Nephi Anderson's book "Added Upon" provides a look into the possibilities and experiences regarding the Plan of Salvation. Anderson uses four spiritual settings in his book: the pre-existence, mortal life, the spirit world and the millennium. In the pre-existence, the readers are introduced to multiple characters, specifically Homan and Delsa, who currently experience the great battle of Heaven. Lucifer, the Son of Morning, offers his plan of personal glory while Christ offers a plan of redemption and all glory be to God. These characters discuss both plans for mortal life, deciding to align themselves with the plan. Anderson language in this section sounds quite scriptural meaning that his use of actual scripture and his explanation/description of the Plan of Salvation and Pre-Existence blend together. Though only presenting an imagined view of the pre-mortal world, Anderson language makes this world believable.
In the mortal world, the readers are introduced to the characters of Rupert, Signe, Rachel, Marie and Henrik. These characters all experience conversions to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though converted in different ways and by different aspects of the Gospel, each character's conversion happens quite quickly. Considering Anderson's timeline, spanning from pre-existence to the millennium, perhaps the details of the conversion were not as pertinent as the happening of the conversion. The language in the mortal life is interesting as well. Whereas the language describing the pre-existence was more formal and scripture-like, the language in the mortal-life is more informal and reads more like a story. By the end of the mortal section, every one has married (except Rachel) and passed away having lived a fulfilling and prosperous life with a bright and pleasing ending that reads "Peace and prosperity came to the people of this story. As years were added to years, their good works increased, until the Lord said to each of them, Enough. Then in their own time and place, they passed into the Paradise of God."
The final two sections include Anderson's speculation of the Spirit World and the Millennium. Anderson goes into much more detail especially in regards to the Millennium. On a purely subjective opinion note, I found the section regarding the Millennium a little over my head. The scenes involving the King of Poland I found confusing and a little out of place. The ending involved the characters being reunited with friends and family in Zion which was a nice conclusion but I could have done without the section about the Millennium. The depiction of the Spirit World was similar to other depictions I have read and was not too over the top yet I was confused by the marriage of Rachel and David and how their temple work came about.
Overall, Nephi Anderson provides an interesting, to say the least, account of multiple character's experience with the different stages of the Plan of Salvation and definitely delves deep into the possible settings of each stage.
I also found the King of Poland section confusing. It was hard to handle a new character as the main character of a section so late in the story. Though it does make me wonder what point Anderson was trying to prove by including what felt like such an "off topic" section.
ReplyDeleteYeah, where the heck did the King of Poland come from? Thinking about Hillary's comment though, I wonder if maybe Anderson wanted to prove that even earthly rulers will come to accept the plan of salvation. Maybe it was a way to sort of provide validity to his novel? Regardless, the whole Millennium section was pretty confusing and seemed off topic.
ReplyDeleteI actually found the Millenium section really interesting because we really don't hear that much about it at church. It was cool to get a possible description of what it will be like. I agree with what Megan said about he reasons he King of Poland stuff was in there--I know the Bible specifically mentions rulers of the earth becoming converted during the Millenium.
ReplyDelete