Whitney + Anderson

Anderson does a great job in providing access to truth. They both mention it in the beginning of their discourses. Anderson does as he mentions that a religion must answer the essential life questions, "What am I? Whence came I? What is the object of this life? and what is my destiny?" while Whitney  quotes the fact that "Truth is truth, wher'er 'tis found, On Christian or on heathen ground." With these two quotes mentioned, the reader can see what each author is trying to bring to the surface and therefore, the writers' purpose. 

Another way that Anderson attempts to bring Whitney's counsels into account is Whitney's mention of evil. He quotes that "if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth." This helps us see that he thinks knowledge is power and with truth and power coexisting in this way, it is certainly important. Anderson takes this into account by mentioning the fact that "Ye have partly a conception of good and evil, but the many branches into which these two principles sub-divide, cannot be understood by you." And then expands upon it later. 

Nephi Anderson's Added Upon - Home Literature

Nephi Anderson's novel is an interesting example of Home Literature. The plot is confused, and probably even more confusing to someone who is not acquainted with LDS Christian literature and doctrine. He quotes from random scriptures, and fails to pull together the coherence necessary. And yet, he is achieving at some level Orson Whitney's desire for a home literature. Whitney says, "In God's name and by his help we will build up a literature whose top shall touch heaven, though its foundations may now be low in earth." His goal for home literature is brilliance and spirituality.

Nephi Anderson approaches the epic tradition in a way similar to Milton. His is a novel epic, however, rather than a poem. He begins by describing the lives of spirits in the presence of God before their life on Earth, in the epic Miltonian tradition of the war in heaven, but with a very LDS twist. He pulls in allusions to Wordsworth, Isaiah, Amos, and many others. These would most certainly have been considered the "best books" by Whitney, and while modernly Anderson's story seems rather convoluted, for his context and the amount of doctrine he is using he does quite well. Prevalent within the text is an assumption that the reader is already familiar with the LDS doctrine of Lucifer's fall, Christ's volunteering, and the importance of Adam's and Eve's choice to eat the fruit in Eden.

Home Literature

Orson Whitney includes many scriptures from D&C reiterating the importance of learning and studying the best of books. While in this speech he is specifically referring to more spiritual knowledge and literature, I think it is important to understand that these scriptures refer to many different types of literature too and that LDS literature is way for spiritual progression, but there are other types of literature that do this as well. 

One of my favorite things Whitney says is, "You must feel what you write, if you wish it to be felt by others.
" (11) It is clear that Andersen feels what he writes and that in a way, it is his shared testimony shared
through his ability to write and expand upon an idea. He is successful in cultivating the 'Home Literature'
idea because of the story being rooted in scripture. It reaches primarily to an LDS audience, but I
also think that others not of this faith could understand and appreciate that ideas of theology
that Andersen is trying to convey. I also think it is significant because of when it was written.
This book acts as a catalyst for LDS fiction, seeing that it was written in 1898.
Keeping that in mind, it was a lot easier for me to appreciate this story and not be overwhelmed by
the sometimes tedious style it is written in.

Added Upon and Home Literature

From the remarks given by Orson Whitney, there is a strong emphasis about providing powerful literature that remains pure. Whitney focused a lot on the aspects of creating literature that was uplifting yet remained outside of the LDS cannon. It seems that we get sucked into focusing on the same cannon such as the Bible and the Book of Mormon because they are “pure”, however, there can be many other forms of literature that are written “by the spirit”. As directed, we should be seeking out all that is good, and I believe this includes literature of all types.

I believe Nephi Anderson does a great job in applying Whitney’s words to his literature. Added Uponprovides unique insights such as including very “LDS” doctrine such as the Plan of Salvation and the role of families. Even though these topics are talked about within many different religions, Anderson places emphasis on specific characters and characteristics that help the story provide a new, yet familiar, understanding of the pre-post mortal life. I believe he does a great job on making the story simple and pure, uplifting and direct with topics associated primarily in LDS culture. Though this story is pure, I could see why theology would become a little fuzzy within the Mormon culture and what we believe – good literature like this is easily mistaken for doctrine. 

