Seeking Mormon Representation

You ever cringe at sit-coms making Mormon polygamist jokes? Ever seen your favorite character confuse Mormons with Amish people? Ever groaned in dissapointed when a family of Mormons gets watered down to generic-fundamental-christian?

Aren't you tired of being the butt of not-even-accurate jokes?

Well, I certainly am. After years of being disgruntled and offended at portrayals of and attitudes toward Mormons in popular media I realized something : I was looking in the wrong place! Why would I look to non-mormons to tell Mormon stories!

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have been writing novels for as long as we've been around! Not to mention BYU TV shows!

Are they cheesy? Probably! Will they be preachy and propaganda-y? You betcha! Are some of them sexist and honophobic? Oh yes siree!

But that's why I am gonna read them! I've decided to go on a quest through Mormon fiction to discover the unknown gems. I'll read and review each book, and watch the TV shows and movies, then let YOU know what's worth your time.

If you know of a book/movie/TV show that features Mormon characters made BY Mormon writers, send it my way. I'll add it to my queue and rate it based on a few criteria:

1. Well written - is it written well

2. Fun level - regardless of technical stuff, is it FUN?

3. Complex faith - is this propaganda? Or does it show our religion in a nuanced way?

4. Homophobia scale - does this harp about the holiness of straight marriage? Or does it, perchance, actually have good queer rep?

5. Mormon weird - is this strictly realistic fiction or are we talking about Kolob or the 3 nephites O.O

6. Diversity of characters - is this white boys talking to and about white boys :/ or do we have some POC and women

7. Other problematic stuff

I personally am not a fan of "book of mormon fanfiction" so anything resembling Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites might not get read, same goes for straight-white-girl-religious-romance. (No hate if you like those just not my vibe). Additionally, I'm not super interested in pioneer-era stories so those will not be prioritized. I'm looking for action, urban fantasy, sci-fi, or realistic fiction that's not just romance.

But you never know, one of those might catch my fancy!

You can look through my blog for the books I've reviewed, but off the top of my head

The Salt City Strangers are a group of superheroes from Utah, each with their own relationship to Mormonism. We've got The Gull, Den Mother, Deputy Deseret, Golden Spike, and Son of Cain.

Gemini Twain from Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan is an African-American Mormon teenager whose brother is serving a mission in Brazil

Let's call it a Doomsday by Katie Henry centers teenage Mormon, Ellis Kimball, navigating an anxiety disorder and coming to understand her bisexuality.

The Bollywood Lovers Club by James Goldberg is a teen romance with a Punjabi-American Mormon boy who falls for a Punjabi-Americna Sihk girl and they try to navigate religious and cultural differences.

"Station Zerahemla" by Steven Heumann is a retelling of part of the Book of Mormon, but set in space.

"That Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made" by Eric James Stone is about a Branch President over a branch that includes a giant plasma based life forms.

"Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites" by Chris Heimerdinger is about people in the modern day (the early 90s) traveling back to Book of Mormon times.

"Station Zerahemla" by Steven Heumann is a retelling of part of the Book of Mormon, but set in space.

"That Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made" by Eric James Stone is about a Branch President over a branch that includes a giant plasma based life forms.

"Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites" by Chris Heimerdinger is about people in the modern day (the early 90s) traveling back to Book of Mormon times.

I am a COMMUNIST

I believe in PRISON ABOLITION

when I see someone being HOMOSEXUAL or TRANSSEXUAL, I mind my OWN DAMN BUSINESS

I support ROBUST URBAN PLANNING

I think all young women should learn INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL

I like my women how I like my men: VOTING IN EVERY ELECTION and BECOMING DOCTORS

I believe people are INHERENTLY GOOD and need to be ENCOURAGED WITH COMPASSION, not CONTROLLED WITH AUTHORITARIANISM

I think HANDCARTS are the BEST WAY TO TRAVEL

I practice WITCHCRAFT, MAGIC, DIVINATION, and ASTROLOGY

Are you LDS?

Does your family come from a racial, ethnic, or national background with cultural practices your family still participates in? Or have you rediscovered and reengaged with former cultural identities through your membership in the Church?

Did a patriarchal blessing (yours or someone else's) play a role in that process?

If you'd like any stickers or pins (including a magnetic "pin" for the I'll Walk With You design), they're at a VERY reasonable prices right now — and won't be available after the shop closes.

Link here:

:)