From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #901 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Wednesday, November 20 2002 Volume 01 : Number 901 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 11:56:00 -0700 From: "Barbara R. Hume" Subject: Re: [AML] New Essays Web Site This sounds interesting to me, and I'd like to contribute. But knowing me, I'd be likely to put off the actual writing long enough to be less than useful! I've done some writing in this area, but I've always put it in the form of fiction. barbara hume - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 11:43:40 -0800 From: "Angela Hallstrom" Subject: Re: [AML] BYU Professor Problems I graduated with a degree in English from BYU in 1994. I had a wonderful experience in the English department, and had three teachers in particular who inspired and motivated me: Leslie Norris, Eugene England and Darrell Spencer. As far as I am aware, Leslie Norris is not a member of the church, but he filled his classroom with such humility and joy and love for language and people that his course was the highlight of my day. Eugene England helped me find the literary value of my Mormonness. It was through him that I discovered the worth of the stories Mormons had to tell the rest of the world. I remember him as being so proud to be a Mormon. He helped me feel that way, too. Darrell Spencer changed my life. (I know that sounds a bit hyperbolic and overdone . . . but he did.) I doubt he would even remember me, but I took two classes from him, and never before or since have I had a teacher so dedicated to his students. We would turn in papers and he would return them with two pages--single spaced--worth of comments and suggestions. He challenged us to think and grow--but my faith never felt challenged or threatened in a confrontational way. What I learned in his classes informed my own teaching after graduating, and continues to inform my writing. And he was a good, humble, truly nice guy. I don't know a lot about the politics of BYU. I live in Minnesota and take care of my kids and write and occasionally read this list. But it makes me sad to think that the people who made my BYU education such a valuable experience would no longer be welcome (excepting Leslie Norris. Last I heard he was still teaching at BYU. But I think I'm right that he's not LDS). I'm astonished that a student would take offense because Margaret Young mentioned her respect for Gene England, a man who was once (to me) the heart and soul of BYU's English Department. How can this be? Do I ever want to move back to Utah????? Angela Hallstrom - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 12:38:01 -0800 From: Kathy and Jerry Tyner Subject: Re: [AML] New Essays Web Site I, for one, would welcome it. I'm just not the person who would know the nuts and bolts of how to put it together, so please keep us posted and consider this firm encouragement from at least one list member! Kathy Tyner Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 13:54:53 -0800 From: Kathy and Jerry Tyner Subject: Re: [AML] Book of Mormon Movie Casting Call Since I was the one who brought up the question concerning the non-union requirement in the casting call, I'll address that part of this post. Mr. Rogers seems more than honest and generous in what is being offered to the actors working on this production. My only concern about this trend is that it might eliminate some actors who work regularly, are not household names, but who are required to be members of SAG because of how often they have worked. I'd hate to see good talent turned away because of union membership. Since he brought up working with the venerable Charlton Heston I'll assume an agreement was negotiated and reached concerning his pay as he is and has been a very active member of SAG having served as both vice president under Ronald Reagan and a number of terms as its president and participated in the negotiations in the early 1960s that guaranteed actors being able to received residuals, especially in television productions. SAG has something called "Rule 1" and expects its members not to work a non-union production unless they are paid union scale. As a long time member I'm sure Mr. Heston kept that rule on the production he worked with Mr. Rogers on. So I would hope something could be worked out with other actors who are in the same postion. I believe someone on the list mentioned the non-union proviso may have been removed from the casting call and if so, great. I want to see this be a top-flight production with the best talent available-union and non-union. And I want this for future productions down the road to realize the dream many of us have for "Mormon