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Cussing & Creating: 3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t (& Should!) Use Profanities in Your Writing

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By Lizzy Pingry   

During World War II, American soldier Audie Murphy earned a total of twenty-eight medals, including two from France and one from Belgium, making him the most decorated soldier in American history. His story was so extraordinary that in 1955, it was sensationalized in a film that Murphy himself starred in. To Hell and Back is his biography, and at one point, it shows the death of Murphy’s best friend, Lattie Tipton (named “Brandon” in the film). The scene was understandably difficult for Murphy, as Brandon is shot, looks at him from a distance, and falls down dead. However, this scene as depicted in the movie is not what really happened. Murphy stated, “When we shot the scene, we changed the part where Brandon died in my arms. That was the way it had really happened, but it looked too corny, they said. I guess it did.” 

This highly decorated soldier had to relive one of his worst days, and a director or writer looked him in the eye and told him that the truth “looked too corny,” and the concept of that situation is just as shocking as the death itself. When writers censor or change the truth of a situation because it makes them uncomfortable or because it may be unpopular, they risk invalidating the truth, especially in nonfiction. Latter-day Saint authors have to grapple with the concept of censorship when trying to decide whether or not to use profanities in their writing. 

Language: What Is It Good For? Absolutely Everything

The debate of appropriate use of language is an argument spanning centuries. It is one of the reasons the English language is so adaptable. Some words in English didn’t start as profanities but eventually evolved into something inappropriate for polite society. The Journal.ie’s article “The Historical Origins of 6 Swear Words We Use Every Day” explains that the Proto-Indo European’s base word skie, or the Old English scitte, started as a verb and noun (respectively) for “separating” or “purging” from the body. This base eventually evolved to suit the needs of the speakers until it stopped meaning “going to the bathroom” and started being a vulgarity for excrement. Meanwhile, some words started as vulgarities and eventually shifted into every-day terms. For example, a silly sounding word, zounds, is an archaic exclamation (popular in Baroness Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel) meaning “God’s wounds,” and it was a terrible curse when it was first introduced. 

Words are not capable of being bad by themselves. Even our synonyms for the phrase “swear words” supports that idea: vulgar means lacking in sophistication, and profane means disrespectful or irreverent. The word is only as powerful as our reaction to it as individuals and as a society. God’s name is a prayer—until it is used as an exclamation. The way we use the word defines its appropriateness, and we have to vet each term and syllable. Is it worse to say that it’s a “damn beautiful day” or to tell an overeager child to “please shut up”? Writers must evaluate the way they express themselves: how does our use of language and its profanities build or destroy our stories?

The word is only as powerful as our reaction to it.

Writers who are disinclined to use profane words in their writing might be familiar with a First Presidency message, in which Spencer W. Kimball addressed the world—specifically writers!—on profanities. He stated, “I lately picked up a book, widely circulated, highly recommended, a best-seller, and my blood ran cold at the profane and vulgar conversations therein, and I cringed as the characters used in an ugly way the sacred names of Deity. Why? Why do authors sell themselves so cheaply and desecrate their God-given talents? Why do they profane and curse?” Those who prefer to avoid using strong language in their writing may reflect on Book Cave’s article, “Profanity in Books: Show Don’t Tell Emotion,” which points out that “there are more effective ways to make the world ‘bloom’…the use of vulgarity quickly becomes a cheap, convenient device to give the impression that the book is up-to-date and realistic.” These individuals argue that profanity in any form is a sin and an example of weak writing styles; they believe that profanity is an excuse to express strong emotions without having to be vulnerable.

Meanwhile, we have stories about “the cursing apostle” J. Golden Kimball, who, when driving a stubborn stage of oxen, started cursing to get them moving. He remembered, saying: “Boy, how I did cuss! Did I wax eloquent! I’m afraid I did. But, did those oxen sit up and take notice? They sure did; every one of them got down to business. You see, they were Church oxen, and when you talked that language to them they understood it.” This humble and humorous story of working with Church oxen is a reminder that we are, none of us, perfect, and since that’s the case, we can’t expect the characters in our writing to be perfect either. The Writing Cooperative’s article “Should You Use Curse Words in Your Writing?” (heads up! This one uses strong curse words, so don’t read it if you want to avoid that kind of language) insists “swearing isn’t the only way to express emotion, but it is a tool in your arsenal.” Writers who use profanities in their work may relate to the article “Writing Dark Things as a Positive Person” by Zachariah Wahrer where he states, “If a story is all positive, it isn’t interesting. We have to have conflict, deception, destruction, lies, etc., to make it interesting, because that is how we experience everyday life (albeit usually on a smaller scale).” These individuals argue that strong language is representative of human nature and realism; they believe that profanity is an opportunity to represent a variety of character voices and experiences. 

