Nephi Anderson
Encyclopedia
Christian Nephi Anderson (January 22, 1865 – January 6, 1923) was a prolific LDS author and the most well-known from the "Home Literature" period of LDS fiction
. His most successful work was his first novel, Added Upon
(1898), but his writing career also included short stories
, poetry
, and non-fiction
. He wrote a total of ten novels.
on 22 January 1865. His parents, Christian and Petronella Nielson, had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints only a few years before his birth and in 1871 they emigrated
to Utah
, United States
. They settled first in Coalville, Utah
and later in Ogden, Utah
.
In 1886, Anderson married Asenath Tillotson and began a teaching career in Ogden
and Brigham City, Utah. From 1891 to 1893 he served a mission
for the LDS Church in his birth country of Norway and upon returning, resumed teaching. He served as Superintendent of Schools in Box Elder County, Utah
from 1900-1903.
Asenath died in January, 1904, after having three children with Nephi.
Just two months after his wife's death, Anderson left on his second mission for the Church, this time to Great Britain
where he became assistant editor
of the LDS periodical, the Millennial Star
, under the direction of Heber J. Grant
. Returning to Utah in 1906, Anderson moved his family to Salt Lake City and secured a position as instructor of English and Missionary Studies at LDS High School. In 1908, he married Maud Rebecca Symons, with whom he would have six more children.
After a short mission which involved his whole family moving to Independence, Missouri
and an assignment there as editor of another LDS periodical, The Liahona
, Anderson was asked to come back to Utah and begin working as an editor and librarian
with the Genealogical Society of Utah
, replacing Joseph Fielding Smith
, who had been called to the Church's general leadership. In January, 1923, Anderson developed appendicitis
and died on January 6 after an operation for the malady when he developed peritonitis
. Speakers at his funeral included Heber J. Grant (LDS Church president at the time), George Albert Smith
, Joseph Fielding Smith
, John A. Widtsoe
, and several other prominent LDS leaders of the period.
. He published his most recognized work, the novel Added Upon, in 1898, to wide acclaim and popularity. At his death, a local newspaper, The Box Elder News, exclaimed that Added Upon had "been read by almost every person in [Utah]." During the last three decades of his life, Anderson would write ten novels and numerous short stories, all involving LDS characters and storyline.
LDS fiction
LDS fiction is an American niche market of fiction novels featuring themes related to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
. His most successful work was his first novel, Added Upon
Added Upon
Added Upon is the first and most popular novel written by Mormon novelist Nephi Anderson. Originally published in 1898 and significantly enlarged and expanded the 1912 fifth edition, the book was in print until 2005....
(1898), but his writing career also included short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
, poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, and non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
. He wrote a total of ten novels.
Family and Church Life
Christian Nephi Anderson was born in Christiania (modern Oslo), NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
on 22 January 1865. His parents, Christian and Petronella Nielson, had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints only a few years before his birth and in 1871 they emigrated
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They settled first in Coalville, Utah
Coalville, Utah
Coalville is a city in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,382 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Summit County...
and later in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
.
In 1886, Anderson married Asenath Tillotson and began a teaching career in Ogden
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
and Brigham City, Utah. From 1891 to 1893 he served a mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
for the LDS Church in his birth country of Norway and upon returning, resumed teaching. He served as Superintendent of Schools in Box Elder County, Utah
Box Elder County, Utah
Box Elder County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It lies on the north end of the Great Salt Lake, covering a large area north to the Idaho border and west to the Nevada border. Included in this area are large tracts of barren desert, contrasted by high, forested mountains. The...
from 1900-1903.
Asenath died in January, 1904, after having three children with Nephi.
Just two months after his wife's death, Anderson left on his second mission for the Church, this time to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
where he became assistant editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of the LDS periodical, the Millennial Star
Millennial Star
The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star was the longest continuously published periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being printed from 1840 until 1970....
, under the direction of Heber J. Grant
Heber J. Grant
Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...
. Returning to Utah in 1906, Anderson moved his family to Salt Lake City and secured a position as instructor of English and Missionary Studies at LDS High School. In 1908, he married Maud Rebecca Symons, with whom he would have six more children.
After a short mission which involved his whole family moving to Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
and an assignment there as editor of another LDS periodical, The Liahona
Liahona (magazine)
Liahona is the official international magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is named after the word Liahona from the Book of Mormon. The Liahona is published in 51 different languages from one to twelve times per year depending on the language...
, Anderson was asked to come back to Utah and begin working as an editor and librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
with the Genealogical Society of Utah
Genealogical Society of Utah
The Genealogical Society of Utah , established in 1894, does business as FamilySearch International, which is the genealogical arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, replacing Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
, who had been called to the Church's general leadership. In January, 1923, Anderson developed appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
and died on January 6 after an operation for the malady when he developed peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
. Speakers at his funeral included Heber J. Grant (LDS Church president at the time), George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith, Sr. was the eighth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
, Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
, John A. Widtsoe
John A. Widtsoe
John Andreas Widtsoe was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1921 until his death. Widtsoe was also a noted author, scientist, and academician.-Early life:...
, and several other prominent LDS leaders of the period.
Literary career
In a piece in The Improvement Era entitled A Plea for Fiction (1898), Anderson wrote of the Mormon experience- "What a field is here for the pen of the novelist." Although he is well-known for his particular style of early LDS fiction, his first published book was the non-fiction title, A Young Folk's History of the Church (1889). In the early 1890s, Anderson began submitting short works to The ContributorThe Contributor
The Contributor may refer to:*The Contributor , a 19th-century periodical associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints*The Contributor , a street newspaper in Nashville, TN...
. He published his most recognized work, the novel Added Upon, in 1898, to wide acclaim and popularity. At his death, a local newspaper, The Box Elder News, exclaimed that Added Upon had "been read by almost every person in [Utah]." During the last three decades of his life, Anderson would write ten novels and numerous short stories, all involving LDS characters and storyline.
Novels
- Added Upon (1898), was in continuous publication until 2005
- Marcus King, Mormon (1900)
- The Castle Builder (1902)
- Piney Ridge Cottage (1912)
- The Story of Chester Lawrence (1913)
- A Daughter of the North (1915)
- John St. John (1917)
- Romance of a Missionary (1919)
- The Boys of Springtown (1920)
- Dorian (1921)
Non-Fiction
- A Young Folks' History of the Church (1889)
- A Plea for Fiction (1898)
- Purpose in Fiction (1898)
- The Place of Genealogy in the Plan of Salvation (1911)
Short Stories
- Almina (1891)
- A Visit of the King (1895)
- At St. Peter's Gate (1917)