Bookcraft
Encyclopedia
Bookcraft was a major publisher of books and products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
asked the church's Improvement Era
magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G. Homer Durham
published it in 1941 as "An Improvment Era Publication", rather than through Deseret Book
, the church's official book publisher. During production, Grant suggested that the magazine's staff should start a new LDS publishing company, separate from Deseret Book. In 1942, the Eras business manager, John Kenneth Orton, started Bookcraft as a private publishing house in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
When Durham presented a later manuscript to the Era, church leadership restricted book publishing to Deseret Book. John A. Widtsoe
and Richard L. Evans
, staff members of the Era and early supporters of Bookcraft, referred Durham to Orton's new publishing house. The Gospel Kingdom, Durham's compilation of John Taylor's teachings, was Bookcraft's first major venture in 1943.
Bookcraft remained an Orton family business. When John K. Orton retired to Arizona in 1946, Marvin Wallin became the company's general manager. When Orton died in 1959, ownership passed to his wife. When she died in 1980, the Ortons' son Russell took over with his sister-in-law, Diane Orton.
Though independent, Bookcraft established itself as a quasi-official publisher of conservative, faith-promoting works, and was very careful to follow church leadership. Bookcraft eventually became large enough to compete with Deseret Book's lower publishing costs, and become the second largest LDS publisher.
In 1968, Bookcraft hired George Bickerstaff as a full time publishing editor. Before then, it lacked in-house editing, which Bruce R. McConkie
's son
blames for the criticisms of the 1958 first edition of Mormon Doctrine
.
Bookcraft also innovated and tried new approaches to LDS publishing. In the 1960s, the company experimented with developing LDS young-adult fiction. In the early 1970s, it began the Parliament Press imprint for authors who pay to have their books printed
. In 1992, Bookcraft began work with The Beehive Shuppan to translate some titles into Japanese. In 1995, Bookcraft produced The Book of Mormon Studybase, a digital library
CD-ROM
of books about The Book of Mormon, and contributed to Infobases' LDS Collectors Library CD-ROM.
Because Deseret Book was the largest LDS publisher and bookseller, independents like Bookcraft also distributed to national retailers like B. Dalton
, Media Play
, and Barnes & Noble
. For a time, Bookcraft even planned to create its own chain of retail bookstores.
since the early 1990s. Infobases president
and CEO, Brad Pelo
, assumed these same roles in the new Bookcraft, Inc., and WordPerfect
founder Alan C. Ashton became chairman.
With Bookcraft's licenses, the company released the Infobases PocketLibrary for PalmPilot
in 1997, an electronic 25-book collection. To counter Deseret Book's GospeLink CD-ROM and website, Bookcraft released an expanded Infobases Collectors Library in 1998 on CD-ROM and on the new LDSWorld.com. Bookcraft then created online stores for its network of resellers, to counter Deseret Book's web sales.
By 1999, Bookcraft was adding about 100 products annually to its catalog, including general authority titles, an important market shared only with Deseret Book. Bookcraft also had strong sales with titles by BYU
professors, titles on church history and doctrine, and the best-selling The Work and the Glory
series by Gerald N. Lund, which sold millions of copies.
(DMC), the parent company of the LDS Church's for-profit businesses. This allowed the church to expand in the larger "values-oriented" publishing market, and reduce translation costs of titles for international sale. The merger also brought more writings by general authorities under the church's ownership, allowing for electronic and print collaborations with other DMC entities (such as Deseret Book, the Deseret News, and Bonneville International
) and church entities (such as Brigham Young University
, the Church Educational System
).
The Bookcraft brand name continued as an imprint for inspirational, self-help, youth and fiction titles, while doctrinal, historical and biographical works would be under the Deseret Book brand. Shadow Mountain was also created as a new imprint for "values-oriented" books in the national market, and Eagle Gate Press was created for specialty items such as library editions, art books and non-book products such as bookmarks and jewelry.
DMC then formed World Media Inc. to oversee Bookcraft's electronic projects, and decide fate of Infobase products and GospeLink. A new Infobases Library was released in 1999, before merging into GospeLink, to become GospeLink 2001. The expanded collection was also at LDSWorld.com, along with new General Conference audio streaming, and was hosted by Millennial Star (MStar.net), the church's new ISP.
