From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V2 #141 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, September 3 2003 Volume 02 : Number 141 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2003 19:54:27 -0700 From: "Kathy Tyner" Subject: Re: [AML] BofM Movie Fireside I hold the same calling as a Ward Rep on the Stake Public Affairs Committee. Fortunately, we're in flux right now with our head rep having left on a couple's mission, so I haven't been handed any of these posters or fliers, nor have I seen them in any of the buildings. Might be an interesting topic of conversation. I might just make a deal with them-If we're going to back this enterprise, then we'd better publicize the documentary about the Revelation on the Priesthood when it comes out and push it just as hard, or I won't make an effort with this one. Just trying to be fair here. Wonder if I ought to mention that cameo the guy playing Nephi makes in, "Queer as Folk" to my fellow reps. :) Seems some rules get ignored when it comes to doing publicity and "getting our presence out in the community". Kathy Tyner Orange County, CA - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Sep 2003 06:31:40 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Convictions of Otherness Jacob Proffitt wrote: > (A carpenter? I've always wondered about that, actually. Just because > Joseph was one--and likely better translated as mason at that. Doesn't > seem very substantial evidence though it explains analogies using > cornerstones, keystones, and building foundations). Wasn't it customary for the son to learn the father's trade back then? If that's so, then we'd probably need definite evidence before concluding that Jesus wasn't a carpenter, or mason, or whatever. - -- 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, 02 Sep 2003 06:37:46 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Uplifting Writing Barbara Hume wrote: > I've been intrigued by the use of the word "exploring" in discussions of > this kind. I'd love for some listers here to tell me how they perceive > that concept. Does it mean portraying? Does it mean showing both sides > of an issue? Does it mean showing that certain things exist with no > attempt to explain them or deal with their significance? Does it mean > dropping an ambiguity in the laps of the audience and calling it good? > Does it mean avoiding any indication that something might be good, or > that something might be bad? To me it means re-examining our biases, our prejudices, our unquestioned assumptions, to see if they really hold up to scrutiny. It means accepting the principle that humans are taught line upon line, precept upon precept, therefore what we know now may not be as accurate as we think, so we need to be open to "exploring" further truth. Affirmation literature does nothing of the kind. Affirmation literature makes us feel good about what we already know (which is not a bad thing _from time to time_), but does nothing to help us expand our knowledge and wisdom. People who think we should only read affirmation literature are refusing to add any more lines and precepts upon the lines and precepts they already have. I don't see how that can possibly be a good thing. - -- 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, 02 Sep 2003 07:55:45 -0600 From: Margaret Blair Young Subject: Re: [AML] Joseph Smith Ordination of Elijah Abel Re Kathy's comments on Jane James's invitation to be sealed to Joseph and Emma's family--we are pretty sure that happened, since it is in Jane's life history (dictated by Jane) and is mentioned in several letters Jane wrote (or dictated) in her petitions for temple blessings (sources are in our books). In truth, the early Church had the practise of sealing many members to one CHurch leader. There's information on that in just about any book on Church history. By the way, Kathy, it's always good to hear from you and Jerry. - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 09:15:57 -0600 From: "Annette Lyon" Subject: [AML] re: AML-List Members in Theater? I've done some theater, but not for over a decade. I did Joseph (I swear we were the first ones in Utah Valley; I had never heard of the play when I auditioned, but as soon as we did it, productions went on everywhere and keep going), I also performed in Fiddler and Into the Woods. I used some of my experiences w/ the latter in my novel, Lost Without You (how's that for both a literary connection and a shameless plug? :) Annette Lyon - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Sep 2003 08:18:32 -0700 From: "Bill Gardner" Subject: Re: [AML] Uplifting Writing >Barbara Hume: >I'd love for some listers here to tell me how they perceive that concept >(exploring). I'm curious too. I hear a lot of lip service about "exploration" in literature but I think in some cases critics assume this means that the author has no agenda at all and is just throwing a dictionary at a wall and hoping the right words will stick to it, or, that good writing is when theme development happens without any help from within the mind of the author. I think literary expoloration involves a great deal of forethought and planning. Good plot and