What would Mormon genre be exactly?
To some people it's science fiction. Recently I read a quote from a Mormon woman author that explained the plethora of successful sci-fi writers in Mormonism by way of our belief in things labeled "unbelievable" by others. (Sorry can't remember exactly who said it, or where I read it! It might have been Shannon Hale.)
Others might say that Mormon genre is a tiny corner of the religious literature genre.
Many teenage girls would say that Mormon literature is all about vampires.
There is a new site dedicated to Mormon fiction and the opening post doesn't mention any of these possibilities. This paragraph is my favorite (even though I'm posting this you still need to read the full post!):
England’s essay suggests that for Mormon authors to create great literature, they will have a “special respect for language and form” while at the same time draw upon the theological and historical realities of our unique Mormon heritage. England stresses that the themes available to the Mormon artist do not come from our trivial peculiarities, but rather from our unique theology and history. As England states, “I don’t mean irrigation and polygamy and Lamanite warriors but rather a certain epic consciousness and mythic identification with ancient peoples and processes: the theme of exile and return, of the fruitful journey into the wilderness; the pilgrim traveling the dark and misty way to the tree of salvation; the lonely quest for selfhood that leads to conversion and then to the paradox of community; the desert as crucible in which to make saints, not gold; the sacramental life that persists in spiritual experience and guileless charity despite physical and cultural deprivation; the fortunate fall from innocence and comfort into a lone and dreary world where opposition and tragic struggle can produce virtue and salvation.” These themes, argues England, would “nurture” the artist’s imagination “with the most challenging and liberating set of metaphysical possibilities and paradoxes.” Great Mormon literature can only come from Mormon artists who know their Mormon literary heritage, know the forms of their genre, and simultaneously take their craft and their faith seriously.Which leaves me feeling that I need to take a literature class. Mormon genre doesn't have to be overtly religious to be associated with religion.
I think Orson Scott Card has taken on this challenge by England. I haven't read a lot of his books, but my sister has (feel free to chime in) and she pointed out to me that many of his plots deal with story lines that would be familiar to an educated Mormon, while those not familiar with our liturgy have no idea that the basic story is a re-run.
Not that I'm calling Card a plagarist or anything. This is the stuff of literature, you are inspired to write by what you've read. How would we know how to write if we didn't read? It happens in every area of the arts, inspiration comes from other artists and sources. I like the thought that ultimately everything we are inspired by, the whole world surrounding us and engulfing us, is made by God so we will never be anything more than children mimicking our ultimate parent.

