Every Needful Thing

by Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye (Editor), Kate Holbrook (Editor)

A collection of essays from accomplished academics and professionals who speak about discipleship not only with their minds but also from their hearts. Instead of pushing us to choose between faith and reason, love and law, truth within the restored gospel and truth in the wider world of God’s children, these writers urge us to seek “anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report” and learn to live in a world of complexity and abundance. With humility and openness that makes their specialized work accessible to a general reader, these authors model how to live life as a whole person. They relate the twists and turns of their intellectual and spiritual journeys, giving readers confidence to make their own ways and to pursue “every needful thing” (D&C 88:119).

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds, Essays, Faith, Christian, Spirituality

272 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2023

About the author

Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye is a senior lecturer in Asian studies at the University of Auckland. She received her PhD in Chinese history from Harvard University. Dr. Inouye's research includes the history of Chinese Christianity, moral ideology in modern China, global charismatic religious movements, and women and religion. Her book China and the True Jesus: Charisma and Organization in a Chinese Christian Church was published by Oxford University Press in January 2019.

A member of the advisory board of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University, Dr. Inouye is committed to the mutually reinforcing relationship between faith and learning. Her writings on Latter-day Saint life and faith have been published online and in print in Patheos, the Washington Post, Meridian Magazine, Square Two, and the Ensign. She and her husband, Joseph, have four noisy and joyful children, botanically nicknamed Bean, Sprout, Leaf, and Shoot.

Reviews

[Chrisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really admire what I know of Holbrook, and the highly-respected individual who recommended this book to me knows and respects Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye(though on what level that acquaintance might be, I don't know). I'm pretty interested in her memoir and, after the winter, may pick it up.

Apart from a few, I was largely unaware of many of the scholars who were included in this work. It was interesting to me to learn about them and their approaches to the topic/prompt/life. They've all, as individuals, accomplished much. In one sense, it was an incredibly inclusive and diverse compendium of the voices and experiences of scholarly women---of varying ages. I found much to celebrate and ponder and enjoy while perusing it's pages.

In another sense, though, there were some voices missing that concerned me. Where were the women, of which I know there are many, who put off scholarly pursuits until their children were not at home?* While the professional topics spanned a huge variety of topics, where were the family scientists? Where were the people who didn't teach, but were "in industry," as they say in graduate school? (2024 edit: Hannah's Children fills in a few gaps and is worth reading simultaneously)

The impression, probably unintentionally, was often given that these were women who could, would, and had done it all (perfect marriage, career, kids, etc). That can be a damaging message. Especially when you lack resources.

I wish the original prompt, or methods of creating this book, had been shared. Was it a call for papers? Was it a compendium by the editors of people they knew or aware of? In some essays, I couldn't find the theme that I thought was the theme. So perhaps there wasn't one? But mostly I was concerned that, for at least one-third of the entries, I had to search hard to find the one element that, I believed, was the common denominator---the element that brought the voices together in the first place: faith, however fledgling, in Jesus Christ and the Restored Church.** And that makes me a bit sad because 1) I feel like the book was purporting to be something it wasn't (but that may be through poor communication in many instances and from various directions) and 2) the sisterhood just wasn't there. I crave unity more than I crave most things in life. And I would have loved to find it here.


* I think there were 2 that I can think of. But some of the statements were a bit vague.

**you may think it doesn't belong here but it is published by DB which is the church publisher and is definitely aimed at that audience.

[Lyndsey Thackston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a gift. It is so refreshing to read thoughtful essays by educated and accomplished LDS women not centered on motherhood and traditional gender roles. I can’t wait to read this again and I hope there is a Volume 2.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am no scholar, but I do admire women and men who are. 24 very thoughtful essays on their lines of interest and religion. I was impressed with how each woman was very determined and talked about how they turned to the Lord for inspiration and felt led, sometimes a step at a time. These are brilliant women, most wives and mothers, who still found time to be successful and raise families.

