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Showing posts with label Mormonism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mormonism. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Top Ten Tuesday: My Christmas Favorites
Happy Tuesday! How's everyone doing? I'm swell, especially because I have exciting news—on Sunday, I finished my 200th book of the year, meaning that, for the first time ever, I met my goal of reading 200 books in a year. Cue the confetti! I don't know how you tally up your totals, but I count books finished (not including picture books or anything under 50 pages) and not pages read, so it's possible I've read more pages in other years, just not this many actual volumes. I'm so proud of myself :) We won't talk about all the other more productive things I could have accomplished with all those hours...moving along...
Today's TTT topic is Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings/Bookish Wishes. It has this addendum, that I find kind of odd but others might enjoy: This was so popular when I did it in June that we’re doing it again for the holidays! List the top 10 books you’d love to own and include a link to your wishlist so that Santa can grant your wish. Make sure you link your wishlist to your mailing address [here’s how to do it on Amazon] or include the email address associated with your ereader in the list description so people know how to get the book to you. After you post, jump around the Linky and grant a wish or two if you’d like. You can make your identity known or be someone’s secret Santa! Please don’t feel obligated to send anything to anyone! If you would rather not include your wish list, just share the books you hope you find under your tree on Christmas morning. I can't imagine asking people to buy me books, so I'm going to skip this topic altogether. Instead, I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorite Christmas things—books, music, movies, etc. Before we get to that, though, be sure to click on over to That Artsy Reader Girl and give our hostess, Jana, some love.
My Top Ten Christmas Favorites
1.
2.
There's nothing more festive than listening to Christmas music. I have many favorite holiday songs, but O Holy Night is the one I hands-down love the best. Which version do I most enjoy? I don't even know—I love it that much! As far as more jazzy Christmas tunes go, I dig God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Go Tell It On the Mountain.
3.
I've mentioned before that I'm a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as Mormons). One thing people of my faith revere is the Sabbath Day, which we try to keep holy. To this end, Mormons don't generally shop on Sundays or attend things like sporting events. Growing up, my father was adamant about us kids only watching uplifting things on the Sabbath. Other than videos produced by our church, he had two others he deemed appropriate: The Sound of Music and It's a Wonderful Life. My siblings and I viewed both so many times that we can still quote them word-for-word all these years later. My love for It's a Wonderful Life started then and continues now. It remains my all-time favorite Christmas movie.
4.
You can't go wrong with the classics! Also, the Prep & Landing movies are just fun.
5.
Back to the Mormon thing...we don't drink alcohol. My mom made eggnog every Christmas Eve by mixing a carton of the stuff with a block of vanilla ice cream and a bottle of Sprite to create a yummy eggnog punch. I'm lazy, so I pour eggnog straight out of the carton into a glass and enjoy. No one else in my family cares for the stuff, which is perfect. More for me!
6.
My husband and I have both been trying to lose weight this year (he's dropped around 40 lbs.—we won't talk about how much I may or may not have lost/gained), so I actually have not made many of our usual treats this year. However, my stepsister gave us several pounds of vegan Wood Nook fudge that I just couldn't stop eating. I love me some dairy and I still found it addicting! I've never met a fudge I didn't like...
7.
The Mesa Temple is a sacred, historical building owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It opened here in the city where I live in 1927. Every year, it hosts a large Easter Pageant on the lawn as well as an incredible display of Christmas lights strung all over its grounds. Both are popular, well-attended community events. The temple has been closed for the last few years for extensive remodeling and I've missed it for many reasons. Now that the renovations have been completed, the temple has been rededicated and will resume normal operations today. Unfortunately, there are no lights this year. Next year, though, my family and I will definitely be visiting the temple grounds to enjoy the display, as we have many times over the years.
8.
I talked about decorations in my last Top Ten Tuesday post. Although I don't have tons of them and the ones I do have aren't particularly unique, I love nativities. Why? A couple weeks ago, I visited a free nativity display in a woman's home. When I asked her why she started collecting nativities forty years ago, she said, "I just love Jesus!" That about sums it up for me as well.
9.
