 First edition | |
| Author | Orson Scott Card |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Signature Books |
Publication date | 1981 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-941214-00-1 |
| OCLC | 8667702 |
| 289.3/3 19 | |
| LC Class | BX8637 .C37 1981 |
Saintspeak (1981) is a satirical look at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by LDS author Orson Scott Card. It is modeled after The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. The pamphlet consists of a short glossary of common terms used by members of the LDS with humorous, satirical definitions.[1]
Originally published in 1981, Saintspeak is currently out of print. It contains numerous references to the Equal Rights Amendment and the way missionaries gave lessons to LDS "Investigators".
The book is written in a light-hearted and pokes fun at the shortcomings and idiosyncrasies of Mormons. Frequent targets include hypocritical behavior by church members, the church's repression and denial of its history, and fanatics who take church doctrines a bit too far.
In the introduction, Card makes comments to placate anyone who takes offense too deeply by claiming that Ambrose Bierce appeared to him in a vision and presented the text of this book to him, paralleling the Angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith and telling him about the Golden plates that composed the Book of Mormon. Therefore, he isn't responsible for anyone being offended by it because it's all Bierce's fault.