The Escape From Unattainable Perfection

The LDS culture has a fascination with stories of those who have come before them. We thrive on reading the triumphs of past pioneers, prophets, etc. These stories can bring us hope and courage for what is to come. However, these stories can also bring impossible ideas of what perfection is and how we each are so incapable to attain it. We, as LDS people, have an unreachable standard of perfection in part because of these non-fiction tales of overcoming the darkest odds.

Non-fiction stories are more often than not focused on the successes and not the trials that led to the success. Questions and doubts that stood in the mind of the people working through the issues presented in the stories are not addressed. That is why LDS fiction is such a wonderful tool in our culture.

LDS fiction gives the freedom to discuss the trials that all normal Latter-day Saints face. In these books we can read about and learn through characters that are often questioning things that many members have questioned in their lifetime. The issues that are generally skirted around can be brought up and discussed because the doubts are not pinned to a real person. There is no guilt pressed upon someone who admits to having faults. We can all feel comfortable reading about an artificially created character because we won’t look at them differently after knowing their faults. They aren’t real to us, so in turn their faults aren’t real either.

Reading LDS fiction can bring new strength to each of us. After reading pieces of LDS fiction we can each continue on with a greater amount of confidence in ourselves because we realize that we are not the only ones to go through this. 

The Universal Dream

 

Photo from: my.englishclub.com

Every child has a dream. To become something great, something that is marveled at; that is the universal dream. There is something deep within us that inspires us from birth to want to become something special. A fireman, astronaut, professional musician. The list goes on and on.

Photo from: kidsdreamspot.com

There is one thing in common with these dreams: virtuosity. Becoming something above and beyond the average person. To become so skilled and fluent in one thing that you shine above the rest.

 A main theme in the book, Added Upon by Nephi Anderson, is virtuosic excellence, although not in the way we normally view it.

It came in the criticism of Sardus’ love of music. His friend Homan tells him, “I think there is danger in it. Some I know who neglect every other duty except the cultivation of a certain gift.”

At first, this makes no sense. How could working towards that childhood dream, that universal goal, be so terrible? But Homan continues.
Homan explains, “I think we ought to grow into a perfectly rounded character, cultivating all of Father’s gifts to us, but not permitting any of them to become an object of worship.”

Delsa affirms Homan’s stance, saying, “It is well enough to excel at one thing, but that should not endanger our harmonious development.”

Photo from: questforgod.org

And here we find a continuous theme throughout the book. The author expands our view of excellence and that dream that we were all born with.

Orson F. Whitney exhorts all in his talk, Home Literature, to rise up in our own sphere and to be like Shakespeare, Goethe, and Carlyle.  He says of them, “[they brought] rich treasures of inspired thought and intelligent research into the lap of humanity, giving birth to civilization and filling earth with fame and glory.”

He shows us that it is not enough to improve one aspect of our lives. No, we should be striving toward a much higher goal. In the eternal scope that the novel, Added Upon, places us in, the goal becomes excellence in more than just one aspect of our lives.

 The goal becomes excellence in every aspect of our lives.