Nephi Anderson’s Added Upon: An Example of Home Literature

Orson Whitney urged Latter-day Saints to produce a “pure and powerful literature” (paragraph 4). He reminded them that this home literature would be “for God’s glory, not man’s. . . . If the words you speak are not as red-hot embers from the flaming forge of a sincere and earnest soul, they will never set on fire the souls of your hearers” (11).
     These words were a call to action for Nephi Anderson, who wrote Added Upon. The unique Mormon theology that almost overwhelms the book is reminiscent of Whitney’s instruction to produce literature that was diverse and uniquely Mormon, using the Holy Ghost as its muse rather than the Greek and Roman so-called muses of ancient literature. The opening line of the novel immediately proclaims that we’re sons and daughters of God. The book then jumps right in to the story of Jesus and Lucifer each offering themselves up as the Savior and the resulting war in heaven. Anderson’s description of people in the premortal life (“No two were alike, yet all bore an impress of the Creator, and each had an individual beauty of his own”) foreshadows the words in “Family: A Proclamation to the World” that state that we were all made in God’s image. With little explanation, the book uses theological terms obscure to those outside the Latter-day Saint faith such as “agency” and “second estate.”
     Overall, the theology in Added Upon is much more pronounced than the story (and often interrupts what would otherwise be natural characterization and dialog), but that only exemplifies how seriously Anderson took Whitney’s invitation to produce a literature from his earnest soul that was “for God’s glory, not man’s.”

Thoughts on a Early Attempt at Home Literature

It seems that Orson F Whitney’s description of home literature was not just that he wanted members to create fine art, but he wanted them to do it in a way that was inspired by the spirit and that would help the reader to receive truth. In Andersen’s book Added Upon, I feel like he attempted to do that. If I were to put his book in a genre, I would call it a Romanic. Yet, it isn’t just a romantic novel, but it is a fictional story that is meant to cause individuals to consider basic beliefs members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday-Saints have about the Plan of Salvation. 

            He tries to incorporate good qualities of a typical novel. He uses a lot of descriptive words to describe different settings and events, he writes in different points of view, and tries to create a multi-faceted plot. All the while trying to teach the gospel. I don’t think Andersen does a very good job at this, but I appreciated the fact that he attempted to explore our theology through writing a fictious story. His first attempt paves the way for others to improve upon his work and do similar things. 

Home Literature and Added Upon

Orson Whitney's talk had a big Mormon cultural impact. I hadn't realized Emmeline B. Wells was there and possibly motivated to start the Exponent from Whitney's words. I still read the Exponent II so that's pretty incredible to me how lasting this impact has been.

Whitney talked a lot about how Mormons have been called to enlighten the world and how home literature is part of fulfilling that calling. He said that pure and powerful literature comes from pure and powerful people. I thought that was an interesting remark and made me think about the separation from the art and the artist. But I think I agree with the sentiment that to create pure and powerful and honest literature, we have to be those kinds of writers and learners and people. He also talked about how the gospel of Mormonism isn't just truth, it is intelligence and culture.

Added Upon was an incredibly wholesome story that left me smiling at the end. It was sweet and pure. I don't know if I'd call it powerful by my own definition because it was kind of didactic, but it was a story that connected me to the characters. I felt like this story was so familiar because it's a story I've come across before, having grown up in Mormonism. I have already made this comment on posts before this, but I guess my main question was I wonder what imagining the pre-earth life as a storyteller and not a prophet does to impact the cultural understanding of the pre-earth life as Mormons. I believed that it was Mormon theology that we chose our families like in Saturdays Warriors until I was in high school or so. And I wonder what other beliefs from Mormon home literature have seeped into our theology. I guess I change my mind, if a story can cause an entire religion to re-evaluate how they think about the pre-earth life, that is a pretty powerful story.

Whitney's Warrior: Added Upon in Early Home Literature

For over fifty years the gospel has been preached to the poor and lowly. It will yet go to the high and mighty, even to kings and nobles, and penetrate and climb to places hitherto deemed inaccessible. Our literature will help to take it there; for this, like all else with which we have to do, must be made subservient to the building up of Zion. 

-Orson F. Whitney.

Whitney makes no mistake. The "Home Literature" he requests the saints to make separates itself from Milton and Shakespeare and Virgil and Homer because it has the gospel. It will not harm the essence of the literature, it will strengthen it.

Nephi Anderson takes this and runs. I found it interesting that he took such a stark, scriptural approach in the first part and projects that high-religious characters into the ones (who are extremely similar to Anderson's contemporary's) in part 2. This brings the religious directly into the reader's every day life in an engaging way. Anderson, although he has a story to tell, gives a staunch religious prelude that the reader simply can't forget. I mean, you can just imagine the messenger sending the Flinders family -- I mean, Delsa and Homan down the tube.

One afterthought: I did notice that Anderson's Norwegian bit summons the vision of Milton's Adam and Eve, with Signe running away from Hr. Horbert and then looking at her reflection in the pool. And of course Milton was referencing Apollo and Daphne, and Echo and Narcissus. Does this throw a wrench in Whitney's warning against mimicking the classics, or does it show an extra layer of depth? 

