A guest post by Chris McClelland
I am a fiction writer, and have been for over thirty years, and I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2013. I would like to discuss my ideas about my role and ask for your suggestions for moral adult LDS fiction.
I think for any writer striving to create a work of ethical relevance, the beliefs of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Church and our first Latter-day prophet, are significant: “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” But this quote is not just for Mormons; I believe any writer or artist of any kind can learn from this 13th Article of Faith. I often ask myself if my fiction writing is virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy, and if the answer is no, I know I have some work to do.
Many of us Mormon fiction writers use this particular quote for guidance in our work, as well as the doctrines of the Church, but wrongly assume that this means writing serious works aimed at adults is impractical and limit themselves to producing exclusively books for children or young adults. Surely, writing quality stories for children and young adults is a worthy profession, but can we, as fiction writers, also create mature work that is directed towards sensitive and thinking adults? I am attempting here to broaden the perspective of those who create fiction with an ethical bent, specifically LDS fiction writers.
I will use my only LDS book to date, Under Old Glory: A Novella of War, Love, and Faith to illustrate my points. It is the story of two Mormon brothers from Provo who join the Army in World War I. They are sent overseas, where one becomes an aviator (Bill) and the other fights in the trenches (Hyrum). Hyrum’s experience is particularly ghastly, where each battle becomes more horrific, and he returns home haunted by his actions.
The book was intended for a YA audience and raises ethical and spiritual questions. I am creating a sequel, however, that takes on more advanced philosophical and ethical questions. Hyrum is now trying desperately to reconcile what he saw and did in the war. It involves a lot of prayer, questioning, and soul searching for him to try to come to peace with what he’s done. And depending on your reading of the novel, a little divine help too.
I believe that we have a responsibility not only to entertain and instruct, but also to inspire grappling with the hard questions of life. Where a person’s behavior is guided by a moral compass, and how the reader approaches the questions raised in the fiction in his or her own life will help them to grow spiritually as well as intellectually.
I do not espouse a kind of “preachy,” didactic narrow world view with this emphasis on morality. Rather, I look to realistically portray human beings, with all their flaws, who sometimes cross ethical lines that harm themselves or others and depict faithfully the results of such actions. Hyrum committed many sins against his fellow men, and he pays a terrible price for it. He is haunted by those he killed and sent to die in the war. If a character crosses moral or ethical lines, he or she will pay the price. It is an immutable law of the universe. I believe even if a person is not “punished” in a demonstrable way during his or her lifetime, the metaphysical price will still have to be paid.
Now, I must admit I am not too experienced with either writing or reading LDS literature, as I am still fairly new to the faith, and my conversion is ongoing. I would like to know what some of you think of the role of the LDS fiction author, including authors of novels and short fiction. If I were to take a dive into the LDS fiction pool, so to speak, where would I start? Who are the “must reads”? Especially the ones that appeal to the soul.
Chris McClelland is originally from central Florida and moved to Provo in 2011. He married his wife, and after a powerful personal conversion experience, became a member of the LDS church. He has written a more “worldly” secular book called IN LOVE AND WAR, as well as two short story collections. In Florida, he was employed as a college professor, technical writer, and magazine editor. He now lives in Orem with his wife and two sons.
Under Old Glory is available in audiobook, as well as digital and paperback.
Click here to read an Association of Mormon Letters review of the book.
Chris, thanks for your post.
Here are some thoughts on adult Mormon novels that take on difficult themes, based on Mormon-rooted moral world views. And since you write historical fiction, I’ll go in that direction.
Dean Hughes’ “Children of the Promise” series is probably right up your alley. A five volume series about a Utah Mormon family in the years just before, during, and after World War II, it looks at issues like racism, war crimes, PTSD, women’s rights, patriarchal authority, etc, with different Mormon characters approaching the issues in different ways. It celebrates the eternal bonds of the central families of the story, but also observes the adjustments in attitudes towards the older Mormon patriarchal assumptions. And it is full of great stories, very well written. Hughes also wrote a second 5-volume series about the families’ next generation in the 1960s and 1970s called “Hearts of the Children”, in which similar issues get even thornier.
Another series with Mormon takes on thorny moral problems is Margaret Blair Young and Darius Gray’s “Standing on the Promises” series, about the history of African-Americans in the LDS church, from the Church’s first decade to the late 20th century. Again, great writing about adult issues, particularly the racism that these members faced both inside and outside of the Church. Margaret’s stories and novels very often feature Mormon takes on moral issues. See “House Without Walls” (WWII and the holocaust), “Salvador” (set in civil war-torn El Salvador), “Heresies of Nature” (the toll MS takes on a marriage), and her short stories “Love Chains”.
AML will be putting out a 100 Greatest Mormon Literature list later this year, so there will be a lot more recommendations there, so stay tuned.
Andrew, It has taken me a while, but I am now in the middle of the first book of Dean’s series and I must say I like it very much. The characters in the family are particularly appealing, and I love the narrative voice and POV. I think I will continue to busy dipping into the LDS works you’ve mentioned. Thank you so much for that.