Final Reactions

I had the opportunity to try to connect with a few people and share my essay with them. I tried to share my essay with my former mission president, my grandpa, friend from home, a convert in my mission, my aunt and my roommate who was a missionary with me.

I emailed my Mission President asking him to read my essay. I know he checks his email regularly and that would probably be the best way to contact him while still letting him take care of his responsibilities as a Mission President. His phone is constantly ringing so calling him didn't seem like such a great idea. He is yet to respond to my email, I am not terribly surprised due to all he has going on.

When I was at my grandparents I asked my Grandpa to read my essay. He was fun to watch as he handled the computer. I had to scroll down for him to continue reading. I found that sharing in person was really the most effective. I shared in person my essay with my roommate and former mission friend. Sharing in person just allowed me to make sure that I knew they read it and then it provided an opportunity for more discussion.

On Facebook I tried to contact and share with my aunt and also a convert from my mission. It went well sharing with the convert. She is fairly regular on Facebook, my aunt is not as regular but is occasionally on their. I am surprised she has not responded.

I got brave and tried to share my essay with my friend through instagram by sending him a picture of our blog post and adding a link to the blog. It notified me that he had looked at the instagram post, but he never responded to me about reading or not reading my essay even though I asked him to. I am not surprised that Instagram was less than productive.

What I have learned front his process is that you have to really know your audience when trying to share with people your essay. If I wanted my grandpa to read it I have to do it in person. Social media and electronic ways are not productive to reach him. Same with others, its important to know who uses what media the most then go that route. The other thing was maybe people need more time for some follow up. We only had a week of follow up. That can be plenty of time but having more time could tell us more about what is productive and what isn't.

From those that read my essay, I feel I received the classic comments of "Great job." "that was fantastic" you know the nice friendly comments. It was a good experience sharing though.

Essay Drafting

Over the course of the semester, our class worked on a personal essay project that taught us how to embrace our identity as Mormon writers while remaining true to our literary roots. We went through multiple drafts, striving to develop focus on topics and moments in our lives that would be engaging to readers while also incorporating connections to the Book of Mormon. This was a difficult process that had frustrations as we tried to find balance and triumphs as we shared our stories and learned just how powerful opening up in a literary way can be.

To help you (future ENGL 268 writers, English Department faculty, friends and family, random internet trolls) understand how we got to this point, we've compiled a record on our experience with developing solid personal essays.

Elder Christofferson Speaks to our Self Responsibility

Elder Christofferson has given thirteen talks since being called to the Quorum of the Twelve apostles in 2008, and of those thirteen, eight present his main topics of the atonement and our personal responsibility to be the best we can. Born Again -April 2008, Moral Discipline -Oct 2009, Reflections on a Consecrated Life -Oct 2010, “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten” -April 2011, The Doctrine of Christ  -April 2012, Brethren, We Have Work to Do -Oct 2012,  Redemption -April 2013, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ -April 2014. For my analysis I briefly reviewed through his previous talks while dissecting his most recent talk in Oct 2014 titled Free Forever, to Act for Themselves

Elder Christofferson spoke after the first General Conference address given in the speakers native tongue, by Elder Wong in Cantonese. Fluent in spanish, Elder Christofferson began with a phrase in spanish. This is to no surprise recognizing that he served his young mission to Argentina and has served as President of the Mexico South Area residing in Mexico City. 

He proceeded to share his main idea by quoting from William Shakespeares play “Life of King Henry the 5th”. He illustrates from this play that we all need to take personal responsibility. Going back to the history of his talks he emphasizes that the Atonement of Christ is their for our aide, but in other talks he stresses that it is only there if we repent and do what we need to on our end.  By opening his talk with a spanish phrase then moving into examples from Shakespeare it created an ethos of his intelligence and intellect. 

Tone and voice make Elder Christofferson an interesting speaker to listen to. While he quotes form various sources in his talks, you may wonder how original he is in his material. Where is the brilliance and genius? Yet, his tone and voice convey a  sense of intelligence and brilliance. When I hear him speak I personally feel intelligent and able to comprehend simple and complex things. His comparisons coupled with his voice take what was once simple turning it into a complex and deep thought urging you to further ponder and contemplate the main idea. 

Interactive Narrating

We don’t see a lot of spoken word in its truest sense. Only in a few instances do we have literal communicated dialogue. 

Pg 554 We have Ammaron’s commission to Mormon as a young boy.

“I percieve that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe, therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto he Lord a ll the sacred engravings concerning this people. And behold, ye shall take the Plates of nephi unto yourself, and the remainder shall ye leave in the place where they are and ye shall engrave on the Plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed concerning this people.”

Detailed Dialogue from Ammaron provides us with specific knowledge of what Mormons quest and purpose is to be. From here on though we don’t get great interaction from the characters to their peers. 

Other Dialogue mainly consists of words from God himself. As the people have become wicked God gives this instruction “Cry unto this people. Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared.”

