LDS writer tackles little-known Book of Mormon character

Ogden Standard-Examiner ^ | Jan. 29, 2010 | JaNae Francis

[Colofornian]

KAYSVILLE -- A first novel for K.C. Grant, 39, has landed this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints author success in just a few weeks since its release.

"Abish: Daughter of God" (Covenant, $16.95) already has scored a ranking in the top six for books sold at Deseret Book and Grant said a few Deseret Book stores already have sold out of her novel.

"It's fun to have a first novel so well received," said the Kaysville homemaker. "It gives me an inspiration to keep on writing."

Grant enjoyed a successful book signing last weekend in Centerville and has another scheduled for today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Seagull Book in Layton at 448 W. Antelope Drive.

The novel is a mixture of fiction and fact, based on a short account of a woman in Alma, Chapter 19 who did not faint when others were overcome by the Holy Spirit because she had been converted to gospel teachings earlier in her life.

"I think like a lot of LDS people who read the Book of Mormon," Grant said. "Abish is one of only three women mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon and yet there is very little said about her. I wanted to know more about her and possibly other people would too."

[Colofornian]

From the article: The novel is a mixture of fiction and fact, based on a short account of a woman in Alma, Chapter 19...

Well, just about ALL novel...the Book of Mormon doesn't really know how to describe women in any detail! And, as for a book in the Book of Mormon named Alma, well "Alma" in Hebrew means "virgin"...so why would the book of Alma be about a man named Alma if Hebrew-speaking people referenced such as young girls/teens?

From the article: "Abish is one of only three women mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon and yet there is very little said about her."

Book of Mormon Jeopardy on Women

Time to hit the Jeopardy category of “Women in the Book of Mormon.” (For those who don't know "Jeopardy," the answer comes first)
Answer: 2%
Question: What % of the 250 or so characters in the Book of Mormon are female?

Answer: Once
Question: How many times are “sisters” even referenced in the Book of Mormon? [The only reference I've found is 2 Nephi 5:6 – and even then
these sisters of Nephi are unnumbered & unnamed]

Answer: Sarai
Question: Who's the only wife mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon?

Answer: Abish
Question: Who's the only daughter mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon?

Answer: Don't Exist
Question: Who are the sisters mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon?

Now that we know the BoM marginalizes women, how can we tell if it trivializes women, too?

(1) Leading off the lineup of Mormon women, we have the unnamed daughter of Jared (Ether 8:8-12). What goes through her brain? Why she wants to dance before a man so that she'll seduce him into marrying him; then this household can properly commit patricide. Nice.

(2) There's an unnamed Lamanite queen in Alma 47:35. She's easy to defraud.

(3) There's another unnamed Lamanite queen in Alma 22:19-24. Let's see. This queen sees Aaron & servants @ foot of a dead king's bed. She jumps to wrongful conclusions. Then in all her decisiveness, she's going to massacre them for guilt-by-association. Then she started to back down from her heavy-handed executive authority. Why? Not because of justice, but because of fear – her servants were fearful. So she was, too (v. 21). Aaron, seeing that this woman was no match for kingdom authority, elected, instead to do the “easy thing.” And what was the easy thing in comparison to trying to deal with this queen? Why, he raised the king back from the dead (vv. 22-23).

(4) And since the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon seems to carry the predominant mention of women on behalf of the entire book, how do the earlier chapters introduce such women?
Here, read it yourself:
“And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and
[“and” = covering things you haven't yet covered...so what you seen the next line applies to what follows -- not what was preceding]
and all that you POSSESS, your women and your children,
according to your faith and good works,
from this time forth AND FOREVER
And thus I have spoken. Amen. (Alma 7:27)

(Well, last time I looked, forever meant forever)

Other than that, when women are mentioned in the Book of Mormon, they are good for toiling, spinning, working (Mosiah 10:5; Hel. 6:13) and having kids (1 Nephi 17:1), which the prestigious clans of the Book of Mormon were good at having by gobs of millions...supposedly.

And even when we get to the grandest of stories about women yanked out of the Bible, even Joseph can't get it quite exact. He references an unnamed virgin in 1 Nephi 11:18 -- who Smith identified as "the mother of God." Now the RC among us might say, "So?"

Well, the Book of Mormon "editors"...
...those who made almost 4,000 changes from the original Book of Mormon...
...(who'd have thunk that "the most correct book on earth" according to the Mormon angel would have need "editors"?)...
...then inserted the words "the Son of" into the text. Hmm. Those words -- were they there in the original gold inscribed text? Why did they add them? Why isn't there at least a footnote at the bottom of the Book of Mormon page saying, "Hey, we kind of added to the text here. Just wanted to let ya know."

[reaganaut]

A work of fiction based upon a work of fiction.

Does that make it ‘fan fiction’?

[reaganaut]

From the article: The novel is a mixture of fiction and fact, based on a short account of a woman in Alma, Chapter 19

- - - - - -
No, it is pure fiction based upon a FICTIONAL account.