character development, for instance, don't just happen because an author is free to "explore." Exploration of an idea in literature, then, seems to be conscious and deliberate, focused and directed. I also think that quality "exploration" is something that very few writers are really, really good at (popularity aside). Oh, and there are people who just want to read a good story and leave the hoity-toidy notion of "exploration" to the smart people. bill gardner wbgardner.com _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8: Get 6 months for $9.95/month. http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Sep 2003 08:55:43 -0600 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: [AML] D. Michael's Film Lab 7: EXPLORING FAITH INFORMATION ON D. MICHAEL'S FILM LABS, INCLUDING A SCHEDULE FOR THE YEAR, CAN BE FOUND AT: http://www.wwno.com/filmlab ======= D. Michael's Film Lab No. 7 Saturday, September 13, 2003, in the Salt Lake area. Starting at 4:30 pm. "EXPLORING FAITH" What is faith? Who's got it? How can you tell? The three films for Lab #7 will explore these questions. Two of them depict charlatan preachers who must come face to face with genuine faith. The third is a science fiction tour de force that asks some big questions about faith and what it is. (P.S. NONE OF THE FILMS ARE RATED R THIS MONTH!) 4:30 pm - Elmer Gantry Richard Brooks, 1960 runtime 146 min Not rated Burt Lancaster shines as the con man who grabs onto a woman preacher as his meal ticket to fame and fortune. He uses all his powers of salesmanship to promote her, but his seared conscience becomes troubled as he is forced to face up to her sincere faith that can work miracles. Some consider this Lancaster's finest performance, and Jean Simmons is no slacker as the preacher. We also get treated to Dean Jagger in a supporting role, who once played Brigham Young and ended up converting to Mormonism. 7:00 pm - Leap of Faith Richard Pearce, 1992 runtime 108 min PG-13, thematic elements, mild language A long way from The Jerk, Steve Martin nonetheless employs his abilities a a "wild and crazy guy" to breathe life into his character of a charlatan preacher and faith healer on the revival circuit, whose bus breaks down in a small agricultural town in dire straits because of a drought. He decides to pitch his tent and fleece the citizens anyway, in spite of their poor economic state, and in defiance of the efforts of the local sheriff to shut him down. But when the faith of innocent teenager Lukas Haas causes a miracle to occur, Martin must come face to face with what he has been doing his whole life. A fascinating and endearing film that also showcases Debra Winger, Liam Neeson, Lolita Davidovich, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and some toe-tapping Gospel music. 9:00 pm - Contact Robert Zemeckis, 1997 runtime 153 min PG, intense action, mild language, some sexuality A significant movie on several levels, Contact is an adaptation of the Carl Sagan book of the same name that also explores the meaning of religion and faith. But the book and the film come to very different conclusions, and one wonders how much of Sagan is in the movie's conclusion. The film is a wonder of special effects that nonetheless only serve to tell the story. The scientific approach in the film has Sagan written all over it, as any reader of his books will immediately recognize. It starts out a fun tale of first contact with aliens, then seems to veer into maudlin superficiality. But that is an incorrect assessment, because as it turns out the first contact is in fact not the point of the story. Good thing, because if it were, the story would disappoint. Rather it's only a set-up for the true purpose of the story, which is to explore the true meaning of faith. The conclusion will satisfy believers and make agnostics come to understand the faith of believers as they may never have before. RULES OF ATTENDANCE: Because space is limited, please RSVP to dmichael@wwno.com. You will then receive directions for finding the location, which is in Sandy, Utah. You may attend any or all of the films. Discussion will follow the viewing of each film, analyzing and critiquing the merits and weaknesses and impact of the film from an artistic, cultural, and yes, even moral standpoint. No expertise is required to participate. Just a vocal opinion and a respect for the opinions of others. (Personal attacks will not be tolerated!) No admission is charged (this is just friends gathering to watch movies together), but we like to pool our resources and order out for something to eat, since it's a long time to go hungry! PLEASE be considerate of others and do not bring anyone who will not be interested in viewing the films or be disruptive in any way. Be honest with yourselves--if your kids are little hellions, leave them home! No babysitting facilities are available!! We don't want to enforce age requirements, but we will enforce considerate behavior. Also be aware that there will be no attempt to select films or maintain a discussion that is "family friendly" (unless the theme is specifically intended to be family friendly). Frankness (but not crudeness) is an acceptable part of the