Jer3miah: Is it the medium, or its proximity

As I’ve reflected on what makes this film series stand out among other LDS Christian literature, I’m beginning to think it’s the medium. For a very long time, LDS members experienced difficult trials. We have record and journals of the early saints, their hardships, difficulties, even deaths. They fought for what they believed in, yet still were expected to exercise peace and love towards their foes. Individuals in the Book of Mormon also killed because God commanded them. Still, the severity of these things perhaps isn’t fully realized through the literature we read. Perhaps, the light in our minds isn’t triggered only because of the medium, but possibly it’s because time and space have distanced us from the past. 

            The film series Jer3miah addresses both these issues. It’s set in the present, at BYU, which many refer to as “The Lord’s University.” However, the film series’ closeness in proximity and time changes the feeling of BYU as a “safe place.”  It shadows things that LDS Christian audiences have read, but demonstrates them on a level that BYU students such as myself can connect. For example, the themes of controversial spiritual promptings, struggles of adoption, the importance of ancestral ties, and the overarching battle between good and evil, trigger a new sense of devotion for LDS members. While some view the secret combinations and supernatural good against supernatural evil as thrilling, this film series strikes a chord with believers, of the validity of the spiritual battle, which rages around us. We cannot see, cannot understand it. As the supernatural power protects Jeremiah from the supernatural evil, as a Judeo-Christian audience, we too strive for protection among the evils that govern this world, viewing Jeremiah’s fictional experience almost more realistic and more relatable than the historical events as recorded in the Book of Mormon and Church History. 

Literature: Creating Commonality and Meaning

It is so important that we, as members of the church, are literary. Literature creates a space of shared meaning and commonality which is important for us in a general context, within our own faith tradition, and within ourselves. Literature allows us to work through our ideas and thoughts and shared them with others. One of the things that was particular impactful for me, was our conversation we had about the relationship between the early church and literature. I loved that we studied different works of literature and that we wanted "our own Miltons." Through this class I feel like I have gained a much greater understanding of the place that literature has in our own faith tradition. 

I first think the literature is important to us, because it helps us connect to others. Currently, I am an English teaching major, but before this I strongly considered teaching math. I loved math and am much better at it then English. Ultimately though I decided to go with English, because I wanted to be able to teach morals and value to my students. In a lot of ways, literature is the religion of the modern world. I feel like literature is a way that we can bridge gaps between us and our brothers and sisters who have different beliefs than ours. I feel like F. Scott Fitzgerald put it best when he said, "That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longer are universal longings, that you're not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong." When I feel those connections that Fitzgerald explained, I am reminded that we all a part of the family of God. 

One example of this that I found in our class was Martine Leavitt's My Book of Life by Angel. This book was woven with threads of LDS thoughts and theology. Like our unique ideas about the fall, our belief in guardian angels, and the belief that God answer's prayers. Yet it connected with people of all faiths and ideologies. It allowed us together to explore hard topics and an ugly issue that exists in our world right now. As we strive to connect with the world around us, I feel like literature is a way we can do it. 

I feel like literature can connect us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ as well. The greatest example of this would be the Book of Mormon, of course, which is the keystone that keeps us all together. However other texts can do that for us as well. In some of my research for my job, I have looked through Exponents magazines (which we looked at in class too) and it was interesting to see how important that those were to them at that time. Women of the church really felt connect through those magazines. I also feel like Darlene Young's Homespun and Angel Feathers is another great example of this. Her poem "Utah Mormon" really resonated with me and in that moment I realized I wasn't alone in the feelings I was feeling. I also think that the Happy Little Secrets play demonstrated a different aspect of this, because it was a safe way for us to work through difficult aspects of our beliefs. 

Continuing this theme that it helps us to connect to each other, I think it also helps us to rethink ideas we already know and believe. The doctrine of the gospel is unchanging, so I feel like are focus is on deepening our understanding of it, instead of widening it. When we are able to work through the cliques in our language and find new analogies and metaphors, we are "all edified together." I really enjoyed Dr. Burton's "Creativity and New media Mormonism" speech, because he did that within his speech and also explained the concept of continually finding awe in the gospel. I think we have an obligation to use literature to explore our own faith and then share that with others. 

Finally, I feel like literature helps us to connect with ourselves. Another impactful moment for me in this class was when Ashley Mae Holiand came to class. She talked about how she tried to just write for herself. Then she talked about how she is writing about her experience with an illness as she is experiencing the illness. It was clear that writing was a way that she processed life and tried to understand the world around her. Then we had that class conversation and activity where we explored the idea that writing can help us process doubts and problems we have. I feel like this class has really helped me to understand that concept and idea. I have an increased desire to write my experiences and share my thoughts and ideas through literary means. 