The merger created a massive LDS publisher, but most independent players in the market didn't worry it would hurt their business. Over next few years, Deseret Book would also acquire Excel Entertainment Group
(an LDS film and music company), Seagull Book & Tape
(the next largest LDS bookstore chain), and Covenant Communications (the next largest LDS publisher).
The Bookcraft imprint was no longer used by Deseret Book Publishing after 2006 and currently the only imprints used by the publisher are Deseret Book and Shadow Mountain.
Bookcraft also published some works for BYU Press, the BYU Religious Studies Center
, and the LDS Church.
History
In 1940, LDS Church President Heber J. GrantHeber 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...
asked the church's Improvement Era
Improvement Era
The Improvement Era was an official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1897 and 1970....
magazine to compile his sermons into a book called Gospel Standards. Compiler G. Homer Durham
G. Homer Durham
George Homer Durham was an American academic administrator and was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977 until his death.-Early Life:...
published it in 1941 as "An Improvment Era Publication", rather than through Deseret Book
Deseret Book
Deseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
, the church's official book publisher. During production, Grant suggested that the magazine's staff should start a new LDS publishing company, separate from Deseret Book. In 1942, the Eras business manager, John Kenneth Orton, started Bookcraft as a private publishing house in Salt Lake City, 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...
.
When Durham presented a later manuscript to the Era, church leadership restricted book publishing to Deseret Book. 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 Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans
Richard Louis Evans was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the president of Rotary International , and the writer, producer, and announcer of Music and the Spoken Word for forty-one years .He received a BA and MA from the University...
, staff members of the Era and early supporters of Bookcraft, referred Durham to Orton's new publishing house. The Gospel Kingdom, Durham's compilation of John Taylor's teachings, was Bookcraft's first major venture in 1943.
Bookcraft remained an Orton family business. When John K. Orton retired to Arizona in 1946, Marvin Wallin became the company's general manager. When Orton died in 1959, ownership passed to his wife. When she died in 1980, the Ortons' son Russell took over with his sister-in-law, Diane Orton.
Growth
With growth, Bookcraft relocated to new facilities in 1947. In 1969, it moved again to a West Valley City location between Mountain States Bindery and Publisher's Press, the businesses that actually printed and produced Bookcraft's publications. Bookcraft expanded again into new facilities in 1977.Though independent, Bookcraft established itself as a quasi-official publisher of conservative, faith-promoting works, and was very careful to follow church leadership. Bookcraft eventually became large enough to compete with Deseret Book's lower publishing costs, and become the second largest LDS publisher.
In 1968, Bookcraft hired George Bickerstaff as a full time publishing editor. Before then, it lacked in-house editing, which Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce R. McConkie
Bruce Redd McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 until his death...
's son
Joseph Fielding McConkie
Joseph Fielding McConkie is an emeritus professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He is the son of LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie and Amelia Smith McConkie. He has authored and co-authored over 25 books, speaks regularly at LDS gatherings, and is married to Brenda Kempton McConkie...
blames for the criticisms of the 1958 first edition of Mormon Doctrine
Mormon Doctrine (book)
Mormon Doctrine is an encyclopedic work written in 1958 by Bruce R. McConkie, a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was intended primarily for a Latter-day Saint audience and is often used as a reference book by church members because of its comprehensive nature...
.
Bookcraft also innovated and tried new approaches to LDS publishing. In the 1960s, the company experimented with developing LDS young-adult fiction. In the early 1970s, it began the Parliament Press imprint for authors who pay to have their books printed
Vanity press
A vanity press or vanity publisher is a term describing a publishing house that publishes books at the author's expense. Publisher Johnathon Clifford claims to have coined the term in 1959. However, the term appears in mainstream U.S...
. In 1992, Bookcraft began work with The Beehive Shuppan to translate some titles into Japanese. In 1995, Bookcraft produced The Book of Mormon Studybase, a digital library
Digital library
A digital library is a library in which collections are stored in digital formats and accessible by computers. The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks...
CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
of books about The Book of Mormon, and contributed to Infobases' LDS Collectors Library CD-ROM.
Because Deseret Book was the largest LDS publisher and bookseller, independents like Bookcraft also distributed to national retailers like B. Dalton
B. Dalton
B. Dalton Bookseller was an American retail bookstore chain founded in 1966 by the Dayton's department store chain. Located primarily in shopping malls, B. Dalton competed primarily with Waldenbooks, and operated 798 stores at its peak...
