Show CN oo of protagonists Elijah and fSitelif Mary Ann Abel Isaac and Jane Manning James Greene Flake and Elizabeth Flake Likewise they don’t afford Brigham Young the same deference they show for Joseph Smith in die first book It is an unusual occurrence when the second book of a series is better than the first but with this series this is dip case Young and Gray do not circle back in die second book so you do need to read both books to get the full story You will be cheating yourself if you don’t read "One More River to Cross” before picking up "Bound for Canaan” ' The books are well written and the historical value alone makes them worth the $1995 purchase price The first two books are available in local book stores and at the Logan Library The third book is scheduled for release in June CM Standing on the Promises “One More River to Cross” and “Bound for Canaan” by Margaret Young and Darius Gray ' (Deseret Book) Mormons and working on temples in Kirtland Nauvoo and Salt Lake at least two black men being ordained elders and serving missions — it's all there As is the fact that some Mormons were slave holders frequently paying a t's two for the price of one I with this month’s review of their tithing with slave labor “One More River to Cross” At the end of each chapter and “Bound for Canaan” a copious notes distinguish fact collaboration by B YU profes- from fiction These notes are sor Margaret Young and black both a blessing and a curse journalist Darius Gray The They interrupt the flow of the first two works of the trilogy book but at the same time Standing on the Promises they help the reader sort out both books tackle head on the the real story Several times it status of pioneer Macks in The occurred to this reader that the Church of Jesus Christ of best story is to be found in the Latter-da- y Saints! notes and I couldn’t help but wbnder why they chose ficPerhaps the most surprising circumstance is the publisher tion instead of nonfiction to — Bookcraft an imprint of ' tell this important story Deseret Book In an Because of the authors’ Association of Mormon determination to keep the Letters meeting two yean ago "real” story before the reader with the notes I was engaged Young confided that they origat an intellectual leyel inally did not offer the series to Deseret Book because of throughout but experienced their conviction that the whole emotional involvement only once in the first book — when story must be told To the sur- and both freed slave Elijah Abel of prise Young Gray the publisher approached than Mormon elder former miswith an offer to publish the sionary talented orator and books — promising full literfriend to the prophet is visited by Heber C Kimball Orson ary control to the authors It appears Bookcraft has Pratt and John E Page in its 1843 and told he should "limit secret The kept promise introduction of plural marhis preaching activities to the colored population” It is riage in Nauvoo black families baptized into the church never dear if this is the act of blacks living among the ' spiteful men acting on their co THlogy: a 3 o g O ig E q 2 2 ' x 0) E o a J? award-winni- ft ft SemUtoaesbaccainlwittstBaCer U LJ ttatttotestst&jtstotofsmaiatto Botttaai I casual bat omBer MnttotatbmctosoBcttoalastcadBl own or if Joseph Smith has taken a complete about-fac- e from earlier teaichings However it is clear that once the prophet is martyred the environment for blacks and their place in the church takes a dramatic downward turn ' One of die ironies of history is that the man who delivered the "hands off” message to Elijah Abel is the grandfather of Spencer W Kimball the man through whom die priesthood was restored to blacks in 1978 If the job of the novelist is - to "suspend disbelief” these writers have not done it in “One More River to Cross” The black pioneers are portrayed without blemish and often simplistic to the point of childishness Joseph Smith’s dialogue consists mainly of platitudes taken from church writings and once again they fail to capture the human side of the prophet However by die second book “Bound for Canaan” die authors seem more comfortable with their characters and have managed to breathe life into die lungs 2003 Book critic Charlene Hired holds her master's In English from Utah State University where she currently teaches writing time-honor- ed fesspr Nancy Warren of Utah State University’s department of English has just published a new book of essays of these personal accounts Warren'S book “The Vernacular Spirit: Essays in Medieval Religious Literature” was with two colleagues who' teach in French departments and pursue research in French ' literature Renate Blumenfeld-Kosins(University of Pittsburgh) and Duncan Robertson (Augusta State co-edit- ed University) The book is an interdisciplinary collection of essays bringing together studies of English French German Flemish and Spanish religious and devotional writings The essays illuminate encounters ki with the divine from diverse cultural and disciplinary perspectives They also engage vital social and political issues connected with religious experience including challenges to authority reinterpretation of texts and renegotiations of gender roles Warren was named Humanist of the Year in the College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences at Utah State in spring 2002 and this collection joins her earlier book “Spiritual Economies: Female Monasticism in Later Medieval England” (University of Pennsylvania 2001) For more' information on Nancy Warren or the Department of English visit the Web at http:englishulsuedu or contact Marina Hall at lV- y ' PWHBPMMWM MMM M MW life Though it’s not easy it Interdisciplinary study encounters with Personal have a history and pro- - j and Weraturs classes She to among a number of free- lance writers whose columns appear in The Herald Journal as pmt of an effort to expose readers to a variety of community voices She is not an employee of the newspaper feedback at chirschil Oattbicom Us-ay- ' r n ng work Most often crucial can be done effectively and conversations arise sponta-well "Crucial Conversations: neously and the element of Tools for Talking When surprise doesn’t contribute to Stakes are High” is a book 25 a calm and reasonable demeanor Bearing this in years in the making made from observing thousands of mind' the book’s first bit of advice resonates throughout employees across major — think twice before you industries A guide book for ' speak! navigating the bumpy road to One of the key points of compromise this book will teach you to think about what Crucial Conversations is to avoid "the sucker’s choice” you say be aware of context and conditions of a discus- It's the situation that appears to have only two ugly sion and maintain respect even if you disagree — skills options: Attack or withhold Pick your poison perfect for individual team You can allow a and organizational success to slack off or you can avoid The concept of the crucial ' conversation comes from confrontation You can rail ' individiidecades of watching against your spouse and be als in business and personal "totally honest” or simply clam up But examples show : situations who have a gift for that you can have a high-ris- k discussing ideas that give the rest of us fits Many of us conversation that strengthens and builds rather than alienhave failed to speak up when : we object given someone the ates and offends silent treatment or played the blame game at home or at : : ‘ - “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” by Kerry Patterson Joseph Grenny Ron McMillan and A) Switzler (McGraw HID $1495) What makes a crucial conversation? From the board-rooto the bedroom it involves navigating the rough discuswaters of sions in a way that both resolves problemsand builds relationships It’s a discussion that addresses tough subjects with people that influence your everyday m high-stak- es make-or-bre- ak ' ! SeeBOOKSonpll |