Cinema". Kathy Tyner Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:08:40 -0800 From: Kathy and Jerry Tyner Subject: [AML] Lecture on Blacks & the Priesthood I have permission from Marvin Perkins to forward this to the AML list = for those in the Southern California area who would be interested in = attending his lecture. Marvin is Director of African American Relations for the LDS church on = the So. Cal Public Affairs Council and Mission Leader of the Genesis = Group. He gave this lecture recently at a Southern California fireside and it was = amazing and enlightening. It clears up a lot of misconceptions that are = still out there and unfortunately still being passed around. Marvin would really like to educate people = on this and get the word out so he can spend more time with his wife and = newborn baby and get more African Americans interested in hearing the Gospel and = enriching the rest of us with their spirit. As we say around = here-Marvin is da man. So please make it out to this if possible and if I can get a copy of his = talk, I'll forward it to the list. Kathy Tyner Orange County, CA =20 - ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Marvin Perkins=20 To: mcperkins=20 Sent: Monday, November 18, 2002 7:18 PM Subject: Lecture on Blacks & the Priesthood Friends; =20 For those who are interested, I will be giving a lecture on Blacks & the = Priesthood this Thursday at 7:30 pm November 21st at CSLA Institute of = Religion (5181 Cavanagh Road, Los Angeles, CA 90032)=20 =20 Marvin Perkins =20 Director African American Relations Southern California Public Affairs Council - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:55:20 -0700 From: Cathy Wilson Subject: Re: [AML] Epiphanies > I wonder how > that injury affects spirituality? It's a hard one. > > Paris Anderson > In one of the TV shows we saw on this, it said that people with injuries or malfunctions of the right parietal area can sometimes have intense spiritual experiences without warning. In other words, they get the experience because of activation of the area theoretically due to the injury. Interesting. It can't be bad :). Cathy - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 15:18:16 -0700 From: margaret young Subject: Re: [AML] New Age Mormons? Isaac, are you the guy who did the amazing adaptation of C.S. Lewis's _The Great Divorce_ in BYU's Nelke theater? The guy who helped shape up _Dear Stone_ in the WDA workshop? If so, I'm so thrilled to have you join the list. And if not, gee, your post is great. Welcome. I'm suspecting you're the brilliant man I'm remembering, though. [Margaret Young] - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 14:50:26 -0800 From: "Jerry Tyner" Subject: RE: [AML] New Hymns I agree with ever single post on this list. I find some of the rules as = "interpreted" (have never seen the "rule book" - don't want the bosses = job, either) rather frustrating and in most cases stifling.=20 I gave a talk a couple of years ago at a young man's missionary farewell = (one of my son's friends) and the Bishop was adamant with me. I had to = give the talk on the topic I was assigned by him. I told him I respected = his inspiration and instruction (he was a fairly new Bishop at the time) = but also reserved the right to follow inspiration regarding the topic. = Not go off topic per see but to go in the direction I felt inspired. He = told me to make sure to stick to the topic he assigned and I told him I = would do as directed (by the Spirit - under my breath of course). Turned = out on the day of my talk the Bishop was called out of town suddenly and = I gave my talk as "directed by the Spirit". I never heard any complaints = or gasps from the congregation, Bishopric or the Bishop when he returned = the following week. Funny thing about that talk was immediately after I gave it I also had = to run to the airport to catch a plane to Dallas on Company business = (left the meeting right after I finished). God moves in mysterious ways = sometimes and rules get modified (but not fast enough in my opinion). = Also, I think some rules are hold overs. Like the one my old Stake = President said about not having marital relations on Fast Sunday. Where = is that in the Handbook of Instructions? Jerry Tyner Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 16:17:29 -0700 From: Gideon Burton Subject: RE: [AML] Spiritual Memoirs Along these lines I suggest the highly readable spiritual memoir, Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott (Pantheon, 1999). I believe this to be a great model for spiritual autobiography--very readable, accessible to those not of her faith, humorous, endearing, and filled with a sense of the writer as a