Even though stamps are expensive and writing dozens of addresses out cramps my hand, I still love to send out Christmas cards every year. A few years ago, in the middle of a particularly exhausting December, I announced that I wouldn't be sending out cards. My mom called me to make sure I wasn't dying. That's how serious I am about my card-sending! Even better is receiving cards from family and friends. I love looking at their family pictures, reading their letters, and displaying all the cards we receive. It just makes me happy.
10.
Russell M. Nelson, the prophet and president of my church, is a retired heart surgeon, a dynamic leader, and a powerful speaker. I love the video messages he shares. Many of you enjoyed his Thanksgiving address from last year, which I posted here, so I thought I would share his Christmas message from this year. Enjoy!
Happy TTT!
Thursday, December 16, 2021
Mormon Mentions: Daniel James Brown
Just to be clear, my father only has one wife. As does my husband. No, I do not have horns hidden underneath my hair, nor am I a member of a cult. Believe it or not, I have been asked all of these questions before!
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In The Indifferent Stars Above, Daniel James Brown mentions Mormons—who, under the direction of Brigham Young, established a colony in Utah's Salt Lake Valley in July 1847, a year after the Donner Party took their ill-fated journey—four times. I chose just two of the passages to talk about here.
"For the next two weeks, they [the Donner Party] rolled northwest, passing and being passed by elements of what had been the Russell Party, now under the leadership of Lilburn Boggs, the fiercely anti-Mormon former governor of Missouri who had taken over leadership when Russell resigned on June 18" (77).
Lilburn Boggs is a well-known villain in Mormon history. I grew up hearing tales of his hateful persecution of early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 1836 to 1840, he served as governor of Missouri, where he dealt with heated conflict between members of the Church and residents of Missouri, who were concerned about the influx of Mormon settlers to the area. Many Missourians were outraged by their presence and sought to drive the religious group out of Missouri. Boggs agreed, issuing Missouri Executive Order 44 (known as the "Extermination Order") on October 27, 1838. In part, the order said: The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the state if necessary for the public peace—their outrages are beyond all description. If you can increase your force, you are authorized to do so to any extent you may consider necessary. Fearing for their lives, thousands of Church members fled the state in terror. This kind of persecution followed them wherever they went, prompting their eventual migration to Utah.
I've never thought about what happened to Boggs after that, so I was startled to see his name in The Indifferent Stars Above. Some say he headed to California because of his fear of Mormon retaliation (someone did try to kill him in 1842, although the identity of his would-be assassin was never discovered). Whatever his reason, he journeyed to the Sunshine State in 1846 with a party of pioneers that included his wife and children. They settled in Sonoma, where Boggs became a store owner and a postmaster. He died in Napa County in 1880. So says that venerable news source Wikipedia, anyway.
"There is anecdotal evidence...that the winter of 1846 was unusually cold across the Northern Hemisphere...At their Winter Quarters in Nebraska, thousands of Mormons suffered terribly, and more than six hundred of them died, in bitterly cold blizzards that swept across the plains" (226).
I also grew up hearing stories about the great suffering of the Saints in Winter Quarters, although none of my Mormon pioneer ancestors were among them. It's a sad chapter in our history. There is now a Mormon Trail Center on the Winter Quarters site in Omaha, Nebraska, where you can learn more about what happened there.
Thursday, September 02, 2021
Mormon Mentions: Jon Billman
If you haven't got a clue what a Mormon is, let alone a Mormon Mention, allow me to explain: When I see a reference to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nickname: Mormons) in a book which was not written by a member of the Church, I post it here. With commentary from Yours Truly. I'm no theologian, but I try to explain doctrinal issues as well as debunk myths and clear up misconceptions. Speaking of, I should probably make this crystal clear: My dad only has one wife. As does my husband. And, yes, people really have asked me those questions. (I've also been asked if I have horns. Of course I do! I just keep them hidden under my hair. Duh.) Just FYI: mainstream Mormons haven't practiced polygamy for more than 120 years.
Everybody got that? Great. Let's move on...
In The Cold Vanish, Jon Billman talks about the search for a man named Troy James Knapp, a survivalist who lived off the spoils he acquired from breaking into cabins in Southern Utah for seven years before he was caught and jailed in 2013.
