Ask the Author: Jennifer Ann Mackley
Answered Questions (4)
Jennifer Ann Mackley
The best thing about being a writer is sharing what I have discovered. Over the course of my 15 years of research I amassed over 27,000 documents and learned so much ... I thought it would be a shame to keep it to myself. My book is not encyclopedic and doesn't cover every aspect or extant document relating to temple doctrine, but hopefully it will start conversations, lead readers to other in-depth sources, and ultimately a better understanding.
Jennifer Ann Mackley
Wilford Woodruff's Wives: The Sacrifices of Saints.
As I studied the life of Wilford Woodruff I was struck by the strength and faith of his wives. Some of the women were well-known and left letters and short autobiographies, others I had to spend years learning about one tidbit at a time. Their stories are incredible and, with the help of their descendants, I have gathered dozens of pictures to add life to the text. I am excited to share what I have found.
As I studied the life of Wilford Woodruff I was struck by the strength and faith of his wives. Some of the women were well-known and left letters and short autobiographies, others I had to spend years learning about one tidbit at a time. Their stories are incredible and, with the help of their descendants, I have gathered dozens of pictures to add life to the text. I am excited to share what I have found.
Jennifer Ann Mackley
Go for it! Don't listen to those who tell you that you're doing it wrong. I never planned to write a book and, even after I'd finished it, didn't plan to publish it. But my friend Ruth, quoting the words of Martha Graham, told me, “[B]ecause there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”
Jennifer Ann Mackley
My personal curiosity led me into so much complicated research that I began constructing a timeline of events just to keep things straight ... then I had to continue researching to understand the context of what I'd found. It was as exciting as solving a mystery when I was able to make sense of all the puzzle pieces.
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