal with his troubled relationship with = his father, and the damage that's been done by his own unwillingness to = forgive, and by their mutual unwillingness to communicate. The play is a = great examination of father/son dynamics, the importance of forgiveness, = the ways in which misunderstandings can harden into misplaced enmity. = Great play, and perfect for Ed Week. I was in it, playing the local = priest. A week before Ed Week, the play was cancelled. A correlation committee = didn't like it. They invited in a Scera production of Camelot instead. = We were told "people come to Ed Week to be uplifted. They come into a = play on a spiritual high, and they don't want to be brought down in any = way. We need to show them something inspiring; a good love story." =20 Now, we had a lively debate here on the list about Camelot a couple years = ago. I'm not ready to declare Camelot 'immoral' because I mostly don't = think any works of art are immoral. It is, can we agree, a musical about = adultery. Adultery has some pretty negative consequences in the show, and = so the message might be okay. But the musical does make adultery look = pretty appealing. More to the point, it's just real hard for me to see = how Camelot is automatically more 'spiritual' or 'uplifting' than = Philadelphia Here I Come. I can, if I have to, make an argument for = Camelot, but to do so would feel, to me, like a stretch. I don't have to = stretch at all to make a case for Philadelphia Here I Come. I think that, = in every possible sense of the word 'good', Philadelphia was 'good.' I = think Camelot's pretty close to unwatchable, though, if I had to, I = suppose I could defend it. Grumpily and without enthusiasm. =20 Ed Week's correlation committee, unfortunately, seems to me to have = defined terms like 'spiritual' and 'uplifting' in ways that make, to me, = no sense, and that are potentially quite damaging. They were, in essence, = saying that they, culturally conservative middle-aged Americans preferred a nice musical they'd heard of to a darkish and maybe a bit = depressing Irish drama they hadn't heard of. Which is fine. Except that = tied to this is something not fine; an assumption regarding the working of = the Holy Ghost, a sense of larger spiritual propriety. I remember well when a correlation committee responded to something I = wrote for the Church, which I thought was terrific but perhaps a bit = challenging, by saying it was 'non-doctrinal.' Well, say it's boring, say = it's not entertaining, say it doesn't work and is badly written and that = it's comic scenes are inappropriate and not funny, say anything you like, = but 'non-doctrinal?' My understanding of the Book of Mormon, expressed = artistically, is 'non-doctrinal?' Them's fightin' words. Eric Samuelsen - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 06:14:27 +1000 From: "helena.chester" Subject: RE: [AML] Margaret YOUNG, _I Am Jane_ (Review) Is "I am Jane" going to come out on video? Living in Australia compromises my Mormon cultural experiences. Helena - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 15:17:17 EDT From: BroHam000@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] Amy Howell, Agent? I had a missionary companion named Amy Howell (Italy South, circa 1973). She is from SLC; I can't remember the name of her mother and stepfather, but she married a man whose name was Karl White, I believe. She was a student at the U of U; after our missions I once attended a Sunday afternoon discussion of university intellecuals on the subject of "Endurance to the End: the Fifth Principle of the Gospel". I felt about as out of my league as I often do reading postings on this list! We kept in touch for several years, but I must say it's been some time since we talked. She did major in journalism, but it was more for photography than writing. I wouldn't be surprised if her interests had evolved into literary pursuits though. I can't remember what Karl's interests were. I do remember than she considered Marvin J. Ashton her surrogate father; perhaps his family could put you in touch with her. Hope this helps. Linda Hyde Rosemark, TN - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 09 Oct 2001 15:27:10 -0400 From: "robert lauer" Subject: Re: [AML] Stories about War >From: Terry L Jeffress >Reply-To: aml-list@lists.xmission.com >To: aml-list@lists.xmission.com >Subject: Re: [AML] Stories about War >Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 15:56:59 -0600 > Terry L Jeffress wrote: > >I can see the argument that if you would not use or submit to deadly >force for you ideals, then you value the ideal of self-preservation >higher than the ideal you would not defend or die for... Of course, a dead man had no ideals--or rather, once one is dead, it is impossible to live by any ideals or have a continuing ethical influence in the world. I subscribe to Ayn Rand's view that life is the highest value; that all morality and ideals are based first upon the value one gives life. Would >denying the Church under the duress of imminent death really have any >meaning. Statements made under duress don't hold up in court, why >would God hold the statement against you? Does the court have more >compassion or understanding than God? Aren't there examples of prophets denying truths (both Gospel truths and others) in order to preserve their lives. The account of Abraham denying to Pharaoh his marriage to Sarah is found in Genesis. The Book of Abraham could make this situation even stickier for some because there is the God who commands Abraham to deny the marriage. And course, the history of the Church--especially in Illinois and pioneer Utah--is filled with prophets and apostles denying facts in order to preserve the Church during periods of persecution.In Germany during WWII, those seeking to hide Jews from the Nazis lied. In my estimation, it would have been completely immoral to have told the truth in such a situation. Exodus 20:13 doesn't say, "Thou shalt not kill except >in times of war, or in self-defense, or to protect your sister from a >molester." Exodus doesn't provide any exceptions, but