, Media Play
Media Play
Media Play was a chain of retail stores founded in 1992 by Musicland that sold movies on video, DVDs, music, Electronics, video games, books, and games in the United States. Each store essentially contained a book store, a movie store, a music store, and a video game store under one roof. At...
, and Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...
. For a time, Bookcraft even planned to create its own chain of retail bookstores.
Infobases acquisition
In 1997, Russell Orton sold Bookcraft to Infobases, makers of the popular LDS Collectors Library digital libraryDigital library
A digital library is a library in which collections are stored in digital formats and accessible by computers. The digital content may be stored locally, or accessed remotely via computer networks...
since the early 1990s. Infobases president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and CEO, Brad Pelo
Brad Pelo
Brad Pelo is an American businessman, entrepreneur, and founder and chief executive officer of i.TV. Pelo has founded or been a member of the founding team at a number of companies, including Folio Corporation, Ancestry.com , and Nextpage....
, assumed these same roles in the new Bookcraft, Inc., and WordPerfect
WordPerfect
WordPerfect is a word processing application, now owned by Corel.Bruce Bastian, a Brigham Young University graduate student, and BYU computer science professor Dr. Alan Ashton joined forces to design a word processing system for the city of Orem's Data General Corp. minicomputer system in 1979...
founder Alan C. Ashton became chairman.
With Bookcraft's licenses, the company released the Infobases PocketLibrary for PalmPilot
PalmPilot
The PalmPilot Personal and PalmPilot Professional are the second generation of Palm PDA devices produced by Palm Inc...
in 1997, an electronic 25-book collection. To counter Deseret Book's GospeLink CD-ROM and website, Bookcraft released an expanded Infobases Collectors Library in 1998 on CD-ROM and on the new LDSWorld.com. Bookcraft then created online stores for its network of resellers, to counter Deseret Book's web sales.
By 1999, Bookcraft was adding about 100 products annually to its catalog, including general authority titles, an important market shared only with Deseret Book. Bookcraft also had strong sales with titles by BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
professors, titles on church history and doctrine, and the best-selling The Work and the Glory
The Work and the Glory
The Work and the Glory is a nine-part novel series by Gerald N. Lund chronicling the birth and early growth of Mormonism through the lives of the fictional Steed family. The Steeds, throughout the series, meet and come to know well many of the prominent early Church members...
series by Gerald N. Lund, which sold millions of copies.
Deseret Book merger
In early 1999, Bookcraft was acquired by Deseret Management CorporationDeseret Management Corporation
The Deseret Management Corporation is a for-profit management company of assets for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was established in 1966 by then church president David O...
(DMC), the parent company of the LDS Church's for-profit businesses. This allowed the church to expand in the larger "values-oriented" publishing market, and reduce translation costs of titles for international sale. The merger also brought more writings by general authorities under the church's ownership, allowing for electronic and print collaborations with other DMC entities (such as Deseret Book, the Deseret News, and Bonneville International
Bonneville International
Bonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
) and church entities (such as Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, the Church Educational System
Church Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
).
The Bookcraft brand name continued as an imprint for inspirational, self-help, youth and fiction titles, while doctrinal, historical and biographical works would be under the Deseret Book brand. Shadow Mountain was also created as a new imprint for "values-oriented" books in the national market, and Eagle Gate Press was created for specialty items such as library editions, art books and non-book products such as bookmarks and jewelry.
DMC then formed World Media Inc. to oversee Bookcraft's electronic projects, and decide fate of Infobase products and GospeLink. A new Infobases Library was released in 1999, before merging into GospeLink, to become GospeLink 2001. The expanded collection was also at LDSWorld.com, along with new General Conference audio streaming, and was hosted by Millennial Star (MStar.net), the church's new ISP.
The merger created a massive LDS publisher, but most independent players in the market didn't worry it would hurt their business. Over next few years, Deseret Book would also acquire Excel Entertainment Group
Excel Entertainment Group
Excel Entertainment Group is a subsidiary of Deseret Book Co. best known for its distribution of many pieces of LDS cinema. Excel Entertainment Group's products deal thematically with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Forever Strong , Midway to Heaven , Saints and Soldiers...
(an LDS film and music company), Seagull Book & Tape
Seagull Book & Tape
Seagull Book, formerly called Seagull Book & Tape, is an American retail chain bookstore focusing on products for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , with over two dozen stores in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and California...
