Mormon folklore gives a look into a unique culture

PROVO — Mormons are usually conversant in stories about the Three Nephites, J. Golden Kimball and Mormon missionaries in general — all are part of the Mormon folklore tradition.

And its chief scholar is William "Bert" Wilson, professor emeritus of English from both Utah State University and Brigham Young University.

Wilson has written several books and numerous articles about his research on these subjects, the latest being "The Marrow of Human Experience: Essays on Folklore," published by USU Press.

During an interview in his Provo home, Wilson said that folklore is especially interesting because it spreads orally and "it helps us to understand what we already know."

Wilson said he was trained by the master — Richard Dorson of Indiana University. Upon learning that Wilson was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dorson encouraged him to investigate Mormon folklore.

"The general perception by most people is that folklore is not usually very accurate," said Wilson, "that it should not be considered serious scholarship. They assume folklore stories are not true. But they actually fall somewhere between true and false. These stories don't make themselves up."

When Wilson studies these stories, he assumes they come from what he calls "issues of major concern in the culture." So he asks the question, "What needs are being satisfied by telling the stories?"

Mormons, he said, often tell stories about connections with people who have died and who return to comfort people. "The stories help us negotiate our way through life. They also might illustrate some concept or theology."

By far the most common stories from Mormon-missionary folklore concern "initiation stories," said Wilson. "Lumberjacks play practical jokes on new people. Missionaries do the same. They play jokes on the 'greenies.' When John Harris and I were collecting stories, returned missionaries were eager to share — except for one missionary who said he had never heard any of the stories — nor had he been initiated.

"Then he realized that he had never really 'fit in' socially with the other missionaries, perhaps because he had not been initiated. Basically, you abuse the new missionary in some way, and when it's over he's part of the group."

Wilson recounts in his book a story of a new missionary who is told to sing the first discussion in Norwegian to people investigating Mormonism — then the people turn out to be church members, and they all laugh about it.