This valuable anthology, Latter-Day Lore: Mormon Folklore Studies, fills an academic vacuum for scholars, Latter-day Saint students, and others interested in learning more about the complex history, culture, traditions, and practices of the Mormon people or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). A comprehensive survey of Mormon folklore and also a reflection of shifts in the field of folklore itself, the text will also serve as a resource in the fields of anthropology, sociology, literature, and religious studies. The anthology, divided into six sections, includes twenty-eight seminal articles written by well-respected Mormon and non-Mormon scholars who have pursued LDS lore over the span of more than a century. This work begins with a thorough introduction by the editors informing the readers of shaping influences, theoretical perspectives, and tensions encountered by folklore scholars of the Mormons over time. In explaining what Mormon folklore is, the editors suggest that “Mormon folklore” can be understood to include the following: (1) folklore performed by a substantial number of Mormons, (2) folklore about Mormons, and (3) folklore analyzed for its connection to Mormon culture and identity.

Information from these articles is frequently quoted by LDS folklorists and students, and having the articles gathered under one cover with clarifying introductory essays provides an overall perspective on the LDS society, its symbols, and its international landscape. The Mormon people were at one time erroneously defined as a regional group, and they are still viewed by some in that way. From the founding of the LDS church in 1830, Mormons have proselytized and have grown into an international presence of more than 14,000,000 adherents worldwide. The editors’ introductory essay to the section called “Mormondom as Regional Culture” explains that perspectives of Mormons differ, and there are “many levels of meaning conveyed by... particular set[s] of narratives” (26).

Each of the six sections in this meticulously assembled anthology is preceded by insightful introductory essays that contextualize the articles included. The selections range from regional lore, customs, traditions, and sacred perspectives, to pioneers, Mormon humor, missionary lore, and international Mormon folklore. The beehive, for instance, discussed by Hal Cannon in the regional culture section, is a “largely unexamined treasury of folklore and art” (48). The ubiquitous beehive has been a constant in Mormon iconography, and its significance is complex. Briefly explained as a symbol of LDS industriousness, its adaptation and meaning are multi-layered with ancient roots in the Bible and Book of Mormon history; it can, as well, stand as a “personal and exclusive symbol for the [Utah] pioneer” (61).

William (Bert) Wilson is the most well-known of Mormon folklorists, and his article, “Freeways, Parking Lots, and Ice Cream Stands: The Three Nephites in Contemporary Society,” reviews scholarship on the legend of the Three Nephites, said to be ancient Native Americans living in the time of the Book of Mormon. They requested and were granted the privilege of remaining on earth until the Savior returns. Stories of their aid to humans in stressful circumstances abound among Mormons, and some of the earliest encounter narratives have survived since the pioneer days. Sharing narratives from time and place, though some are no doubt apocryphal, Wilson states that, “They mirror our attitudes, values and principal concerns... they tell us of a personal God concerned with our individual problems; and they provide us with pride in the past, with confidence in the future, and with the means of meeting the crises of modern living with equanimity” (214).

With articles ranging from “Orrin Porter Rockwell: The Modern Sampson” (Gustive O. Larson), to “The Ballad of the ‘Mountain Meadows Massacre’” (Barre Toelken), to “For Time and Eternity: BYU Coed Jokes and the Seriousness of Mormon Humor” (Steve Siporin), to “‘Of Course, in Guatemala, Bananas Are Better’: Exotic and Familiar Eating Experiences of Mormon Missionaries” (Jill Rudy), this anthology provides links between Mormon folklore and the wider field of folklore scholarship. It is an up-to-date survey and a welcome and needed enrichment for ongoing Mormon folklore studies.

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[Review length: 667 words • Review posted on July 4, 2014]