Latter-day Saint NONFICTION : Standout Saints by Sierra Wilson

STANDOUT SAINTS:

Church History Heroes from Around the World

written by Sierra Wilson, illustrated by Emily Shay Tueller

Deseret Book, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-62972-806-3

Source: book from publisher for review

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From prophets to pioneers, from songwriters to scientists, Standout Saints: Church History Heroes from Around the World presents the fascinating true stories of twenty women and twenty men from Church history. Each one-page biography describes impressive achievements and shares stories of great faith. Readers will encounter well-known and beloved Saints such as Joseph Smith and Eliza R. Snow along with lesser-known heroes from around the world such as Hu Wei-I, who miraculously translated the Book of Mormon into Chinese, and Mere Mete Whaanga, a prominent Maori woman who helped the Church spread into New Zealand. In addition, Standout Saints includes uplifting quotes, a Church history timeline, and resources for further study.

The courage and faith of these Saints made them stand out from the world, and this educational and inspiring book helps young readers know that they too can stand out.

PURCHASE LINKS

Deseret Book

Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sierra Wilson is a children's author/illustrator living in Alberta, Canada. She wrote The Atonement of Jesus Christ is for Me and I Can Be Like Jesus as well as several other books for children soon to be released. Before turning to writing, Sierra worked as a high school English and history teacher. She is the daughter of two modern-day pioneers and loves researching about pioneers and faithful heroes of all kinds. When she's not writing, you can find her adventuring with her husband and four children, cross-country skiing, or eating all the chocolate.

Social Media Links:

www.sierrawilsonauthor.com

www.facebook.com/sierrawilsonwrites

@sierra.arts.poems (IG)

@SierraTWilson (Twitter)

www.pinterest.com/sierrasunflower/boards/

REVIEW

This well-written, and beautifully designed book shares the stories of 40 Latter-day Saints.  Each two page spread shares a few paragraphs describing the person and some of his/her experiences along with a beautifully constructed portrait.  Each portrait includes several images related to his/her experiences.  The saints included are both well-known and less well-known, including men and women and individuals from multiple ethnicities.  I appreciated the variety of individuals included in the book, some I knew and some I didn't.  I appreciated the reminder of the faith and courage that these individuals lived throughout their lives.  Not only is this a great read for adults, but a great resource for family home evenings in teaching children about the history of the church and the examples of saints throughout the years.  Recommended.

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LDS BOOK REVIEW: What You Don't Know About the 100 Most Important Events in Church History by Casey Paul Griffiths, Susan Easton Black, Mary Jane Woodger

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE 100 MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CHURCH HISTORY

by Casey Paul Griffiths, Susan Easton Black, & Mary Jane Woodger

Deseret Book, 2017

ISBN: 978-1-62972-246-7

LDS History

Source: publisher for review

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Did you know...

• Brigham Young made significant changes to the structure of the Church, most of which are still in place today?
• Communist leaders of East Germany invited the Church to build a temple in their country.
• Serious consideration was given to building a temple ship that would visit seaports to make ordinances more readily available to Saints around the world?
• These facts are just a few of those you'll fine in What You Don't Know about the 100 Most Important Events in Church History, a fascinating look at nearly 200 years of the Restoration.

BYU Church history professors Casey Paul Griffiths, Susan Easton Black, and May Jane Woodger have written engaging vignettes about our history, ranging from familiar events, such as the First Vision, the trek west, and the origin of Primary, to not-so-familiar events, such as the retrenchment movement, the political manifesto, and the beginnings of seminaries and institutes.

In 100 short chapters, you'll...

• Discover intriguing facts about the Church you didn't know before.
• Gain a greater appreciation for the role of living prophets in the unfolding restoration of the gospel and an ever-changing world.
• Learn more about lesser-known and even surprising events in the history of the Latter-day Saints.

REVIEW

For those interested in learning more about LDS Church history (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or Mormon Church) this is a great place to start.  Having combed through numerous sources, primary and secondary references, as well as official church accounts, the authors have done a fabulous job compiling brief narrative accounts of 100 important events.  Of course they couldn't include everything, but what they did include makes for some great reading.  Despite it's size and format, the book is easy to read with lots of great information.  I'd recommend this as both a reference for gospel/church history study, but also a great book to read for pure interest.  Some of these accounts were familiar to me and others were not.  The set up of the book makes it easy to skip around for those who wish to do so.  The accounts are arranged in chronological order which is logical, allowing the reader to move through whatever time period he/she wishes.  A fabulous resource for anyone who desires to know more about LDS Church history.