person of profound faith (if otherwise a bit unusual in her history). Read a review at Rambles: A Cultural Arts Magazine (http://www.rambles.net/lamott_mercies.html). Chris is right. As Mormon we ought to pay close heed to the growing success of this genre. If Anne Lammott's highly unorthodox Christianity can communicate so well to Christians, a Mormon should be able to. Gideon Burton - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 17:56:12 -0800 From: "Bill Willson" Subject: Re: [AML] The Role of the Reader Thom Duncan wrote: >Hearding people into the fold should > never be the sole reason one creates art. In fact, I would go so far as > to say that it should never be a reason at all. I agree, but perhaps it can be a hoped for result that the reader be at least be enticed to look in our direction with a question or two. Regards, Bill Willson - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 16:18:48 -0700 From: "ROY SCHMIDT" Subject: [AML] More Authors at Pleasant Grove Book Fest Since I sent my original post, I have been advised that additional authors from Cedar Fort will be attending the festival. They include Marilyn Brown, David Ridges, Julie Wright, Shannon Guymon and Jeff Call. As it now stands, a total of 35 authors will be present. Once again, the event is this Friday, November 22, beginning at 6 pm in the Pleasant Grove Junior High School, 810 North 100 East in, of course, Pleasant Grove. I hope to see you there. Roy Schmidt - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 19:29:00 -0600 From: "Kumiko" Subject: [AML] Box Office Report Nov. 15 02 Feature Films by LDS/Mormon Filmmakers and Actors Weekend Box Office Report (U.S. Domestic Box Office Gross) Weekend of November 15, 2002 Report compiled by: LDSFilm.com [If table below doesn't line up properly, try looking at them with a mono-spaced font, such as Courier - Ed.] Natl Film Title Weekend Gross Rank LDS/Mormon Filmmaker/Actor Total Gross Theaters Days - --- ----------------------------- ----------- ----- ---- 3 The Santa Clause 2 15,102,078 3,346 17 Cinco Paul (screenwriter) 82,517,083 13 Punch-Drunk Love 1,210,367 867 38 Actors/characters: 16,500,392 David Stevens, Nathan Stevens, Michael D. Stevens, Jim Smooth Stevens (James Smooth) 47 Master of Disguise 59,829 104 108 Perry Andelin Blake (director) 40,322,713 62 Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure 19,283 10 647 Scott Swofford (producer) 13,626,401 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) Sam Cardon (composer) Stephen L. Johnson (film editor) 64 Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man 18,820 5 927 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 14,320,097 68 Jack Weyland's Charly 13,449 13 52 Adam Anderegg (director) 503,441 Jack Weyland (book author) Janine Gilbert (screenwriter) Lance Williams, Micah Merrill (producers) Tip Boxell (co-producer) Bengt Jan Jonsson (cinematographer) Aaron Merrill (composer) Micah Merrill (film editor) Actors: Heather Beers, Jeremy Elliott, Adam Johnson, Jackie Winterrose Fullmer, Diana Dunkley, Gary Neilson, Lisa McCammon, Randy King, Bernie Diamond, etc. 77 Galapagos 8,181 5 1116 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 13,819,334 84 China: The Panda Adventure 4,662 6 479 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 2,946,240 108 ESPN's Ultimate X 748 3 192 Reed Smoot (cinematographer) 4,196,623 110 The Other Side of Heaven 408 1 339 Mitch Davis (writer/director) 4,719,533 John H. Groberg (author/character) Gerald Molen, John Garbett (producers) Steven Ramirez (film editor) HARRY POTTER TAKES THE DOUGH - Well, it was a given that "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" would come in at number one this weekend. The only question was how much would it take in its first weekend? (over $88 million) No one else was even close to that number. Still, "The Santa Clause 2" co-written by screenwriter Cinco Paul, took in a respectable $15 million, landing the #3 spot for the weekend. To demonstrate Potter's dominance in the box office, after 17 days in the theaters, SC2, which can still be considered a successful blockbuster so far this holiday season has taken in $82.5 million total - $5.5 million less than what Harry Potter took in after just three days. Still "Chamber of Secrets" did not outperform its predecessor, since "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" took in over $90 million in its first weekend. An early indicator that SC2 has "legs" is that in its third weekend it is still playing in 3,346 theaters - a drop of only six theaters from last weekend, and only four screens less than its opening weekend. Meanwhile, "I Spy", which opened the same weekend in a comparable number