You wouldn't happen to live in Floriduh would you?
Posted on 04/23/2010 9:33:26 AM PDT by Colofornian
One of the quirkiest, and enjoyable edgy Mormon fiction out there remains “Brother Brigham,” (2007, Zarahemla Books) It’s a pity that probably only a few hundred people have read the novel. Utah Author D. Michael Martindale’s bizarre, at times sexy tale prompts the attentive LDS reader to really wonder if they’re faith is as strong as they might like to think it is.
“Brother Brigham,” set in Salt Lake County, involves Cory Horace “C.H.” Young, descendent of Brigham Young, married in the temple to Danielle. A BYU “marriage” dropout with dreams of being a violinist, he works in a bookstore and lives in a tiny duplex with his wife and two sons, Petey and Glenn. At the bookstore there’s a cute bohemian girl named Sheila who dabbles in satanism.
One day, out of the blue, “Brigham Young” appears to C.H. and tells him that the LDS Church has slipped into apostasy and that he, C.H., has been called of God to restore the Gospel. “Brigham” informs C.H. that polygamy must also be restored. “Brigham” leads C.H. to hidden away money in the desert west of Salt Lake City. The angel, using the same type of language as the Prophet Joseph Smith records in Mormon accounts, pushes C.H. to get things rolling. C.H. reluctantly agrees. He manages to convince his skeptical wife, and then follows the angel’s commandment to marry Satan-dabbler Sheila, who perhaps not surprisingly given her personality, accepts C.H.’s offer. Things start to spiral out of control when “Brigham” commands C.H. to take an underage ward teen, Cyndy, as a second plural wife.
“Brother Brigham” is a lighter novel than may appear from the brief partial synopsis. C.H. is very reluctant to take on what he’s been commanded to do despite promises from “Brigham” that he will be successful. There’s a lot of sex in Martindale’s prose. This will never be a novel found on the virgin shelves of Deseret Book. One funny, sexy sequence involves C.H. and Sheila’s wedding night where, at least for the groom, “plural love” turns into solo lust.
I won’t give away the ending of Brother Brigham, although a turn in the plot and the climax are quite clever. Mormon lore abounds in “Brother Brigham.” A promise in C.H.’s patriarchal blessing seems to hint at what will occur to him. When “Brigham” appears to C.H., he follows Mormon lore by asking the angel to shake hands with him. The plot also includes references to the Book of Mormon and wrestling with demons and raging theological debates Parley P. Pratt-style.
“Brother Brigham” is not a book critical of the LDS faith, but its very plot forces the honest Mormon reader to confront two uncomfortable thoughts. How many of us, if we had lived in the time of Joseph Smith, would have believed a 14-year-old boy had been visted by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? And, a question perhaps even more difficult to answer, is: Had we been members of the early LDS Church, how many of us would have agreed to ditch our matrimonial covenants and pursue wives half our age? Would we have thought that was of God, or a product of lust?
These are not questions that today’s Mormons ponder often. In fact, most of us have become quite comfortable scorning fundamentalist polygamist Mormons for their “sinful” lifestyles.
“Brother Brigham,” besides being a great read, reminds us that we’re pretty lucky to be Mormons in 2010, where C.H’s experiences remain something that we’re not likely to have to deal with.
Vernon may have his bone for Fido; but I'M the damned Pater Familius!
I keep trying to 'learn' the same thing that Joseph Smith claimed he did about the UNTRUTH of PRESBYTERIANism; but there is not a single MORMON who wants to help me out.
I find that a bit strange.
Apparently you must have me confused with somebody who cares. But fyi, I still need help understanding your seeming EINOism. While we're both baffled can you help me out on that one?
Oh nevermind you don’t have to answer that. I can hear the wheels a turnin’. You might be too busy figuring out ways to exclude anyone who doesn’t quite fit into your theological lock box. Oh wait a minute, did I say theology? That’s too wonderful for me. I’ll leave that to you geniuses. lol.
Since my screen name is MarkBSnr, I'm not sure what you mean.
Don't get lost in any deep thoughts; you'll be a total stranger there.
Shall we give him some water wings in the hopes that he does not drown?
A longer cow, a shorter cow, no matter. We are trying to guess animal / vegetable / mineral. Do you have any hints for us?
Negative. However, we are concerned about the other citizens who live in the same area and their well being.
You wouldn't happen to live in Floriduh would you?
Typical CINO post. Keep them coming. :-)
Oh Thank you. I'm floored. Where can I buy your book on CINO humility and how you achieved it? lol. Or perhaps you've written on on CINO spirituality and how others can find it? lol
Oh ya? Who's asking?
You think you're a wit, and you're probably half right.
Depends if he wears them or eats them.
How "deep" of you. I might have been wrong about you Mr. Zilla.
Just remember not to eat the water wings.
I'll eat the wings, you keep eating the yellow snow.
Don’t you ever get tired of having you around?
The Mormon's also claim that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers. At the risk of offending Mormon FReepers, the idea that one could hold such a belief and still be a "Christian" is absurd.
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