Aside from these examples it is hard to draw a true sermon from Mormon. He spends much of his time as a very involved and detailed narrator as to the things that have happened. In a sense he is speaking to the future generations about avoiding the same downfall as his people. But again it isn’t true spoken word. Even his lamentation at the end gives the perception of being towards specific people but its recorded in more of a historical account rather then an actual speech. 

Best Lesson Is a Conversation

“Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments” A speech given by now Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1988, then acting as President of Brigham Young University,  is a plea and cry for to students to find it within themselves to stay pure in all forms of sexuality. Elder Holland is known for his eloquence and vibrant ability to show an increase in love towards you as he lovingly rebukes and belittles you for the sins that grasp us each day. 

He brings the essence of a great coach that as he has mentioned before in conference talks is to get in your face a little and singe your eyebrows. Yet at the same time showing a sense of faith in us that we can overcome our daily struggles and short comings. 

Elder Holland makes it a point in this speech to teach us the “why” behind being sexually pure and not the specific dos and don’ts  of church doctrine. He presents through his speaking a personal desire within each of us to be better. He acknowledges the fact that we are human beings and we fall short. He expresses his understanding of where we may be currently in regards to his current subject matter.  

His ability to allow you to feel as if he is speaking to you directly is truly an art and gift. As if you were sitting face to face with him in a personal interview. Scared out of your mind because of the intensity and passion he posses, and knowing that its all because he sincerely wants you to be successful. Some how and someway he finds a way to have a conversation with you. Its far from the feeling of being lectured to. Rather he involves you into feeling that you are apart of something bigger. 

Elder Holland may appear to be speaking and giving a lecture, but he has master the ability to do so and simultaneously help us feel we are apart of a great conversation. 

Mormon's Marathon

Choosing to focus on the timeline and setting  compromising pages 554-568 in The Book of Mormon: A Readers Edition its easy to feel like details are missing. Because Mormon keeps the detail of his historical history at a distance I will keep this analysis from a distance as well. In a matter of 14 pages we cover 64 years of history. It's impressive that by only giving a surface level of detail and insight to the 64 years of trial, wars and heartache as a reader I still feel so involved. 

The timeframe covered from one page carried but, let me provide you with the length of time between each page. Begging at page 554 we have 5 years, 1 year, 4 years, 2, year,  4 years,10 years, 2, years, 1 year, 8 years, 4 years, and then 4 years from page 563-564. And often times these years take place from one sentence to another. 

It is not until the last 4-5 pages that you are brought into detail of Mormon and his account of the last battles that are being prepared for between the Nephites and the Lamanites. Over the course of the rest of the reading however you are just given a sample of information as to why there is conflict between the two parties. Without the clear mention of the time laps it would be very easy to combine all the events into a much shorter period such as a few months or even just a year or two. You could easily miss the fact this was a slow process of war and contention taking 64 years of time. 

Impressive amongst the time laps that quickly occurs is the flow and continuity with which the author has complied the information. 

The First Visitation

There I sat on the couch of the Washington Kennewick Mission home. Before me sat my parents for the next two years. President and Sister Greer, my mission President and his sweet wife. I had only known them for a few hours at the most. In this short time of being within President Greers presence you just new he was a man with a great gift. I wasn’t sure what it was, but within a matter of minutes I had found out.

His ability to bring to life the scriptures and their teachings was something Elder Holland would even appreciate. I was about to be taught a lesson I thought I was prepared to teach as a new missionary. The first vision as I previously had known it. 

President Greer shared with us the first vision as told by Joseph Smith. “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me….. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing o the other- This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!”

I had heard this a million times. Then President Greer asked if what Joseph describes was really a vision. I was taken back, what else could it have been. Ya he saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ. It was a vision… I thought. 

President Greer took us deeper into Josephs words. “I SAW a pillar of light…. I SAW two Personages, they SPAKE unto me.” Joseph didn’t just imagine this, he experienced it. He was visited personally. It was a visitation of the Father and Son, not something he just dreamed up. 

That night I was taken deeper into the scriptures and church history. The first vision is now the First Visitation for me. All because of a few words being magnified in a different perspective. 

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” 

Unknown Eyes

From the Magic Tree House series, to the farm with Hank The Cow Dog all the way to the world of sports in magazines and news articles. Harry Potter at one point was an irreplaceable friend I longed to know personally. From all these drastically different genres and styles I have been taken to wonderful places of imagination for a short time, I have felt the excitement and heartbreak that only sports can bring. Yet nothing compares to my personal experience of putting into words the spiritual experiences I cherish. 

I was called to serve for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Washington Kennewick Mission. Each monday during our preparation day for the week we took time to share in our emails home the experiences that were shaping us into the men and women God would have us be. So much was learned from those we taught as they repented and changed their lives to more fully involve the Savior in them.

The task of taking these experiences from my mind to the keyboard was at times difficult, however for the majority it was spiritually enriching. Taking time to slow down and remember the details of events allowed those memories and events of the week to be resurrected within my mind. 

As family and friends sifted through the journey of my week, I hope they could feel the power and witness I felt both in the moment and in writing the email. I believe that when we take time to express our day to day experiences through literature, we gain the ability to see that experience through eyes we didn’t know we possessed.