This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Mormons repeatedly pass along stories, often in hushed tones, about mysterious visits by three strangers who offer assistance, then disappear. They exchange tales of LDS missionary bouts with the devil, undiscovered naughty deeds and angelic visions. The anecdotes often end with a humorous punchline, a subtle message about obedience or a spiritual warning.

These stories may be folklore, but that doesn't mean they aren't true, says William A. Wilson, who has made a career collecting such stories. "This lore will take us about as close as we can get to Mormon hearts and minds, for the simple reason that people tell stories about, and participate in, those practices that interest them most."

On Thursday at 7 p.m., Wilson will address this topic in his 2007 Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture, titled,"What's True in Mormon Folklore? The Contribution of Folklore to Mormon Studies."

The study of Mormon folklore, Wilson said in a statement, "should be a crucial part of any program that attempts to understand what Mormons do because of what they believe."

The lecture is named after one of the LDS Church's pre-eminent historians, who died in February 1989. Each fall, it is presented by Special Collections and Archives in the Merrill-Cazier Library at Utah State University, in conjunction with the Leonard J. Arrington Foundation.

Wilson, who earned his doctorate in folklore from Indiana University, began his teaching career as a high school English teacher in Bountiful, and has since taught at Indiana University, the University of California at Los Angeles, Utah State University, the University of Oregon and Brigham Young University. At BYU, he served as chairman of the English department, director of the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies and director of the BYU Folklore Archives, now known as the William A. Wilson Folklore Archives.

He once served as USU's director of the folklore program and developed the annual Fife Folklore Conference. He also helped develop the Fife Folklore Archives and was instrumental in incorporating the archive into the Merrill-Cazier Library's holdings.

* The 2007 Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture, titled,"What's True in Mormon Folklore? The Contribution of Folklore to Mormon Studies" will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Logan LDS Tabernacle, 50 N. Main St. It is free and open to the public.

* For more information, call 435-797-2663.

The truth behind the tales

* The 2007 Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture, titled,"What's True in Mormon Folklore? The Contribution of Folklore to Mormon Studies" will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Logan LDS Tabernacle, 50 N. Main St. It is free and open to the public.

* More information: Call 435-797-2663