(the next largest LDS bookstore chain), and Covenant Communications (the next largest LDS publisher).
The Bookcraft imprint was no longer used by Deseret Book Publishing after 2006 and currently the only imprints used by the publisher are Deseret Book and Shadow Mountain.
Books
Before becoming an imprint of Deseret Book, Bookcraft made many notable contributions to LDS literature, including:- Evidences and Reconciliations (1943)
- No, Ma'am, That's Not History (1946)
- Lehi in the Desert and the World of the Jaredites (1952)
- Doctrines of Salvation (1954–56, 3 volumes)
- Mormon DoctrineMormon Doctrine (book)Mormon Doctrine is an encyclopedic work written in 1958 by Bruce R. McConkie, a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was intended primarily for a Latter-day Saint audience and is often used as a reference book by church members because of its comprehensive nature...
(1958) - Doctrinal New Testament Commentary (1965–73, 3 volumes)
- Messages of the First Presidency (1965–75, 6 volumes)
- The Miracle of Forgiveness (1969)
- The Holy Temple (1980)
- The Work and the GloryThe Work and the GloryThe Work and the Glory is a nine-part novel series by Gerald N. Lund chronicling the birth and early growth of Mormonism through the lives of the fictional Steed family. The Steeds, throughout the series, meet and come to know well many of the prominent early Church members...
series (1990s) - Compilations of teachings of LDS Church Presidents, including The Gospel Kingdom: Selections from the Writings and Discourses of John Taylor, Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, Teachings of George Albert Smith, Teachings of Harold B. Lee, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, and Teachings of Howard W. Hunter.
Bookcraft also published some works for BYU Press, the BYU Religious Studies Center
Religious Studies Center
The Religious Studies Center is the research and publishing arm of the Religious Education program at Brigham Young University , sponsoring scholarship on Latter-day Saint culture, history, scripture, and doctrine.-History:...
, and the LDS Church.
Authors
During its years as an independent company, Bookcraft published books by many notable LDS figures, including:- Church Presidents and Apostles: Ezra Taft BensonEzra Taft BensonEzra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of...
, Hugh B. BrownHugh B. BrownHugh Brown Brown was an attorney, educator and author and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, J. Reuben ClarkJ. Reuben ClarkJoshua Reuben Clark, Jr. was an American attorney, civil servant, and a prominent leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Born in Grantsville, Utah Territory, Clark was a prominent attorney in the Department of State, and Under Secretary of State for US president Calvin Coolidge...
, Henry B. EyringHenry B. EyringHenry Bennion Eyring is an American educational administrator, author, and religious leader. In 2008 Eyring became First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Eyring was the Second Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley in the First Presidency from October...
, Gordon B. HinckleyGordon B. HinckleyGordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
, Howard W. HunterHoward W. HunterHoward William Hunter was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1995. His nine month presidential tenure is the shortest in the history of the Church...
, Spencer W. KimballSpencer W. KimballSpencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
, Harold B. LeeHarold B. LeeHarold Bingham Lee was eleventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from July 1972 until his death.- Early life :...
, Neal A. MaxwellNeal A. MaxwellNeal Ash Maxwell was an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1981 until his death.-Life:...
, Bruce R. McConkieBruce R. McConkieBruce Redd McConkie was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1972 until his death...
, David O. McKayDavid O. McKayDavid Oman McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1951 until his death. Ordained an apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1906, McKay was a general authority for nearly 64 years, longer than anyone else in LDS Church...
, Dallin H. OaksDallin H. OaksDallin Harris Oaks is an American attorney, jurist, author, professor, public speaker, and religious leader. Since 1984, he has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, Boyd K. PackerBoyd K. PackerBoyd Kenneth Packer is an American educator and religious leader, and the current president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He served as Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1994 to 2008, and has been an apostle and member of...
, Mark E. PetersenMark E. PetersenMark Edward Petersen was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1944 until his death. Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, he filled the vacancy caused by the excommunication of Richard R. Lyman...
, LeGrand RichardsLeGrand RichardsLeGrand Richards was a prominent missionary and leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as the seventh presiding bishop of the LDS Church from 1938 to 1952, and was then called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by Church President David O. McKay...
, Joseph Fielding SmithJoseph Fielding SmithJoseph 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. WidtsoeJohn A. WidtsoeJohn 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:...
