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John Lyon, an early Scottish Mormon writer.

Mormon literature is generally considered to have begun with the March 1830 publication of the Book of Mormon.[1][2] It has since grown to include LDS Poetry, LDS fiction, LDS scripture, LDS hymns, works by various LDS historians, biography, drama, and other forms.

Early Mormon Literature, 1830-1930[edit]

The Book of Mormon, published 1830, was the first major publication in Mormon literature.[1][2] Within the following 100 years, a variety of works were written, most of which are currently in the public domain in the United States[3] and many of which are available online. During this period, much LDS literature was directed towards missionary work; many important works were written as missionary pamphlets, which could be published in large numbers inexpensively, in preference to expensive full-length books. Eugene England writes that during a "Foundations" period from 1830-1880 there was "an initial outpouring ... of largely unsophisticated writing, expressive of the new converts' dramatic symbolic as well as literal journeys to Zion and their fierce rejection of Babylon, and often intended to meet the immediate and practical needs of the church for hymns, sermons, and tracts."[1] In the following fifty years (the "Home Literature" period), didactic fiction and poetry became increasingly common[4] and "Mormon theological and historical writing, especially in James E. Talmage and B. H. Roberts, [were refined] into excellent and lasting forms."[1]

Works published during this period include:

Year Title Author Availability Description
1830 The Book of Mormon Joseph Smith E-book The foundational scripture of Mormonism
1842 The Wentworth Letter Joseph Smith E-book An early summary of LDS beliefs
1844 General Smith's Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States Joseph Smith E-book A political pamphlet from Joseph Smith's presidential campaign
1837 A Voice of Warning Parley P. Pratt E-book Considered the most important missionary pamphlet of the first century of the Church
1855 Key to the Science of Theology Parley P. Pratt E-book Parley P. Pratt's greatest theological pamphlet
1873 The Autobiography of Parley Parker Pratt Parley P. Pratt E-book Recounts his involvement in much of early Church history
1840 An Interesting Account of Several Remarkable Visions Orson Pratt E-book The earliest published account of Joseph Smith's First Vision
1849 Absurdities of Immaterialism Orson Pratt E-book A pamphlet defending philosophical materialism as preached by Joseph Smith
1882 An Examination into and an Elucidation of the Great Principle of the Mediation and Atonement of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ John Taylor E-book A compilation of relevant scriptures interspersed with Taylor's commentary
1903 The Mormon Doctrine of Deity B. H. Roberts E-book
1892 The Life of John Taylor B. H. Roberts E-book
1912 The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries, Ancient and Modern James E. Talmage E-book Audiobook
1922 Essentials in Church History Joseph Fielding Smith E-book
1921 William Clayton's Journal William Clayton E-book
1882 My first mission George Q. Cannon E-book
1874 The Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt Parley P. Pratt E-book
1852 The Government of God John Taylor E-book
1915 A Rational Theology John A. Widtsoe E-book
1889 A Young Folks’ History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Nephi Anderson E-book
1898 Added Upon Nephi Anderson E-book
1902 Corianton: A Nephite story B. H. Roberts E-book
1921 Dorian Nephi Anderson E-book
1914 Elias: an epic of the ages Orson F. Whitney E-book
1915 Jesus the Christ James E. Talmage E-book
1908 Joseph Smith as Scientist John A. Widtsoe E-book
1908 Joseph Smith the Prophet-teacher B. H. Roberts E-book
1913 Story of Chester Lawrence Nephi Anderson E-book
1894 Succession in the Presidency B. H. Roberts E-book
1901 The Articles of Faith James E. Talmage E-book
1909 The Great Apostasy James E. Talmage E-book
1888 The Life of Heber C. Kimball Orson F. Whitney E-book
1919 The Mormon Battalion B. H. Roberts E-book
1905 The Mormons and the Theatre John S. Lindsay E-book
1914 The Story of "Mormonism" and The Philosophy of "Mormonism" James E. Talmage E-book
1889 Hephzibah Emmeline B. Wells E-book
1881 The Plan of Salvation John Morgan Scans
1892 The Bible and Polygamy Orson Pratt Scans
1882 Compendium of the Doctrines of the Gospel Franklin D. Richards, James A. Little Scans
1917 The strength of the "Mormon" position Orson F. Whitney Scans
1895 New Witnesses for God Volume II B. H. Roberts Scans
1888 The Gospel: An Exposition of Its First Principles B. H. Roberts Scans
1919 The Vitality of Mormonism: Brief Essays James E. Talmage Scans
1917 The Vitality of Mormonism: An Address James E. Talmage Scans
1881 Items on the Priesthood John Taylor Scans
1848 Divine Authority or the Question, Was Joseph Smith Sent of God? Orson Pratt Scans
1904 Rays of Living Light (12 pamphlets) Charles W. Penrose Scans
1884 Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow Eliza R. Snow Scans
1907 Defense of the Faith and the Saints (2 vols.) B. H. Roberts
1919 Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith, Ed. John A. Widtsoe Scans
1902 Cowley's Talks on Doctrine Matthias F. Cowley Scans
1909 Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life Matthias F. Cowley Scans
1909 New Witnesses for God (3 vols.) B. H. Roberts Scans
1903 History of the Church (7 vols.) B. H. Roberts
1890 Forty Years Among the Indians Daniel Webster Jones Scans
1835 Lectures on Faith Joseph Smith
1882 Leaves From My Journal Wilford Woodruff Scans
1848 Spencer's Letters Orson Spencer Scans
1902 History of Joseph Smith by his Mother Lucy Mack Smith Scans

Second Century Mormon Literature, 1930-Present[edit]

Main articles: LDS fiction, LDS poetry, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymns

The increasing volume of Mormon literature during this period includes the work of writers as diverse as Hugh Nibley, Orson Scott Card, and Bruce R. McConkie. Many writers in the "Lost Generation" period, 1930-1970, gained national recognition for their work while rejecting or criticizing much of the Mormon experience. During the "Faithful Realism" period, 1960-present, Mormon literature expanded dramatically as many writers struck various balances between faith, academic endeavor, and commercial success (both within expanding Mormon markets and nationally).[1]

This period also witnessed the rise of Mormon periodicals such as Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and the Journal of Mormon History.

Organizations and Awards[edit]

Various groups have worked to make early Mormon literature available. The Joseph Smith Papers Project, a major academic initiative, has digitized many early documents related to Joseph Smith, including manuscripts, pamphlets, and books written by or about him.[5] The Mormon Texts Project, a distributed volunteer effort, works to make early Mormon literature available on Project Gutenberg.[6]

The Association for Mormon Letters (AML) has promoted quality writing "by, for, and about Mormons"[7] since 1976 and has issued the AML Awards annually since 1977. The Whitney Awards have also recognized achievement in Mormon Literature since 2007.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e England, Eugene. "Mormon Literature: Progress and Prospects" in David J. Whittaker, ed., Mormon Americana: A Guide to Sources and Collections in the United States. (Provo, Utah: BYU Studies, 1995)
  2. ^ a b http://mldb.byu.edu/mulder.htm
  3. ^ http://bencrowder.net/blog/2011/01/inside-the-mormon-texts-project/
  4. ^ http://www.motleyvision.org/2010/mormon-publishing-home-literature/
  5. ^ http://josephsmithpapers.org/
  6. ^ http://mormontextsproject.org/
  7. ^ "Passionate about Mormon Fiction, Drama, and Film? Discover the Association for Mormon Letters" by Gae Lyn Henderson

External links[edit]

Literature

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