Laying the Foundation

       "Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning even by study, and also by faith" is the key theme of our mortal education. In Orson Whitney’s Home Literature, he says we are to seek to cultivate and grow our literary culture so we may “have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own.” But he did recognize the rough start to build the foundation of this people’s literary culture.  

    

      The early works in the LDS literature, like Added Upon by Nephi Anderson, were “the rough, strong stones” on which the future generations would build upon. Nephi Anderson tried his best to bring the Plan of Salvation in a story-friendly way to appeal to all readers alike. The characters of Signe, Rupert, Henrik, Rachel, etc., makes you want to get to know them, and become emotionally attached to them, but the story comes up short to the reader’s emotional expectations. The reader is left wanting more details and closure with the story arcs of these characters, but this really wasn’t the purpose of this novel. 

       

     While it comes off as didactic and not a well put together story, the main purpose was to expose the reader to the bigger picture of life, the purpose of life. This rough, early piece of LDS literature paved forth the foundation for how this literary culture would flourish. Early works like Added Upon were used as a sure foundation so “the great Architect would rear the superstructure of the future; that the youth of Israel, their offspring, would be inspired to build upon the foundations of the fathers.”