This argument is relevant to writers all over the world. Writers can join the discussion by educating themselves on the pros and cons of using profanities in our writing. 

3 Reasons Why You Can Feel Justified Using Profanities in Your Writing

Lattie Tipton’s death was so traumatic that even nearly fifteen years later, Audie Murphy struggled to maintain composure while reenacting the scene. While the film’s representation of the scene is still potent, knowing the truth of the death is even more so. Failing to accurately represent the situation changed the meaning behind the scene, and one could argue that the same could apply to using profanities. For example, let’s take the phrase, coined initially by U.S. Naval officer David Glasgow Farragut: “Damn the torpedos! Full speed ahead!” This phrase is a popular colloquialism meaning to move forward despite the risks you may face.

If we were to take that phrase and change it to avoid the profanity, we lose the intention behind the phrase. Neither “Don’t worry about the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” nor “Forget the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” carries the same reckless abandon as the vulgarity; the original phrase stirs a level of shock and awe, and it is far more realistic to imagine a sailor cursing. The profanity is an exclamation we expect from such a character, and some authors (and readers) feel strong language is justified because it lends itself to realism. 

Don’t worry about the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!

It could be argued that fictional characters cannot be directly quoted, so providing alternatives to profanities is not going to change the meaning. To expand on that counter-argument, let’s look at Tim O’Brien’s novel The Things We Carried, which is introduced as a nonfictional memoir of American soldiers in Vietnam. Strong language is used throughout the book; these were real men surviving war, and if changing an experience invalidates it, we should expect nonfiction writers to honor the language as much as they can. However, at the end of the novel, readers come to understand that it was never a memoir; none of the men were real, and it takes first-time readers by surprise because the details are so accurate, so realistic, that it’s more unbelievable to think these characters weren’t human. The language they use is shocking, but expected. If O’Brien created fake characters and let them swear like soldiers, was he being profane, or was he representing the soldiers who did exist, even namelessly? Writers argue that these vulgarities are tools for intentionality. We would not correct real human beings for their profane statements; why should writers have to tiptoe around fictional characters inspired by those same people? 

Influential comedian Richard Pryor noted, “What I’m saying might be profane, but it’s also profound,” suggesting that strong language can convey powerful messages. What’s more is the fact that writers are crafting something; their decisions in their work are not always meant to represent their personal values. Conflict and antagonists must exist to create a story, and these conflicts can sometimes be gruesome, raw, and violent because the protagonist has to overcome these evils to develop. To this day, Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is impacting lives because of its haunting imagery. McCarthy wrote about characters that would kill their own children to survive; does that mean he agrees with the tactic and would implement it himself? No. The same could be said for writers who use profanity. These writers can uphold Oscar Wilde’s insight: “I didn’t say I liked it. I said it fascinated me. There is a great difference.” 

3 Reasons Why You Should Feel Justified Not Using Profanities in Your Writing

On the other hand, writers are meant to develop the skills of producing powerful emotions without leaning on the reader’s shock. C.S. Lewis wrote to a young author about adjectives saying, “…instead of telling us a thing was ‘terrible,’ describe it so that we’ll be terrified. Don’t say it was ‘delightful’; make us say ‘Delightful!’ when we’ve read the description. You see, all those words…are only like saying to your readers ‘Please, will you do my job for me?’”

Don’t say it was ‘delightful’; make us say ‘Delightful!’ when we’ve read the description.

C.S. Lewis

The same reasoning can apply to using vulgarities. Writers claim that using profanity is a signal of lazy writing, and Mark Twain humorously suggested, “Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” 

Writers who won’t use profanities have to adapt their work around the void, and doing so can make it just as impactful, particularly since vulgarity for shock value is a detriment to the reader and potentially to the work, especially the more it is used. For example, when you hear about the 2013 film “The Wolf of Wall Street,” you may not think about the story of corrupt stockbrokers in America. Instead, you probably remember it as being the most expletive film in history. The consequence of “realistic” profanity? This film won’t be remembered for the characters or their development, nor the conflict or how it was or wasn’t overcome, but for its use of over 700 swear words. Realistically, this is profanity. Outside a Latter-day Saint community, people use strong language as frequently as any other part of speech. If writers want to claim profanity as realism, they may find their work being analyzed for reasons they didn’t intend. 

Using profanities is not as tempting when you realize that there are ways to work around doing so. Great men and women throughout history have avoided using profanities, even when they could have been justified to do so. Teddy Roosevelt, America’s 26th president, didn’t swear.

Using profanities is not required to develop a unique character voice.

Instead, according to Mental Floss’s article “16 Savage Teddy Roosevelt Insults,” he employed colorful phrases to describe his frustrations. Rachel Hawkins’ young adult novel Rebel Belle produces a narrator who censors her friend’s strongest language throughout the story because “this is my story, so I’m cleaning it up a little.” Language contributes to realism, and using profanities is not required to develop a unique character voice. 