[Courtney Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book means more to me than it’s contributors will ever know. It’s only March, and I think I can confidently declare it my favorite read of 2023.

If somebody asked me to summarize what I believe about faith and life, what I hope for, etc. I’d hand them this book. What an incredible last gift from Dr Holbrook

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to these essays by women working to make a difference in their respective fields. They are so inspiring.

I cannot recommend them highly enough!! I listened to these, so I have guessed their name spellings.

Ch.1 Astrid Tuminiez -president of UVU from Philippines
Ch.2 Valerie M. Hudson-director of Women, Peace, and Security Center
Ch.3 Emily Bates *awesome story about overcoming dyslexia
Ch. 4 Elizabeth Hammond-persistence as a cardiologist researcher when others disparaged her research, but her findings were later embraced 20 years later as best practices in heart transplants.
Ch. 5 Laney McClane Armstrong-singer, conductor, and educator
Ch. 6 Ana Maria Gutierrez-Academic Vice Chancellor from Peru
Ch. 7 Kira Ann Cracas?? TED Ex Plants, Pollinators, and People a love story
Ch. 8 Kimberly Applewhite Teeter LCSW
Ch.9 Julie Barrett Willis Geologist tectonics research "Gaining Light through Questioning"
Ch. 10 Mamir Lubermiski-Argentina math professor
Ch. 11 Ferina King Navajo Nation professor of ecology
Ch. 12 Tana Hangin "Redeeming the Dial: Radio and Popular Culture"
Ch. 13 Kari Ann Simone DeLoache (Medical Service Corps officer) Armies of Women
Ch. 14 Jenny Hale Pulsipher "Subjects Unto the Same King"
Ch. 15 Marianne C. Bishop "Becoming Mormon" Intersection of medicine and english teaching
Ch. 16 Esohe Francisca Nigerian Attorney General
Ch. 17 Lisa Grow The Great Check (Intersection of Law & Disasters)
Ch. 18 Micheline Steele "Our Inescapable Connectedness"
Ch. 19 Tonya Went Samu (Maoria and Samoan) "The Pillars of My Faith"
Ch. 20 Connie Wei Xang??"Embracing New Identities"
Ch. 21 Ariel Clark Silver -Ballet dancer and author "For Such a Time as This"
Ch. 22 KaoKao Vari Hemi "A Journey into the Sacred"
Ch. 23 Rosalynde Frandsen Welch "Afterward"

[Meredith Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a treasure of a book, full of insight from Latter-day Saint women who share how their scholarship informs their faith (and vice versa). I loved all the different perspectives offered. We need more books like this that center the views of women, and we need men to make it a priority to read them as well.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Inouye and Kate Holbrook have put together a terrific collection of essays by Latter-day Saint women reflecting on their experiences with study and faith. Most of the contributors are academics—scientists, psychologists, historians, literary critics. All of them have pursued graduate degrees while juggling Church callings and family responsibilities. They write with great insight and passion about their devotion to God and their individual fields of study.

Essay collections like this are always a bit like bags of Halloween candy. I like all the candy in the bag, but there are some pieces I like more than others. In this collection, I especially enjoyed the essays by Laney McLain Armstrong, Farina King, Lisa Grow, Tanya Wendt Samu, and Ariel Clark Silver. They spoke the most to me. I imagine other readers of this book will find essays that speak just as much to them.

[Nanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book earns 5 stars solely on its work to cohere a readership of global Latter-day Saint women. Beyond that, this books qualifies for my recommendation because it gives place to and amplifies historically marginalized voices. This might seem redundant to my previous statement, however, what I mean is that this book is a powerful speech act (me, the rhetorical scholar showing here -- not literary scholar, Rosalynde. Different silos, but linked arm in arm.). This book creates a community (?readership? rhetor/reader) where such speech acts are heard, remembered, and increasingly invited--standing ovation!