From this class, I learned that literature really does plays an important part in our faith tradition. We need to have it to connect us to the world around us, to others and to ourselves. My all time favorite quote from this semester was something Darlene Young said. I probably am not going to get it exactly, but she said we write not to get to a destination, but to allow someone to have an experience. The gospel, for me, is all about the experiences that we have in this life. Repentance is a change of perspective, and I think literature helps us to accomplish that. 

Ana's Life-Altering Experience

• Ø  I had been having problems with my heath from the time I was about 11 or 12 years old—I just couldn’t explain what was going on.*
• Ø  When I was 17 years old, I had an ATV accident during a camping trip with family, and ended up running into a tree.
• Ø  My aunt, who was with me at the time, realized something was wrong, and knew I needed to get checked out.
• Ø  I ended up having to go to the hospital after the camping trip, and had to see specialist after specialist, and got tested. Eventually, I came to the hospital in Murray, UT that specialized in the care that I needed.
• Ø  After several tests and surgeries, I realized I would never be “normal” again, but I could try to learn how to live with the changes.
• Ø  Through it all, I was able to recognize how the Lord was working in it, even though there were times I couldn’t always see it—sometimes, I had to look back to see it.
• Ø  I realized that if it weren’t for that accident, I wouldn’t be where I am—it needed to happen—and luckily it happened in the secluded mountains

*Due to the highly sensitive content contained in this post, and the nature of this blog, this has been revised from its original form

Cameron's questions about LDS Literature

How does the journal writings from faithful Latter-day Saint members add to the potential for writing other great pieces of literature? Can we correlate the successes of journalists such as Dorthy Wordsworth and her Grasmere Journal’s with their intent to help William Wordsworth write great poetry, with that of Latter-day Saint journals in creating art and poetry? Or are the two completely different?

How does writing literature enhance our faith in Jesus Christ? As a BYU student, how has taking literature classes enhanced the aims of BYU to promote faith building experiences, intellectual learning, character development and service specifically in comparison with other universities? What are we doing at BYU that’s different?

As a believing Latter-day Saint, where are the limits when it comes to writing fictional LDS material as literature. Are there boundaries when it comes to selecting a specific genre? I think about the Screwtape Lettersthat C.S. Lewis writes or Milton’s Paradise Lost. Surely there is potential for LDS writers to expound on scriptural doctrine in similar ways? Why haven’t people done so? Why wouldn’t it be received as well within the LDS community? 

In the 1880’s, according to Eugene England, LDS leaders stated that no novels should be read during the trek, stating that “the reading of novels [w]as a waste of time and worse, the encouragement of "lies," recommending instead sermons and histories, which dealt in truth and that fiction.” England clarifies that since then, some leaders have started an important movement “to solve the problem by encouraging and creating fiction--and drama, poetry, and essays--that explicitly set out to teach Mormon faith and doctrine.” Are these newly found statements that England uses to contradict pioneer church apostles justified because it lends evidence to the argument that England is trying to convey? In what instances do LDS Church Leaders say that reading fictional LDS novels are encouraged and how do we read them without lending too much confusion of what the General Authorities have taught on doctrine? 

Healed by Writing and The Lord

I have always written, but it wasn't till I dug a little deeper to find my true inner emotions to express that I could understand who I am. With that and the knowledge of my divine nature as a daughter of God that I found myself.

When I served my mission for the Church of Jesus Christ, I literally gave my whole self to the work to the point that I lost myself, but not in a good way. I lost myself in the sense that I suffered in order to help others. Not only did I help others at my expense, but I experienced many traumatic experiences. The experiences left me with emotions that I could not understand and because I could not understand them, I could not explain them to others. Trying to understand, but failing, I eventually gave up on trying to either explain myself to others or explain the emotions I felt to myself in my mind and in my journal. I repressed many intense and destructive emotions along the concourse of the 18 months I was serving. 

Coming home from my mission did not change the way I felt. Because I repressed so many emotions I was constantly and unknowingly anxious and depressed. It took some opening up to be able to understand what exactly I was feeling. After opening up more and more frequently in conversations with close friends, I realized that writing a book about my mission experience was what I needed to do to be healed from all the repressed emotions. I did that. I completed a full book. In the time span of 2 years, I spent countless hours trying to sort out experiences, feelings and emotions in my own mind through writing and communicating with my God. He healed me.

Bonding through Words

I have been a journal writer since I was about eight years old. The content and style has changed over the years, but I have always loved putting my thoughts to paper. One of my favorite things about journal writing though, is when I can review what I have written in the past (and some of it is hilarious)! If I hadn’t written it down, I would’ve never remembered what my 10-year-old self did or thought.

This summer, I had the chance to re-read some of my early childhood journals with a sibling I was never that close to—because of the nature of the journals, I was comfortable having someone else reading them with me—as we read them together, I was able to retrieve memories, and then explain the situations and my experiences to my sibling. It was a great bonding time for both of us. Once we finished one, we had to move on to the next one because we had such a great time together.