Who is Right and What Really Matters

Both sides of the argument are so compelling and it makes the decision that much harder. We are advised to use “praiseworthy” language, but as artists, we aim to reveal the truth of our reality. Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved is one of the most influential stories of our time, and it uses explicit violence and language to tell the truth. Writers can’t be expected to use profanities to deliver that truth, but I would say they can’t be expected not to either. This debate is one for the ages. 

In the end, I can only say to write what is true to you. Validation of your art is not necessary for it to exist; what you write will continue with or without others’ approval. Whatever language you decide to implement, I simply recommend that you do so deliberately and with the understanding that your words—profane or not—carry a meaning that will affect your readers. What you choose to put in or take out can change your story in big ways and little ways at the same time: To Hell and Back told the true story of a soldier who witnessed the death of his best friend, and whether Lattie Tipton died on a hillside or in Audie Murphy’s arms, he still died. 

Lizzy Pingry is a full-time editor and enthusiastic writer. She graduated with a degree in English and emphasis in creative writing from BYU-Idaho and has worked as an editor on multiple projects since 2016. She lives in Idaho with her husband and their cat, Jack.

Member Spotlight: Tiffany Thomas!

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Tiffany Thomas lives in Houston, Texas.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

I am a blogger. My blog is called “Saving Talents.” Part of the blog’s purpose is to provide free daily devotionals for children that go along with the “Come, Follow Me” program. I also blog about anything that could be useful for someone trying to live a Christ-centered life, which ranges from words of inspiration to finances to recipes. I also have Crohn’s disease, so sometimes I write about dealing with chronic illness.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I began homeschooling my children and wanted something about the gospel I could teach them. A month after beginning, “Come Follow Me” was announced, I knew that would be the perfect fit. I saw so many other parents feeling overwhelmed with the responsibility of it, though, so I decided to offer my content for free for others to use.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I love hearing from other parents about how the devotionals have made a difference in their home. It’s so rewarding to feel like I am helping not only my own children, but other children as well.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

“You can’t please everyone.” Everyone has different tastes and preferences about what they read or use or see. Sometimes, that feedback is helpful, but other times, that feedback is simply an opinion that may or may not fit with your goals. It’s okay to choose to not apply someone’s input about work.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Find a circle of support. Blogging is an extremely difficult and competitive field. Not only are you writing, but you also have to learn the technology and keep up with changing social media and search engines in order to have success. Having a pod or group of other bloggers who aren’t competitive and are willing to help one another makes all the difference.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Honestly, it’s the gospel and my testimony. I see on a daily basis how much better my life is because of the knowledge I have about Heavenly Father and His love for me. My relationship with the Savior has lightened many burdens, and I want to pass that on to others who may also be struggling with the burdens that come with this life.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

Blogging is so much more work than just sitting down and writing an article. I have learned so much about data analysis, graphic design, and more. It has forced me to leave my comfort zone and be diligent in my efforts if I want to reach as many people as possible.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

Being a blogger lets me reach a variety of people all around the world that I normally wouldn’t come in contact with. Not only do the devotionals help other young parents bring the gospel into their children’s lives in deliberate ways, but I also can help those who are looking for ways to follow the Savior more closely. Whether that’s in their personal development or their struggles with a chronic illness diagnosis or parenting or homeschooling, hopefully, my experiences have helped ease the path for others who are in similar circumstances.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

https://savingtalents.com/

5 Reasons You Should Read “Done!” by Don Aslett

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By Jeremy Madsen   

Do you perpetually have a dozen too many irons in the fire? Do you struggle to keep your head above the flood of work projects, Church duties, family responsibilities, personal commitments, emails, text messages, phone notifications, laundry, dishes, and prayers? Is your life’s greatest problem that of never getting enough done?

If so, I strongly recommend reading Don Aslett’s masterpiece on productivity: Done! How to Accomplish Twice as Much in Half the Time—at Home and at the Office.

From when I was first introduced to Don Aslett’s books growing up (via my mother, herself a model of effective productivity), to when I revisited them this last year, I have found each of his publications inspiring and empowering. Done! has shown me how to get more done more quickly and more effectively, with less hassle, less stress, and less wasted energy. Here are five reasons why you should give Done! a try:

1. Don Aslett knows what he’s talking about

Rarely do the credentials of an author matter more than for a book touting itself as being about productivity. In this regard, Don Aslett leaves the masses far behind. The founder of a cleaning company now with over 4,000 employees, author of 40 books, and sought-after speaker and presenter, Don Aslett embodies the principles he teaches. (And he’s a Latter-day Saint!)

