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Saturday, February 21, 2009
Mormon Mentions: Jodi Picoult and Robyn Carr
11:00 PM
One of the main reasons I decided to start this feature is because of this line from Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult:
"He'd been a corn-fed Utah boy, pitching subscriptions to benefit The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" (145).
Now, I love Jodi Picoult - she writes intelligent, thought-provoking books (of which a new one is coming out on March 3 - yay!), but I can't imagine where she got the notion that LDS boys hit the streets selling magazine subscriptions to benefit the church. I have never heard of anyone doing this in my life. I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of the church's finances, but I can pretty much guarantee that it doesn't rely on magazine subscriptions to fund its doings.
"He'd been a corn-fed Utah boy, pitching subscriptions to benefit The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" (145).
Now, I love Jodi Picoult - she writes intelligent, thought-provoking books (of which a new one is coming out on March 3 - yay!), but I can't imagine where she got the notion that LDS boys hit the streets selling magazine subscriptions to benefit the church. I have never heard of anyone doing this in my life. I don't pretend to know all the ins and outs of the church's finances, but I can pretty much guarantee that it doesn't rely on magazine subscriptions to fund its doings.
----
This next Mormon Mention made me laugh. It's from Second Chance Pass by Robyn Carr:
The scene has a group of fire fighters gathering in Jack's Bar. When he asks about a designated driver, one of the firemen says, "We always try to keep at least one Mormon on the crew - the designated good influence" (353).
Probably the thing we Mormons are best known for (besides polygamy, which hasn't been practiced in 100 years, for Heaven's sake) is good, clean living. I love that we're known as "designated good influence[s]."
----
If you come across a good Mormon Mention in your reading, let me know!
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I love this feature! I'm not a Mormon, but I look forward to seeing you clear up all the strange misconceptions. :)
ReplyDeleteYou mean "Pennies by the Inch" isn't keeping the church solvent? :) I've come across quite a few Mormon misconceptions in my reading through the years. Wish I could remember where. Seems like they usually refer to polygamy, drinking or missionaries. I enjoyed reading about your two examples.
ReplyDeleteThat's so funny! I have come across some, but can't remember any right now! I'll have to look out for them!:)
ReplyDeleteI look forward to hearing more about this. Oh stereotypes :-)
ReplyDeleteOK - I'm a convert, but each year I'm asked if I keep my church magazine subscriptions current. Usually by someone designated from the ward who keeps track of that stuff. But I was once told that it used to be the Aaronic priesthood boys who used to keep track of the magazine subscriptions and went around each year to those in their congregation so they could renew if they needed to. This could be what she's referring to.
ReplyDeleteI remember that Picoult Mormon reference and think I mentioned it in my review as well. Not once in my 30 years as a Mormon have I ever heard of such a thing. I look forward to this new feature. I do see Mormon mentions a lot!
ReplyDeleteI came across a Mormon Mention last weekend. In the book The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry at the end of the book she does a glossary of all the "big" words she uses and makes up funny things to explain them. On the word affable she says "Affable means good-natured and friendly. There are whole groups of people who are known for being affable. Cheerleaders, for example. Or Mormon missionaries."
ReplyDeleteOh, that's a great one, Laura! I love it.
ReplyDelete