Weyland's Short Stories Appeal to Teens and Adults

Jack Weyland has long reigned as the king of LDS fiction for young adults. With his fast-paced, conversation-filled stories, Brother Weyland captures the attention of teens, and proceeds to teach them gospel messages cloaked in the drama of everyday life. His novels deal with everything from dating to terrorism, but all of them feature Mormon kids simply trying to live the gospel despite all the conflicts of adolescence and young adulthood.

Night On Lone Wolf Mountain and other short stories, Brother Weyland’s 1996 collection, provides a glimpse at the skill which makes the author so popular with LDS readers. First, he chucks stereotypes and writes about real kids. We are introduced to Emily, the “ideal youth,” whose hot temper lands her in isolation on Lone Wolf Mountain for the night; then there is Josh Davis who can’t decide whether to go on a mission or take a football scholarship that could lead him to his dream of playing for the NFL; we also meet Brittany Spaulding, who is so jealous of her cousin that she spreads lies about him all over the school; the book also features a rock enthusiast, a priest who can’t stop humming show tunes, and a host of other quirky characters. Next, Brother Weyland presents us with situations that are especially timely and important. In one story, a boy is trapped inside a high school classroom with a manic gunman; in another, a young missionary must decide if he has enough courage to admit to a past wrong, even though it may mean going home from his mission; in yet another, a teenage girl realizes that her decision to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could tear her family apart. These are real kids in tough situations.

Since Brother Weyland paints his young protagonists with realistic qualities, it is only fair that he does the same with the adult characters in the book. I believe that this tendency also endears him to teenagers, who struggle to be understood by their parents, teachers and church leaders. Through the stories, we meet parents who are stubborn, easily angered, impatient and critical. We find a bishop who has difficulty reaching the youth in his ward, a minister who offers ignorant arguments against Mormonism, and a Young Women’s leader who makes hasty decisions. In the end, however, the adults’ admirable qualities come to light. When the kids need them, they are there. Again, this mirrors real life.

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