2. Done! is packed with actionable and specific advice

Done! offers no gimmick, secret formula, or calendar system for productivity—instead it is packed with specific strategies, tactics, and principles for cutting out time-wasting habits, approaching common problems in more efficient ways, and maintaining motivation and momentum throughout your day and week.

For example, chapter 3 is devoted to listing and describing in gory detail all the activities that rob us time, space, and energy, including three I’m especially guilty of as an editor and writer: interruptions (silence that phone when working!), oversleeping (get up when that alarm goes off!), and “rubbish reading” (ignore those tempting click-bait articles!). This book will help you identify your own productivity weak points.

3. Done! will make you rethink conventional productivity “wisdom”

Occassionally, Don Aslett offers advice that runs counter to the standard productivity fare. At one point, he warns against following schedules—at least, schedules that we rigidly stick to. “Schedules will bind and stiffen you if you follow them too closely. People who have become such expert schedulers that they run around with a planner in their hand at all times lose creativity and flexibility—the schedule becomes their master.” He then tells a story of how, when two weeks of solid rain threw off the yard work he had planned (“scheduled”) during a trip to their summer home in Hawaii, he immediately pivoted to use the time to draft an entire book, write some TV scripts, and even fly to New York and back for a business trip—all completely “unscheduled.”

4. Done! is a fun read

Done! is a delightful book to read. Each subsection is largely self-contained, meaning I can pick the book up for a three-minute motivational pick-me-up while waiting in a doctor’s office or giving a bottle to my baby daughter.

Don Aslett shares many anecdotes—from his own life or others’—that infuse life into his book, grounding each piece of advice in a concrete, memorable, and often funny story or observation.

A warning: Don Aslett’s positive, even exuberant attitude towards productivity is highly contagious!

5. Done! will teach you the greatest secret of productivity: be early!

In chapter 5 (my favorite chapter), Don Aslett lays out what he believes is the one great “secret” of getting more done: be early! A task performed one week early (or one day or one hour) can be three or five or ten times more effective than the same task performed on-time or late.

In the last week alone, here are ways I’ve seen earliness or lateness affect my life for good or ill:

  1. Early: My wife was assigned to prep some Father’s Day card assembly kits for a family reunion. She finished the kits more than a week in advance, and she also made extra. When I needed a Father’s Day card on short notice three days later, it was a cinch!
  2. Late: For a teacher council meeting, the Sunday School counselor in charge didn’t finalize or announce the topic until an hour before church, meaning no one had time to study the material beforehand.
  3. Early: When our temple opened to phase 3 during the 2020 pandemic, I jumped online within the hour and reserved our family a session on the best day for our calendar. Later that day, every available reservation for the next two months had been filled.
  4. Late: We invited a couple to join us for the sealing session we had scheduled, but the husband had let his recommend expire during COVID, meaning he’d either have to miss the session or scramble to set up two recommend interviews in a week’s time.
  5. Early: On a vacation up to Idaho, we reserved a hotel in Pocatello several days in advance. When we got to the hotel and checked in, we learned from the desk staff that every hotel in Pocatello had since sold out for that night!
  6. Late: My wife and I were planning a cross-country move and began apartment hunting about a month out. But by then, many of the places we called had no available units until two or three or even four months after our moving date, decreasing our options and multiplying our stress.
  7. Early: I gave myself plenty of time to arrive at an unfamiliar airport. After taking 20 minutes to navigate security, I looked around—and realized I was in the wrong terminal! I had to go back out of security to another corner of the airport and pass through a different security checkpoint—but I had arrived two hours before boarding time, so I never felt stressed or rushed!
  8. Late: On a trip I took this week, three out of my four flights were delayed almost two hours beyond their original departure times. I have seen one long round of stressed passengers, tired booking agents, long help-desk lines, and missed connections. The shockwaves of those late flights disseminated outward like ripples, delaying and postponing everything in their path, from vacation plans to babysitting arrangements to other flights—and the vicious cycle of lateness rolls on.

Think about your typical workday. How many projects do you stress about because they’re behind schedule? How many emails do you get asking you to solve a problem caused by somebody being late? How many opportunities do you lose because you respond to them three days after hearing about them, instead of three minutes or three hours? How much prime writing or editing or brainstorming time do you lose in the morning because you sleep in? Take a page from Don Aslett’s book—be early!

Still not convinced? Listen to this endorsement from the Lord Himself: “He that seeketh me early shall find me, and shall not be forsaken” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:83, emphasis added).

Get more done with Don!

If you want to reach more of your goals, if you want to win the fight against your endless to-do lists, if you want to make a greater impact on the world—I cannot recommend Don Aslett’s book Done! more highly. A delightful read packed with time-tested tactics and unforgettable anecdotes, Done! will forever change the way you approach your workdays and weekends. You don’t even need to read the whole thing—just mine it for all the five-minute nuggets of wisdom it contains. Then put away the distractions, ignore the diversions, and start doing!