of theaters, has already dropped to 2,611 theaters and fell to the #8 spot this weekend. TRY THE OTHER SIDE (AGAIN) - "The Other Side of Heaven" returned once again to the box office report this week, playing in a single theater and grossing $408. No word has been released yet about the long-awaited release of this film on video and DVD. ADD ECLIPSE - Here is a truly awesome report of the Eclipse Film Festival, written by Adam Mast. The report includes reviews of films by Latter-day Saint filmmakers: Eric Hendershot's new "Clubhouse Detectives" feature, "Roots and Wings" by Christian Vuissa and Maria Perez, "Simplicity" by Chet Thomas and Darrin Fletcher, and "Summer House" starring Michael Buster (of "God's Army" and "Out of Step" fame): http://www.zboneman.com/events.shtml HANDCART TO REACH REXBURG - "Handcart", Kels Goodman's historical feature film about the Martin handcart company, will open in Rexburg, Idaho (home of BYU-Idaho) this Friday, Nov. 22nd. The movie goes to other states (California, Arizona, Texas, etc.) in the new year. RELEASES OF LDS-THEMED FEATURE FILMS DOUBLING EVERY YEAR - This is merely an interesting observation... In 2000 just 1 LDS-themed feature film was released: "God's Army." Then in 2001 this doubled to 2: "Brigham City" and "The Other Side of Heaven". In 2002, the number again doubled, to 4: "The Singles Ward", "Out of Step", "Jack Weyland's Charly" and "Handcart." In 2003, all signs indicate that the number should double again, to at least 8: "The R.M", "The Work and the Story", "Suddenly Unexpected," "Day of Defense", "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" (same target market, although technically the characters aren't Latter-day Saints), Gary Rogers' Book of Mormon movie, "The Best Two Years of My Life", and probably one or two more - -- perhaps "American Grace" or "Anxiously Engaged." So... if the number of LDS-themed feature films doubles every year, and the total number of movies released remains constant... By the year 2012 ALL movies released in the United States will be LDS-themed feature films. Daily Variety will merge with LDSFilm.com, "Entertainment Tonight" will be broadcast from the Conference Center, Johnny Biscuit will be hosting the Academy Awards, and Steven Soderbergh will be begging Dave Hunter for the chance to direct "Church Ball 3." It will be pure movie Nirvana. A LENGTHY LITTLE PIECE ON BILLY BARTY - This is very exciting. There is a lengthy, in-depth article about Billy Barty in Meridian Magazine. Barty is one of history's most influential Latter-day Saint film personality. To this day he remains the most important Little Person in the history of film and television. He was also an important civil rights advocate and the founder of Little People of America. A devout convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was a high priest when he died. Barty was an above-the-line star in feature films that grossed $100 million domestically, and appeared in dozens of other movies in small roles, but he may have been even better known as a TV personality. Our sincere thanks go to Meridian Magazine for this excellent article, which will help Church members become more familiar with Barty, who truly was a giant of a man. The article is at: http://www.meridianmagazine.com/exstories/021115billy.html ROCCO'S FLY BOYS SHOULD ROCK! - Here is a short article, with some great stunt flying photos, about the new movie "Fly Boys", being directed by ROCCO DeVILLIERS (!!!). Rocco previously directed the direct-to-video film "Only Once," which can be found in Latter-day Saint Christian bookstores everywhere. Rocco also directed the feature-length action film "Pure Race." Interestingly enough, Greggory Peck, the PRODUCER of "Only Once" spoke last week at the LDS Film Festival. Rocco is an awesome director and we can't wait to see "Fly Boys." We tried to bring attention to this director's work beginning over 2 years go. We're glad to see him at the helm of a new feature. DON'T FORGET FORGOTTEN VOYAGE - Scott Tiffany, award-winning documentary filmmaker, screened his latest documentary, "Forgotten Voyage," as the opening film at this year's LDS Film Festival in Provo, Utah. This documentary, which tells of the Latter-day Saint sea trek started the California gold rush, won Best Documentary at the Salt Lake Film Festival 2002. And the film took top honors at the Yellowstone Film Festival a few weeks ago by receiving the "Grand Geyser Award." We've seen the film, and it is a well-produced documentary, well deserving of the awards and accolades it has received. "Forgotten Voyage" is available on video in Latter-day Saint bookstores and online. LIAHONA FILMS, IS A NEWLY FORMED PRODUCTION COMPANY