Sun Hasn't Set on the Twilight Discussion

Editor's Note: Thank you for your responses on the Twilight saga. The range of expressions demonstrates how hard it is to pick our way through popular culture when we seek to live a life that is conducive to the Spirit. This will be the last batch of letters we run on the books, though we'd love more response on how to avoid the toxic culture in which we live and find books and entertainment that uplifts.

A Different Angle of Twilight

It was interesting to hear the criticisms of Meyer's Twilight. I suppose I am the only one who identified with Edward and the vampires. When Bella showed she was willing to accept Edward as a friend even though he was different, I felt gratitude for her openness. I know what it is like to have people judge and reject me because of what they have heard about Mormons. Bella was accepting of Edward even if he was a vampire. She recognized his goodness. (Thank you, Bella.)

As Bella accepted Edward and his differences, she was eventually invited into the Cullen's beautiful home. This is a peaceful place where they don't have to worry about others who don't understand the and their way of life.

As a guest in their home, Bella was able to see the love they had in their family and how they were real 'people.' She learned the strengths and weaknesses of each family member and saw how they helped each other maintain the high ideals of the family.

As the Twilight vampires used their special powers to help Bella, I identified with the special powers (the priesthood, Holy Ghost, gifts of the spirit, etc.) we have as members of the church that allow us to help others.

The conflict between the good vampires who choose to overcome the natural creature and bad vampires who choose to succumb to evil is easily recognized as a continuation of the conflict that has existed since before the world was created.

Bella is a teenage mortal who is just coming of age. She is intelligent and never has been interested in boys. Her negative outlook of marriage is a result of her upbringing. Edward has lived a long time. His positive view of marriage is a result of his life's experiences. As Bella and Edward realize they are attracted to each other, they face the same difficulties that couples from two different backgrounds face. Through it all, Meyers

keeps them chaste. Thank goodness.

Now, to turn what some think is a negative into a positive. If you have

the Young Women's attention with these books, which you have, don't berate the books. Instead, use that interest to teach the girls (and boys) correct principles. Show them the pitfalls that Bella might have experienced if her boyfriend was a human instead of a super being. Show them situations to avoid. Help them understand that people's beliefs are a result of their life experiences and exposure to truth. You might even help them see how people's preconceived notions can lead them to misjudge a book on vampires.

Elaine Salisbury
Manassas, VA

Only One Hero

Well... I haven't read even one Twilight book, nor have I seen the Dark Knight.

However, generally speaking, this is what I think:

I think that everybody has a threshold, based on their life experiences and understanding of gospel principles. So, some people see a movie like that, or read a book like Twilight, and really get a lot out of it and others are horrified. In some instances, I think it's an issue of spiritual sensitivity. In others, I think it's a case of unhealthy fear.

The fact is, there is evil in this world. There is lots of it. And while I don't really think that we need to go out of our way to seek it out (heaven knows it will come to you without help), I think that people need to be able to do two things. First, they need to be able to deal with it without sticking their head in the sand. Second, they need to chill out and not judge people who choose to gain understanding in a different way than they themselves do.

I think I'm going to be in continual flux on this right and wrong thing. Because it seems to me that in order to gain understanding, you have to experience stuff, or at least witness someone else having the experience. I think that's part of the reason the atonement was provided - so that we could gain experience (which makes us imperfect) and still have a chance at being made "innocent" in a way that will allow us back into God's presence. I think it's a lot more complicated than I ever dreamed it was. And yet, it's simple enough that it suits our weakest members, and our most tender members. There's also an element of being in the world but not of the world. The counsel isn't to avoid the world. It's to be able to deal with it (at least, as understand it) without being duped or consumed by it.

The one thing in the comments that bothered me most though, was when people would have a little fit when they hadn't seen the movie, and clearly knew very little about it. Interestingly enough, I have a lot of professors who are quite disgusted with the Twilight series. But my mom and my brother love them. I have enough books on my list that I REALLY want to read that Twilight doesn't make the cut. But I don't think they have destroyed anyone. (They're also very poorly edited, but that's beyond the point.)

And as for the comment about there being no hero in the Dark Knight, well guess what? There isn't. And in life there often isn't because nobody is perfect. So in reality, there is only one true hero, and I'm not sure there are very many people in this world, or even in the church, who have a really good grasp on who He is and what He's all about. I also think we fret and fight about things that don't really matter. I mean, really, there are people on drugs, children starving and in poverty worldwide. Surely, on a smaller scale, there is somebody in your ward who would benefit from a 15 minute visit and a plate of cookies, and these people are spending that time writing letters to an editor about a movie and a book that they refuse to read? That they can't control whether it's there or not, nor can they control who sees it and who doesn't? My word. I think people ought to live their lives the best they can, help others on their way in the most loving and compassionate way they can, be uplifting and encouraging, and let the Lord work with people in the areas you can't control.

One last thing - the comment about Passion of the Christ. This is another movie I can't see. My threshold with movies is blood and gore. I don't handle it well, so I avoid it. But I know a whole bunch of people that saw that movie, and I don't think any of them were the worse for it. In fact, it was after seeing that movie that my step-dad started coming to church, and he hasn't stopped. So I guess I feel a little bit differently about that. Moreover, lots of my religion professors saw it (particularly the ones who do interfaith outreach) and were pleased with it overall. I think as members of the church we have been indoctrinated with guilt and fear in a way that sometimes annoys me. Why is it that we cannot read or see a thing without agreeing or getting sucked in? And why can we not be careful and self-aware enough to notice that something is not good for us, and stop there? I think we are too content to be told what to do, and not brave enough to use the agency we have been given in the way that it was intended to be used. And we waste a lot of time judging others when there is more than enough about ourselves that could - and should - be worked on first.