Home Literature

In Orson Whitney's essay on Home Literature, he emphasizes two main points: "Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." -- D&C 88:118

and

"Truth is truth, wher'er 'tis found,
On Christian or on heathen ground,"

Both Oroson’s ideas invite the rising generation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to contemplate how they are writing and encourage them to flood the literary world with "moralistic and faith-promoting stories." This is precisely what Nephi Anderson does in his fictional story Added Upon. I would argue, however, that the Part One of Anderson's story is more based in LDS theology and addresses an LDS audience more so than the "mortal realm" we read about in Part two. In fact, the story that Nephi tells in Part One is closely approximated with the scriptures, and thus 'quot[es] out of the best books" as Whitney encourages. Additionally, at one point, when the spirits are ready to come down to "Earth," the angel who is sending them down advises them that it will be "by the power of your spiritual insight and moral strength you will be able to exert a correcting influence over your brothers and sisters in the flesh, and especially over those of your kin." To me this is echoing the Home Literature theme of didacticism in literature.

Home Literature Aspects in Added Upon

When it comes to Home Literature, Orson Whitney talked about how literature was for learning, and some of what fell under the “best books” also included history, poetry, philosophy, etc. Literature must also be original and diverse, and a person should also feel what they write.

Something that Nephi Anderson did in Added Upon was include substantial amounts of poetry (such as Wordsworth). If, for some reason, you stumbled upon the book as a non-member, you would be able to see a familiar names within the poetry. The book was published in 1898, so it was after the early saints had struggled with a lot of moving from place to place, and were in Utah (however, they were still moving around after that), so that could have influenced Anderson’s writing and “feeling of what he wrote.” He also began the book with the story of the premortal existence, a story, as members of The Church, we are familiar with. People of other Christian faiths would also be able to recognize the event taking place, as the widely-known characters are either presented by name (ex. Lucifer), or easy to pick up on (ex. Father). He kept with the basic storyline, but included characters of his own to make the story more original.

Home Literature, Added Upon

The whole purpose of Home Literature, as I understood it, is to have another outlet of literature for Latter Day Saints that isn't the Bible or The Book of Mormon and still have it be spiritually uplifting. It is important for members of the church to seek "the best books" all over the place, and not just within their own scriptural cannon. There are so many ways to learn and so many things to learn from, that it would be foolish to only stick to what we are already familiar with. The basis of our attempt to learn according to Whitney, "means history, poetry, philosophy, art and science, languages, government--all truth in fact, wherever found." This can include stories, fiction or non-fiction, that are not explicitly didactic in their form and can be about a wide variety of topics, yet are filled with meaning and help us learn and grow 

Nephi Anderson accomplishes this in Added Upon by sticking to a familiar principle in the plan of salvation, that many people within the LDS church and identify with. Pre and Post-mortal life, however, is a subject that is widely thought about and discussed among people of many religions. Giving names and dialogue to people up in heaven as they discuss which plan is best and what earthly life is like for them is an effective tool in presenting choices that the audience can connect with the choices of the characters and think about in a way that will motivate them to think in a more spiritual way.

Kendal's Personal Essay Ideas

As I think about what I might write my personal essay about, I find myself thinking about the moments that have shaped me as an individual. I have found that every time I go about writing about myself I go to a specific part of my life, my mission. I can vividly remember a lot of moments and events and here are some of my brainstorming ideas:

• My experience about having a big role in the conversion of a stranger to the LDS faith. This was influential to me because this person died of liver cancer and I was there through it all. She taught me things that I could have never learned without that experience.
• Something unique for me is that I am a professional photographer. I live a very different lifestyle in that I do not have a day job and my main focus is on this art form. The cultures and people I have come into contact with are not who I normally associate with, but with my talent and job, I have had very different experiences.
• Lately I have struggled with self esteem issues although I am very confident in myself. I could expand upon that and explore it.
• I could explore and expand upon what it was like living in a surf city.

Henry Morris Personal Essay Ideas

There are a few directions that I feel like would have both a solid amount of content to write an entire personal essay about, and also be interesting enough to read. After just a quick session of brainstorming, this is a small list that I will consider writing about.

·       Being what I would call a “late learner” in the LDS Church, brings its own set of issues I think are unique. Not knowing certain doctrine and/or principles as a young adult and returned missionary create a difficult set or circumstances to develop and grow faith among other who appear, at least on the outside, to have everything figured out.