Jeremy Madsen is a fantasy writer, freelance editor, and biblical scholar. With his three siblings, he runs the website Atrium of Light, a repository for scripture songs used to memorize scripture passages through music. Jeremy is the founder of Universal Cape Day (March 10), a day to wear a cape, look epic, and feel heroic. He currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and kids. He is also the operations manager for LDSPMA.

Member Spotlight: Oakli Van Meter!

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What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

I’m currently working on a book series, so I haven’t published yet, but I do have a blog that I try to write on! I started it by suggestion from a professor at BYU and it’s been on and off but I’m hoping to focus on it and build it up in the future!

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

My dad is an author (Jason F. Wright who’s most known for his New York Times best-selling book Christmas Jars), and I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing. I used to read 3 books on a weekend during high school. Life’s a little busier now, but I still love reading and creating media.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

My career is just getting started since I just graduated last year. One thing I’ve done that was so fun is live editing a book my dad wrote live. So he wrote the book live for fans to watch and I edited live as he wrote. It was a fun experience and definitely challenged me with all those people watching!

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

Prioritize what matters most. There have been times in my life where I haven’t been able to enjoy reading and writing as much as others. And that’s okay. As long as the most important things come first. But your creativity is important, too.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

One thing that has really helped me is reading books about writing. As both a writer and an editor, this has helped immensely in honing my craft. My favorite by far is, Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. As a writer, it’s helped me write better and as an editor, it’s helped me edit better. I’ve learned how to give better feedback about the story and the content.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Music. I find a lot of inspiration and ideas in the lyrics of music. I love to listen to music while writing, too.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

Everyone is different. I love listening to music while I write and some people may find it distracting. I don’t write in long chunks—mostly for lack of time. If I get 20-30 minutes in, that’s awesome for me. It takes forever, but writing is more of a side thing for me right now, so it works out perfectly.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

When I’m editing, I try to focus on the good things someone did. I don’t love giving critiques, so I try to focus more on the good and mention the critiques more lightly. I hope that has made the people I’ve worked with feel good.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://www.wiseoleoak-wordpress.com

Lessons in Spaghetti Sauce, Horseradish, and Peace: What Creators Can Do to Lift the World

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By Tyler Nelson   

To a Worm in Horseradish, the World is Horseradish

A week after the general conference in April, I was reading through articles from my favorite author, Malcolm Gladwell. Malcolm has written on just about every subject, from dogs to Challenger, sneakers to police officers, and even David and Goliath. The article that struck me that day was about spaghetti sauce. Specifically, the connection between spaghetti sauce, choices, and happiness. It made me hopeful.

The gist of the article was that back in any decade before the 90s, a lot of people were eating one, maybe two, kinds of spaghetti sauce. Howard Moskowitz, a market researcher and psychophysicist who Gladwell interviewed, said that people only ate one kind of spaghetti sauce because they were only aware of one kind of spaghetti sauce. In those days, that kind of spaghetti sauce was the thin and runny kind. Maybe that is your thing, and maybe it’s not. That is what the sauce companies wanted to find out.

So, some of those spaghetti sauce companies whipped up new batches of spaghetti sauce: chunky, garlic, and extra tomato. These flavors existed, but they weren’t prevalent. The sauce companies loaded up the sauce in trucks and set out across the country on taste-testing missions. What they found was incredible. People were floored by the new flavors! They loved them! Most importantly, the people listed their satisfaction as being much higher than before. They were happier!

Moskowitz shared his take on a Yiddish proverb to explain the situation: “To a worm in horseradish, the world is horseradish.” To put it simply, what it means is that sometimes when we are put in a situation or circumstance in life, we have a hard time seeing beyond it. It can often become our world.

Coming out of COVID

Has anyone else felt like a worm in horseradish over the last year and a half? As we enter this summer, we do so with a lot of emotion. Sadness, anxiety, loneliness, even anger. Many people have lost loved ones. Some have lost jobs or face other financial difficulties. Grandparents have gone months and months without seeing their grandkids. 

If you have paid any attention to the news, you’ve watched as the political temperature has risen and continues to rise. One could not get on social media or watch the news without hearing or seeing some kind of hateful vitriol. There have been accusations, violence, and widening gaps among friends and family when we should be bonding together. It has truly been hard to find a haven.

Elder Jeffrey. R Holland addressed the situation of the world in his recent April 2021 general conference talk “Not as the World Giveth.” He said:

Two thousand years ago, the Savior warned that in the last days there would be ‘wars, and rumors of wars,” later saying that ‘peace [would] be taken from the earth.’… Brothers and sisters, we do see too much conflict, anger, and general incivility around us … with real deficits of faith and hope and charity all around us.

“NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH,” ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND

Elder Holland knows that these have been, and may continue to be, trying times. But he also knows that there is something that can lift us, guide us, and comfort us when we need it. And we can find comfort in knowing that if an Apostle of the Lord is aware of the situation, the Lord is aware of our situation and is more than ready and willing to give help, aid, and assistance in whatever form that we might need it. With the help of Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can be happy.

In his talk, Elder Holland shared how Christ shared His peace:

Prior to that first Easter, as Jesus concluded the new sacramental ordinance He had administered to the Twelve, He began His majestic farewell discourse and moved toward Gethsemane, betrayal, and crucifixion. However, sensing the concern and perhaps even outright fear some of those men must have exhibited, He said this to them (and to us):

‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. …

‘I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. …

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ …

…Such help and hope are dearly needed because in this worldwide congregation today are many who struggle with any number of challenges—physical or emotional, social or financial, or a dozen other kinds of trouble. But many of these we are not strong enough to address in and of ourselves, for the help and peace we need is not the kind ‘the world giveth.’

“Not as the World Giveth,” ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND

Benjamin’s Runners

As members of Latter-day Saint Publishing, Media & Arts (LDSPMA) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we find ourselves in a unique and powerful position. We are writers, readers, podcasters, artists, singers, publishers, and so much more. The theme for LDSPMA this year is “Voices of Light,” and we have the amazing capacity to help bolster and uplift those around us. In the negativity and the fear of the world today, we can break through. We have ways to spread light and joy, to give not as “the world giveth,” but as Christ would.

One of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon comes at the beginning of Mosiah. The venerated King Benjamin summons all his people to the temple so that he can speak to them. They arrived in masses, setting their tents up around the temple. King Benjamin finds that even speaking from his tall tower, not everyone can hear him. So, what did he do?

 He caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words.

Mosiah 2:8

I especially love the depiction of this in the Book of Mormon videos. A group of young messengers is tasked with taking the written words out to the people so that they can be read and that the people might understand. These messengers take their assignments seriously, and when they get the missives they sprint out to their assigned areas to deliver. We can be, and we need to be those runners. As the world continues to rage and more and more people find themselves lost in the dark and trapped in negative mindsets, we need to give them the tools and the help and the words that they need to be free. 

Most importantly, what was contained in the message that King Benjamin’s runners  delivered?

I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven.

Mosiah 2:41

Peace. Life. Love. An escape from the things of the world. And who does King Benjamin declare this message will go to?

The time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Mosiah 3:20

The world has been a bit of a dark place for a long time now. But there is hope in the Savior. There is life. There is light. And we can share it. If a change in spaghetti sauce can make people happier, imagine what the gospel can do! There are people out there who need to see their options, and we are the creators who can deliver them. Whether it is in print, film, audio, or any other medium, we can spread the message of Christ. As you prepare your next piece, compose, or speak, remember we can help lift that darkness by delivering messages of light. By delivering the message of light:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Tyler Nelson is an English major at Utah Valley University and will graduate with his bachelor’s degree in creative writing this fall. He is the author of five published short stories, including Letters From Bahati, which can be found through Owl Canyon Press. He hosts the Mission Report, a podcast all about interviewing returned missionaries and letting them share their experiences and advice for future missionaries. Tyler and his wife currently live up on a hill in Provo, UT.

Member Spotlight: Karlene Browning!

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Karlene Browning lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

As a typesetter, editor, and formatter, I’ve worked on many books over the years, including HE DID DELIVER ME FROM BONDAGE by Colleen C. Harrison, a best-selling LDS 12-step recovery book; PIECE OF SKY by Ann Hunter, a middle-grade fairy tale retelling; and many more. As I recently returned to the publishing scene, I’ve released OMEGA ALPHA and LIFE IN THE PIT by Kristen Landon, and LIFELIKE by Sheila A. Nielson (a 14th annual Whitney Award finalist).

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

Since I learned to read at age 4, I’ve been fascinated with stories. I love words, I love stories. I was about 12 when I realized that people wrote books, and thought, maybe, I could write one too! I haven’t published a novel yet, but I’m still thinking about it. In the meantime, I play with words and story every day—reading, editing, typesetting, formatting, design, and marketing. I love taking a manuscript and making it shine!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

That’s like asking which is your favorite child! I am very proud of my work with Hearthaven Publishing, getting the message of recovery through Jesus Christ out to the Latter-day Saint community. Their first book, HE DID DELIVER ME FROM BONDAGE, has sold over 200,000 copies. Another huge highlight is my most recent release, LIFELIKE, which is a Whitney finalist! There was much jumping and screaming and exaltation when that was announced.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

