Fall 1980
The Fall 1980 Issue centers on Virginia Sorensen, her writing, and themes of belief within Mormonism. Mary L. Bradford introduces Sorensen, followed by an interview where Sorensen reflects on her life as a writer. Bruce W. Jorgensen analyzes her novel The Evening and The Morning, exploring its portrayal of Mormon beliefs. Richard Sherlock reviews the Roberts/Smith/Talmage theological debates, while Howard J. Booth discusses evolving ideas in Restoration thought. Edward A. Geary shares a personal essay, and poets Steven Graves and Robert A. Rees reflect on spiritual themes. Mary L. Bradford and others contribute reflections on gathering at the sacred "grove" with historical insights from Leonard J. Arrington on Mormonism's New York roots.
Mormon readers are rediscovering Virginia Sorensen. In her person and in her work, she combines many of the traits so often associated with Mormonism: a handcart pioneer heritage, a Danish, old world charm, a seeking…
What do the phrases “Mormon novel” and “Mormon novelist” mean? Maybe in the first place we are incautious not to separate novel from novelist. Suppose a “Mormon novelist” in a quite strenuous sense: nominally and actively Mormon, a baptized member who accepts Mormon scripture as canonical…
In the mid-1920s B. H. Roberts, General Authority and President of the Eastern States Mission, began preliminary work on a book-length manuscript. By this time Roberts had already written extensively on church history and some…
Both of the above statements are clearly affirmations of faith, strong declarations of belief in the Restoration movement, each evolving out of presuppositions about the fundamental truth of the message delivered. Each statement, though the former probably more so than the latter, is representative; that is, numbers of Saints have shared the stated convictions. In both cases, the intention appears to be the same, to identify the church of the latter days in relation to other church organizations of its time.
Driving slowly past the house she knew that her resentment was unreasonable. The new owners had every right to change it; if she had felt so strongly, why had she let it go? But how…
I have visited this spot before—in my youth, in art, in my thoughts—so often that it has become cliche. The grove, a ripe symbol extending back through time and myth, has become too ripe in…
That the handful of early Mormon converts decided to migrate from New York only nine months after their church was organized has led some scholars to suppose that the basic influence on Latter-day Saint doctrines…
Old Bishop Leonard used to insist that the Spirit World was right here on earth and the dead were never far from home. He was not really the bishop anymore, but the title was for…
Nothing is omitted. Whatever
is evident in our synoptic vantage
collects: The audience is added row
He saw something that morning
deep among the delicate leaves
burning against the Eastern sky
Thirteen years ago a heavily publicized and startling book called The Passover Plot, by Dr. Hugh J. Schonfield, daringly asserted that Jesus Christ planned his own arrest, crucifixion and resurrection; that he had beforehand arranged…
This is a Festschrift of four lectures given by Jacob Neusner at Brigham Young University in 1977: “The Glory of God is Intelligence: A Theology of Torah-learning in Judaism,” “Cultic Piety and Pharisaism Before 70,”…
The scene was just past the gate at summer’s end. The pine trees brushed against the two-story mountain house. The poet’s study, all windows, looked out over a luxuriant mountain range, yellow and purple with…
