Couple of weeks ago we ran a story on Mormon merchandising that led with a Moroni statuette that is now available in Wal-Marts. And in keeping with that spirit during the gift-buying season, though not quite on the same level of kitsch, there's a new book in stores that certainly fills the bill.
"The Skousen Book of Mormon World Records," by Paul B. Skousen (Cedar Fort, 480 pages, $19.95), is an amusing collection of quick-read items for and about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — a scrapbook of LDS folk who have gained notoriety, both in and outside the church.
Despite the title and format, the book doesn't really stick to world records, though there are many of those. It's actually a goofy potpourri of supposed records, celebrity profiles, news-of-the-weird, etc., gathered in, more or less, People magazine-style.
Skousen writes each brief item in a cheeky, I'm-not-really-taking-this-seriously tone (note how he got "Book of Mormon" in the book's title).
But one aspect does make me suspicious of its credibility — he quotes me! From a Deseret News article about Mormon characters in movies. (And I actually think he misquotes me at one point, but I won't quibble. Hey, I've been known to misquote myself.)
Among the items Skousen has collected:
— A number of sports records, some familiar (Johnny Miller, Harmon Killebrew, Gene Fullmer) and others not so well-remembered.
— A number of celebrity "firsts" that seem like they'd be difficult to verify — the youngest Mormon opera singer, the first Mormon game-show host, etc.
— The usual suspects: Laraine Day, the Osmonds, Ken Jennings.
— And wacky entries that are probably included just because they're wacky . . . the "proselyting hamster," anyone?
And you do have to wonder about a book that cites so many vague Internet sites as sources, not to mention an author who cites himself as a source!
But, hey, I don't think Skousen intends this to be an academic, authoritative work. It's just meant to be fun. And as such, it succeeds.
When I went out looking for Skousen's book, I stumbled across another one that made me laugh out loud just seeing it on the shelf: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Mormonism" (Alpha, 314 pages, $18.95).
This isn't a spoof. It's a genuine entry in the "Idiot's Guide" series, which, to my surprise, also includes "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Catholicism" and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism," among others.
The "Mormonism" book is written by Drew Williams, a Brigham Young University graduate who lives in Springville and teaches writing at Utah Valley State College. (Actually, as it has a 2003 copyright date, I assume the book has been out for awhile, though everyone I've shown it to is surprised.)
It's written in the "Idiots" style: chapters laced with factoids, little boxes, cartoons, jokes. But it's not really irreverent, as it reports the history, doctrines and functions of the LDS Church in a fairly straight-faced manner.
In general, it's a nice quick-read overview of the LDS Church, albeit necessarily a bit superficial in places.
Another LDS item that crossed my desk last week is "Standards Night Live" (Deseret Book, $19.95), a DVD with John Bytheway, a well-known writer/speaker on the LDS youth circuit.
If you know Bytheway just from his books, this disc is a revelation. He's a better comedian than anyone on last year's LDS stand-up DVD, "It's Latter-day Night!"
"Standards Night Live" is, of course, aimed at youths and comes with a pointed religious message, but it's also very funny, with Bytheway joking in a self-deprecating manner about everything from his name to various aspects of LDS culture. It's also well-directed by J.T. Taylor and Scott Freebairn so that, at 90 minutes, it doesn't feel static.
Look for the 15-minute bonus "concert," as Bytheway sings some hysterical songs, including parodies of Primary tunes (although he purloins a couple of short bits from Tommy Smothers).
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com