Saintspeak
Encyclopedia
Saintspeak is a satirical look at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by LDS author Orson Scott Card
. It is modeled after The Devil's Dictionary
by Ambrose Bierce
.
Originally published in 1981, Saintspeak is currently out of print. Its publication was timely, with numerous references to the Equal Rights Amendment
and the antiquated way missionaries gave lessons to investigators. However, a great deal of the humor still applies to the way things are run and the way people behave today.
For the most part, the book is light-hearted and winks at the shortcomings and idiosyncrasies of Mormon
s, but there are entries that are downright harsh. Frequent targets include hypocritical behavior by church members, the church's repression and denial of its history, and fanatics who take church doctrines a bit too far.
Card pre-emptively and humorously strikes against anyone who takes offense too deeply by including a satiric introduction where he claims Ambrose Bierce appeared to him in a vision and presented the text of this book to him (paralleling the angel Moroni
appearing to Joseph Smith and telling him about the Golden plates
that composed the Book of Mormon
). Thus, he isn't responsible for anyone being offended by it; it's all Bierce's fault.
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
. It is modeled after The Devil's Dictionary
The Devil's Dictionary
The Devil's Dictionary is a satirical "reference" book written by Ambrose Bierce. The book offers reinterpretations of terms in the English language, lampooning cant and political doublespeak, as well as other aspects of human foolishness and frailty. It was originally published in 1906 as The...
by Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist...
.
Originally published in 1981, Saintspeak is currently out of print. Its publication was timely, with numerous references to the Equal Rights Amendment
Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution. The ERA was originally written by Alice Paul and, in 1923, it was introduced in the Congress for the first time...
and the antiquated way missionaries gave lessons to investigators. However, a great deal of the humor still applies to the way things are run and the way people behave today.
For the most part, the book is light-hearted and winks at the shortcomings and idiosyncrasies of Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
s, but there are entries that are downright harsh. Frequent targets include hypocritical behavior by church members, the church's repression and denial of its history, and fanatics who take church doctrines a bit too far.
Card pre-emptively and humorously strikes against anyone who takes offense too deeply by including a satiric introduction where he claims Ambrose Bierce appeared to him in a vision and presented the text of this book to him (paralleling the angel Moroni
Moroni (prophet)
The Angel Moroni is an angel that Joseph Smith, Jr. said visited him on numerous occasions, beginning on September 21, 1823. According to Smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, which Latter Day Saints believe were the source material for the Book of Mormon, buried in a hill near...
appearing to Joseph Smith and telling him about the Golden plates
Golden Plates
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith...
that composed the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
). Thus, he isn't responsible for anyone being offended by it; it's all Bierce's fault.