BASED IN... NEW JERSEY?!? - http://www.liahonafilms.com/ There's a short film by Jeff Profitt titled "The Suitcase" which you can download: http://www.liahonafilms.com/Movies.html Yes, it was filmed in NEW JERSEY?!? (Preston lives in Texas. State law requires him to pronounce it: "NEW JERSEY?!?" Of course, he's still trying to convince Thomas that Texas is The Other Zion. Thomas wants to know if Preston needs a passport when he comes to visit Utah as some other Texans have told him.) LEAVING BOUNTIFUL - A new TV movie was shown last week in Canada about a Mormon splinter group in British Columbia. "Leaving Bountiful" (Saturday, Global 7 p.m.) was based on the true story of Debbie Palmer. Bountiful is a community in British Columbia where members of a group that split from the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the 19th century practice polygamy. Palmer was a plural wife but when and had multiple husbands, but when she realized that her third husband has designs on her 13-year-old daughter, she filed a complaint with the RCMP, set fire to her house in Bountiful and fled with her children. A newspaper review in The Globe and Mail noted: "The program takes an unusual approach. It takes the viewer through Debbie Palmer's life as she has lived it and through her self-propelled re-education. It isn't lurid. It's sympathetic to Palmer and her once-strong belief in her Church and its laws." - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 21:56:02 EST From: gkeystone@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] Book of Mormon in Film Eric Samuelsen's post on this topic reminded me of my testimony and=20 confession Fast Sunday last in our ward. I mentioned briefly the growth of= =20 my testimony over the last 40 years. My reading of the Book of Mormon has= =20 gone through three major changes of emphasis since I was 19 and gained my=20 initial witness of the Joseph Smith "story" through an undeniable witness of= =20 the Holy Ghost. I keep learning new ways to read the Book of Mormon and in= =20 fact all other literature. =20 For me the Book of Mormon was first a story as it seems to many people the= =20 first time through. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I went on a mission=20 before the "raised bar" of last General Conference and did not read it much= =20 prior to my mission and did not gain a testimony it first but the Joseph=20 Smith story first. I grew to love the doctrine of the Book of Mormon on my= =20 mission, however, because my mission president and his wife had been a study= =20 group with President Benson, years before he became the President of the=20 Church, and spoke with great power as did his wife about the doctrine of= this=20 most correct book ever written. =20 After returning from my mission I shortly became Elders President and=20 discovered that most of the Elders in my ward still didn't read it or much= =20 else in those days of a very low level of reading of scriptures in the=20 Church. (I'm continually grateful we have improved as a Church in this= area,=20 though not all have.) Anyway, I taught most of the lessons as Elders=20 President for some time because I was the only one reading until others=20 started to read the Scriptures and the lessons too. But to my point. For most of 30 years I taught Gospel Doctrine Class in=20 nearly every ward we moved into. It was a great and daily feast through the= =20 Book of Mormon as doctrine. I almost totally ignored the story line totally= =20 in my private thoughts and in my public discourse for this 30 year period. = =20 Then three years ago, I ran into an old friend, an author who got me into= yet=20 a third major way of reading the Book of Mormon. I began to liken it unto= my=20 self in terms of story or experiences that these Mesoamerican peoples lives.= =20 I began to picture myself walking with Lehi and his brothers and working on= =20 the boat and praying with Enos or as Enos on his mountain top. I saw myself= =20 not only with those whom Christ visited with but being healed of some malady= =20 as one of the 1500 to whom He first appeared in the Land Bountiful. As= this=20 book changed my life again I even went on several tours to the lands of the= =20 Book of Mormon and walked literally where they walked, sailed on waters were= =20 they likely sailed, even ate fish from the same waters where they probably= =20 fished! =20 I now had three reasons I read this great literature, the greatest book ever= =20 written. Even its original translation punctuation marks, "And it came to= =20 pass" have recently been given added meaning to me beyond my mission=20 presidents wife reading of current puncuation marks in the current versions.