An epic origin story, a charismatic leader, a generational saga: Is this the description of a fantasy novel, or a religion’s history?
For Mormon authors, the line is blurry. That may be what makes them successful.
Drawing inspiration from their religion, Mormon writers have filled young adult best-seller lists with fantasy and sci-fi novels, Abby Aguirre reported for The Times. Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series sold more than 100 million copies; Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game” was adapted into a successful movie; and Ally Condie’s “Matched” trilogy filled bookstore shelves.
Several factors contribute to their success. First, the church, officially called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encourages members to become strong readers and public speakers from a young age.
The religion also embraces the family-friendly entertainment that the Y.A. genre has historically offered. As young churchgoers interested in publishing work grow up, writing programs at the church’s universities, church-affiliated publishers and enthusiastic Latter-day Saint readers support them if they write about subjects that the community has deemed acceptable.
Early storytelling
A literary legacy suffuses the modern church, which comprises more than 17 million members. From early childhood, Latter-day Saints read complex sacred texts like The Book of Mormon — the basis for the church’s claim to be God’s restored church. Then, they stand in front of peers and share stories from these scriptures and the church’s history.
The church also encourages members to write in journals and watch or read only “clean” entertainment, giving young adult writers a built-in audience. Many writers, raised in large families that consume only children’s shows, enter their careers with a deep understanding of the market for youth entertainment.
And when the time comes to find their own subject matter, Latter-day Saints find it easy to develop material. The church’s doctrine relies on vivid and rich scriptural stories — of heroes, villains and other worlds. Many writers say their upbringing gave them the ability to create fantastical characters and plots.
“Fantasy is often a way that you can explore ideas of, you know, trust in something bigger,” said Rosalyn Eves, an author of five Y.A. novels that blend fantasy and romance with historical fiction. “I’ve always felt like religious faith and belief in miracles is not all that different from magic in some ways.”
Evolving genre
In recent decades, Y.A. books were compatible with the Mormon Church’s strict code of conduct: no alcohol, smoking, coffee, swearing, sex outside marriage or gay or lesbian sex.
Now, contemporary Y.A. books often reflect evolving social norms, including L.G.B.T.Q. themes and more relaxed views about sexuality, making it harder for some Latter-day Saint writers to find an audience.
But the writers are changing, too. Many disagree with the church’s stance on L.G.B.T.Q. rights. For that and other personal reasons, some have stepped away from the church, which is losing many millennials. Still, their backgrounds provide rich material.
“People turn to stories to make meaning of their lives,” Casper ter Kuile, the author of “The Power of Ritual,” said. “They also use stories to mark transitions, from one belief to another.”
Kiersten White, who has written more than 20 books for young adults and children, is an author who has left the church. Her latest project? A book for adults called “Mister Magic.” It’s about a religious sect in the desert in Utah.
Read Abby’s story about Mormon Y.A. authors.
More on books
Cody Rigsby, a Peloton instructor and the author of “XOXO, Cody,” is a big believer in the power of a cold plunge.
Our editors’ picks: “Holding Pattern,” about a woman in her 20s who finds work as a professional cuddler, and eight other books.
Adalyn Grace’s “Foxglove” is in the top spot on The Times’s young adult hardcover best-seller list.
NEWS
Politics
President Biden toured a Florida community hit hard by Hurricane Idalia. Gov. Ron DeSantis declined to join him.
Bill Richardson, the former secretary of energy, congressman and governor of New Mexico who later devoted himself to liberating Americans held hostage, died at 75.
Biden presides over a strong economy, but he is struggling to convince most Americans to give him credit for it.
War in Ukraine
The destruction of a major Ukrainian dam in June and the ensuing flood are still causing damage: Entire towns are without work and drinking water and farms lack irrigation.
Hundreds of small-scale assault groups drive Ukraine’s counteroffensive — often eight to 10 soldiers assigned to attack a single trench, tree line or house.
International
How Xi Jinping returned China to one-man rule: He concentrated decision-making around himself, overturned term limits and installed loyalists.
China’s Communist Party is enlisting citizens to guard against perceived foreign threats.
Much of the Mexican government was colluding extensively with a drug cartel that was behind the killings of 43 college students in 2014, a Times investigation found.
South African officials were warned repeatedly about the dangers of a building where a fire killed 76 people, but did nothing.
Other Big Stories
Heavy rainfall in a remote Nevada desert trapped thousands of attendees at the Burning Man festival in mud.
As fire spread through Maui last month, officials sent an evacuation notice, but few residents received it.
