By Gretta Parkinson
Some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are obsessed with 'The Da Vinci Code' - still. It debuted over a year ago, but Dan Brown''s provocative novel, which is number two this week on the Publishers Weekly best sellers list, has lately monopolized the attention of a discussion group in Murray, Utah.
On the third Tuesday of every month, a handful of readers gets together at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers on State Street, south of Salt Lake City, to discuss works of historical fiction. During the past several months, their focus has been 'The Da Vinci Code.'
Denver Olmstead, the community relations director at Barnes & Noble in Murray, said readers come from different backgrounds with varied opinions to discuss Brown''s novel and his theories. She said the continued fascination with 'The Da Vinci Code' comes from readers'' desire to read about difficult issues written in a style that is easy to comprehend.
'If you look at the time and age that we''re in right now, you can understand why the fascination is there,' Olmstead said. 'The topic itself is involved with so many different things that we find important here in our own culture: the arts, and religion, and faith, and belief in ourselves, that is what has intrigued people.'
BYU professors have developed their own theories as to why Mormon culture remains so captivated by 'The Da Vinci Code.'
Richard Holzapfel, a professor of church history and world civilization at BYU, said although the book has sold especially well in Utah, it is of particular interest to the Latter-day Saint population in general.
'It''s not just a Utah phenomenon, it''s a Mormon phenomenon,' Holzapfel said.
Holzapfel said there are three primary facets of the novel that members of the church find appealing: its anti-Catholic theme, its discussion of ancient, hidden or suppressed texts and its proposal of an intimate relationship between Jesus of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene.
'There is a tinge of anti-Catholicism within the modern Mormon society,' Holzapfel said. 'Not officially in the church, but among the members, who like other North American protestants, have always been suspicious of Catholic intentions, practices and papal influence.'
Eric Huntsman, a professor of ancient scripture at BYU, partially agreed with Holzapfel.
'There may still be individuals in the church who might see the Catholic church as the source of all evils when really it''s the victim,' Huntsman said. 'It''s an early product of the apostasy, it''s not the cause of the apostasy.'
Both professors said Mormons tend to become excited by the mention of newly discovered, ancient writings.
'We have a tradition of new texts,' Huntsman said. 'Latter-day Saints are more amenable to other sources -- ancient sources -- to begin with, than the average Christian. But whereas we rightly accept latter-day scripture from prophetic sources, there is a reason that Christians have not accepted many apocryphal sources such as the ones Brown relies on for his novel''s portrayal of Mary and Jesus.'
Because the concept of marriage is a large part of church doctrine, Holzapfel said some see the connection between Jesus and Mary Magdalene suggested by 'The Da Vinci Code' as a validation of Latter-day Saint theology.
Although Jesus Christ''s marital status has long been a topic of speculation, Holzapfel said there is no scriptural evidence to confirm or deny that Jesus was married at all.
Huntsman suggested another reason for the popularity of 'The Da Vinci Code' among Latter-day Saint women.
'It''s particularly popular, the whole ''Da Vinci Code'' thing, among women in the church and I think it''s because they''re really looking for a role model,' Huntsman said.
Huntsman also said it isn''t necessary for women to find their role model in a work of fiction; they can find her in the Bible. But it is the idea of Mary Magdalene and her witness of the resurrection that Latter-day Saint women find exciting about the novel.
'Mary had already demonstrated new independence in joining the following of Jesus,' Huntsman said. 'Then at the tomb, without the aid, support, or approval of any other man, Mary is able to gain that most important of all testimonies. This, I would suggest, is a powerful and empowering image for LDS women, indeed for all Christian women, today.'
Holzapfel and Huntsman both said this obsession with 'The Da Vinci Code' among church members is potentially dangerous if readers believe it to be accurate history and theology. Brown''s claim that his fictional novel is based on historic facts could be misleading, Holzapfel said.
'Actually, Brown provides readers with a radical reconstruction of the early years of Christianity; raising questions regarding the four gospels historical reliability and ultimately denying the divinity of Jesus Christ,' Holzapfel said.
Huntsman said the hazard comes when readers mistake historical fiction for actual history.
'It serves a purpose if it whets the appetite, but it doesn''t serve the purpose if it satisfies the hunger,' Huntsman said.