= =20 These experiences have not only changed for my bettement and joy how I read= =20 the Book of Mormon but how I read everything!=20 I still read for the witness and warning that I originally received of the= =20 spirit. I still read and thrill with the clear yet deep startments of=20 doctrine it contains. But now stories, even fictional stories, as well as= =20 history, moves me I think the way those who went to the effort to write= hoped=20 they would.=20 Dr. Terryl Givens in his book By the Hand of Mormon-The American Scripture= =20 that Launched a New World Religion suggests yet a fourth way and reason to= =20 read the Book of Mormon I'll not go into in this already too lenghty=20 response. But it is an application of what I learned in a four hour= Regional=20 Meeting with a visiting Apostle some 5 years ago when he taught local= leaders=20 how to receive revelation through our reading. This kind of reading between= =20 the lines and such will I believe bring us to the point where we will be=20 literally able to experience, in the Lords time and whey, the very things=20 that the Prophets and prophets who gave us the Book of Mormon experienced= and=20 saw. =20 Speaking of doing the Book of Mormon in film. I would like to see truely=20 great movies, as all of the other arts, that move my in all four of these=20 ways and even others I may not have experienced to the fullest as yet. =20 I have wondered for my whole life why King Benjamins talk, given him by an= =20 angel, does not change me and us as it changed all who heard it the first=20 time. Maybe you had to be there? Did we loose something in the= translation?=20 Do we not know how to read the Book of Mormon? Can we learn? What indeed= =20 is the responsibility of the reader of this book or any book? Or to any=20 movie goer? And to authors or movie makers? =20 To Erics last point about the "cheesifying" of action sequences by Living=20 Scriptures and others. I sat down with our "learning disabled" son one= night=20 to watch a borrowed living scriptures animated video about my favorite Old= =20 Testiment Prophet Elijah. (I wonder some times who really is learning=20 disabled, though this was before I'd even learned how to read books my third= =20 way.) But this movie moved me in a very surprising and powerful way as I=20 began to "see" on the screen what I had not been able to see in my minds= eye.=20 =20 I still love Isaiah, especially like this morning when I have it read to me= =20 out loud on LDS.org. But I look forward to any and all ways that movie=20 makers choose to use the doctrine, stories, messages, history, lives and=20 witness, warning, and all of the other elements put there by Father through= =20 his editors of the Book of Mormon. But please don't leave out the stories. = =20 I now love them too! Glen Sudbury - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 20:31:50 -0700 From: "Barbara R. Hume" Subject: Re: [AML] New Hymns At 10:41 PM 11/18/02, you wrote: >My mom often talked of all the hymns she had grown up with in the LDS >hymnbook which had been removed, and about 10 years ago found a Baptist >hymnal at the Atlanta church were Dr. King preached. She chose her 10 >favorites from that book and produced an album of them entitled "My Lord, >What a Morning," with Greg Hansen doing the arrangements. > >John Perry I have that album. I really like it. barbara hume, former Baptist - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 20:23:19 -0800 From: "Levi Peterson" Subject: Re: [AML] Tooting My Musical Horn - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher Bigelow" I wonder, has Deseret traditionally carried any Signature fiction? Chris Bigelow When The Backslider first came out in 1986, the main Salt Lake Deseret Book store carried it under the counter, the term used, I believe, for having it in stock in case someone asked for it. After a year or two, however, they stopped doing that. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 00:39:59 EST From: gkeystone@aol.com Subject: Re: [AML] New Essays Web Site To Kathy, A web site for publishing essays on this topic sounds interesting and valuable. With all the modern methods of communicating it seems we communicate less and less about things that really matter to ourselves. If we don't have the chance to communicate it is very hard to clearify even or especially our own visions. It is often or even generally in the sharing that a testimony is gained. This is likewise true of other "revelations" to us. It helps me to share with my journal which I have kept more or less regularily for 35 years. But another audience would probably help me and many others to write better which would help us and possibly even others. Good