Don’t ever tell yourself you can’t do something because you don’t know how. We have Google now. You can always learn how to do something. The more you use a tool or skill, the better you become. Also, a recent piece of advice that I use daily: “When one can see no future, all one can do is the next right thing.” – Pabbie from Frozen II

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

If you want to do something, keep learning and keep practicing. Network with people you know. Don’t be afraid to tell friends and family what you’re doing. Your excitement for what you do will inspire them—and they’ll tell others. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to establish yourself as a professional in any field—it’s how I got (still get) 95% of my work.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I can see the end of the project from the beginning, in all it’s shining glory. That view keeps me going.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

Book people are my people. I can talk with them for hours about books, authors, and other book-related things. It’s networking with others who love books that keeps my creative process going.

You can find tips on the creative process on my “About” page on my website at: https://inksplasher.com/meet-inksplasher/

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I love doing workshops and presentations about creating and publishing books. I love sharing what I’ve learned over the past 40 years and encouraging others to keep trying, celebrating their successes. Years ago, author Josi S. Kilpack told me that I was the best book cheerleader ever and that has remained one of my most treasured compliments.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

http://inksplasher.com/

Questions Every Writer Should Ask Themselves

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By Steve Dunn Hanson   

In high school my most dreaded assignment was to write a composition. Give me a book, like Orwell’s 1984 back then, and you could just about say goodbye to me until I had finished it. But writing . . . ? Hand me a math problem or a science project or, preferably, a basketball or a MAD magazine. Just don’t ask me to write, or, even worse, give a talk.

Maybe my handwriting had something to do with this aversion. The lowest grade I ever received in school was in penmanship in the fourth grade. Mine was the poorest in the class. The teacher told us that she would give a book, The Magic Bus, to the student who improved the most in penmanship. It was no contest. I was so bad nobody could possibly improve as much as I could. I got the book, but bettering my handwriting never got close to the top of my I-want-to-do-this list again. Thank goodness for typewriters and computers!

So, when did my attitude about writing and speaking change, and why? Well, weird things sometimes happen when you grow up. For me, I began to discover that I had something meaningful to say. And if I was going to effectively share with others what I was observing and experiencing and thinking, I had to do something about my subpar communication skills.

I began to discover that I had something meaningful to say.

While each of us has our own unique path to where we are today in the use of our creative talents, all of us are faced with the same ongoing and defining question: Why am I doing this? Is it for money, or for recognition, or to be famous? Is it to make others happy, or to help others overcome challenges, or to share knowledge, or to provide entertainment? Will it give me an outlet for something in me that needs to get out, or fulfill my desire to achieve, or give me a satisfaction-high by watching something new and even beautiful flow from me? Or is it my duty to create?

Any or all the above might be our answer. But whatever our reasons for creating, we need to count on snags along the way. My foray into getting my first book published illustrates this rather dramatically. And, I might add, that this initial rollercoaster experience of mine has been replicated, in one form or another, a myriad of times throughout my creative journey. Here’s how it went.

Some 40 years ago I had two articles published in the Ensign magazine within a year or two of each other. That confidence builder got me thinking about writing a book. And I knew just the book I wanted to write. As a young man, I had an extraordinary Church mission to Australia. It had everything. Gobs of spiritual highlights. Dangers. Depressions. Really funny incidents. And even why-am-I-out-here gut-punchers. I could literally go 3,000 miles from one end of my mission to the other and be on islands or in the tropics or deserts or snowy mountains. I labored in small outback towns that were 100 years behind anything I had ever experienced as well as in a dazzling metropolis that boasted world-class beauty. All of this plus out-of-this-world fauna like kangaroos, emus, koalas, echidnas, and platypuses. I was in an exotic zoo with no cages.

In sum, my mission was an adventure I never dreamed possible, and I was certain the world would be waiting with bated breath to read about it! But after my initial enthusiasm, I was struck with a balloon-popping realization. Who would ever want to buy a book about the mission of a nobody like Steve Dunn Hanson? And with that came a critical question. “Why do I want to write this book? Really!”

Why do I want to write this book? Really!

Significant soul searching resulted and some course-guiding answers came. I decided my primary objective in writing was to help young missionaries find out who they were so their missions could be the life changing experience for them that mine was for me. Now all I had to do was write the book so it would appeal to a publisher and entice young men and women to read it. That shouldn’t be too hard. After all, the Ensign published two of my articles. Dream on!

I titled the book The Mission. It was a fictionalized account of some of my mission experiences with a focus on the changes taking place in the life of my protagonist, Elder Pete Hewitt. I wrote it as a series of letters that brought the reader into Pete’s mission and mind in a unique and intimate way. I submitted my manuscript to a major Latter-day Saint publisher and within two or three weeks I received a phone call from the managing editor saying they wanted to publish it. Well, I thought, what was so hard about this?

