Light and Darkness

In Orson Whitney’s speech “Home Literature”, one of the topics he teaches is the importance of truth. He says that no matter where and who creates finds it, truth is truth.  God, or more specifically the Holy Ghost, inspires truth. In the history of the human race God has inspired men and woman to share truth with others through literature, music, oral tradition and other mediums.

What happens though, when there is so much truth in a book but it also has its flaws? Do we love it and revere it? Do we take the good without the bad? Can we truly understand the truthful part without the other part?

In Nephi Anderson’s Added Upon, as readers, we must make this distinction. This book is full of great imagery and excels in its ability to transport a reader to the premortal realm.  Anderson sheds light on what it may have been like to fight Lucifer in the battle of the minds.  The truth is that the children of God are mighty and fully capable beating evil.  In this life we are really in a battle of the minds.

In a world where the Adversary fights so hard for our souls, it is comforting that there are people who listen to the Spirit. I believe it is a way that the Lord is fighting against Satan and a way that the Lord intends to bring many souls back to Him.

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Book of Mormon)

I believe that there are many seeds of truth in the book Added Upon but we must be careful so that we do not accept everything. In short, take the light and leave the darkness!

The Plan of Salvation and "Added Upon"

In Nephi Anderson’s “Added Upon”, I thought that it was very interesting how the plot developed.  I think Anderson accomplished what Orson F. Whitney wanted regarding the church and how literature would take part in it.

In the speech called “Home Literature” by Orson F. Whitney, Whitney mentions the scripture “If ye are Abraham’s children, ye will do the works of Abraham.”  Whitney also states “It is by means of literature that much of this great work will have to be accomplished: a literature of power and purity, worth of such a work.”  So, according to Whitney, the “works of Abraham”, or the works of salvation, are to be done through literature.

In Anderson’s “Added Upon”, as Anderson would have characters in the book speak, he would sometimes have the characters give doctrine, often by having them go on for paragraphs at a time, something that probably wouldn’t happen in a real conversation.  However unrealistic this may have been, I believe Anderson did a great job of keeping the dialogue simple, moving the story along fairly quickly, and sharing the entire Plan of Salvation without losing the interest of the reader.

By doing this, I believe that Anderson helped accomplish what Orson F. Whitney was talking about – the “works of Abraham” or the works of salvation.  I think that reading “Added Upon” is a refreshing take on the well-established Plan of Salvation.  By being refreshing, “Added Upon” can help create new interest in the Plan of Salvation that might be lacking as a result of always seeing the Plan of Salvation in the same way (through scripture, Sunday school, etc.).  This can help someone stay focused on studying the Plan of Salvation, whereas he or she might not be inclined to study it or focus on it nearly as much.

The Genius of Mormon literature

Can we truly lock down the concept of what “Mormon” literature should consist of? I believe it is true that pending the style, genre, format and purpose behind the writing our perception of the Mormon culture and doctrinal concepts can be heavily influenced. 

In a marvelous speech given by Orson F. Whiney titled “Home Literature” he taught this principle as he encouraged members of the church to become involved with sharing the gospel through literature. 

“Experience has taught me that it is the heart. not simply the head, we must appeal to, if we wish to stir the soul. The intellect may shine, but it is the bosom that burns, and warms into life every movement that is born to bless humanity. l, therefore, speak to your hearts, and I would rather say three words by the power of the Holy Ghost than lecture here for three hours on the fables of Greece and Rome.” 

Mormon literary pioneer, author Nephi Anderson gives his attempt to provide a look into the gospel through his 1898 novel “Added Upon”.  The foundation of this novel is based up the church doctrine regarding the Plan of Salvation. This doctrine is already criticized and questioned due to differences from main stream christian beliefs. 

From the pre-earth life experience to the millennium and exaltation, we can see how the lives of the characters are impacted and blessed through the simple blessings of the gospel. While the doctrine at times in inaccurate, for those that know little of the mormon faith they can at the very least feel the joy and happiness that come from the knowledge of our heavenly fathers plan and how his timing is what matters. We just have to go forth in faith. 

Whitney reminds us that “Above all things, we must be original. The Holy Ghost is the genius of "Mormon" literature.” despite misleading doctrines taught in the novel, Anderson has captured a portion of the genius and allowed us to feel the blessings of the fathers plan through “Added Upon” 

A Journey of Souls

“…And they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever”

Added Upon is an LDS fiction book that brings love to its purest. From pre-existence, through mortality, and into the spirit world beyond this life, Nephi Anderson tell us a sweet story depicting how life did not start here in mortality, and neither will end in this world. The plan of salvation shows how this mortal life is just a small part in a journey of souls, in which we are all immersed but only some of us will come to the next state. Nevertheless, just an eternal perspective could give us like Anderson said “…an opportunity for every deserving soul ” to achieve the highest estate, and live with the ones we love the most.

It is amazing to simple think that those we love on earth were also an important part of our lives in the pre-mortal existence. Just like Delsa and Homan were joined together in a very inspiring journey, we have the same opportunity to enjoy earthly experiences next to those whom we met before this life.

Specifically, I really like the literary way Anderson describes the feeling of love between Delsa and Homan:

“True love had awakened in two hearts. Through all the shifting scenes of earth-life, nothing like this had ever come to this mand and this woman. Love had waited all this time. The power that draws kindred souls together is not limited to the few years of earth-life".

Find someone to share the journey, a soul that understands you like no other, and loves you like no other, find someone that makes you feel that it was worth the wait.