idea. Besides I've grown tired already with the very poorly written and terse posts on e-mail and most web sites yet don't want to read entire books online either. I like, love, real books, having had a love affair with literature long before this new medium of e-books came along. Glen Sudbury - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2002 22:50:59 -0700 From: "Scott Parkin" Subject: Re: [AML] New Age Mormons? Glen Sudbury wrote (to Paris Anderson): > Great art is often produced by those who have suffered and struggled > physically and metaphysically, body and mind. Church members and the body of > the saints have suffered much of body in these latter days. I wonder however > if we have suffered enough in mind to produce the great literature for which > we hunger on this AML site and in our private lives. I'm not sure what this means. I'm not sure on a number of levels. I don't know if "we" have suffered enough to produce much of anything, but I know a fair number of individuals (who happen to be Mormon) who have suffered more than enough in their personal lives to tell deeply powerful--perhaps even great--stories of what it means to have those unique and personal experiences. I know Mormons who have suffered crippling poverty, grotesque injustice, grievous bodily injury, public humiliation, political upheaval and alienation, racial violence, and spiritual disenfranchisement. I know Mormons who have been wrongfully accused and convicted by both secular and Church courts. I know Mormons who have suffered physical and emotional abuse, and others who have been ostracized by both family and their community for bad reasons. Mormons as individuals are not immune from the ugly things life has to offer--nor are we more prone to it than anyone else. So I always have a hard time with the idea that "we" have not suffered enough to produce great literature. Some of us have. So to me the question is not whether we've suffered enough, but whether we're willing to face up to the real suffering we *have* known as individuals (and even as a community) and tell the stories honestly and forcefully. As Margaret Young wondered at the AML Writer's Conference a couple of weeks ago--have we given ourselves permission to tell the stories that have harrowed our souls and tested our hope? Because that's the only limit, in my mind--giving ourselves permission to speak the truth as we know it, and to risk the fact that others' experiences can be different yet equally true. There's an idea reflected in Mormon culture that we're too content to know pain, that as American Mormons we're too affluent to know real want, that we're just too pampered to experience real hardship. But I don't buy it. It's a form of self-flattery, of cultural laziness. Pain comes in an infinite variety of packages and takes an equal number of shapes. The question to me is whether we are willing to expose our private pain to others, whether we are willing to share the personal and intimate struggles we have to live and strive and struggle to know both ourselves and our god. Are we willing to make ourselves the bad guys of our own stories? Epic sweep is not necessary to create great literature. Personal struggle, introspection, a desire to share our experience, and an ability to arrange words pleasingly is. That and giving ourselves permission to write, to dare to be spectacularly wrong. Because only then can we ever hope to learn how to be simply and obviously right--as great literature is. Scott Parkin - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2002 00:38:19 -0800 From: Robert Slaven Subject: [AML] re: Epiphanies From: "Amelia Parkin" (by way of Jonathan Langford ) > Robert Slaven wrote: > "Of course, the above doesn't prevent my favourite hypothesis: God designed > our brains with the above response intentionally, and then stimulates it > when he wants to talk to us (or the Holy Spirit does that, whatever, it's a > detail). When someone claims to have seen something that doesn't fit with > our gospel (Mohammed's receiving the Qu'ran, people seeing the Virgin Mary, > people thinking they were abducted by aliens), it represents one of three > things: > 1) God/the Holy Spirit stimulated that area in hopes of giving some > revelation to the person, but they didn't "get it"; > 2) Some natural process stimulated that area -- a biochemical glitch in the > person's brain, a quirk of some existing electromagnetic field in that > location -- and the person made whatever sense of it they could*; > 3) Maybe Satan knows how to stimulate that area, too." > > This is me now: > Unfortunately, my impression upon reading Robert's words was as follows: a > person who has a spiritual or metaphysical