Comments on: Journey to the South http://latterdaycommentary.com/blog/index.php/journey-to-the-south/ In which news, politics and religion are mixed - a potentially volatile combination Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:59:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Fred Dunlap http://latterdaycommentary.com/blog/index.php/journey-to-the-south/comment-page-1/#comment-20857 Fred Dunlap Sat, 25 Dec 2010 17:13:04 +0000 http://latterdaycommentary.com/blog/?p=527#comment-20857 Amen. Amen.

]]> By: Tim Malone http://latterdaycommentary.com/blog/index.php/journey-to-the-south/comment-page-1/#comment-3523 Tim Malone Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:28:33 +0000 http://latterdaycommentary.com/blog/?p=527#comment-3523 It was interesting reading this to a class of young people who were not LDS. The story was well received. I enjoyed reading it and I could tell that they enjoyed the story. Having read it several times, I was comfortable with the material and could look around at the class as they read along. Some stopped reading along and just listened. The comments were favorable and demonstrated that there was genuine interest in the idea of a group of people returning to earth after a long absence. One mentioned that it was similar to the ideas put forth in Battlestar Galatica. Of course I didn't mention that the creator of the franchise, Glen Larson, is LDS. In my story, a whole planet returns. To me, the best comments came from the teacher who noted that the idea of myths is something that does not receive adequate attention in our modern society. Being an English teacher, I imagine he studied mythology as a genre in pursuit of his degree. Perhaps he has even taught classes on the subject in the past. It got me thinking. I wonder how many of our myths and legends were recorded as a way of remembering things that today seem fantastic and unbelievable? In our modern scientific world, we can't imagine that the heavens (stars, planets, etc.) and the earth ever looked different from the way they are now. Some of our myths cause me to think otherwise. It was interesting reading this to a class of young people who were not LDS. The story was well received. I enjoyed reading it and I could tell that they enjoyed the story. Having read it several times, I was comfortable with the material and could look around at the class as they read along. Some stopped reading along and just listened.

The comments were favorable and demonstrated that there was genuine interest in the idea of a group of people returning to earth after a long absence. One mentioned that it was similar to the ideas put forth in Battlestar Galatica. Of course I didn’t mention that the creator of the franchise, Glen Larson, is LDS. In my story, a whole planet returns.

To me, the best comments came from the teacher who noted that the idea of myths is something that does not receive adequate attention in our modern society. Being an English teacher, I imagine he studied mythology as a genre in pursuit of his degree. Perhaps he has even taught classes on the subject in the past. It got me thinking.

I wonder how many of our myths and legends were recorded as a way of remembering things that today seem fantastic and unbelievable? In our modern scientific world, we can’t imagine that the heavens (stars, planets, etc.) and the earth ever looked different from the way they are now. Some of our myths cause me to think otherwise.

]]> By: Tim Malone http://latterdaycommentary.com/blog/index.php/journey-to-the-south/comment-page-1/#comment-3493 Tim Malone Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:06:44 +0000 http://latterdaycommentary.com/blog/?p=527#comment-3493 This is our final writing assignment for our English Creative Writing class. It is supposed to be a children's story of less than 1,500 words. After I wrote and read it to Carol we both decided that it would be very doubtful if something like this could ever be considered a children's story. It might perhaps fit into the category of fantasy or science fiction. The theme is just too intense for children. And yes, since I am LDS, I borrowered heavily from LDS themes such as the lost ten tribes and the Liahona from the Book of Mormon. The idea of the lost ten tribes being on another planet is pure speculation, but is not unknown in the LDS culture. So don't get hung up trying to read meanings into this that aren't intended. It is pure fantasy from my mind, inspired by various sources. We read it in class Monday night. There are about fifteen of us that have lasted to the end of the semester. About half the class dropped out but that's to be expected in a class with so much required writing. We have enjoyed the class and I hope we have learned something. As I noted in a previous story post, I have never written fiction before in my life and I kind of enjoy it now. This is our final writing assignment for our English Creative Writing class. It is supposed to be a children’s story of less than 1,500 words. After I wrote and read it to Carol we both decided that it would be very doubtful if something like this could ever be considered a children’s story. It might perhaps fit into the category of fantasy or science fiction. The theme is just too intense for children.

And yes, since I am LDS, I borrowered heavily from LDS themes such as the lost ten tribes and the Liahona from the Book of Mormon. The idea of the lost ten tribes being on another planet is pure speculation, but is not unknown in the LDS culture. So don’t get hung up trying to read meanings into this that aren’t intended. It is pure fantasy from my mind, inspired by various sources.

We read it in class Monday night. There are about fifteen of us that have lasted to the end of the semester. About half the class dropped out but that’s to be expected in a class with so much required writing. We have enjoyed the class and I hope we have learned something. As I noted in a previous story post, I have never written fiction before in my life and I kind of enjoy it now.

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