Then reality hit.

Someone on the publisher’s board of directors didn’t like the book—too realistic they said. Remember this was over 30 years ago, and Latter-day Saint fiction tended to be more vanilla then. I soon received a “with regrets” letter from the managing editor. They would not be publishing it. I picked myself up off the floor (I stayed there for quite a while!) and submitted my work to other Latter-day Saint publishers. My rejection letters piled up until I received an acceptance from a very small publisher. That was an almost euphoric experience, but I was learning to restrain my hope. A publishing date was set, and then . . . reality hit. Again.

The company didn’t have the funds to publish it for a while, they said apologetically. I could wait for when they did (no date was given), or, if I wanted to do this now, they would help me self-publish it and would distribute it for me at a special price. I would, of course, foot the bill. I had run out of options, and since I had the funds, that’s what I did.

Amazon didn’t exist back then, and there wasn’t a plethora of publishing, marketing, editing, formatting, or distributing services to get a self-published book up and going. My would-be publisher, however, was good to their word and successfully guided me through the process. A learning experience, and an expensive one. I printed 7,000 hardback copies, and Deseret Book and other Latter-day Saint bookstores carried them. It was all working. At one point, Deseret Book even told me The Mission was their top-selling book for the week.

And then . . . (Stop me if you’ve heard this before).

While all copies of my book were ultimately sold, my publisher/distributor declared bankruptcy somewhere along the way, and I was sans thousands of dollars in royalty compensation. But fortunately, that was not the end of the story.

Over the years, I have had countless people tell me how that book changed their mission. Changed their lives. And even today, decades later, I have had grandfathers approach me to tell me how my book affected them deeply when they were struggling with their missions. And I’ve thought, it didn’t just affect these now-grandfathers, but through them their children and grandchildren as well. My book was a success in the most meaningful way it could be. It accomplished what I wrote it to do.

My answer to the “Why” question back then was the right answer and put me on a convoluted but exceptionally rewarding path. The ride was amazing . . . especially looking back. But, then again, maybe I have just described life.

How we respond to the “Why” question, of course, is affected by how we answer another question: Where does my talent come from? Am I the source of my creative genius and solely responsible for how successfully it is manifested and received? Or is my talent a gift from God that He has given me stewardship over, and my magnifying it requires an abundance of His grace?

How we respond to the “Why” question is affected by how we answer another question: Where does my talent come from?

While I, for one, find it disturbingly easy to drink in accolades and internalize praise, that is literally a dead-end street. I wrote a little poem about that.

When I think
that it is me,
I find my glint
is hard to see.

As I lose myself in Him,
His Beam bursts forth
where e’er I Am.

When we perceive that we are the sole or primary source of our talents, we will likely focus on ourselves. A dim light indeed. If we recognize the gift-nature of our abilities, we will strive to know what the Lord wants us to do with the talents He has given us. On an admittedly bumpy and inconsistent road, we will also grow and learn to become an extension of Jesus Christ; an instrument in bringing about His purposes. We are then entitled to have the Spirit work through us, and what proceeds can be far beyond what we are innately capable of producing.

How we answer the “Why” and “Where” questions will affect the content, quality, and impact of our creativity. But those responses beg another question that is even more important. Are they congruous with who we really want to be eternally? If not, perhaps we should consider reprioritizing some of our objectives.

Steve Dunn Hanson has a BS in economics and an MA in political behavior. He has served in many community and Church capacities, including as a jail chaplain, stake president, and member of a temple presidency. He lives with Joyce, his wife of 57 years, in northeast Washington and is the author of several books, including The Course of Fate, a fiction trilogy currently available on Amazon.

Member Spotlight: Fred Dodini!

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Dr. Fred Dodini lives in Carmel, IN.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

Shine Brighter: Choosing a Life of Greater Clarity, Purpose, and Joy (book)
“My Mary”: A Story of Redemption (s0ng)

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

Media is one of the most powerful ways to share an important message, and I believe I have some important messages to share.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Distilling a lifetime of study and unique experiences, challenges, and ponderings into a life-coaching model, a story, and a song that can change lives for the better.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

There’s an audience who needs what you have to offer. You just need to keep searching until you find each other.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Learn all you can about your subject or craft and then change it, improve it, and make it your own.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

As a therapist, I love seeing my ideas and their application, improve people’s lives.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

My creative process tends to be slow and tedious at times, and spontaneous and revelatory at other times. Mostly slow and tedious. But eventually, I seem to come up with something worthwhile.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

I try to avoid the trivial and focus on the transcendent. If I’m going to create something, I want it to have meaning, purpose, and impact. I want it to have value long after I am gone and be something that future generations—mine and others—may benefit from.