experience which doesn't fit into > the Mormon experience is one of the following: (1) spiritually out of tune; > (2) they had a glitch in the physical workings of their body; or (3) they're > subject to manipulation by Satan. > > I am sure Robert did not mean to imply such a statement. However, the > implication was there and (the most unfortunate part) my experience with > Mormon culture has made it a plausible reading of Robert's statement. > > I've been watching this thread and the "Y'all Should Get Out More" thread > for the last few days. Both have been very interesting. The (potential) > attitude I see in the above passage from Robert's post is my reason for > believing Mormons ought to get out more. That's funny you should read me that way, Amelia. %-) I'm about the least-Utahn most-gotten-out-more least-orthodox Mormon you're likely to find. After spending my youth as a devout atheist, I joined the Church because (gasp!) it was a religion (here I read "model of the universe") that actually made sense. Baptised in Victoria BC (where I got my B.Sc.), I've spent most of my 'church life' in the Yellowknife Branch in the NWT, which on the one hand is the largest branch in the church (we're talking about 1,000,000 sq.mi. here) and OTOH is one of the weakest 'twigs' in the church. Definitely 'mission field'; heck, Yellowknife isn't even in a district, much less a stake. I now live in an area that's been a stake for 10 years, but which most Utah Mormons would definitely call 'mission field'. Utah for me is 'nice place to visit, but....' Anyhow, you're right, I didn't quite mean to imply what you thought I might be implying above. I mean, (3) is obviously a possibility for anyone who's had some kind of 'vision'. But for (2), rather than 'glitch in physical workings of body', I'm meaning more external stimuli. In this case, the example I used was 'if creaks and groans in the earth set up weird fields that cause weird lights that some interpret as UFO's, maybe those same fields could tweak someone's "God spot" and trigger some kind of "vision", perhaps of aliens.' Certainly internal stuff could be an issue; how much of what schizophrenics go through is related to some kind of damage to or quirks in that area of their brain? Also, I didn't mean to imply that the above applied to someone who had "a spiritual or metaphysical experience which doesn't fit into the Mormon experience"; rather, I meant "doesn't fit into the gospel." And, as I hope we are all aware, "the gospel" is not the same as "the Mormon experience". I believe that people around the world have spiritual experiences all the time which are likely in harmony with the gospel but not necessarily in harmony with the Mormon experience. How many good, honest Christians are there out there who have had prayers answered, often in miraculous ways, yet in ways that might surprise or startle your average Mormon? Or, for that matter, good honest non-Christians? In fact, one of the key problems I see with 'Mormon culture' (as opposed to the gospel) is that kind of blinkered narrow-mindedness. ObLiteraryTie-In: Two friends/neighbours/acquaintances/cow-orkers, one Mormon, the other a decent person but not Mormon. The Mormon is in a bit of a spiritual rut or dead spot, feeling blase about his/her testimony, sort of stuck in neutral. An issue relating mostly to the non-Mormon but in which the Mormon is involved results in a remarkable spiritual experience for the non-Mormon. The Mormon now wonders 'What gives? I'm the one with the knowledge of the truth and membership in the true church, he/she isn't! How come I didn't get something like that?" An investigation of what faith really means, of what revelation really means, etc. etc. Want some real fun? Set that in a Utah ward/neighbourhood where this happens to the only non-member family who lives within the ward boundaries. Watch the reaction of his Mormon neighbours. Who will write it off as a Satanic counterfeit? Who will embrace truth and faith even if it comes to someone whose underwear says 'Stanfields', not 'Authorized Pattern'? Anyhow, Amelia, to wind up, I understand and appreciate your concerns, and I appreciated your post here. You made a lot of great points, and I learned a few things. Robert ********************************************************************** Robert & Linn-Marie Slaven www.robertslaven.ca ...with Stuart, Rebecca, Mariann, Kristina, Elizabeth, and Robin too 'Man is that he might have joy--not guilt trips.' (Russell M. Nelson) - --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.419 / Virus Database: 235 - Release Date: 2002/11/14 - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #901 ******************************