Re-Christening "Mormon Literature"

What happens to Mormon literature when the Mormon church no longer wishes to be called by that name, or even to be known as the "LDS church"?  The short answer: this literary tradition must be re-christened.

Re-christening "Mormon Literature"

Although christening is not a ritual observed within this faith, "re-christening" is a term very apt for the purpose -- precisely because the main intent of the church president's efforts to change how we and others speak about our religion is meant to refocus on Christ. 

I am creating this blog to help effect the re-christening of the Mormon/LDS literary tradition, and am inviting students in my course on "Literature of the Latter-day Saints" at Brigham Young University to use this blog as a way of exploring what it means to reframe "Mormon" or "LDS literature" consistent with the larger effort announced by the church president. What do we call it? How do our labels affect how that literature is created or critiqued? How does identity matter, whether considering the past or the present? What's in a name?

Reconsidering literary history and renaming or revising literary periods or canons is routine within literary studies. So, despite some potent ambiguities and not a little confusion instilled by this effort to refer appropriately to this church, I see it as an opportunity to reconsider and revitalize that literary tradition formerly known as "Mormon literature" or "LDS literature." And I already have a proposed name for it.

"LDS Christian" in lieu of "Mormon" or "LDS"

As I write (in September, 2019), just one year has passed since President Nelson's announcement about not referring to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by one of its nicknames (see this Salt Lake Tribune podcast discussing progress in the renaming effort to date). And so far, the church has done some rebranding of its websites, and even renamed the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Church members, as well as journalists and scholars, are struggling. Referring to the full name of the church is awkward (a reason for the nicknames and acronyms emerging in the first place). "I'm a Mormon" is four syllables. "I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is 16 syllables-- four times as long. 

Then there is the adjective problem. We use adjectives to describe nouns, and we turn nouns into adjectives to do this trick. For example, we know about the Olympics. "Olympics" is a noun, it labels a thing (an event). It is a simple thing to take that noun and use it as an adjective, a word that describes a different noun: "olympic athlete" or "olympic competition" are examples. This is basic English at work. 

And the nicknames "Mormon" and "LDS" -- which  have very handily served as efficient (short) names or nouns -- have functioned very well for all these years as adjectives: "The Mormon Tabernacle Choir" or "LDS art." Adjectives are where using the full name of the church just isn't practical. Sure, instead of "Mormon literature," you can attempt to say "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints literature," but that sounds very forced.

The workaround is to use an adjectival prepositional phrase. So, instead of "Mormon scripture," for example, one can say, "scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." Similarly, one can say, instead of Mormon literature, "literature of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" or perhaps more accurately "literature of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" -- only that raises even more problems (of accuracy). People won't use a long description instead of a brief adjective. And there hasn't been a good adjective set forth.

I propose we used the label "LDS Christian" in place of "Mormon" or "LDS." This is short, can be used adjectivally ("LDS Christian thought" or "LDS Christian art"), and it keeps Christ central while not sacrificing the specific version of Christianity that sets apart adherents to and affiliates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What is "LDS Christian" literature?

Ah, there's the rub. Exploring the issues that can answer that question is precisely the purpose of this blog. I will be asking my students to join me in reconsidering literary identity vis-a-vis these complicated labels: "Mormon" "LDS" and my proposed moniker, "LDS Christian." What or who will be included / excluded from the literary canon if we adopt "LDS Christian"? How would this new name cause us to reconsider the forms or functions of literature? Let's think it through...