I was not a fan of every essay. Some were boring or pedestrian. However, the essays that were wonderful were wonderful-on-sterioids. For example, Tuminez and Hudson's essays at the beginning of the book had me hooked. Teitter, Willis, and Hangen represent well. Probably just me, but Lubomirsky gave me a headache. King was spectacular in witnessing for Indiginous AND LDS heritage and their fraught intersection--I would just like to sit at her feet and listen. I occupy Deloach's "Discomforted Disciple" camp and am so happy not to be alone! Then there are some OGs I was just happy to see included, i.e. Pulsipher. Yes, go get this book and read it with others to enact and expand the discoursive community of sisters and saints that is its project.

[Beth Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not love this book more. Of course some essays resonated more than others, but collectively they offer a really beautiful, hopeful look at Latter-day Saint faith, doubt, scholarship, and community.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays by well educated females from around the world. Some of these were really interesting. Some held an interesting idea or six. And some seemed pretentious and boring.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Holbrook and Melissa Inouye put together a triumph of a recent book called EVERY NEEDFUL THING.

Imagine sitting down to dinner with the coolest, wisest, and most impressive women—from all over the globe, in kinds of disciplines—that you know. Then imagine sitting down to listen to them share from the heart about their life journeys. That is this book.

The contributors are brilliant academics and professionals who have made a difference in their field and beyond. “These essays narrate journeys through challenging terrain” (5). It shows that these women’s “faith, along with their research and professional achievements, is hard won. . . it is resilient, mature, and generous” (5). The contributors write from places such as Samoa, Peru, Nigeria, China, the Philippines, the U.S., and many more. The editors write, “One of our aims of this book project was to establish a large net for belonging and include some of the diverse voices that haven’t adequately been included in similar projects” (6). This was one of the most satisfying parts.

Now, without further ado, here is a brief snippet from each essay to give you a sense of what this essay collection does.

***

Solid and Whole in a Messy Universe
ASTRID S. TUMINEZ

“Finally, my education and professional pursuits have taught me to think more openly and embrace ambiguity while simultaneously grounding myself in a set of core principles that align with my conscience and life experiences. I have learned to welcome doubt without dismissing faith. I have learned that people outside of my faith live just as full, happy, and topsy-turvy a life as I do. I have learned to be solid in my own hope and faith while accepting that the world is wobbly and complex. I have learned that absolute certainty is less interesting than a humble openness to life's uncertain trials and gifts. My faith has needed to become less brittle, less prideful, less bigoted, less insecure, and more curious, joyful, open, and alive.” (18)

***

The Two-Way Street of Faith and Scholarship
A Political Scientist’s Experience
Valerie M. Hudson

“From that detour as a young college student came an unexpected journey as a social science researcher. Much like Bilbo Baggins, I received an education I could never have foreseen, an education acquired through trying to answer good and important questions using social science techniques” (22)

***

“Faith as a Scientist”
EMILY BATES

“I believe our Father and Mother in Heaven are master teachers. They want us to learn through our own experience because the lessons we learn in this way will help us remember what we have learned and know how to use it.”

***

“Faith and My Life as a Medical Scientist”
ELIZABETH HAMMOND

“My parents were very supportive of my decision and helped me prepare myself by guiding me to appropriate course work in high school in the late 1950s. There were others in my extended family and neighborhood who were critical of my goal to become a physician. "Would you be able to get married and have a family if you were a physician?" they asked. A demanding career like that seemed to be in conflict with my Latter-day Saint upbringing. When faced with this negative ad-vice, I turned to my usual source of support: my parents, my sister, and Heavenly Father. All were supportive, so I stayed the course.”


***

“Singing as a Teacher”
LANEY McCLAIN ARMSTRONG

“The hymns and songs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, especially those I learned as a child, are etched into my soul in both word and melody. Their tunes come to my mind in difficult times and bring with them the comfort and reminders of the important teachings of their texts” (53).