An autoworkers’ strike seems increasingly likely, with less than two weeks left for union members to reach a deal with the big three Detroit automakers. (This chart shows how many workers have gone on strike this summer in the U.S.)
The wreckage of the grain ship Trinidad, which sank in 1881, was found nearly intact in Lake Michigan. Its dishes are still stacked in their cabinets.
FROM OPINION
As climate change wreaks havoc on our summers, it also disrupts our opportunities to relax, Henry Wismayer writes.
Here are columns by Maureen Dowd on young women’s anxiety and Ross Douthat on right-wing economic populism.
The Sunday question: Is a growing BRICS a threat to American power?
The expansion of BRICS, the group of emerging economies, represents “dissatisfaction with the global order” and “a signal that American global dominance is waning,” Sarang Shidore writes for Times Opinion. But the group is not yet stable, and as it expands, it “will be forced onto battlefields it might not be ready for,” Abishur Prakash writes for The South China Morning Post.
MORNING READS
Thrifting marathon: This yard sale stretches across six states, 690 miles and two time zones.
Stalwarts: You know you’re getting old when your regular bartenders retire.
Vows: They turned to each other in crisis.
Lives Lived: Mohamed al-Fayed was an Egyptian tycoon whose empire of trophy properties was overshadowed by the 1997 car crash that killed his son Dodi and Diana, Princess of Wales. He died at 94.
TALK | FROM THE TIMES MAGAZINE
I spoke with the CNN mainstay Anderson Cooper, co-author of the forthcoming nonfiction book “Astor,” about the challenges facing television news.
Can a reporter from a known media outlet be a blank slate anymore? CNN or Fox News mean something by themselves aside from the individual reporters.
You’re right that some people view The Times as leftist, view CNN as whatever they view CNN as, Fox as whatever they view Fox as, and that’s going to determine things. I know also there are people who base things more on the individual. There are people who will watch one person on Fox News and not other people. So I don’t think you can paint with quite as broad a brush.
People had problems with CNN’s town hall in May with Trump. CNN was also criticized for giving him too much airtime during the 2016 primaries. It’s 2023, he’s still around and raising questions about how best to cover him. What do you see as answers?
There was a steep learning curve in figuring out how to deal with a candidate who is completely willing to lie and lies repeatedly and often. There’s a shamelessness in that and only so much you can do about it from a reporting standpoint. Then there’s questions about, well, should there have been a town hall? Should there have been a live event? All those are completely fair.
Is there something about TV news that needs to be fixed?
Do I, as a viewer, watch hyperpartisan content? I don’t. Do I, as a journalist, want to be in the business of hyperpartisan broadcasting? No, I don’t. But I know that’s popular, and that’s fine. I’m not in the business of telling people what they should and shouldn’t watch.
Read more of the interview here.
More from the magazine
For Ukrainian and Russian tennis players, the war has bled into the game.
H.B.O.’s comedy “The Righteous Gemstones” offers a surprisingly complex take on American faith.
THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …
Open a bottle of rosé for this shrimp dish.
Watch a stand-up special recommended by our critic.
Sleep better — these books tell you how.
Hear Meryl Streep tell a story.
THE WEEK AHEAD
What to Watch For
Tomorrow is Labor Day in the U.S.
The presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will meet tomorrow. Erdogan is trying to revive a grain export deal involving Ukraine and Russia.
Enrique Tarrio, the former chairman of the Proud Boys, is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday for his conviction on sedition charges.
The U.S. Senate is back in session on Tuesday after its August break. The House returns next week.
Peter Navarro, a former Trump aide, is scheduled to go to trial on Tuesday on charges of contempt of Congress.
The impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas is set to open Tuesday in the State Senate.
Biden will travel to India on Thursday for a summit meeting with other Group of 20 leaders.
The N.F.L. season will open on Thursday when Kansas City, the reigning Super Bowl champion, hosts Detroit.
New York Fashion Week begins on Friday.
What to Cook This Week
You may find inspiration for weeknight dinners in The Times’s 50 most popular recipes of the year so far, Emily Weinstein writes. Among her suggestions: ginger chicken with sesame-peanut sauce and buttery lemon pasta with almonds and arugula.
NOW TIME TO PLAY
Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was unveiling.
Can you put eight historical events — including the dim sum restaurants of the Song dynasty, America’s first female international spy and a coup in Chile — in chronological order? Take this week’s Flashback quiz.
And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku and Connections.
Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times.
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