One Great Whole: The Influence of Theology on the Portrayal of Aliens in Latter-day Saint Science Fiction

In the wake of the moon landing, an official Latter-day Saint magazine published an article which asserted belief in extraterrestrial life as a natural part of Latter-day Saint theology: “Are planets out in space inhabited by intelligent creatures? Without doubt. … People ‘out there’ are like people here, because we are all of the race of Gods.” While aliens in science fiction are often used to explore the concept of the Other, Mormon science fiction writers are more likely to look at aliens as a part of themselves and part of a unity of creation. This presentation seeks to examine how Latter-day Saint theology has influenced the portrayal of aliens in stories from Mormon science fiction writers, including stories written for a Latter-day Saint audience as well as those written for a national market. Prominent writers examined include Zenna Henderson, Orson Scott Card, and Brandon Sanderson.