I’ve
been immersed in work (with my husband) in the Church’s New
York Office of Public and International Affairs. Not your ordinary
fulltime mission, for sure, and certainly unlike any of our previous
ones. It’s busy, and the schedule is more demanding. Add to
that the fact the we live in New York City, across the street from
Lincoln Center and a block away from Central Park, and you begin to
understand why my reading time has diminished in favor of other
after-hours pursuits.
But
my mind has been hungry for some really good reading by some really
good writers, and I’ve found a couple that I could really sink
my teeth into and feel satiated. Here’s one.
Boyd
Jay Petersen’s Dead Wood and
Rushing Water is a breath of
fresh air among LDS-authored books. From Greg Kofford Books, it is a
collection of essays in the tradition of Petersen’s mentor, the
late Eugene England, a much-admired writer, professor, and thinker.
Himself
a writing professor at Utah Valley University, Petersen serves up
thoughtful reflections and ruminations
that resonate, particularly with
those members who are questioning their own beliefs or find some of
the Church’s practices troubling at times.
What
questioner wouldn’t find comfort in this: “Faith can
deepen in spite of, perhaps even because of, encounters with doubt.”
The
22 meaty essays revolve around three themes: Mormon faith, culture,
and family. Readers will likely recognize themselves his stories,
feelings, testimony, and struggles with chronic depression. Many will
appreciate his funeral tributes to his parents, “less-active”
folks who nevertheless provided him with a firm foundation and earned
his respect as well as his love.
There
are insights into “LDS Youth in an Age of Transition” and
his essay exploring women’s roles in the LDS Church, along with
his perceptions on the same topic 15 years later. He’s honest
about “Disassembling and Reassembling a Testimony” and
finding value in the Book of Mormon, regardless: “The message
of the Book of Mormon is too important to ignore and too important to
be lost in debates over its origins.”
He
speaks of Hugh Nibley (his father-in-law), quotes scriptures and
poetry, and shares his sacrament meeting talks, blog posts, and
previously published Dialogue
articles.
It
may sound like a mash-up, but it’s actually a delectable
smorgasbord. With candor and heart, Petersen has succeeded in Dead
Wood and Rushing Waters to do
what he set out to do: “to nourish an ecosystem in a modest and
unassuming manner” and use his words to “build a bridge,
bringing two shores together.” (Greg Kofford Books 2014, 234
pages in soft cover, $19.95.)
This
book is a rare treasure among modern Mormon thought.
Laurie
Williams Sowby has been writing since second grade and getting paid
for it since high school. Her byline ("all three names, please")
has appeared on more than 6,000 freelance articles published in
newspapers, magazines, and online.
A
graduate of BYU and a writing instructor at Utah Valley University
for many years, she proudly claims all five children and their
spouses as college grads.
She
and husband, Steve, have served three full-time missions together,
beginning in 2005 in Chile, followed by Washington D.C. South, then
Washington D.C. North, both times as young adult Institute teachers.
They are currently serving in the New York Office of Public and
International Affairs
During
her years of missionary service, Laurie has continued to write about
significant Church events, including the rededication of the Santiago
Temple by President Hinckley and the groundbreaking for the
Philadelphia Temple by President Eyring. She also was a Church
Service Missionary, working as a news editor at Church Magazines,
between full-time missions.
Laurie
has traveled to all 50 states and at least 45 countries (so far).
While home is American Fork, Utah, Lincoln Center and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art have provided a comfortable second home.
Laurie
is currently serving a fourth full-time mission with her husband in
the New York Office of Public and International Affairs. The two
previously served with a branch presidency at the Provo Missionary
Training Center. The oldest of 18 grandchildren have been called to
serve missions in New Hampshire and Brisbane, Australia.