many people do >maintain a mental set of circumstances where they excuse killing. Of course, in Hebrew the commandment reads: Thou shalt not MURDER. This is very different from a generic "thou shalt not kill." The scriptures do in fact sanction killing in self defense and in the punishing of specific crimes. > >[An interesting side note. Have you ever noticed how Disney and other >studios that make movies for younger audiences go out of their way to >have the antagonist die of natural causes -- sparing the protagonist >from the label of "killer" or "murderer." Think of the _Lion King._ >Simba doesn't kill Scar; Scar falls off a cliff. These movies go to >the same extent to demonstrate that the antagonist deserves to die, but >the protagonist never pulls the trigger.] And yet look how the Scriptures (The Old Testament and Bk. of Mormon) present the "good guys" killing the "bad guys." Examples include Moses, Joshua, David, Nephi and General Moroni. These type of stories are part of what make these scriptural stories great literature. >We certainly want to demonstrate the conflict of ideals in literature, >but does the very nature of our literary tradition -- the justified >one survives (or gets the girl or the last word) -- create an >unrealistic expectation in our audience? In recent years I have come to more fully appreciate the scriptures (particularly the Hebrew [Old] Testament) as great literature and art. In these particular scriptures, the justified one does not always survive. Or--more interesting--the one who at first is "the justified" one ends up surviving but loses has his/her "justified" status. I think Richard Dutcher made a great point when he said that the Lord (by inspiring the scriptures) seems to have a much broader understanding of what makes great art than many people in our current culture. ROB LAUER - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 10:10:40 -0700 From: "jana" Subject: Re: [AML] Gen. Conf. Music Wasn't the music in conference fabulous? I especially > enjoyed the Sunday morning session's hymn > arrangements. "Hie to Kolob" gave me chills. I can > only imagine how much more moving the experience would > have been if I could have heard it live in the > conference center. Does anyone know where I could > find out who arranged the hymns that were sung? And > whether there is a recording available? I agree--that one was incredible! I have re-listened to it several times (via the Net). I would love to have a copy of it, too! > > p.s. Good job conducting, Steve! > Yes, great work. :) Jana Remy - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 16:42:31 -0600 From: Terry L Jeffress Subject: [AML] LAHAYE & JENKINS, Left Behind (Review) Lahaye, Tim F., and Jerry B. Jenkins. _Left Behind._ Tyndale House (Wheaton, Illinois): 1996. ISBN 0-8423-2912-9. Trade paperback. Suggested retail price: $14.99 (US) Rayford Steele, a 747 pilot, must turn his plane around and land back in Chicago when many of his passengers disappear, leaving their clothes behind. Once he can contact the Chicago tower, he learns that the disappearances occurred worldwide. At home he discovers that both his wife and 13-year-old son have also disappeared. What else could have happened but the rapture of the saints. Christ has taken the faithful in the first resurrection. Rayford quickly realizes that he will do anything to one day see his wife and son again, so he starts reading his wife's bible and contacts her church. After watching a video made by the church's pastor for just such an occasion, Rayford becomes saved. His new mission, share the Christian message with as many people as possible, especially his college-age daughter. Buck Williams, a hot reporter for a weekly news magazine, was on Rayford's plane. Buck intended to visit a British financial contact. Later Buck learns that his contact has supposedly committed suicide, but Buck believes that members of a financial power conglomerate have murdered his friend. As Buck investigates, he finds that the evidence all seems to revolve around Nicolae Carpathia, a fast rising politician from Romania. To the devastated world populace, Carpathia seems the only voice of reason, calling for world unification and disarmament. Buck suspects that the same financial powers behind his friend's murder also promoting Carpathia. Rayford's study group suspects that Carpathia is the antichrist predicted by the book of Revelation. Rayford has a chance to share the gospel with Buck, and Buck feels the message must be true, but hesitates to commit his faith. Buck's suspicions about Carpathia grow as he learns more, and as Carpathia chooses Buck for several exclusive interviews. Lahaye and Jenkins do a good job turning a conversion story into a suspense novel. The novel does bog down in the middle as all the characters waiver in their faith and determination, but the last third rolls along at a fast pace. Although the authors freely admit they hope to get the reader to make a commitment to Jesus, the text of Left Behind doesn't come off very preachy. Except for the religious aspects of the characters, the rest of the characters' lives seem hollow and undeveloped. The authors spend a lot of time telling the reader character aspects rather than developing those traits through behavior. For example, they describe Carpathia as a suave and powerful speaker, but most of his speeches get paraphrased and the rest border on casual conversation. We have to take Lahaye and Jenkins's word about Carpathia's charisma. Several aspects of the typesetting kept bothering me enough that they distracted me from the story. Tyndale chose to set Left Behind with a ragged right margin, which looks very unusual for a fiction work. At one point, the typesetter has set an entire chapter opening in the wrong font, and you can see numerous places where the typesetter compressed the letter spacing to remove widows and orphans. - -- Terry Jeffress | I write to find out what I'm talking | about. -- Edward Albee AML Webmaster and | AML-List Review Archivist | - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #478 ******************************