·       Attending BYU as a member of the church who, at times, has not been fully invested in the gospel has helped me see things through a different lens than if I were 100% active 100% of the time.

·       Switching universities, even within the same state has taught me a lot of lessons about how to cultivate an ideal culture for education and growth that I think people can benefit from. There are a lot of differences and similarities that are important to identify.

·       The combination of secular learning and religious learning in the classroom has been both a positive and negative experience at times. I think it would be interesting to analyze and talk about both types of experiences I have had in my time at BYU.

Dorothy Smith Personal Essay Ideas

A common theme throughout the essays assigned about personal essays is the effort to create a space in the LDS community where one can share their stories and thoughts in a way that will connect to a larger audience. With that in mind, I compiled some of my experiences as an LDS member that have resonated with me and connect to the bigger picture. 

• Unexpectedly returning home from my mission earlier than anticipated and navigating unfamiliar cultural standards about coming home earlier than expected. 
• Deciding to return to the mission field, getting a new mission call and repeating the process for going on a mission a second time. 
• How I have learned to proceed when some of my political perspectives do not align with the Church. 
• What I have learned, and want other modern LDS women to know about creating a space of her own within a Church that is predominantly patriarchal. 
• How has my writing style been impacted by the LDS literature I grew up reading.

The Prodigal Bucket: Kemp's Fictional Parable

Kenny Kemp takes a fresh look at Jesus' inspiration for his famous parable about the Prodigal Son in The Welcoming Door. Taking one page of the Bible and turning it into 74, he creates the rich, colorful story behind Jesus the carpenter mending a broken family's door.

I was intrigued by Kemp's simple word choice. The simple, straightforward language may come off as youth-oriented, but the content suggests that this tackles mature themes. Rather than appealing to a younger audience, I think Kemp attempts to imitate the simple language of a parable.
Additionally, I enjoyed his use of irony for dramatic and comedic effect. When Reuben the Prodigal is knocking on impassive doors, begging for money and protection, Jesus is constructing a unconventional door, built to welcome rather than deny. When Reuben finally makes it to the "door yard". Jesus talks to the fattened calf about how some hellos are goodbyes, and leaves. Kemp wants to remind the reader that Jesus was Jewish, and with his power with words comes the power of humor. The parable becomes more tangible.

Overall, not very surprising content-wise, but it was never supposed to be. Kemp uses his artistic privilege to make the story more grounded.

Marcus' Personal Essay: In Due Time

In Due Time (a possible title for my personal essay): Being comfortable with my own timeline and not worrying about social pressures of the “standard” timeline for life occurrences. 

-      Construct a basic understanding that there are social pressures at BYU and within the Church of Jesus Christ that cause young adults to fear “falling behind”. There is no such thing.

-      Certain points that were considered “late”: being comfortable with myself, going less active and becoming associated with the gospel, progression within the mission, starting my undergrad as a transfer student, joining athletics, dating, etc.

-      There are specific details about ones lives that cause them to take paths that stray from the expected – this isn’t wrong, but a path of understanding oneself and their potential.

-      Explain what “in due time” means under a worldly definition as well as an eternal definition. There is a big difference between what we see on this earth and what we try to accomplish in the time given, compared to the time we have to prepare in the eternities. 

-      Being able to adjust your timeline based on experiences as well as understanding your relationship with God and the paths he has opened for each of us.

Katy's Feminist Analysis of The Welcoming Door

Speculation is one of the key attributes of Christian literature. Kenny Kemp uses his imagination quite a bit in his reconstruction of the Prodigal Son story in the book The Welcoming Door. Kemp uses a broad Christian genre to tell his story, rather than addressing simply an LDS audience. Themes that run throughout the story are: patriarchy, love, religion, pride, and humility, but all from a very male perspective. There is little to no focus on female emotion and influence, with the two female characters mentioned being a prostitute and a pregnant woman. The reduction of the female role to the whore/angel binary is problematic and found within much Christian literature. One could argue that by including female characters in a story where none are traditionally found, Kemp is being progressive. However, the words he uses to describe the women in his story are mostly based on sexuality and physical beauty, or their subordination to the will of the patriarch. Rachel is described by both Reuben and Simeon as "beautiful," and is raised up as an example of female domesticity. Rahab is also portrayed as "beautiful," with her golden eyelids, but there is an inherent mistrust that Reuben feels towards her. He views her as an object to help him in his transition from "country boy to worldly man" and nothing more (22). Both women exist primarily to reaffirm the manhood of their counterparts, and are not given any characterization outside of their relationships to the two men.