Marilyn Arnold: Mormon Scholar

Marilyn Arnold is an emeritus professor of English, novelist, and internationally recognized scholar on the writings of Willa Cather.

Arnold was born on November 26, 1935, in Salt Lake City. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University. She obtained her PhD in American literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She served as assistant dean of women and assistant director of student financial aid at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before embarking on her career in Utah. She was an assistant professor of English at Weber State College the year prior to her appointment to BYU in 1969. While at BYU, she served as dean of Graduate Studies, assistant to former university president Dallin H. Oaks, and director of the Center for the Study of Christian Values in Literature. After she retired she continued her association with BYU for many years through the Women’s Research Institute. She relocated to the St. George, Utah, area, where she served for several years on the Dixie State College Board of Trustees.

She has written on Willa Cather and the Book of Mormon, with titles that include Willa Cather: A Reference Guide and Sweet Is the Word: Reflections on the Book of Mormon—Its Narrative, Teachings, and People. She is the author of Pure Love: Readings on Sixteen Enduring Virtues. Her novel titles include Desert Song: A Novel, Song of Hope: A Novel, Sky Full of Ribbons, Fields of Clover: A Novel, The Classmates, Perfecting Amiable, Minding Mama, and Yes, Mama.

Arnold is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.