discussion. YOU are responsible for deciding if attendance is appropriate for any particular individual, not us. Everyone attends at their own risk. We ain't got no commercial liability insurance. This is just for fun. You are welcome to bring pillows or blankets or beanbags if you like casually relaxing on the floor. Dress is as casual as you want to get. Heck, you can come naked for all I care (but others may care). D. Michael is the final arbiter of all rules. Come join us! It's bound to be fun. - -- 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, 02 Sep 2003 09:14:51 -0600 From: Margaret Young Subject: [AML] Changes in the Genesis Group It occurs to me that I haven't let the AML list know that Darius Gray was released as the Genesis president two months ago. His first counselor, Don Harwell, is the new president. Darius was called the executive secretary for his stake. There are many of you on the list who have been impacted by Darius. I'm compiling a book of thank-you's and tributes for him. If you'd like to contribute a thank you for his six remarkable years of service as the Genesis president, please send it to my personal e-mail: Margaret_Young@byu.edu. By the way, I would be very interested in hearing a reaction to the _Ensign_'s report of the Genesis Group meeting held in the tabernacle to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the priesthood revelation. It's in the September issue in the news section. I had a rather strong reaction to it, which I will not share yet. Love to hear from the rest of y'all. [MOD: I'm putting this out on AML-List, but I think it's possible that discussions of the _Ensign_ report may well (depending on how the conversation goes) wind up straying outside AML-List limits. Which is no reason not to post, but please be warned that at some point I may need to limit the discussion.] ________________ Margaret Young 1027 JKHB English Department Brigham Young University Provo, UT 84602-6280 Tel: 801-422-4705 Fax: 801-422-0221 - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 10:02:56 -0600 From: Marny Parkin Subject: Re: [AML] Heavenly Mothers [MOD: Thanks to Marny for making us aware of this resource.] Nan P. McCulloch wrote: >Karen Davidson further states in her piece that Eliza R. Snow was married to >Joseph Smith at the time she wrote this hymn and thus had many opportunities >to discuss matters of doctrine with him ( this point she got from George D. >Pyper). Pyper continues Zina D. Huntington's mother who had died some time >before and was buried in a temporary grave. They had to exhume the body and >discovered that the remains were partially petrified. This upset Zina and >caused her to ask, "Shall I know my mother when I meet her in the world >beyond?" The Prophet responded emphatically, "Yes, you will know your >mother there." Davidson concludes that from these points (her close >association with the Prophet and the discussions about Zina's mothers death) >came the inspiration for Eliza R. Snow to write the poem. There was an entire issue of _BYU Studies_ (vol. 36, no. 1) that talked about different aspects of "O My Father." It has a wonderful article by Jill Derr on "The Significance of 'O My Father' in the Personal Journey of Eliza R. Snow" that has an entire section on the Heavenly Mother question. A few highlights: The poem was originally titled "My Father in Heaven" and dated October 1845; it was published in the _Times and Seasons_ in the November 15, 1845, issue. Eliza's father had passed away October 17, 1845 (not her mother). The anecdote cited above is recounted in an expanded version along with other anecdotes, including one from David McKay (David O.'s father), who had asked Eliza "Did the Lord reveal that doctrine of motherhood in heaven to you?" And she had answered, "No indeed"; the prophet had taught the Relief Society "many things that transpired in our Spirit home. . . . I got my inspiration from the Prophets teachings." Other articles in the issue include "'O My Father': The Musical Settings" by Michael Hicks; "Testimony in Art: John Hafen's Illustrations for 'O My Father'" by Dawn Pheysey; "The 'Hymn of the Pearl': An Ancient Counterpart to 'O My Father'" by John W. Welch and James V. Garrison; "Conversation in Nauvoo about the Corporeality of God" by Jacob Neusner, and others. Marny Parkin - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 10:17:41 -0600 From: "Eugene Woodbury" Subject: [AML] SHINKAI, _Voices of a Distant Star_ (Review) Voices of a Distant Star (Hoshi no koe) Written and directed by Makoto Shinkai ADV Films, 2003 25 minutes Available at Blockbuster (DVD format only) //Comment "Voices of a Distant Star" does not qualify as Mormon art per se, but raises some peripherally related issues. One is OSC's "Ender's Game" (in endless pre-production, it seems), which I'm convinced could best be done as Anime. It is a subject that Anime has long experience with, culminating perhaps with Hideaki Anno's psychological deconstruction of the post-modern warrior child in his fantastically bizarre "Evangelion." Another is the treatment of pathos and loss as it relates to Mormon art, especially in light of the general feeling that a) you were probably