By Nick Newman
One by one, they come in droves to local Deseret Book stores - hundreds of customers buying the latest LDS doctrinal books.
Nicole Anson and Maren Meldrum, both Deseret Book employees, ring them up one by one as they look at what the customers are buying.
'Infinite Atonement.' Beep.
'Jesus the Christ.' Beep.
'Miracle of Forgiveness.' Beep.
The list goes on and on. Among the numerous customers who come into the store on a daily basis, there''s one type of customer who rarely comes in - the college-age student.
Meldrum said she doesn''t blame students for not coming into the store.
'The reason they''re not coming in is because we''re all poor students,' Meldrum said. 'If I didn''t work here, I wouldn''t come in either. For most students, you''ve got to decide whether the latest book from President Hinckley is as important as paying the rent. Unfortunately for most of us, paying the rent takes first priority.'
Although Anson understands why people her age don''t come into the store that much, at the same time, she wonders aloud why middle-aged customers vastly outnumber their youthful counterparts.
'I really wonder whether people know how to read,' Anson said. 'Either they don''t read, or they won''t read. Except in the rare case that they''re in here for a marriage/dating book or some scriptures, they just don''t come in.'
They''re called 'the greatest generation' the church has ever known. They''re successful and bright people who, according to many professors at BYU, are more knowledgeable about the scriptures than past generations. Between all this studying and searching for knowledge, why are so many college-age students not reading religious LDS literature?
Alex Baugh, professor of Church History and Doctrine in BYU''s Religious Education, said there are many reasons religious readership in students isn''t great, and it has a lot to do with priority.
'LDS students are certainly hard-pressed for time outside their required classes to read,' Baugh said. 'After they finish reading their English, history and American heritage textbooks, no one wants to keep reading for leisure.'
Baugh said he doesn''t think it has anything to do with students'' spirituality - reading books on gospel topics isn''t a big priority at this point in their lives.
'Our students today do read,' Baugh said. 'They''re bright and very well-informed. But reading a serious treatment of the gospel? That hits low priority for them because TV and video games are at the forefront of their leisure activities. Students are already concerned about their salvation - it''s that people care about spiritual things and what matters more when they''re married and have two kids. Life seems to diminish the things that don''t matter. As you mature, so will the appreciation for spiritual things.'
Sitting in his office, Arnold K. Garr, chair of Church History and Doctrine, is surrounded by church books - some of them weathered by time and many readings while others, like 'Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament' by fellow colleagues Thomas S. Wayment, Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Eric D. Huntsman, sit recently bought, ready for Garr to open the covers. In between 'The History of the Prophet Joseph Smith by His Mother' and 'Lengthen your Stride' - a biography of Spencer W. Kimball by his son, Edward ? sits one of his favorite books: Sterling W. Sill''s 'The Majesty of Books.' Garr said technology has changed everything in this world - from how much television and music people watch and listen to, to the kind of information they absorb.
'People don''t read as much as they used to,' Garr said. 'The television, Internet, video games, they have wiped out people''s need to read. I also think there are so many activities with sports and dating that people don''t read.'
The changes in technology can be verified just by looking at a little bit of history.
According to a Gallup poll in Sill''s 'The Majesty of Books,' which was published in 1974, 56 percent of adults had started at least one book and left it unfinished. Three decades later, with the advent of color television, DVDs and iPods, numbers like that would be difficult to emulate, as society has been an electronic media-driven one for the life span of most current students.
'It used to be that people would go to bed, pick up a good book after prayers, and read till they go to sleep,' Garr said. 'Now everyone wants 10 seasons of ''Friends'' or ''24'' so they can watch that while they go to sleep.'
In the summer of 2005, the Discovery Channel conducted a poll to see who the nation views as the greatest Americans in the history of the country. Out of the 100 nominees, only one (Mark Twain) is a known author or writer, and the other one ? Joseph Smith ? is known primarily as a church leader, but also wrote things that eventually became books, like 'Lectures on Faith.' Contrast those numbers with pop culture - Elvis came in eighth and Oprah ninth. Also, Ellen Degeneres, Michael Jackson, and presidential hopeful Barack Obama made the list.
'There were no literary people in the top 25 and only a few in the top 100,' Garr said. 'The American population is being influenced by pop culture. There''s no sense of literacy. People don''t read because of TV.'
In Latter-day Saint culture, members are encouraged to read good books.
Garr understands the mandate to edify one''s self through books can be difficult, and is well aware of the pressures of the students.
'I sort of feel that the excuses are viable,' he said. 'People need leisure. Instead of reading gospel-centered books, they''re choosing to do other things. Our kids are good students. They''re high-quality. They''re better at the scriptures. They''re just not choosing to read.'
What books are most influential among Mormons? Which ones are considered 'required' reading in religious circles? Arnold K. Garr, chair of Church History and Doctrine, polled 412 professors and CES instructors to find out and published his work in BYU Studies in 2002.
Here are the top 10 suggestions overall:
1. 'Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith'
2. 'Mormon Doctrine'
3. 'Jesus the Christ'
4. 'Doctrines of Salvation'
5. 'Encyclopedia of Mormonism'
6. 'Gospel Doctrine'
7. 'The Articles of Faith'
8. 'The Miracle of Forgiveness'
9. Messiah Series
10. 'Doctrinal New Testament Commentary'
Newer or didn''t make the list:
'The Infinite Atonement'
'Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling'
'Book of Mormon Reference Companion'