- Of Southern Utah's arid landscape, Billman says: "It was drier than a Mormon wedding." (205)
Ha ha. This reference made me laugh out loud! If you know anything about my church it's that its members abide by a health code known as The Word of Wisdom. It stipulates that we abstain from drinking alcohol, hot beverages (coffee and tea), using tobacco, and ingesting other substances that are harmful to the body. Thus, alcoholic beverages are not consumed by Latter-day Saints and not served at Mormon wedding receptions. In fact, I was shocked when, at a recent reception, I was handed an empty glass for a later toast to the bride and groom. Toasts are not traditionally part of Mormon receptions. This one—of course—was done with Martinelli's sparkling apple cider!
- About Knapp: "At times he appeared angry at Latter[sic]D[sic]ay Saints—he shot holes in a portrait of Joseph Smith and ripped up the Book of Mormon." (200)
I don't know anything about Knapp's religious background. Perhaps he is a disgruntled former member of the Church. Or he just likes to be destructive. Morality is obviously not the man's strong suit. Desecrating religious paintings and sacred books, especially while in the act of ransacking a stranger's cabin, are simply not the actions of a good man (although the owners probably forgave him since both Joseph Smith's [the Church's first prophet and president] teachings and the Book of Mormon preach forgiveness for all).
Thursday, April 29, 2021
Mormon Mentions: Libby Copeland
(Note: In 2018, Russell M. Nelson—president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—made an impassioned plea to members of the Church and to the media to always use the full and correct name of the Church instead of referring to it by its various nicknames. This led to the renaming of many Church entities, including its famous choir, which is now The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Although I have been trying to think up a clever new name for this feature that is more in line with President Nelson's request, for the moment it remains "Mormon Mentions.")
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is well known for its long-held interest in genealogy/family history, so it's no surprise that the Church is mentioned several times in The Lost Family by Libby Copeland:
"It matters deeply to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who their ancestors are because this knowledge allows them to carry out a grave responsibility, to save souls and ensure the sanctity of the family unit in the afterlife" (29).
- One of the most comforting doctrines taught by the Church is that families are forever, bound together both in this life and the next. Building temples, in which familial bonds are cemented through sacred covenants, is a priority because this eternal binding is of utmost importance to the leadership and membership of the Church. I love this video, which explains this better than I can:
"FamilySearch, though, is not a business. It is a massive project free to everyone, dedicated to the idea that we're all better off if we know our ancestors...[The Church] also runs the website FamilySearch.org, where you can search more than five billion records" (29).
- If you have any interest in family history, I strongly recommend visiting FamilySearch. It's run by the Church, but anyone can use its abundant free resources. If you need help navigating the site, let me know. I'm happy to help.
Sunday, April 04, 2021
Happy Easter!
Whether or not you celebrate Easter, I want to wish you a happy one. Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal, a season that celebrates life, hope, and growth. I feel that hope keenly at this time of year as I join with other Christians to focus on and celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I also look forward to General Conference, a two-day long event that occurs twice a year, once in April and once in October, in which Christ-centered messages are given by leaders of the Church and musical performances are offered by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. For my family, both Easter and Conference come with cherished traditions that bring us together for food, fun, and worship. So, from my home to yours, I wish you a very happy Easter and Springtime.
I should have posted this video last week since it's about making Holy Week more meaningful, but I've been slacking on Easter prep this year. Case in point: since I wasn't feeling well after getting my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Good Friday, I let my kids go shopping for their own Easter basket goodies! Yeah, I'm an awful mom. Anyway, I wanted to share this beautiful Easter message from Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 03, 2021
Mormon Mentions: Sonja Yoerg
If you're not sure what a Mormon is, let alone a Mormon Mention, allow me to explain: My name is Susan and I'm a Mormon (you've seen the commercials, right?). As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly known as the Mormon or LDS Church), I'm naturally concerned with how my religion is portrayed in the media. Because this blog is about books, every time I see a reference to Mormonism in a book written by someone who is not a member of my church, I highlight it here. Then, I offer my opinion—my insider's view—of what the author is saying. It's my chance to correct misconceptions, expound on principles of the Gospel, and even to laugh at my (sometimes) crazy Mormon culture.
(Note: In 2018, Russell M. Nelson—president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—made an impassioned plea to members of the Church and to the media to always use the full and correct name of the Church instead of referring to it by its various nicknames. This led to the renaming of many Church entities, including its famous choir, which is now The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Although I have been trying to think up a clever new name for this feature that is more in line with President Nelson's request, for the moment it remains "Mormon Mentions.")
