Many of you know that I have long struggled trying to reconcile the conflict of interest presented by Deseret Book. Is it a for profit business or a holy library - easy answer, right? It's both. But how can an entity serve God and Mammon? Deseret Book seems to walk this line very closely. Are the books on sale being written, advertised, and sold to uplift and inspire or to make money? //P.S. I really wonder about this one when their books is advertised RIGHT after conference (usually several times) - I work in a marketing department, don't try to tell me that isn't prime advertising space.//
Furthermore, this question became especially distressing to me when The Church purchased Deseret Book a little while back. I have mulled it over and over and over again. I've asked people I respect what their opinions are and usually the answers were the same (which means they were probably right). I always got a "you're reading way too much into it, kid" kinda response. But the question continued to bug me. I might think more about this than most because I've thought about writing my own LDS fiction and deeply contemplated how, why, or if I should publish it. My discomfort reached an all time high when I decided to buy a copy of The History of the Church. You know, the large volume set referenced in the introduction to almost every section of the Doctrine and Covenants. Surely something referenced so often in canonized scripture would be sold at wholesale prices similar to the Missionary Library. Nope. The only available set in print is $200 and leatherbound. Ack! So I called them up and asked for an alternative. They recommended Gospel Link. I thought "Oh yeah, that program with like 5,000 books. I suppose I could buy a CD to get them." But I couldn't find Gospel Link anywhere on their website - at least not the software. The only available Gospel Link library is a pay-per-month Gospel Link service and website. Really, $5 a month is not much for so much knowledge...but I just couldn't bring myself to add yet another monthly expense to our bills. Especially since I know the financial reasons companies use monthly payments - it MAKES THEM MORE MONEY.
In the end, I came to an answer that I felt very good about. I will purchase a monthly service for Gospel literature when and ONLY WHEN I have exhausted all of my free resources. This includes all of the literature (scriptures, magazines, conference talks, etc) available through lds.org, all of the talks on ksl.com, the videos provided through kbyu and byutv and all of the books available through project guttenberg (awesome btw) and literature.org, etc. Since I know I have NOT exhausted those resources - not even close - I am content that I will not need to make a purchase at Deseret Book any time soon. Problem solved...for me. But what about the Deseret Book/Priestcraft conflict?
Well, last night while I was thinking about this relationship I finally came to an answer that makes sense to me: The Church purchased Deseret Book in order to ensure that it DID NOT become a wolf's den of priestcraft. Now, I'm sure Deseret Book started out with only the best intentions in mind but as soon as it became a viable revenue stream it could only be a matter of time before someone would start focusing more on the money than the message. I'm thinking The Church stepped in to stop that. Still, I'm sure there are LDS and 'Jack-LDS' authors who target Deseret Book because it's easier to get published in the smaller market and sell lots of books to faith seeking suckers...er...I mean members. To me the combo leaves a bad taste in my mouth - as it probably did with The Church. So rather than allow it to run out of control (LDS film making - ahem) they decided to wrangle it in so that they could protect members from an inevitable outlet for priestcraft. Does preistcraft still happen there - sure, though everyone involved will surely deny it. It's a business, but at least the church can keep it from getting crazy out of hand.
So here's my rules when shopping for LDS branded media:
1. Is it published by The Church itself? If not, always take it with a grain of salt because IT IS NOT 100% DOCTRINE, no matter the author.
2. Along with #1 - always try to have the Holy Ghost in order to discern what is written for commercial success and what is written for spiritual success.
3. Never, EVER allow the study of any book to replace study of the scriptures
4. Remember that quality requires time and that the artist, author, or musician had to spend a lot of their personal time to create it (so suck it up and pay for it) but remember it's not 100% doctrine.
5. I always have to remember that my testimony was bolstered during my formative years by some excellent LDS media. Heimerdinger's work most notably combined with LDS Pop music greats like Michael McClean (sp?), Kurt Bestor, and Kenneth Cope. I can't deny or despise that.
6. Is the purchase a popular / required item for the current Mormon Pop-culture trends? If so, don't buy it until it's out of fashion so as to buy it for a real purpose.
7. "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
Richie, I loved this!! What a insightful piece of work. I know this has bothered you for a long time. Glad you finally resolved it in your mind and wrote this down.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rich... the concept of 'selling for profit' inspiring books, videos, paintings, music not to mention witty sayings on plaques, CTR rings, Book of Mormon superhero figures, temple recommend covers, embroidered temple robe envelopes, etc. etc. has always bothered me.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand it's pure merchandising of the gospel. Bad!
On the other, it provides all of us, at whatever level of spiritual depth we may be, to reflect in new ways on gospel truths, and to see how the gospel affects artists which can inspire and teach us more about the gospel.
I could go on and on going back and forth on the pros/cons. But let me share 2 thoughts and a story.
1. To the degree that an artists/author/musician is seeking gain or fame (2 key elements of priestcraft), to that degree they are opposing the work of God. To the degree they seek to be a window of God's love and to worship through their gifts, to that degree they are blessed and should be shared with the world.
2. This situation reminds me of Christmas. During Christmastime you can find everything to celebrate. You can find art, music, books, t-shirts, nativitys, etc which celebrate Christ and the birth, AND you can find funny Reindeer stories and Santa and Frosty. At one level it's fun to enjoy the holiday spirit be delighting in Rudolph and Frosty, and being home alone...on another level it's critical to focus and be touched on the gifts/ miracles/ memories/ testimonies shared during the time of year. Would you reject all of the festivities because they don't all focus on the deepest level of worship possible at Christmastime? Or do you enjoy all levels of worship possible and be grateful that you can worship at the deepest level and yet still relate to the rest of the world at whatever level of worship they are at?
Story: A few years ago, we decided we wanted to hold a fireside with Kenneth Cope for our youth. We contacted him, and he said he'd be delighted. As we approached the time of the fireside, his PR people suggested we get a check for him to cover his costs. I asked how much to make the check...they said "well, since it's coming up on Christmas, and this is his last concert, you might consider $300." I was furious. I knew that Stakes/Wards aren't supposed to pay for speakers etc. I was thinking priestcraft all the way. But we knew $300 was less than it would cost to get our youth to one of his concerts, and we were so close, we went with it. His fireside was wonderful, full of the spirit, and inspiring. But I kept thinking about that $300 check I was going to give him. As the concnert/fireside ended, I gave him a basket of fruit with a check in it. He saw the check and asked what that was. I said, it's your pay for coming. He was truely insulted. I don't get paid for doing firesides. I can't take this check. I tried over and over. And finally he told me, under no circumstances would he take the money.
I was shocked and soooo impressed. Here was a gifted artist who loved the lord as much as he sang he did. Who loved his brothers and sisters and wanted to inspire and elevate them - not for GAIN or FAME. But because he loved the lord.
Since that Time I have been comfortable with the knowledge that those who dedicate their lives to sing/write etc. are not all seeking for gain or fame. But that they are seeking to worship in their own way.
Sure some might not be, and that's between them and the Lord. But as a consumer, I can feel at peace when I purchase.
Just my ramblings.
Great insights Bret and thanks for the story - it makes me glad I listened to Kenneth Cope all those years :). It's a fine line to walk for sure and probably very difficult to be on the other side when money is often the reward for sharing your talents.
ReplyDeleteJust came across your article and I love it. I have struggled with the same feelings and your thoughts really helped. Thank you for sharing! -Natalie Palmer
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