bad and had it coming; b) get over it already; c) from Anne of Green Gables: ANNE: Can't you even imagine you're in the depths of despair? MARILLA: No, I can not. To despair is to turn your back on God. Of course, to experience loss is not necessarily to despair. That should be the difference that faith makes. But despite the admonition in D&C 42: 45 ("Thou shalt live together in love, insomuch that thou shalt weep for the loss of them that die"), we seem to approach it as a problem in need of a swift fixing or a swift platitude. There are no extended rituals of mourning in our culture, for example, such as the Japanese Obon. What has stuck in my mind about "Brigham City" long after seeing it is that it is a Mormon movie, not so much about death and tragedy, not about how everything's okay because we've got the Plan of Salvation. But fundamentally about loss. Maybe that's why it didn't sell better to Wasatch front audiences. Nevertheless, I don't think we can--or should--avoid the fact that there are things that can be irretrievable lost to us--and perhaps lost for eternity--yet without it destroying faith, or love or beauty. We want the double-your-money-back Job version. //Review "Voices of a Distant Star" (Hoshi no koe) is less a film than a narrative poem that holds up well after repeated viewings. I have consequently spent more time with this particular DVD than any other title in recent memory, despite the fact that the running time of the feature is less than 30 minutes. The story echoes plot elements from "Ender's Game," told in the style of the "mecha" Anime genre. High school student Mikako has been mustered into a space armada as a battle robot pilot, charged to track down an alien invasion force that destroyed the Mars colony. As the pursuit draws the armada further away from Earth, from lights hours to light years, Mikako's increasingly poignant email messages home take longer and longer to arrive. Through distortions of relative time and perspective, Mikako stays the same age while boyfriend Noboru, aging "normally" back on Earth, is left to pine. It soon becomes not a story about space invaders, but about the division of two souls clinging to thinnest tendrils of hope, hope that is condensed into a few shared words separated by years of silence. A strange thing words are, that can communicate so much hope when there is so little to hope for. The result is a kind of cinematic haiku. The emotions it engenders could more precisely be described as a'wa're, the classical Japanese aesthetic concept of loss and transitory beauty, suggesting "an anguish that takes on beauty or a sensitivity to the finest--the saddest--beauties." The existential nature of the story is partially explained by the fact that Makoto Shinkai created the whole thing on his (considerably enhanced) desktop computer, a mix of digitized hand-drawn cells and computer-generated animation. It's no slap-dash effort, either. The foreground animation is understandably minimalistic. The 3D animation isn't Pixar, but it's nothing to frown at. And Shinkai's background mattes are gorgeous, even breathtaking at times. He eventually partnered with a commercial studio to handle the post-production and marketing. And the American distributor (veteran Anime importer ADV Films) has taken Shinkai's work a step farther. Thanks to the magic of DVD technology, you can choose from Japanese (with subtitles) and an English dub track. Rare for me for other than Studio Ghibli productions ("Princess Mononoke," "Spirited Away"), but I recommend both versions. The English dub is above average, and it's fascinating to compare it with the literal subtitles and the original Japanese. (There is a second Japanese track as well, the original "scratch" track, but I think somebody messed up the indexing because tracks 2 and 3 are the same. The real scratch track can be found under the "storyboard" option in the Extras menu.) A good dub, after all, requires a rewrite by somebody who can actually write, which is not the same as being capable of producing a competent translation. Science fiction great Neil Gaiman, for example, was hired to rewrite the "Princess Mononoke" dub. There's sort of an artistic Heisenberg uncertainty effect going on here. Once you start to mess around with the source material--especially when moving between quite different cultures--the final product will inevitably change, and better to admit that going in. The end result is that the dub and sub end up as two often quite different retellings of the same story. The full impact of the last five minutes, very much a remarkable work in free verse, demands viewing in both languages. Also included on the DVD is a similarly moody short titled "She and Her Cat," cut three different ways, and a (clumsily subtitled) interview in which Shinkai talks about making movies the same way that the novelist creates a work that is completely independent and individualized. Though that reminds me of the historian's quip in a Benjamin Franklin documentary, to the effect that Franklin's autobiography can be considered the first best-selling self-help book, except that many of its readers have failed to take into account that Franklin