Journal writing helps me reflect on my growth from year to year, sometimes day to day. There are times when putting my thoughts on paper helps me think through hard situations until I come up with a solution. I have grown closer to Christ through journal writing as I reflect on various aspects of my life.  

"By My Own Hand": Journaling my Christian Life

Some of my personal journals
next to my father's biography.

My father titled his biography By My Own Hand, echoing Nephi's phrase from the Book of Mormon. The two of us spent many long hours going over drafts of his chapters, giving us many occasions to discuss his long and interesting life. I'll never forget how he came to terms with some pretty tough stuff (a failed first marriage, disappointments in business, betrayal by a partner, etc.) while composing his life story. He recorded so many kind thoughts about others, plus small triumphs and regular joys. His life writing made me proud to be his son.

Dad achieved an honesty, an authenticity, about his life by reflecting upon it and committing it to words. That drive to know the truth, and at the same time to be humble about one's own complicated thoughts and choices -- this is something that characterizes religious seekers, not just authors. It could refer to Joseph Smith, or St. Augustine, or my father -- or me.

By my own hand I write with a fountain pen in journal after journal, at times just chronicling the events of my life and family, and at times sounding the depths of what I believe, facing feelings, or talking to God, or reaching for answers. I really can't divide my religious faith and devotion from the literacy that has been ingrained in me. Journal writing connects me to family, to God, and to my most real self.

Journal writing is integral to the reflective and covenant life to which I am committed to as a Christian. Such personal writing has been for me both joyful and painful, creative and cringe-worthy -- a way of collecting myself and of shedding or shaping thoughts. It is a way to honor the people I love, to preserve the powerful insights I've received, and it is both a refuge and an adventurous mode of repentance.

Essay Assignment: My Literary and Religious Life

Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize my students with blogging, allow them to introduce themselves, and to reflect on how literature and literacy are part of their identities -- particularly as connected to their religious life.

Instructions

• Create and post a miniature personal essay of 300 words or less through which you introduce yourself to others by telling a brief story illustrating some aspect of your own literary experience and its relationship to your faith. (Personal literary experience can include anything that has to do with writing or reading, and need not be connected to religious services, scripture, or LDS-oriented literature or events.) Do not exceed 300 words. Use Word Counter or a similar tool to check.
• Title your post. 
• Include a photo of yourself or a photo that fits the theme of your post. Do not post a general picture; use one of your own or take a new one.
• Use these labels: "posted by Gideon Burton" [insert your own name, of course] and "my literary and religious life" as well as any others that seem appropriate. (If you have trouble finding or using labels, skip it for now.)
• Read and comment on several other students' posts (at least three) 

Examples and Prompts
Read my example post on this blog, "'By My Own Hand': Journaling My Christian Life," or a previous one, "Safe Among the Indians," or look at any of these examples from past students: "Discovering God in Narnia" by Natalie Cherie; "this poetry is sexy" by Danielle Amanda; "My Lifelong Sing-a-Long" by Allyson J; or "The Public Sin that Changed Who I Am" by Tori Fawson.

Here are some prompts to get you thinking about your little essay. One thing to keep in mind with these is what kind of picture you might use to accompany the essay:

• Journal writing / reading
  How has this shaped your spiritual life? (Even when not writing about religious activities or explicitly about Mormon belief)? Has re-reading your own journal, or reading the journal of a relative, been a reflective and spiritual occasion for you? Have you felt a sense of identity with others who are not you but somehow like you?
• Letters
  As you've composed letters or email messages, or as you have received these, how has this been part of your religious or spiritual life? (Again, even if not directly associated with something like letters to/from missionaries, though that's okay)
• Poetry / Creative Writing
  Such writing need not have anything to do with your religious or spiritual life, but it can. Has this been the case with you -- either in reading poetry or composing it?
• Lyrics
  Do you write lyrics, memorize lyrics, share lyrics? Of course the texts written for hymns are a kind of lyrical poetry, but a lot of people are immersed in contemporary music (whether religious or LDS or not) and attach a lot of personal and emotional significance to such lyrics. Has this been the case with you?
• Reading history (personal, family, or church history; history in general; historical fiction).
  History can be pretty dry stuff and far away from your beliefs or spiritual feelings. But sometimes we connect powerfully with the past by way of a written history (or even historical fiction). Has this been the case for you?
• Plays
  In viewing, acting in, or even writing plays, have you felt connected to others (in the audience, in the cast, or even to the characters portrayed in the play)? Ever been involved in a church-sponsored dramatic activity?
• Social Media
  We don't think of this modern form of communication as literature, and much of it is superficial (or isn't even text-based). But if you've been involved in sharing your beliefs, even in very informal ways among your close online connections, this is a kind of literary experience with your religion. If you blog, have you blogged about your religion?

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...