Saints: The Standard of Truth (1815-1846) – The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 4
Stars
Title: Saints:
The Standard of Truth (1815-1846)
Author: The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Publisher: The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Year: Softcover
2018
Rating: 4 Stars
Price and
Purchasing Options: This is a mass
softcover publication by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and
is readily available for just above the printing price – around $5 directly
from them. As such, this can be ordered
online, through the Church or purchased at any Deseret Book. It also is available on audio file for
listening, as well as through digital format on lds.org, or LDS App.
Review: This
book is more important to the church than just the content. It has been over
100 years since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a
comprehensive history published.
Previous to this book BH Roberts project of synthesizing
and editing the journals and history of the church, which was eventually
published as the 7 volume series, as The History of the Church, was the only
project like this. That project, has
since been identified as having some editorial reflections that have been
problematic for many historians. In
addition, as the source material was somewhat autobiographical, it was much
less a comprehensive history, and more of a singular perspective on
history.
Since the publication of that history, so much more has
been learned regarding the events of the church, much of which have been
identified, and acknowledged only within the last few decades.
One reason why the importance of this book transcends the
context, is that over the last few decades the church has been under some
scrutiny for not having a more comprehensive dialogue regarding some historical
moments in the church.
What this text does, is remarkably weave together
multiple narratives together to help identify and stitch together many of these
events. It includes stories that previously
had not been publically acknowledged or published by the Church, and touches
(although loosely) on just about every single unique or challengeable topic
that has been addressed in it’s history over the last few decades.
Some criticism that has been highlighted, is that these
topics are not comprehensively addressed – however, it is clear it is not a comprehensive
work. It is a wonderfully comprehensively
concise work on the history of the church – and nothing more – but that is so
much more than the members of the church have had before.
With that being said, this is a 4 star book. Although, it will not help you be a better Christian,
it will give you a greater understanding and perspective on the history of the
church. It is a remarkably well done
work, straddling critical issues in the right context to give information and inoculate
members to challenging topics, within a safe environment.
I would highly recommend this text to anyone and
everyone, as a foundational text to understanding the history of the
restoration.
Suggestions: Pick it up!
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Review #56
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