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The Family Ship by Sonja Yoerg revolves around a large family. The following exchange takes place between one of the siblings and his friends while they're sneakily drinking beer around a fire pit:
"How many you got again?"
"Four brothers and three sisters. Plus one more on the way."
Beetle let out a low whistle. "You're not Mormons or anything, are you?"
Boone punched his arm. "Ever hear of a beer-drinking Mormon, you half-wit?"
*Please note that quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof of The Family Ship, quote at about 31%.
If you know anything about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it's probably that family is valued very highly. Because of this, members of the Church often have large families with lots of children. Although it's not as common today, in past decades it wasn't unusual for Mormon parents to have half a dozen to a dozen children (or more). I only have five siblings, so I guess my family might be considered small by Mormon standards!
Another thing that is widely known about members of the Church is that we abide by a health code called The Word of Wisdom (see Doctrine and Covenants Section 89 and this explanation). This dictates that we not drink alcohol or "hot drinks" (coffee and tea) and avoid tobacco use and other substances that are harmful to the body. So, while a Mormon certainly could drink a beer (we have our agency, after all), most members of the Church do their best to abide by the Word of Wisdom and refrain.
The family in The Family Ship, by the way, are not members of the Church.
Friday, January 29, 2021
Mormon Mentions: Katie Tallo
If you're not sure what a Mormon is, let alone a Mormon Mention, allow me to explain: My name is Susan and I'm a Mormon (you've seen the commercials, right?). As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (commonly known as the Mormon or LDS Church), I'm naturally concerned with how my religion is portrayed in the media. Because this blog is about books, every time I see a reference to Mormonism in a book written by someone who is not a member of my church, I highlight it here. Then, I offer my opinion—my insider's view—of what the author is saying. It's my chance to correct misconceptions, expound on principles of the Gospel, and even to laugh at my (sometimes) crazy Mormon culture.
(Note: In 2018, Russell M. Nelson—president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—made an impassioned plea to members of the Church and to the media to always use the full and correct name of the Church instead of referring to it by its various nicknames. This led to the renaming of many Church entities, including its famous choir, which is now The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Although I have been trying to think up a clever new name for this feature that is more in line with President Nelson's request, for the moment it remains "Mormon Mentions.")
---
Whenever I read a book that is set in a real place, I'm always curious to know which details about it are true and which are made-up to suit the story. Elgin—a town in Ottawa, Canada—plays a big role in Dark August by Katie Tallo. The way she describes it, especially as an abandoned village decimated by a toxic waste explosion, makes it sound like a fascinating place. Unfortunately, she did not include an author's note explaining what in the book is factual and what is not, so I had to do some digging on my own. Here's what I found:
While Elgin is, indeed, a real place, the whole toxic waste explosion/ghost town thing is 100% fiction. If you Google the town, you will see that it's a teensy (population: about 300) village southwest of Ottawa that appears to be a quaint, lovely place to live.
On the second page of Dark August, Elgin is described as "a settlement carved from nothing in the 1830s by Mormon missionaries." This bit of history appears to be true-ish. This website attributes the town's founding to members of the Halladay Family, but it does mention that missionaries from the Church arrived in the area in the 1830's and, in 1834, a large group of converts left the area for Mormon settlements in the United States. Church history websites (like this one) confirm the presence of missionaries there, who converted many people in the area. Genealogical information from FamilySearch also confirms that Halladays were prominent in the area in the 1800's. However, it appears that Tallo's characters were not based on real members of the family.
If you know anything about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you probably know that it has always valued both community and missionary work. A number of towns and cities in the United States (especially in Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and California) as well as several in Mexico and Canada were, in fact, settled by early pioneers, missionaries, and members of the Church. The city I live in is one of them :)
Wednesday, November 06, 2019
Empowering, Faith-Promoting Memoir Proves Anyone Can Change (with a Giveaway!)