LDS BOOK REVIEW: At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-Day Saint Women

AT THE PULPIT

185 Years of Discourses by Latter-Day Saint Women

edited by Jennifer Reeder and Kate Holbrook

The Church Historian's Press, 2017

ISBN: 9781629722825

LDS History/Nonfiction

Source: publisher for review (ARC)

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From the banks of the frozen Lake Erie in early May 1831, Lucy Mack Smith admonished her despondent fellow Saints. "Where is your faith in God?" she asked. "If I could make my voice to sound as loud as the trumpet of Michael the archangel I would declare the truth from land to land and from sea to sea."

At the Pulpit contains fifty-four discourses given by Latter-day Saint women throughout the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like Lucy Mack Smith, these women drew on inspiration and experience to declare their understanding of eternal truths. This book illustrates the history of women's public preaching in the church, but its most important feature is the actual words of Mormon women. From the time of Emma Hale Smith's earliest exhortations at meetings of the Nauvoo Relief Society, Latter-day Saint women have been charged to instruct their families and neighbors, their congregations and Relief Societies, and other organizations. The talks featured in this volume show Mormon women doing the spiritual and intellectual work inherent in a life of Christian faith—seeking to do good works, understand the atonement of Jesus Christ, and strengthen their own faith and the faith of those around them. These women endeavored to live what they believed and to help their listeners do so as well.

Written to the high scholarly standards of the Church Historian's Press, the book provides a resource for contemporary Latter-day Saints as they study, speak, teach, and lead. Each discourse in this volume begins with an introduction that acquaints readers with the vibrant personalities of some of the women who have shaped the church. Introductions also provide glimpses into the circumstances and forces that shaped these women. Readers will encounter some familiar figures from church history and from the contemporary church—leaders like Eliza R. Snow and Linda K. Burton, current Relief Society general president. But they will also learn from women like Jane H. Neyman, whose stories are largely unknown to modern Latter-day Saints. Neyman applied to join the Nauvoo Relief Society in 1842, but her petition was rejected due to gossip about her daughters. Over twenty-five years later, she spoke in a Relief Society in Beaver, Utah, on charity, urging members to be forbearing and forgiving of one another.

The voices in these pages ring from Nauvoo's red brick store to the National Auditorium in Mexico City to the Tabernacle on Temple Square and beyond. These discourses offer instruction on gospel principles while also revealing the particular concerns of individual women. At the Pulpit allows us to hear the historical and contemporary voices of Latter-day Saint women—voices that resound with experience, wisdom, and authority.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jennifer Reeder is the nineteenth-century women’s history specialist at the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She holds a PhD in American history from George Mason University.

Kate Holbrook is the managing historian for women’s history at the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She received a PhD in religious studies from Boston University.

REVIEW

What a piece of work!  After reading this book it's clear that numerous hours of work went into creating it and it shows.  Discourses by female leaders in the LDS Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) combine to make this a tour de force.  Not only are the talks powerful doctrinally, but they also give a glimpse into different times and places and how things have both changed and stayed the same over time.  All of these women made a difference during the times in which they lived.  Some of these women I remember myself.  Reading this was both eye-opening and informative.  I especially think the timing on the release of this book can't be an accident.  With some questioning women's role in the Church, I couldn't be more pleased with this book that clearly demonstrates the strong and ongoing role that women have in the LDS Church.  This is the sort of book that could be read over and over again with the reader learning new things every time.  It's also an excellent resource as it includes extensive footnotes and an appendix.  The release of this book is truly a service to both members and nonmembers alike as well as female and male readers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO READ SELECTIONS FROM THE BOOK, GO HERE.

TO PURCHASE

Amazon
Deseret Book

QUOTES

LDS NONFICTION: Wagons West: Brigham Young and the First Pioneers by Richard E. Turley Jr. & Lael Littke

WAGONS WEST

Brigham Young and the First Pioneers

Deseret Book, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-62972-250-4

LDS Nonfiction

Source: publisher for review

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This simple, clear retelling of the Saints' trek west will help both young and old experience what life was like in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1844 after their beloved Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed.

Hurry with the Saints as they rush to complete their temple while also building wagons and packing supplies for the long journey west. Go with them as they cross the wide Mississippi River and trudge through the mud of Iowa.

Experience their disappointment that they cannot reach the Rocky Mountains before winter comes again, but share their faith that they are being led by a prophet of God. Rejoice with them when spring returns and the first company of pioneers sets out from Winter Quarters.

Look with them in awe at vast herds of shaggy buffalo on the Great Plains. Finally, after crossing the last mountain pass into the Salt Lake Valley, thrill with the Saints that they have reached their new home.

