Item Detail
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3968
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5
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0
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English
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Traditional Water Narratives in Utah
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Western Folklore
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April 1991
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50
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191-200
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Water's importance in Mormon culture is evidenced by its prominence in folklore, religious ceremony and scripture. Water is held as common property and administered by the church, giving rise to numerous ambiguities and contradictions in Mormon society. Common themes in water lore include missionaries playing hooky by swimming, mythic figures rescuing children from irrigation canals and the danger of attempting private control of water. Many jokes concern the desert terrain settled by the Mormons.