(Image from Amazon)
Daniel L. Trotter became hooked on illegal drugs at a young age. This—as well as addictions to alcohol, tobacco, pornography, and partying—continued to plague him throughout adolescence and young adulthood, leading where such vices inevitably will. After numerous close calls, as well as a suicide attempt and stays in both jail and a mental facility, Trotter finally hit rock bottom. Desperate to change his life, he took dramatic action. Inspired by the Biblical story of Jesus' forty-day fast in the wilderness, Trotter embarked on his own journey. He promised himself—and God—that he wouldn't emerge from the forest where he was camping until he had found the strength to transform his life. For good.
A Different Kind of Strong is Trotter's story. Although it describes a long struggle with debilitating addictions, the memoir is a short, easy read, making it approachable for even the most reluctant reader. It's written in a casual, conversational style that marks Trotter as an Everyman, whose mistakes and challenges could be those of any one of us. His yearning for God, which led to his eventual conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the faith which his family embraced, but he abandoned), shows that, with the help of the Lord, anyone can change. Through an ongoing process of repentance, forgiveness, restitution, and turning to God, past mistakes can be made right and present challenges overcome. Trotter is quick to point out that his life didn't immediately become perfect after his life-changing experience in the wilderness, but it did improve in ways he never could have imagined.
While A Different Kind of Strong doesn't feature the strongest prose, it's still a compelling, empowering memoir that offers help and hope to those struggling with addiction. Overall, I enjoyed this fast, faith-promoting read.
In addition to being a writer, a personal trainer, a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS), and a motivational speaker, Trotter is also a singer and songwriter of inspiring religious music. His CD, also titled A Different Kind of Strong, can be purchased on his website or at Amazon. The songs are also available for download on Amazon.
(Readalikes: I don't read a lot of books like this, so no titles are coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, nudity, and references to drug use, drug dealing, prostitution, etc. (although descriptions are not overly graphic)
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of A Different Kind of Strong as well as a CD of the same name from the very generous Daniel L. Trotter via Moore PR Group. Thank you!
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Would you like to win a copy of A Different Kind of Strong and a $50 Amazon gift card? Of course you would! Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter the giveaway. Good luck!
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Monday, October 14, 2019
Educated a Fascinating, Compelling Memoir
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Born to survivalist parents, Tara Westover became the seventh child in a very unconventional family. Although her parents were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they embraced their own extreme, fanatical version of the religion. Living in a remote corner of Idaho, she and her siblings ran wild, helping their father sort scrap metal and prepare the family for the imminent end of the world. Because the Westovers did not believe in modern medicine or the need for schooling, their brood received neither. Even life-threatening wounds were treated only with natural remedies and prayer. Mind-boggling ignorance about world history, current affairs, literature, science, and mathematics? Ignored altogether. Possessing a keen mind and a curiosity that wouldn't quit, Tara made the courageous decision to leave home in order to pursue an education. She entered her first classroom ever as a 17-year-old college freshman. Although at that point she knew little about even basic academic concepts, she went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University as well as an MPhil and PhD from Cambridge.
How Westover evolved from a feral, resourceless child to an ambitious, devoted scholar at prestigious universities is the subject of her first book, a memoir entitled Educated. Her story is a testament to the power of education and the ability of an eager mind to triumph in even the grimmest situations. It's also a coming-of-age tale about stepping out of a sheltered childhood into the alarming world of adulthood and subsequently trying to determine who you really are, what you actually believe, and where you truly belong. The exploration of these intriguing themes make Educated a fascinating book and yet, it didn't blow me away like I expected it to due to all the accolades it has received. It's raw and powerful for sure, but for me, at least, it ended up being a good read, not a great one.
Why didn't Educated resonate with me as much as it has with so many other readers? I think because (1) I found it more depressing than empowering, (2) it made me feel defensive of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (even though Westover insists this is not a book about Mormonism, it kinda is), and (3) Westover seemed to suggest that a person could not be both religious and educated, a stance with which I vehemently disagree. Despite these hang-ups, though, I did find Educated interesting. It brings up a lot of thought-provoking questions that would make for a lively book club discussion.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I purchased a copy of Educated from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Touching Memoir Focuses Not On a Mother's Grief, But On the Faith That Carried Her Through It
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
What ensued was a frantic, month-long search for the missing hiker. Because of the Gorge's rough terrain, it wasn't easy to scour the area, even with trained rock climbers, divers, and dog teams. Using the power of the media (Annie's father is a member of the musical group The Piano Guys), the Schmidts begged for information and help. Volunteers from the family, their church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), search and rescue groups, and more joined the effort to find Annie. On November 11, her remains were finally discovered. Her death was determined to be an accident, the result of a fatal fall while hiking. 