***

“From Peru, My Academic Development Hand in Hand with Faith”
ANA MARÍA GUTIÉRREZ VALDIVIA
translated by D. Morgan Davis, Lori Forsyth, and Jorge Morales

“I know that the love of God does not discriminate based on gender. In the midst of these challenges, I sent my project, entitled "Factors Associated with the Invisibility of Violence Against Women in MINSA Establishments," to a master's thesis seminar on public health for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Pan American Health Organization selected it, financed it, and published it. The position and value of women in the plan of our Heavenly Father inspired me to focus on this theme, especially seeing the inequalities in my country.” (68)

***

“Faith as a Complex Ecosystem”
Kyra Neipp Krakos

The essay of this biology professor gripped me right from sentence one: “It is early morning, and I am petting bees.” Krakos compares her faith to a complex pollinating system. “The fragile web of answers from parents, teachers, and Church leaders that sustained my childhood faith could not withstand the shaking of my questions as I grew. As I learned to think critically, I had to build a new system with redundant mechanisms for nurturing faith and spiritual growth in the face of new information and more complex questions. My spiritual identity was ground down and rebuilt again and again. My understanding comes in agonizing incremental steps” (77).

***

“In Search of the Wise”
KIMBERLY APPLEWHITE TEITTER

Kimberly Teitter is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, adjunct professor, and entrepreneur. She discusses poignant tensions of her growing up and the “intersection of my identity as a child of God and a Black woman through various cultural immersion experiences” (85). “To figure out how to make meaning of my life, I started to orient myself to whatever feeling of light I could find; when I sought after that light, I often felt that feeling of centeredness and fullness that I felt as a child in the midst of all my books. It would be years before Elder David A. Bednar would give his address on revelation being like the growing light of a sunrise rather than a bulb on a switch, but that was akin to how I learned to experience the influence of the Lord in my life” (85).

***

“Faith in Science”
JULIE BARROTT WILLIS

“Studying science has enabled my personal pursuit of knowledge. It has given me the tools to ask questions, look for both empirical and subjective evidence, and understand the iterative nature of unwrapping truth. That said, I must acknowledge that faith-based questions are not always answered satisfactorily. Studying science has taught me that the more difficult the question, the longer and harder the process of finding an answer. Persistence is required to find subjective evidence that may enlighten the darkness of unanswered questions” (98).


***

“Eternal Principles of Reasoning”
NOEMÍ LUBOMIRSKY

“Most people think that mathematics is the study of numbers. However, nowadays, the most accepted definition of mathematics is that it is the science of patterns. Mathematicians work with abstract patterns, using logic rules to find new relationships between them and to see whether those relationships say something useful about the original things. That definition probably fits me. Since my early childhood, I have loved patterns” (103). She includes fun formulas, a discussion about axioms, and how to know if something is true.

***

“Walk in Beauty Every Step”
Farina King

“A friend, who is also Native American and baptized in the Church, once asked me how I reconcile my faith with all I know about the past. In many ways, my answer to this question is evolving, but my perspective as a Diné [Navajo] Latter-day Saint scholar stems from various facets of my identity and background. I reconcile my identities because my ultimate faith lies in Jesus Christ and not in mortal beings of the past or present. Many of the teachings that I learn in the Church correlate with the faith of my Dine ancestors, and these teachings have inspired my research as a historian of Native American and Indigenous studies” (116).

King goes on to introduce a beautiful phrase, “walk in beauty” and Hózhgó naashãa doo. “Walk in beauty every step” (125). She offers her experience navigating complex intersections of identity. She writes, “A Native American scholar who has lived in Blanding once asked me how I could participate in the Church given its fraught past and recent struggles with various leaders and lay members. I pointed out that diverse peoples believe in stories and oral traditions of imperfect people that are instruments for a greater cause” (123).


***

“History Calling”
Acts of Creation, Memory, and Redemption
TONA HANGEN

“I feel deeply called to the work of teaching both motivated and unmotivated learners; making my university, and academia in general, a more welcoming and diverse place; and pulling ordinary people's stories out of the archives and fragmentary sources of the past. All of these, in their own way, are sacred acts” (127).