Makayla Steiner
Springville, Utah

Passion: A Theme of Literature

This is a first for me - writing to Meridian and writing about Twilight - but the letters condemning your Twilight article, Stephanie Meyers, and her Twilight series irked me enough to write something!  Although I wasn't 100% on board with all of the plot-line decisions, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading the books, and I look forward to re-reading them with my daughters when they are old enough.  I agree that these books are "PG 13" -  as does Stephanie Meyers, but I'm anxious for my daughters to see that channeling and controlling passions will bring eternal and enduring happiness.  Those who vilify our passions, vilify a very real, god-given aspect of human nature.  By assuming that these books are wicked because they dwell on passions instead of good vs. evil, ignore a tremendous part of our lives, especially those of our youth.  Would one vilify Romeo and Juliet , Jane Eyre ,  Wuthering Heights , and  Les Miserables  because they focus on passion?  Passion has been a recurring theme in literature for centuries because it is something to which we relate.  Within the media, peer discussions, school hallways and classrooms our youth are bombarded with various messages about their passions and how to or how not to control them.  I find it refreshing and exciting that someone can write a story that appeals to most girls and women about characters who have passions but are able to bridle them.  The thematic climax comes at the end of the last book in the series when the main character observes that because her family had been able to control their passions, they were able to love deeply and make sacrifices for those they loved.  In a world of casual sex and instant gratification, Stephanie Meyers offers a healthier and enduring alternative.

Laura Blotter
Mountain View, CA

Knee Jerk Reaction?

I have read all four of the books by Stephanie Meyer. I found them to be predictable in a lot of ways, while using an unusual set of characters. My daughter is 13, she loved the books, but was terribly disappointed in the fourth one because it only set up the story for a continuing saga. I agree with Ms. Gaylor's editorial. I think she hit it spot on about those who are upset with Sister Meyer for daring to step outside the fold by having the courage to write from a perspective that would interest most girls outside of the church. That took courage and a moral standing that a lot of women within the church lack.

Those who are anti Twilight are the same people who were roaringly anti Harry Potter too. It is a simple knee jerk reaction based on fear rather than an educated response based on fact and understanding.

I always find it amusing when people force the question, "Would you do that if Jesus were in the room?" Since, as the scriptures point out multiple times, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know everything we do and say, then it goes without asking that he already knows if you have dared to read something or not. Of course, I would let either one of them read what I read, they already know anyway. I would also let them watch what I watch and see what I do. So that silly argument doesn't stand up at all.

Stephanie Meyer wrote a book, it was hugely popular with people from all walks of life. She dared to use characters outside the church norm, hooray for her. She talked about topics that are vital to teenagers world wide, and she did it from a moral perspective that many teenagers today simply do not have because they were not taught about it. She was real about sexual desire, she was also real about love. Most importantly, however, she was real about life and how difficult it is.

Because all of us, no matter what life we have lived, have our obstacles to overcome. With Bella and Edward, it was their cultural difference, just as if a girl from the middle of Utah met and fell in love with someone from Africa . Their cultural differences would be a huge obstacle to overcome, especially if he were Muslim or someone who didn't believe in western religion at all.

Lighten up people, read the book if you want, don't if you don't want to, but stop accusing the author and anyone else who like the series of being some sort of sinners.

Karron Combs

Crazy

This is crazy!  I have just sent the last little bit of time reading everyone's responses to the 4 th installment of the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn .  I loved the Books.  Even this one.  I know right from wrong.  One thing the first book, Twilight , states is when Bella asks Edward why he chooses to not kill humans his response is that he doesn't want to be a monster.  In life we are all given obstacles and challenges to over come.  Some are easier than others but that doesn't mean we don't have them.  Some people have urges that they shouldn't give into.  In Breaking Dawn , yes Bella does give into Edward's Marriage condition because she wanted something but that's where they were headed anyway.  It was just a different approach to it.  Edward wanted to wait until marriage and he used what he could.  In real life we have be told once we decide to get married not to put it off.  That tempts Satan more.  I've read other Church author's books and they have the love scenes.  It's part of life.  They did it the right way and got married first and once Bella realized it was Edward that she was marrying she could wait to do that. 

I think before the book is criticized more, people should give it a chance or leave it alone.  I don't judge things I don't know about.  I'm no better than anyone else but I think this much negativity should be kept to ourselves.  I understand some parents don't want their children to read these books but there is an easy solution, don't let them read it.  I think these books can have a great spiritual analogy behind them if people can be open minded.  We are giving our free agency to choose the right.  Everyone of us has that choice.  Isn't it our choice to choose what we feel is right.  Heavenly Father is our only Judge and we shouldn't do that to others.  I know, some of you may be thinking, isn't that what you (me) are doing?   Maybe true but like some of you have said also, I don't think badly of the person saying it.  I just think we all shouldn't rip apart Stephenie Meyer because she wrote a book about vampires.  Vampires aren't even real.

I think the books are great and this one, Breaking Dawn , was my favorite.  Thanks to all of you who posted your opinions and thoughts so I could post mine.

Sami Goodman
Tempe , AZ