was, well, a genius. It's one thing to be talented at writing, or drawing, or editing; quite another to be equally and productively talented at them all at the same time. The day of the desktop auteur I don't think has yet arrived. But Shinkai, at least, is hard at work. He has a new film coming out at the end of the year, "The Place Promised in Our Early Days." Like "Voices of a Distant Star" and "She and Her Cat," from the descriptions I've read, it's got that refined a'wa're melancholy written all over it. Shinkai has definitely found his oeuvre and is sticking to it. Eugene Woodbury - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 12:32:54 -0600 From: Christopher Bigelow Subject: [AML] (Des News) An Eight-Cow Movie An eight-cow movie Veteran producer brings 'Johnny Lingo' to the big screen By Jeff Vice Deseret Morning News During nearly three decades in Hollywood, Gerald R. Molen has worked with many of the film industry's biggest names - Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Tom Cruise, Robin Williams. . . . And his association with Spielberg also allowed Molen to become acquainted with a little fellow named Oscar. When "Schindler's List" won the Academy Award for best picture of 1993, each of the fillm's three producers took home a trophy - Branko Lustig, Spielberg and Molen. Yet, as rewarding as that has been, Molen says he is now moving into the most rewarding phase of his career. "First off," Molen said, "let me say this - I would not trade anything for my Oscar. That's what every person working in this business hopes for. "But now I think I've really got a chance to make a difference in the industry - in the world." These days, Molen is involved in a series of considerably smaller-budget, but no less ambitious films. He served as producer on "The Other Side of Heaven" a couple of years ago, and worked in the same capacity on "The Legend of Johnny Lingo," which is being released locally today. A feature film based on a beloved short story by the late author Patricia McGerr, and, of course, the 1969 short film produced by Brigham Young University (which every member of the LDS Church - of a certain age - remembers. "I think this is the type of film that we don't see nearly often enough," the 68-year-old film producer said by telephone from his Montana home. "Something that's got heart, a positive message and a sense of humor about itself." "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" actually reworks and expands the original short story (titled "Johnny Lingo's Eight Cow Wife"): Young Tama (Tausani Simei-Barton), a mischievous boy, gets a chance at redemption when he's taken under the wing of South Seas trader Johnny Lingo (George Henare). "There are times in all our lives when we've done things wrong and want to be forgiven, to be given one more chance. And then there's the whole idea of having one true love in your life." Molen was brought on the film by longtime friend John Garbett. The two had worked together at Hollywood studios, and on "The Other Side of Heaven." "This project is something that John really believed in," Molen said. "It's really been his baby all along. Seeing how much he loved it, he didn't have to do much to sell me on it." Also, Molen says "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" was the next logical next step after "The Other Side of Heaven," which enjoyed a successful theatrical run and was picked up for home video/DVD distribution by Disney. Obviously, he and Garbett are hoping that, even if it's not as successful as "The Other Side of Heaven," "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" will find an audience. "There's already one built in, thanks to the short film, and that certainly helps." The producers have purposely released the film on Labor Day Weekend to take advantage of a cinematic down time (the only major studio release is the R-rated horror movie "Jeepers Creepers 2"). "This is the perfect time to release our movie," Molen said. "The summer's over. The industry's pausing to take its breath. And that's what this is - a breath of fresh air." Working on this film and "The Other Side of Heaven" have afforded Molen a certain amount of freedom he's been unable to find on big-budget studio projects. (Among his other credits are producing the Spielberg films "Minority Report," "Hook" and "Jurassic Park.") "I can't possibly tell you how relaxing it is going to the set knowing you're filming something that doesn't rely on elaborate effects or big explosions," Molen said with a chuckle. "Which is not to knock the other films I've worked on. I'm justifiably proud of every movie I've ever been be involved in. But this just feels more honest." Besides, the film was shot in New Zealand and the Cook Islands, a virtual South Seas paradise. "You can't beat that." "The Legend of Johnny Lingo" also arrives on the heels of this summer's big art-house film success story, "Whale Rider," which was also shot in New Zealand. "That was an incredible bit of luck. But it certainly wasn't deliberate. We wanted to work in the same locations and with the same people as we had on ('The Other Side of Heaven'). "To be honest, I wasn't really even aware of 'Whale