***

“A Discomforted Disciple, But Disciple Nevertheless”
CARRIEANNE SIMONINI DELOACH

“As I served in the army immediately after 9/11, I attended church in two different worlds. The first was that of an average ward composed of a mixture of civilian and military members. The second consisted of services held during war games or "in the field." In the former, I was surrounded by women. In the latter, I was almost always the only attendee without the priesthood. In neither, I discovered, were probing questions on gender inequality welcome. My intentions in pursuing such inquiries were not to be provocative or to draw undue attention to my ignorance (134).


***

“Warts and All”
JENNY HALE PULSIPHER

“As a historian, I have been trained to see nuances in people. I try not to view them as all one thing or another -villain or victim, saint or sinner- but to recognize the complex, ever-shifting mix of good and bad that characterizes every human being. In the present cultural and political moment in the United States, nuance is a tricky position to take” (143).

***

“Becoming Mormon”
MARION BISHOP

“I became a physician because of Mormon not the Book of Mormon or "Mormons" _ but Mormon, the Nephite military leader, prophet, and scholar who led armies in battle while compiling the entire historical record of his people into a book of scripture still read today. That guy. He is the reason I went to medical school. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Mormon is the reason I first earned a PhD in English too.” And that’s just the hook!


***

“The Relationship Between My Study of Law and My Faith”
ESOHE FRANCES IKPONMWEN

“In all of these, a combination of my faith and study of law has acted as my bulwark against all forms of injustice and oppression. Consequently, I find myself in agreement with a quote often attributed to Mark Twain: "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why I am happy that I was born of goodly parents into this world and that when I was called to the Nigerian Bar to practice law, I found the reason why I was born” (167).

***

“The Great Check”
Reflections on Disaster and Faith
LISA GROW

This was another essay that hooked me right from the beginning with this intro: “I study broken things. Of course, that’s not the way I would present my research at an academic conference. I would say, instead, that I study the legal and policy frameworks for disaster mitigation, response, and recovery. But at heart, I think about the events that can break us that can shatter the earth, ravage cities, destroy lives, and devastate communities—and the ways that individuals and communities can mitigate and prepare for, and then heal from and rebuild after, those catastrophic events. Clearly, disasters aren't the only source of brokenness. Much that is broken in our lives and in our communities is chronic rather than catastrophic. Yes because the impacts of disaster almost always fall most heavily on the most vulnerable among us, disasters force us to confront the brokenness of our everyday world” (169-170).”

***

“Our Inescapable Connectedness”
MICHALYN STEELE

“As a Seneca woman, a disciple of Jesus Christ, a descendant of Mormon pioneers, an attorney, and an academic, many identities meet in me. I am at the confluence of many stories and the heir of many traditions. I have navigated the paradoxes and complexities of identity and history in my personal and professional life. But we are all many things at one time. Whatever our complex histories and the diversity of many societies and cultures across the world, as children of heavenly parents, we aspire to harmonize those diverse parts into a cohesive whole that draws strength from its constituencies so that we may each flourish together” (184). She quotes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in seeing the “human family as an ‘inescapable network of mutuality’” (185).


***

“The Pillars of My Faith”
Tautua, Alofa, Faaaloalo
O le faleco ma ona pou
(The house is held up by its pillars)
TANYA WENDT SAMU

“When I was invited to contribute to this special publication, I was asked, "How does your scholarship or professional learning influence your faith?" A good question. A big question, actually. However, I decided that, for me, it is the other way around -the question is more about how my faith in God and in his Son, Jesus Christ, has informed my efforts with education and learning, both personally and professionally. I believe certain pillars in terms of my faith hold up my work in education. These same pillars hold up my efforts in other significant spheres of my life spheres in which I am wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, aunt, older sister, cousin, niece, trustee on the school board, and Sunday School teacher” (194). She illustrates this through three pillars of her experience: service, love, and respect.

