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Jerry Earl Johnston on Mormontimes.com: Great novels need doubt as vantage

Here is a short list of religions that dare not question their leaders: Jehovah Witness,Christian Scientists,Scientolgists and Muslims,not Christians or Jews

... maybe what we mean by "Mormon novel" needs work. What IS a "Mormon novel"? I hope to high heaven it's nothing like a "Mormon movie" ... among the last things we need is another Book of Mormon movie or Singles Ward out there proclaiming itself as representative of LDS culture. And if they are, man, are we in trouble!

Jerry, the very concept of a "Mormon novel" raises more questions than answers. So some of the questions: What's a "Mormon novel"? Does a "Mormon novel" HAVE to promote the LDS faith and be sold at Deseret Book to be worthy of the label? To what extent does it have to feature Mormonism at all? Why is Twilight NOT a "Mormon novel"?

And for the REAL humdinger: Have we settled the issue of what a "Mormon" is with others who claim the label, much less the secular world? Could a "Mormon novel" be written in, say, Colorado City?

Also, Jerry, sure, doubt is a characteristic of the modern novel, but is it necessary? How much doubt is in Dickens? Jane Austen? Milton? Is doubt really THE touchstone of ALL great work?

More questions than answers!

Big Love is the Mormon TV show. If you haven't watched it you should. It clearly delineates mainstream Mormons from the polygamists, but captures the conflict between fundementalism and mainstream. There's a scene where one of his wives tries to use his discount at the store he runs, only to have the clerk say she knows the bosses wife (wife #1) and she's not her so they call the police on her. Another scene shows Mormons investing in gaming machines and the conflict over whether investing is the same as gambling. Rated R so most won't see it. But its good.

I agree with 11:46 a.m. It seems Jerry is generalizing a little bit. I recall being spiritually moved by Dutcher's "Brigham City." That, to me, was a good Mormon story. Jerry, keep looking, if not waiting.

Would this be a novel about the culture that embraces members of the LDS church Salt Lake City,or would it include many many splinter groups that people also refer to as mormons perhaps because of their commom beginnings. To me the former would be boring the latter colorful and a good read.As a LDS SLC who would want to read about me? No one.

Wallace Stegnar would not be able to understand what Joseph Smith said: once you are in the church, you can no longer be neutral. If you leave, you will always fight it. So no author could be born in the church, leave, then come back "part way" and write as an active Mormon.

Being LDS is different from being a member of every other religion. Only those who belong understand the difference; those who don't will never get it. Maybe that's what the "great Mormon novel" will address?

"He told me that in his novel "Recapitulation," he had a chaste, young Mormon couple getting married in the backyard of a friend. Someone had to point out to him that chaste, young Mormon couples get married in the LDS temple."

My wife and I were a "chaste, young Mormon couple", and WE got married in the backyard of a friend!

What kind of self-righteous, arrogant, stereotyping is that?