Archives West Finding Aid

Lavina Fielding Anderson was born on 13 April 1944 in Shelley, Idaho. In 1955 her family moved to Othello, Washington where Anderson graduated from high school in 1962. Following graduation, Anderson enrolled in Brigham Young University in 1963 and completed her studies five years later earning a B.A. degree with a major in English and graduating with a magna cum laude. From 1965 until 1967 she served as a L.D.S. missionary in France. Anderson began her post-graduate education at B.Y.U. in 1968 and received a master's degree in English literature in 1971. The culmination of her academic life occurred in 1975 when Anderson was awarded a PH.D. degree in American literature from the University of Washington. Two years later she married Paul L. Anderson, an architect and museum designer, who designed exhibits for the L.D.S. church and Brigham Young University until his death in 2018. A son, Christian, was born in 1980.

Anderson's professional life commenced in 1973 when the L.D.S. church hired her to work on the editorial board of Ensign, a post which she held for eight years. In 1981 Anderson became a self-employed editor who established a well-deserved reputation for her meticulous work. Numerous publications sought her services. Anderson was the president of two professional organizations and appointed to several councils and committees. During her distinguished career, Anderson was the recipient of many awards, the first occurring in 1982 and the last happening in 2018 when she was given an award for outstanding contributions to Mormon letters. The Mormon History Association recognized her achievements for her editorial labors, her professional service, and her book on Lucy Mack Smith. A frequent participant in scholarly and church affiliated conferences, Anderson presented several papers which were of a spiritual and secular nature. She also co-edited five books, composed eleven book chapters, and wrote many articles and book reviews. Anderson retired in 2017.

Anderson's two decade-long disenchantment with the L.D.S. church's hierarchy commenced during her tenure at Ensign and culminated in 1993 when she was excommunicated from the church. Anderson witnessed the pre-publication censorship of the work of well-respected scholars, including Leonard Arrington and was denied due process when Ensign terminated her employment in 1981. Subsequent to her dismissal, Anderson became exasperated with the conduct of the church's hierarchy towards Mormon non-conformist intellectuals. As the church leadership's efforts to marginalize, humiliate, and silence its Mormon critics mounted, Anderson became apprehensive about how her behavior as a feminist, an advocate of the "New Mormon " history, and an investigator of the hierarchy's alleged ecclesiastical and sexual abuse might lead to her expulsion from the L.D.S. church. When the hierarchy demanded that she disavow the publication of cases of ecclesiastical malfeasance and desist from soliciting church member complaints, Anderson lost her temple recommend, was labeled as an apostate, and was summarily excommunicated from the L.D.S. church.

A more comprehensive biographical sketch is located in box 8, folder 8.