***

“Embracing New Identities”
A Conversion Journey from Beijing
CONNIE XIAOHUA ZHANG

“Have a curious heart about people. This does not mean gossiping about other people's lives. Rather, try to understand who they really are, their true passions and interests, their desires and struggles, and their happiness and sorrow. When we have an open mind and let curiosity lead the way, it is much easier for us to get to know others in a deeper way. Because in our heart, everyone desires to be seen by others. If we try to truly understand who they are, the sisters will start to feel seen and appreciated much more.”

***

“For Such a Time as This”
Faith and Female Exegesis
Ariel Clark Silver

She learns (while negotiating seeming dualities between career and motherhood amid advice in her patriarchal blessing), “Dance and literature were no longer two distinct modes of expression; both were engaged to tell tales of the life of the mind, spirit, and body.” Her essay is a journey of reckoning with things on her own terms.

***

“A Journey into the Sacred”
Keakaokawai Varner Hemi

“I am the descendant of of Makaopiopio, a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) woman who became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1862 and a Christian even earlier. In our family history, Makaopiopio stands as a nearly legendary ancestral figure, one who followed her faith first from Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii to the settlement of La'ie on the North Shore of O'ahu and then to the settlement of Iosepa, once located south of modern-day Tooele, west of Salt Lake City, Utah. Her pioneer life was one of sacrifice and "moving] forward" long before she crossed oceans, mountains, and deserts as a widow in her sixties to follow her faith and to make covenants and receive blessings in a temple in a foreign land.” She discusses how education changes lives and opens doors and witnessing many kinds of pioneer journeys of other women.

*

Thank you to all the women who shared their voices and those who helped bring it into the world. It was a gift to sit with their experiences and stories. A special shout out to Kate and Melissa for their editorial vision to bring this into the world.

[Charise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favs-

“My education and professional pursuits have taught me to think more openly and embrace ambiguity while simultaneously grounding myself in a set of core principles that align with my conscience and life experiences. I have learned to welcome doubt without dismissing faith. I have learned that people outside my faith life just as full, happy, and tipsy-turvy a life as I do. I have learned to be solid in my own hope and faith while accepting that the world is wobbly and complex. I have learned that absolute certainty is less interesting than a humble openness to life’s uncertain trials and gifts. My faith has needed to become less brittle, less prideful, less bigoted, less insecure, and more curious, joyful, open, and alive.” Astrid Tuminez

“I feel happy that political science has strengthened and informed my testimony. At the same time, my understanding of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ has prompted meaningful questions in my field of study, and my relationship with God has provided the grace, the strength, and the means necessary to pursue answers.” Valerie M. Hudson

“I believe our Father and Mother in Heaven are master teachers. They want us to learn through our own experiences because the lessons we learn in this way will help us remember what we have learned and know how to use it.
I prayed to ask if God was real and if God loved me. That is when I felt the love of my heavenly parents. Feeling that love taught me that God is real. Knowing that God loved me gave me comfort. Feeling Gods love is a miracle. The miracle of feeling Gods love gave me strength and motivation to use my own experience to help others. Our Father and Mother in Heaven intervened by inspiring me with their love.
As i have studied the principles that underlie how bodies grow and develop, i have seen that sickness and health are consequences that follow the laws of biology, chemistry, and physics. Those laws are constant. Whether God makes the laws of nature or is bound by these laws, I think they are rarely, if ever broken to shield us from difficult experiences.
The God I worship only does that which is good. God invites all of us to goodness. 2 Nephi 26:33 I read this to mean that we can all take inspiration from our heavenly parents to do good: to love, to learn, to create, to nurture, to contribute and participate in Gods work, bringing to pass good for humanity.
We are all invited to receive the love of our heavenly parents and then give that love to others.
As my view of God shifted to that of master teachers, I began to believe that our heavenly parents expect us to learn from our own earthly struggles and to learn to care for our sisters and brothers during theirs. I think our heavenly parents expect us to do our best to make life better for each other. Disease and healing follow the laws of nature. My perspective on how god helps us during challenges changed as I realized we all grow while we participate in miracles by following inspiration.
I believe our heavenly parents have invited us to physically, emotionally, and spiritually help each other so we can learn to become like them. We discover compassion by experiencing suffering. We discover love by serving others. We discover generosity when we practice giving to someone who is in need.
God helps us see our greater potential and motivates us to reach that potential. Our heavenly parents love us through our challenges and give us strength and comfort. I have felt that love in some of the times I have needed to feel it most. For me, that was a miracle.”
Emily Bates