I wonder if the day will ever come when the LDS finally throw out the Book of Mormon.

[SZonian]

"Abish is one of only three women mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon and yet there is very little said about her. I wanted to know more about her and possibly other people would too."

So let me get this straight. Hardly anything is written about this "Abish", so in order to get to know more about her, you write a piece of fiction to get to know her?

The spin used in the lds to legitimize that which can't just defies imagination.

SZ

[T Minus Four]

Wow, I never knew this. The more I learn about this counterfeit Christian cult, the more amazed I am that they manage to fly under the radar. If I read this travesty of a book, I’d feel a burning alright, and it wouldn’t be in my bosom.

[panaxanax]

There must be a more positive way to spend your time. Try showing the good things that the Mormons are doing for a change.

Your constant and predictable bashing of the LDS faith is getting very boring.

Great site if you want to learn more about Mormon history:

http://www.deseretbooks.com

Also, see here how the evil Mormons have donated 225,000 lbs. of food, medical supplies, doctors and tents etc.

http://heraldextra.com/news/local/article_a9b9a180-be84-5bb7-8ed6-f9a8c5fed3cd.html

[SZonian]

Yahwohl Mein Herr!!!

I vill read ze lds propaganda as you order! Ze productivity of the collective vill increase as you demand!

NOT!

They have many positive outcomes from posting this material and much like it. It exposes the lies, hypocrisy, manipulation and outright falseness of this so called religion.

It’s long overdue in my opinion, that this type of material is presented for all the world to see so that INFORMED decisions can be made about joining or avoiding. Do you have a problem with folks being informed?

SZ

[Colofornian]

There must be a more positive way to spend your time. Try showing the good things that the Mormons are doing for a change.

(You mean, besides ignoring women in a fictional work based upon a fictional work?)

Tell us why women are so prominent in the Bible -- by name -- and yet they're AWOL in the BoM?

How do Lds contemporary women find role models in the BoM?

[Godzilla]

Thank you for bumping this thread pan.
mormon donations are a drop in the bucket for a multibillion dollar corporation.
Feel free to bump this thread any time again.

[panaxanax]

T Minus Four tagline: (Help Haiti and know your money is going to the right people - www.WorldVision.org)

>>”Do you have a problem with folks being informed?”<<

No I don’t. That’s why I strongly suggest you both read the article below about the World Vision food aid scam here.

http://www.alertnet.org/db/an_art/58388/2009/05/10-194457-1.htm

[T Minus Four]

What good is being “nice” if it doesn’t get you where you want to be in the end? LDS, although very “good” people are on a fast train to nowhere and are taking more and more people with them all the time.

Why should we ignore the lies and filth of wrong doctrine just because y’all are nice neighbors and friendly coworkers?

[panaxanax]

bump

[Godzilla]

Why pan, so nice of you to continue to bump this thread. Since you are making yourself a fixture here, why not comment on mormon sexism.

[T Minus Four]

Wow, that is very disturbing. I thank you for bringing it to my attention. Later when I have more time I will investigate more thoroughly - we sponsor a child thru them.

Meanwhile, the BoM is full of claptrap and lies.

[T Minus Four]

I hear Hitler was kind to children and kittens.

[panaxanax]

>>”What good is being “nice” if it doesn’t get you where you want to be in the end?”<<

It’s called self-satisfaction.

If it is true (as you indicated) that you have “nice” LDS neighbors and co-workers then you have to admit that Mormons are the first to offer help and the last to ask for it.

>>”Why should we ignore the lies and filth of wrong doctrine...”<<

Why should you worry so much about what other people believe in? Just ignore them and maybe you can lessen your grief.

[Godzilla]

My, someone steals from an organization and the whole is corrupt - not hardly. here is the rest of the story -

http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/about/20090604-liberia

Seems the implemented cross checks go above and beyond.

perhaps this means lds llc is corrupt too

http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_12111179?source=commented

[T Minus Four]

Hardly anything is written about this "Abish", so in order to get to know more about her, you write a piece of fiction to get to know her?

That boggled my brain too. Speaking of RC's and fiction about made up characters, it reminds me of my "favorite" RC saint, Saint Veronica. She is a legend based on the unnamed woman in the gospel who wiped the face of Jesus as he was carrying the cross. The legend grew over the years that the impresion of his face was imprinted on the cloth and it had magic powers to heal people. The word for the impression in whatever language was "veronica" and that slowly evolved in the retelling over the years into her name. She is actually prayed to and is the patron saint of - get this - photographers and laundresses! "She" is supposed to be able to intercede to God to those who pray to her.

[Godzilla]

Why should you worry so much about what other people believe in? Just ignore them and maybe you can lessen your grief.

lds llc is pulling its 60,000 missionaries off of the street and accepting that mormonism is not Christian?

[T Minus Four]

It’s called self-satisfaction.

Well, it won't be very satisfying to stand in judgement before the Lord GOD Jesus and try to defend yourself because you did nice things.