- Fiction & literature: Gordon T. Allred, Susan Evans McCloudSusan Evans McCloudSusan Evans McCloud is an American novelist, author, poet, hymnwriter, and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Biography:McCloud and has lived much of her adult life in Provo, Utah....
, Carol Lynn PearsonCarol Lynn PearsonCarol Lynn Wright Pearson is an American poet, author, screenwriter, and playwright. Her parents were Lelland Rider Wright and Emeline Sirrine Wright. Her mother died of breast cancer when Carol Lynn was fifteen...
, Jack WeylandJack WeylandJack Arnold Weyland is a professor of physics at Brigham Young University–Idaho and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He is a prolific and well known author of fiction for LDS audiences, including many novels and short stories, mostly placed in contemporary settings...
, Blaine M. Yorgason, Brenton G. YorgasonBrenton G. YorgasonBrenton G. "Brent" Yorgason is a Latter-day Saint novelist and writer. Many of his works were written in cooperation with his brother Blaine M. Yorgason.-Biography:...
- Scholars & historians: Hyrum L. Andrus, Leonard J. ArringtonLeonard J. ArringtonLeonard James Arrington was an author, academic and the founder of the Mormon History Association. He is known as the "Dean of Mormon History" and "the Father of Mormon History" because of his many influential contributions to the field.-Biographical background:Arrington was born in Twin Falls,...
, Milton V. BackmanMilton V. BackmanMilton Vaughn Backman, Jr. is a historian of American religions with particular emphasis on the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.- Biography :Backman was a professor of Church History at Brigham Young University....
, Lowell L. BennionLowell L. BennionLowell Lindsay Bennion was an American educator and counselor. Early in his career, Bennion focused much of his efforts on fellow members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , but he sought to benefit all people in his reach.Bennion was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of...
, Susan Easton BlackSusan Easton BlackSusan Easton Black is a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She is also an author of several books related to Joseph Smith, Jr. and the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Black joined the faculty of BYU in 1978. ...
, Eugene EnglandEugene EnglandGeorge Eugene England, Jr. , usually credited as Eugene England, was a Mormon writer, teacher, and scholar. He founded Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, the oldest independent journal in Mormon Studies, with G. Wesley Johnson in 1966 and cofounded the Association for Mormon Letters in 1976...
, Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Milton R. HunterMilton R. HunterMilton Reed Hunter was an American author, educator, and religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a member of the church's First Council of the Seventy from 1945 until his death in 1975. Of Scottish descent, Hunter was born in Holden, Utah, the son of...
, Arthur Henry KingArthur Henry KingArthur Henry King , also found as Arthur H. King, was a British poet, writer and academic.King was educated at the University of Cambridge, England and Lund University, Sweden and held a Doctor of Literature in stylistics. He served as Assistant Director-General in charge of Education in England...
, Daniel H. LudlowDaniel H. LudlowDaniel Hansen Ludlow was a professor of religion at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He was also the chief editor of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published in 1992 by Macmillan.- Biography :...
, N. B. Lundwall, Truman G. MadsenTruman G. MadsenTruman Grant Madsen was an emeritus professor of religion and philosophy at Brigham Young University and director of the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. He was a prolific author, a recognized authority on Joseph Smith, and a popular lecturer among Latter-day...
, Robert J. MatthewsRobert J. MatthewsRobert James Matthews was a Latter-day Saint religious educator and scholar, teaching in the Departments of Ancient Scripture and Religious Education at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah....
, Joseph Fielding McConkieJoseph Fielding McConkieJoseph Fielding McConkie is an emeritus professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He is the son of LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie and Amelia Smith McConkie. He has authored and co-authored over 25 books, speaks regularly at LDS gatherings, and is married to Brenda Kempton McConkie...
, Robert L. MilletRobert L. MilletDr. Robert L. Millet is a professor of ancient scripture and emeritus Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah...
, Hugh W. Nibley, Preston NibleyPreston NibleyPreston Nibley was an American religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and wrote several books on the church, including several pieces of devotional literature.-Biography:...
, Stephen E. RobinsonStephen E. RobinsonStephen Edward Robinson is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Mormon scholar and apologist.- Biography :...
, W. Cleon Skousen, Sidney B. SperrySidney B. SperrySidney Branton Sperry was one of three scholars who were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who began the scholarly and systematic study of the Book of Mormon in the mid-20th century — the other two being John L. Sorenson and Hugh W. Nibley...