Carried by Michelle Schmidt (Annie's mother) and Angie Taylor (Michelle's sister) is the recently-published account of the tragedy. Although the book talks about what happened to Annie, it's not really a blow-by-blow recollection of the incident. Instead, the volume centers on Michelle's faith—how it developed in childhood, was sustained throughout adulthood, and how it carried her through the most devastating days of her life. Schmidt is open and real, talking candidly about her struggles with motherhood, family finances, self-confidence, grief, etc. What results is an affecting book that is uplifting, faith-promoting, and inspiring. It's a slim volume that provides a quick read, but one that will stay with you as you contemplate your own challenges and sorrows and how God carries us through it all. I highly recommend this tender memoir, especially if you're dealing with heartache and loss right now.
Also, check out this beautiful, touching video made by The Piano Guys and dedicated to all who are experiencing these emotions this Christmas:
(Readalikes: Reminds me of An Unseen Angel by Alissa Parker)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for subject matter that might be scary/disturbing for readers under age 12
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Carried from the generous folks at Deseret Book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Sunday, December 02, 2018
Quick, Informative Guide Helps Church Members Find Family Names for the Temple
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
If there's one thing members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are known for (besides not drinking coffee), it's their love of genealogy/family history. The Church has long encouraged and supported its people in exploring their roots, seeking out their dead, and performing eternal ordinances by proxy for their deceased family members in its temples. To help in this effort, the Church created FamilySearch.org, a family tree-building website that houses a massive database of records and other information to help people create complete and accurate trees. The site is collaborative, user friendly, and totally free for all users (although only Church members can access the site's temple features). If you are interested in family history, it's a website you simply must check out. You will likely be stunned by the amount of information about your ancestors already in the database. FamilySearch really is incredible.
Because of the Church's long emphasis on the importance of doing family history, one of members' biggest frustrations is not being able to find ancestors whose temple work has not already been done. It can be difficult to comb through all the different branches and generations of one's family, which is why apps like Take a Name (or FamilySearch's Ordinance Ready feature, which can be found under the "Temple" tab) have been created. These are useful shortcuts, but it's also important to learn how to build and search your family tree properly and thoroughly. 
To help people do just that, Nicole Dyer and Diana Elder—the genealogists behind Family Locket—wrote Find Names for the Temple: A Step-by-Step Method for Success. I'm not going to lie, their approach is methodical, even tedious. However, it is very thorough. By following their instructions, you can ensure the information you put into your tree as well as the information you get out of it (including finding names for the temple) is both complete and accurate. Although the effort might seem exhaustive at the outset, you will be saving yourself time and frustration in the long-run. Find Names for the Temple is aimed at beginners, but it does assume a bit of familiarity with FamilySearch. It also focuses mostly on finding names, so it's not a comprehensive guide on how to use the website (never fear, though—FamilySearch offers excellent tutorials as well as 24/7 customer support). Dyer and Elder are experienced, passionate genealogists and that enthusiasm shows in this quick, easy-to-read guide. If you're having trouble finding names for the temple, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned researcher, definitely check out this book (as well as the Family Locket website). I've been working on my family history for years and I still learned a lot from this very helpful volume.
(Readalikes: I've never really read a family history guide before, so I'm not sure what to compare this one to. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Find Names for the Temple from its very generous authors in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Touching MG Novel Asks Important Questions About Family, Foster Care, and Cultural Identity
(Image from Amazon)
When Chipeta Uncarow, an infant from the Ute tribe, is abandoned by her mother, the Twitchells gladly take her in. A treasured member of the big Mormon family, Chipeta (known as Dori) fits in so seamlessly that the Twitchells long to adopt her. Eleven-year-old Britta Twitchell is especially fond of her foster sister, now four years old, and can't imagine life without little Dori. When Dori's mother reappears, now ready to parent her daughter, Britta's incredulous. How can a woman who cared so little about her baby just waltz in and reclaim her? Dori already has a family, a family who adores her and takes care of her. The Twitchells can't really be expected to just hand over their beloved sister and daughter. Can they?Britta can't believe that soon Dori will be living on the Uintah-Ouray Indian Reservation with her birth mother. It's so not fair! The rest of her family might be going along with it, but Britta will stop at nothing to make sure Dori stays at home where she belongs. However good her intentions are, however, Britta soon finds herself in real trouble. Now, in order to save Dori's life, she'll have to think beyond—beyond the lush green of her small farming community, beyond what she wants, and beyond her limited view of what it means to be a family.