Vintage photos and other engaging illustrations help bring these stories to life in Wagons West: Brigham Young and the First Pioneers.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Lael Littke is the author of more than forty books in both the national and LDS markets. Most of her books are written for children and young adults, including Haunted Sister, Lake of Secrets and Searching for Selene She co-authored Stories from the Life of Joseph Smith with Richard E. Turley, Jr. She also has four women's novels to her credit: Keepers of Blackbird Hill as well as Almost Sisters, Three Tickets to Peoria, and Surprise Packages, co-authored with Carroll Morris and Nancy Anderson. A native of Mink Creek, Idaho, she graduated from Utah State University and did further studies in writing at City College of New York, Pasadena City College, and UCLA. She has taught writing courses at UCLA and Pasadena City College for nearly ten years. Lael lives in Pasadena, California.

Richard E. Turley, Jr., Assistant Church Historian and Recorder for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a member of the editorial board of the Church Historian's Press, which publishes The Joseph Smith Papers and other highly-acclaimed works of Church history. He is the author or co-author of several books, including How We Got the Book of Mormon and How We Got the Doctrine and Covenants, with William W. Slaughter; Massacre at Mountain Meadows, with Ronald W. Walker and Glen M. Leonard; Stories from the Life of Joseph Smith, with Lael Littke; and Victims: The LDS Church and the Mark Hofmann Case. In addition, he is the coeditor of the series Women of Faith in the Latter Days, with Brittany A. Chapman, and general editor of the print volumes of The Journals of George Q. Cannon. He and his wife, Shirley, live in Salt Lake City, Utah.

REVIEW

The story of the first Mormon pioneers to reach Utah makes for great reading.  This book is intended for younger readers and it works very well in that regard.  The text is very readable, divided up into chapters by stages of the journey.  I appreciated having a map to follow as the journey progressed.  This is some fine narrative nonfiction.  The inclusion of photographs as well as illustrations of paintings and other artifacts helped bring the story to life.  Another thing I appreciated was the inclusion of the bad with the good.  As Saints and pioneers, it's easy to idolize these people and forget that they were human just as we are.  Stories of complaining and disagreements, mistakes made, and some plain just rotten days make this story and the people who were a part of it, easier to relate to.  And in the end it makes their accomplishments all the more admirable because they had to overcome their own weaknesses as well as the challenges of the journey.  With a story like this one, it's easy to become overly generic, but the authors do a good job of integrating individual accounts and experiences into the main narration, giving the reader a peek into specific moments of the journey.  For those who hope to help their children understand the purposes and experiences related to this part of Church history, I can highly recommend this book.

LDS BOOK REVIEW: Saints at Devil's Gate: Landscapes Along the Mormon Trail

SAINTS AT DEVIL'S GATE:

Landscapes Along the Mormon Trail

The Church Historian's Press, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-692-78585-0

Gift Book

Source: publisher for review

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A beautiful art book from the Church Historian's Press, publisher of The Joseph Smith Papers.

From 1846 to 1869, some 70,000 Mormon pioneers traveled the Mormon Trail, the 1,300-mile route from Illinois and Iowa to Salt Lake City. In 2011, three award-winning Mormon painters decided to visit sites all along the historic route and capture the landscapes in oil. This full-color art book, featuring 52 landscape paintings, presents the fruit of their five-year project. Each painting is paired with journal entries or reminiscences from pioneers who made the journey. Essays by the authors and an artist interview illuminate both the art and the history of the trail.

The book gives written and visual context to the pioneers’ experience of the trail, bears witness to the land as it exists today, and links the experience of pioneers to the challenges of today.

Note: This book was published to accompany an exhibition of the same name at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. Therefore, distribution of the book has been limited. Copies are available at the museum gift store, at store.lds.org, and at some independent bookstores in Utah.

REVIEW

The journey of the Mormon pioneers across the plains of the United States has been well-documented.  But I haven't seen a book quite like this one.  This book is a compilation of paintings that show some of the locations that the Mormon pioneers saw as they traveled cross country to the Salt Lake valley.  The work of three artists is included along with brief quotes from the journals and memoirs of a variety of pioneers.  This book is intended to highlight the gorgeous paintings that John Burton, Josh Clare, and Bryan Mark Taylor have completed.  There is an accompanying exhibit at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City.  I loved looking at the amazing artwork as well as reading the quotes that helped me imagine what it might have been like to witness these settings with the pioneers.  As I imagined what it might have been like to travel through what was then mostly wilderness, I got a feeling of profound loneliness.  These people sacrificed a great deal to be there and then struggled through sickness, accidents, exhausting walking, and cleaning and cooking.  When problems arose there was no 911 to call or cell phone to pull out, they only had themselves and the Lord to rely on.  I found it rather inspiring to read and look at this book and think about the challenges the pioneers experienced.  But it also inspired me with the wild beauty of some of these places.  And some of the quotes make it clear that the pioneers weren't blind to the beauty they saw around them.  Saints at Devil's Gate is a beautiful book that I can highly recommend to anyone interested in the landscapes that the pioneers found themselves passing through on their journey to Utah.