Saintspeak : The Mormon Dictionary

Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A.: Orion Books, 1982. First Edition, Second Printing . Trade Paperback. Near Fine. Grondahl, Calvin (illustrator). Red and white wraps. Light wear along spine edge and wear at top of spine. Light crease at top of front and back foredge corners. In excellent condition for this paperback. This book was published the year BEFORE Card's book on Danny Ainge, both by Orion Books, an early imprint of Signature Books. In fact, THIS IS SIGNATURE BOOKS' FIRST BOOK! Before there was Robert Kirby and before Card became an acclaimed science fiction writer, Card was writing Mormon humor. This book defines hundreds of words that Mormon church members use everyday, but in a way to make all of us laugh, no matter how pious we pretend to be. A few samples will give you the flavor: ADAM: the first man to insist he was not responsible for what a woman enticed him to do. ADAM-GOD THEORY: A doctrine that was never taught in the Church, especially by Brigham Young. BURNING IN THE BOSOM: How the Spirit will tell you whether the Church is true or the pretty girl across from you in religion class is the one you're foreordained to marry. COUNCIL OF FIFTY: The political arm of the Church in the early days. Most functions are now handled by the Republican Party and the Freemen Institute. DANITES: A fanatic group of Mormon vigilantes that never existed. THE GLORY OF GOD IS INTELLIGENCE: In their humility, Mormons generally avoid seeking after glory. MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE: An unfortunate incident in which John D. Lee, a master of disguise, dressed up as dozens of Indians and single-handedly wiped out all the men, women, and children in a wagon train of Missourians passing through southern Utah. STUPOR OF THOUGHT: What the Lord puts in the minds of BYU students to let them know their teacher has written an unrighteous test. TESTIMONY: An attempt to explain in words what words cannot explain, to people who cannot understand you unless they already know.