Probably few of us have personal memories of the days when the Relief Society, meeting on a weekday morning, addressed what its leaders felt were the cultural needs of women who, in large measure, had grown up without extensive formal education and whose daily lives as adults were often spent wholly inside the home, or on the farm, without broad access to the types of cultural experiences that all of us take largely for granted. For two or three generations, one meeting each month was devoted to giving Latter-day Saint women the chance to develop an understanding for and appreciation of the fine arts, usually literature.

In 1945-46 (the Church year then ran with the American school year, September to September, and didn’t meet in the summer when home and family work was heaviest, rather than the calendar year of January to December), Relief Society women read and discussed literature with a connection to the Bible. Their lessons will appear here on Keepa (but not in the order they were taught 70 years ago; we’ll start with Lesson 6, which I think modern readers will find more attractive than the first lessons. That lesson is also posted today, immediately after this Preview). I’d love to get your reactions to the idea of discussing great literature in a Church class, even if you don’t have anything particularly pressing to say about the material they studied.

THE BIBLE IN OUR LITERATURE

Dr. Howard R. Driggs

Preview of Lessons for 1945-1946

One central purpose motivates this course. Its lessons are intended to help those who make an active study of them to get a clearer, more appreciative understanding of the vital role played by the Bible in the creating of our literature. Each lesson offers an alluring quest within this broad and fertile field. Rewards of devoted work will be more intelligent, more recreative reading, with greater skill to select literature really worth reading.

From the class viewpoint, these rich returns will come only if the course as an air-pilot might say, is kept “on the beam.” Manifestly, in the limited time that can be allotted to the lessons, the main goal must be kept ever clearly in view. Each lesson, it is true, will prove an “open sesame” to treasures of literature, yet the natural temptation to linger too long over the gems, must be resisted by teacher and class member if the larger, spiritual end is to be attained. It is hoped, of course, that individuals and groups will be inspired to carry on beyond the classroom in further uplifting enjoyment of precious literature that is found.

Both definiteness and flexibility mark the study plan. Every lesson, a unit in itself, helps to carry forward the central theme. It points the way to discovering how the Bible, in different ways, is woven with artistry into the type of literature with which the lesson deals. At the same time, it opens opportunity to draw freely upon not only time tested literature but promising literature of the living present, for appropriate selections and quotations to add convincing concreteness to the main message to be impressed.

Lesson 1. Our Literature Before the Bible Came

A study reaching back into the legendary past – when our days were named – and songs and sagas in vigorous, alliterative lines were created. Typical selections from this folklore will be used in portraying the background of primitive thought, feeling, and ideals which were later to be illumined, shaped, and spiritualized through the influence of the Bible.

Lesson 2. How the Bible Is Woven Into Our Literature

A study of both the outward and inward phases of the shaping of our literature through the influence of the Bible. Such more tangible aspects, as Biblical allusions and expressions, as well as those more spiritual in nature, Biblical themes and ideals, will receive attention in this lesson.

Lesson 3. Bible Influence as Revealed in Our Lyric Literature

A study of typical songs inspired by stories and living truths of the Bible. Selections to impress the depth and breadth of its influence in the creation of our lyric literature will e made from the classic carols on through the years down to the present. Some precious lyrics will be included in the lesson for special consideration.

Lesson 4. Bible Influence on Our Epic or Narrative Poetry

This study will center attention on certain outstanding poet story-tellers who were markedly influenced by the Bible in their creative work. Chaucer, Milton, Tennyson, Longfellow are among these. A limited selection of their well-known story poems will be used to make the message of this lesson clear and concrete.

Lesson 5. Bible Influence in Our Drama

This study, beginning with brief attention to the old plays created to impress Bible stories, will specifically deal with other dramas through the years centering around Biblical characters and themes. Attention will also be given to the influence of the Bible in shaping and spiritualizing dramas that grip and hold the hearts of humanity.

Lesson 6. Bible Influence on Our Fiction

This study naturally, like those preceding, must be severely limited to consideration of a few typical and worthy novels whose themes or central characters are essentially Biblical. Its range will be from tested earlier fiction to present creations which reveal classic qualities. Brief attention will be given to the more general spiritual influence on other worthy fiction.

Lesson 7. Bible Influence on Essays and Oratory

Again the scope of the lesson will be restricted to the study of a few inspiring types of the essay and to certain outstanding orations that show plainly Bible influence. These will be taken from past and recent literature of these two important kinds of expression. Reliance of great writers and speakers on the Book of Books will be made clear.

Lesson 8. Bible Influence in Literature for Children

A forward-pointing study to help parents get closer to the book companions of their children and grandchildren. Children’s literature, except for Mother Goose and Fairy Tales, is mainly of more recent creation. What of the Bible influence is revealed in most of the books produced for children today? In this lesson, directed opportunity will be given to make some selective research to answer this question, and out of it to bring to our children more well-written, Bible-inspired literature of living appeal for them.

Text and References

First, the lessons themselves are to be the guiding text. Each of these units should be carefully studied by teacher and members of class. Questions for study should be thoroughly considered before the lesson is given; and the suggested activities carried through, both before and after the lesson.

Second, for general references the following will be found most helpful:

The Bible – King James Version (also Modern Reader’s Bible, by Moulton).

General reference books may be added later.

Note: Specific references will be given with each lesson.