, John W. WelchJohn W. WelchJohn Woodland "Jack" Welch is an LDS law and religion scholar who currently teaches at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University .- Biography :...
- Popular authors: Duane S. Crowther, Paul H. DunnPaul H. DunnPaul Harold Dunn was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Dunn was widely considered one of the most dynamic speakers among the general authorities in the 1970s and 1980s...
, George D. Durrant, Richard M. Eyre, Vaughn J. Featherstone, Bruce C. HafenBruce C. HafenBruce Clark Hafen is an American attorney, academic and religious leader. He was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of the LDS Church from 1996 to 2010. During that time he served in several assignments. He served as Area President in Australia/New Zealand, as well as the Europe Central...
, Bryant S. HinckleyBryant S. HinckleyBryant Stringham Hinckley was an American author, religious speaker, civic leader and educator. He served as a prominent mid-level leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 20th century. His books were primarily designed for a Latter-day Saint audience.Hinckley was...
, Oscar W. McConkieOscar W. McConkieOscar Walter McConkie was a Utah State Senator and leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was the father of Bruce R. McConkie, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church. A second son Oscar W. McConkie, Jr...
, Chieko Okazaki, Marvin Payne, S. Michael Wilcox
- National figures: Shawn BradleyShawn BradleyShawn Paul Bradley is a retired American and German basketball player who played center for the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Nets and the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association. At tall, Bradley was one of the tallest players in NBA history...
, Orson Scott CardOrson Scott CardOrson 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...
, Stephen R. Covey, Henry EyringHenry EyringHenry Eyring was a Mexican-born American theoretical chemist whose primary contribution was in the study of chemical reaction rates and intermediates....
, Dale MurphyDale MurphyDale Bryan Murphy is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. During an 18-year baseball career, 1976–1993, he played for three different teams, but is noted for his time with the Atlanta Braves...
Films
Some Bookcraft books have been adapted into movies.- The Christmas Wish (1998) — CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
made Richard M. SiddowayRichard M. SiddowayRichard M. Siddoway was a member of the Utah House of Representatives. Siddoway is also the author of several books including the New York Times bestseller The Christmas Wish.- Biography :...
's novel into a made for TV holiday specialTelevision specialA television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular...
. Originally a Bookcraft title, the latest edition was published by Crown Publishers.
- In the Eye of the Storm (2001) — Director Mitch DavisMitch DavisMitch Davis is a film director noted for his 2001 film The Other Side of Heaven about the trials and adventures of an LDS Missionary, John H...
bought the rightsFilm rightsFilm rights are the rights under copyright law to make a derivative work—in this case, a film—derived from an item of intellectual property. Under U.S...
to John H. GrobergJohn H. GrobergJohn Holbrook Groberg has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1976.- Biography :Groberg was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1934 and was reared there after the Great Depression...
's 1993 memoir of his TongaTongaTonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n missionMissionary (LDS Church)The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
and created The Other Side of HeavenThe Other Side of HeavenThe Other Side of Heaven is a 2001 film produced by Academy Award winner Gerald R. Molen and directed by Mitch Davis and stars Christopher Gorham and Anne Hathaway .-Overview:...
, which was distributed by The Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney CompanyThe Walt Disney Company is the largest media conglomerate in the world in terms of revenue. Founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Productions established itself as a leader in the American animation industry before diversifying into...
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- The Work and the GloryThe Work and the GloryThe Work and the Glory is a nine-part novel series by Gerald N. Lund chronicling the birth and early growth of Mormonism through the lives of the fictional Steed family. The Steeds, throughout the series, meet and come to know well many of the prominent early Church members...
(2004–2006) — Gerald N. Lund's very successful historical fictionHistorical fictionHistorical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
series about early Mormons was adapted into three movies: The Work and the GloryThe Work and The Glory (film)The Work and the Glory is a 2004 historical fiction drama film directed by Russell Holt. It tells the story of the fictional Steed family in the 1820s and their struggles trying to adopt the then new Mormon religion and explores their relationship with their community, with its founder, Joseph...
(2004), The Work and The Glory: American Zion (2005), and The Work and The Glory: A House Divided (2006), distributed by Excel EntertainmentExcel EntertainmentExcel Entertainment is an Indian film studio based in Mumbai. It was created by Farhan Akhtar, and Ritesh Sidhwani in 1999. The two have gone on to create several films under Excel's banner.-Farhan Akhtar:...
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