William A. Wilson

WILLIAM A. "BERT" WILSON is Humanities Professor Emeritus of Folklore and Literature at BYU. A Fellow of the American Folklore Society, he is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Association for Mormon Letters and a recipient of Utah's Governor's Award in the Arts and the Mormon History Association's Leonard J. Arrington Award. He and his wife, Hannele, recentlry returned from a Public Affairs mission in Finland.

Freeways, Parking Lots, and Ice Cream Stands: The Three Nephites in Contemporary Society

Articles/Essays – Volume 21, No. 3

In the 1892–93 issue of The Folk-Lorist, a publication of the old Chicago Folk-Lore Society, the Reverend David Utter, from Salt Lake City, published a short piece entitled “Mormon Superstition.” He recounted Mormon beliefs about…

The Study of Mormon Folklore: An Uncertain Mirror for Truth

Articles/Essays – Volume 22, No. 4

It is an honor for me to speak here, partly because of the standard of excellence set by those who have preceded me at this podium, but primarily because of my respect for the man…

Folk Ideas of Mormon Pioneers

Articles/Essays – Volume 31, No. 3

In 1997 Mormons celebrated the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Brigham Young and the first LDS company to the Great Salt Lake Valley. During the anniversary year, they frequently discussed the experiences of the…

For Eugene | Remarks at the Memorial Service for Eugene England, Provo, Utah. August 25, 2001

Articles/Essays – Volume 35, No. 1

I appreciate the opportunity to pay tribute to my life-long friend, Eu gene England, but my need to honor him properly may lie beyond any hope of my doing so. I feel Eugene’s loss so…