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Today’s readings are:
“Why Mormon culture is important to the future of Mormonism” by Wm Morris
“Name” by Heidi Naylor
“A Visit for Tregan” by Jack Harrell
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Please feel free to have your own seminar in the comments to this post.
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Other posts in series:
Fiction (sf/f) — forthcoming
A Motley Vision 
Okay, now I’m really sad that I can’t be there. I would love to hear what people have to say about the need for Mormon culture.
“Name” is quite the striking story. I can see why you picked it.
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Report:
We started with our discussion on Wm’s proposed need for Mormon culture. Like all such discussions, we never arrived at any conclusions. But at least we posed old questions in new ways for a new audience. I think that’s always fruitful.
“Name” was a popular story with the class, particularly with the women. When I read the story myself, I felt like I understood something about being a woman—and perhaps a Mormon woman in particular—that I hadn’t known before. And the women tonight told me that this story is universal and really only unusual in how old the protagonist is. The layers of scripture and philosophy and naming gave us plenty of meat for side dishes as well.
“Tregan” was apparently a bit long and thus not many people read it. And those who did did not like it that much. Which surprised me. Last time I taught this class, Harrell’s “Calling and Election” was a big hit, and before class started tonight I was talking with Bob Rees about the story and he liked it as much as I do. Anyway. So it goes.
Although not officially part of next week’s reading, the class is planning on seeing Ender’s Game before next week’s class. So I’ll be trying to get to a theater myself. See you then!