Beyond the Green by Sharlee Glenn is a touching, semi-autobiographical novel that asks some important questions about family, cultural identity, and the rights of people involved in foster care. The tender, heartbreaking story is handled with both authenticity and sensitivity, telling an all-too-common tale with care. Full of flawed but sympathetic characters; enough action and conflict to keep young readers engaged; and some strong, meaningful lessons; Beyond the Green is a solid read that I highly recommend to anyone who
enjoys realistic middle grade fiction.
(Readalikes: Hm, nothing is coming to mind. You?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for scenes of peril and some difficult subject matter (alcoholism, child abandonment, etc.)
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Beyond the Green from the generous folks at Charlesbridge via those at Netgalley. Thank you!
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
LDS Hollywood Romance Upbeat and Real (with a Giveaway!)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Evie Jennings eloped with her boyfriend two years ago, she thought she was making a fresh start with the man she loved. Then he abandoned her, divorcing her through the mail. Evie hasn't seen Q since their hurried nuptials. Her friends and family urge her to move on, but to what? It's humiliating enough to be a 24-year-old divorceé, let alone living with her parents and attending a Young Single Adult (YSA) ward. She's enrolled at UCAL, but she's not even sure what she wants to be when she grows up. Evie's confused—about past mistakes, present decisions, and what kind of future she could possibly have when she's so messed up and broken.
After receiving scathing reviews on his forthcoming movie, Hollywood golden boy Ridge Dashly is starting to worry about his future, too. With his career on the line, he reluctantly agrees to an image re-boot, which includes enrolling at UCAL. Surrounded by starry-eyed co-eds, Ridge longs for someone who can see past his Hollywood heartthrob image and appreciate his true self. A chance encounter with Evie Jennings convinces him that she could be a true friend, if not a whole lot more. Soon, the two are exchanging flirty texts, swapping secrets, and stirring up enough gossip in their singles ward that even the paparazzi takes notice.
It took me a minute to realize that Love Unscripted—Tiffany Odekirk's sophomore novel—is actually a companion novel to her debut, Love On Pointe. It's not a sequel but a story concerning the same family, just a different member. With Emmy Jennings' HEA on the horizon, it's her twin's turn to find love. Although Evie's constant wallowing bugs, she's a sympathetic heroine and likeable enough that I wanted a happy ending for her as well. Ridge is a little too perfect, but it's also easy to desire good things for him. Their story has a fun premise, unoriginal and predictable though it may be. The tale's got religious undertones, but it's not overly preachy or sappy which makes it an appealing read for anyone who enjoys clean, upbeat contemporary romance. What I appreciate most about Odekirk is that she presents members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a realistic way. Her characters make mistakes, treat each other in ways that aren't always kind, have doubts, struggle with their testimonies, question their Church leaders ... in short, they reflect real LDS people. Her story people—like IRL Mormons—are imperfect people striving to be better. Overall, then, I enjoyed Love Unscripted and will certainly read Odekirk's next effort (which I'm hoping will concern the mysterious Drew Jennings).
(Readalikes: Love On Pointe by Tiffany Odekirk; also reminds me of contemporary romances by Melanie Jacobson [especially Perfect Set], Brittany Larsen, and Jenny Proctor)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for discussions of subjects (pornography, spousal abandonment, premarital sex, etc.) that may not be appropriate for readers under 12
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Love Unscripted from Covenant in exchange for an honest review to be posted during the book's blog tour. Thank you!
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Interested in more opinions of Love Unscripted? Follow along on the blog tour by clicking the links below:
*Sept. 24th: http://mybookaday.com/
*Sept. 25th: http://fireandicereads.com/, https://brightlystreet.com/, https://www.rockinbookreviews.
*Sept. 26th: http://thoroughlyhere.
*Sept. 27th: http://
*Sept. 28th: https://whynotbecauseisaidso.
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