Rider' until someone brought it to our attention. But if the association with that film helps us, then I love it." - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 13:33:14 -0600 From: "Bill Willson" Subject: Re: [AML] Heavenly Mothers - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thom Duncan" > > Bill Willson wrote: > > >We have a very reputable book written by one of our prophets in > >corroboration with his counselors, > > > If I understand you correctly, you're saying that Joseph Fielding Smith > wrote _Man, His Origin and Destiny_, while a prophet. Just a slight > correction. Joseph Fielding Smith was not a prophet when he wrote this > and he wrote Man, His Origin and Destiny entirely on his own,with no > input whatsoever from any counselors, of which he had none at the time. > My mistake Thom, I realize that Joseph Fielding wasn't *the* prophet at the time he wrote Man, His Origin and Destiny; however, he had been sustained by the body of the church many times as a prophet seer and revelator, ever since 1910. Furthermore he was the acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve at the time. To lend to the ethos of his work he offered in it the following quotation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, basing its belief on divine revelation, ancient and modern, proclaims man to be the direct and lineal offspring of Deity. . . . snip . . . Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes, and even as the infant son of an earthly father and mother is capable in due time of becoming a man, so the undeveloped offspring of celestial parentage is capable, by experience through ages and aeons, of evolving into a God. Joseph F. Smith - The prophet at the time, along with his counselors, John R. Winder Anthon H. Lund, First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Man, His Origin and Destiny [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954], 355.) The following is a direct quote: The Father of Jesus is our Father also, Jesus himself taught this truth, when he instructed his disciples how to pray: "Our Father which art in heaven," etc. Jesus, however, is the Firstborn among all the sons of God-the first begotten in the spirit, and the Only Begotten in the flesh. He is our elder brother, and we, like him, are in the image of God. All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father and Mother, and are literally the sons and daughters of Deity. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Man, His Origin and Destiny [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1954], 351.) The quotation used by Joseph Fielding and signed by Joseph F. and counselors is where I got off track, I got the two of them confused in my mind. I do believe that the book is backed by sufficient authority for us to consider it valid doctrine. I guess if anyone chooses to deny his heavenly parents and only acknowledge his earthly parents, they are free to progress to the status of a glorified human, however some might choose, by acknowledging a heavenly mother and father to progress to the status of a glorified being like God. Bill Willson, writer http://www.iwillwriteit.com http://www.latterdaybard.com Here's a great place for LDS artists to show and sell their work. http://www.minutemall.com CHECK IT OUT! - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 14:22:21 -0600 From: "David and Dianna Graham" Subject: [AML] re: AML-List Members in Theater? Count me as one. I have done musicals and straight plays for awhile in the past, and hope to again from time to time (though no longer for a paycheck). Dianna Graham - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Sep 2003 22:22:00 -0400 From: "Jamie Laulusa" Subject: Re: [AML] AML-List Members in Theater? I've taken a lot of imrov and oral history classes and have done four intergenerational oral history plays with a senior theatre group called Footsteps of the Elders. Working with Footsteps was fantastic! In the last play I did with them, which was *about* making intergenerational oral histories, we formed a human sculpture in the beginning with a rift down the center dividing the "teenagers" and the "old women". Each of us looked across the line and wondered how we'd ever make a decent play together, much less enjoy it. That's how we started out in the beginning, but it turned out to be so much fun! Before that, I had no idea there were old women out there who chain-smoked and used the word "s***". And if I did I never thought I'd like them. I also volunteered at COSI, a science center, as part of their interactive theatrical exhibits. Or, in other words, I dressed up in wierd costumes and talked in a funny accent while trying to guide the visitors through a tiki-room-like archialogical illustration of the scientific method. The best thing about it was being able to work with "real" actors. I was suprised how much talent was herding little kids around a science center for $8.50 an hour. Until about a year ago I had myself convinced that I could make it in the world of Theatre and was going into the performing arts program at OSU since there was no way I could afford Antioch. Well, life doesn't turn out the way you expect it, and I'm studying Backcountry Horsemanship at Hocking Tech instead. I really like it at Hocking. However, near the end of Spring Quarter, posters popped up on all the bulletin boards advertising Hocking's Drama Club's play, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". Picture Show! I haven't even seen it, but everyone knows that if you're doing the stage play, it's just "The Rocky Horrow Show"! Duh! ~Jamie Laulusa - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 21:14:08 -0700 From: John Dewey Remy Subject: RE: [AML] Perceptions of Errors (clarified) Bill Willson wrote: > > If humans are not perfect, and GA's are humans, then it stands to reason > that Ga's are not perfect, but they are more perfect than any of the rest of > us, > I'm interpreting "perfection" in this case to be personal righteousness, though I know that there are other ways of defining perfection (like Scott Parkin's Tuesday post on this thread). On my mission, I realized that the hardest working, most obedient, most spiritually in-tune missionaries weren't necessarily the ones called as assistants to the mission president (this hit me when I saw an old picture of one of the current APs with his arms around two girls). Our APs were good guys, hard workers, mostly obedient, pretty spiritual, good at the language, but they were also imperfect young men barely out of their teens. Another thing that they had in common was incredible people/leadership skills. I've run into GAs, their co-workers, and their children and grandchildren over the years (who shared with me some of their intimate experiences with their GA relatives/coworkers/friends), and I've realized that the difference between GAs and my APs is more a difference in degree than a difference in kind. I've learned that GAs, including Apostles, can be prideful, contentious, and ambitious and sometimes have short tempers (I have a story or two in mind for each one of these points). I'm not saying that these are their defining characteristics--I really believe that they are good men who live so that they are worthy of inspiration from the Spirit. This doesn't mean, however, that they are better people ("more perfect") than the rank-and-file members of the Church. They do not necessarily have a greater degree of personal righteousness than, say, our bishop or my wife's visiting teachers. I think that they are called in part because of some measure of righteousness and ability to seek out the Spirit, but they are also chosen for their managerial/leadership experience and ability. They may even be the best men for the job (though does God always call the best person for the job, or does he call someone and then give them the opportunity to eventually become the best person for the job?). Perhaps it is unfair of us to expect (near-) perfection from our leadership. They have enough pressures to work under without throwing this one into the mix. FWIW. John Remy UC Irvine - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 21:59:45 -0700 From: "jana" Subject: [AML] Literature on the Mountain Meadows Massacre Hi folks: I am working on a list of fiction that mentions the Mountain Meadows Massacre--it could be a huge part of the storyline, it could be a one-liner. So far my list is pretty short, and I'm not sure of all of these are fiction: RED WATER, Judith Freeman THE FERRY WOMAN, Gerald Grimmett WINE-DARK SEA OF GRASS, Marilyn Brown THROUGH BONDS OF LOVE, Anna Jean Backus THE FANCHER TRAIN, Amelia Bean SATAN'S CARAVAN, Grace Conlon THE MORMON AND MR. SULLIVAN, Hugh Wynn TURN AGAIN TO MOUNTAIN MEADOWS, Chris Arrington Can ya'll help me with my list? I'm particularly interested in knowing of any books prior to 1950 that deal with the MMM. Thanks!, Jana Remy UCIrvine - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2003 23:00:44 -0600 From: "Nan P. McCulloch" Subject: [AML] re: AML-List Members in Theater? I started performing when I was 11 years old and I am still doing it. = When I was raising my 4 children, I had church jobs such as Dance = Director, Drama Director, Speech Director, played the piano, led the = music, was ward and stake music chairman and of course wrote and = directed the Roadshows. I was trained as a dancer so I did lots of = dancing and later choreography. I sing and have almost always been in a = singing/performing group. I stopped directing and doing choreography = when I turned 60 and I have just done acting and singing since moving = here from Idaho, California and Texas. I love playing eccentric old = lady roles, but I sometimes have a hard time getting those roles, = because I am the same size that I was in high school and lots of = directors refuse to cast a tall thin woman in old lady roles. I don't = have any trouble getting roles like Mrs. Higgins in "My Fair Lady." = Maybe that is why I am so happy to have landed the role of Yente in = "Fiddler on the Roof." I think my Yiddish accent and facial expressions = work for me in this role. I am sure this is more than anyone wanted to = know about my life as a performer, but when asked I never hesitate. Nan McCulloch - -- AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V2 #141 ******************************