“Reliance on inspiration allowed me to avoid fear of failure, as well as danger in relationships and obligations, and gave me courage to face my mistakes and weaknesses. Faith in God was given to me as a gift. I recognized the power of that gift and the obligation it represented to use it wisely. Pres Nelson said we can know Gods priorities for us individually if we strive to be righteous and listen to his personal messages for us. In that way, we can have his power to guide our own lives and provide blessings to those around us, free from the paralysis of fear.” Elizabeth Hammond

“When I am singing with others, the songs and hymns allow me to raise my voice in a coordinated way with those around me. When we sing the same words at the same time, with the added benefit of beautiful music amplifying our words, we are able to express the sentiments of our hearts simultaneously. It is this combination of music, text, voices, and belief that provides a direct conduit to my heart and mind for the Spirit.
I knew that music was able to penetrate my uncertainty more than any other method I had tried. I knew it could be well with my soul even as life felt dark. The hymns and songs, especially those I learned as a child, are etched into my soul in both word and melody. Their tunes come to my mind in difficult times and bring with them the comfort and reminders of the important teachings of their texts. Most of all, my soul is lifted along with the melody to remind me that while I am not always perfect, I can listen to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost to remember all of the “things Jesus taught”. Laney M Armstrong

“Knowledge indeed is the glory of God, and He freely shares it with us if we are willing to give and receive.”
Ana Maria Gutierrez Valdivia

“Often, the lessons I teach fall under the heading ‘science is a how, faith is a why’. Scripture tells us there was a creation and that it was good. Science lets us understand the how’s. Being a disciple means being a better scholar of both the how’s and the whys. You might need to study different translations of the scriptures. You will need to read primary scientific literature, dig deep in understanding genetics and what…evolution leads to a world of wondrous biodiversity but does not challenge your identity as a child of God. Remember not all parts of your humanity can be measured as quantifiable data. Be patient. Understanding in any area comes in small steps, and I have to be content with that. Revelation rarely comes all at once. Science is most satisfying for me because data is or can be ‘real’-isn’t dependent on what I think. A universe of order and consistency speaks to me of a Creator who is not arbitrary or careless.
Here is the garden where I walk with God. Here is where I find that my humanity is part of my divinity.” Kyra N Krakos

“Seek for glimpses of light. In a way that I feel can only be explained by the synchronicity of the universe and the divine truth inherent in all things, the place where insight is held and peace is found is in the synthesis of reason and emotion, the middle path between being and doing-just as I have experienced in the truths of my own life.” Kimberly Applewhite Teitter

“Revelatory and scientific methods are valid truth-seeking tools. They both follow a pattern of asking questions, seeking answers, interpreting information, and sharing newfound knowledge. Not all questions can be answered by empirical methods. Those of a religious nature require subjective approaches such as prayer, discussion, and studying and seeking insights from both religious and non-religious sources. Subjective methods enable revelation, but cannot be relocated by a peer. As a professor I encounter students who do not trust science because some of its interpretations or recommendations differ from their personal worldview. I strive to help them increase their faith in science by separating empirical-based evidence from opinion. Advice from husband and fellow geologist- No one person or scientist is an expert in all areas. So, on any topic, find the experts, and determine what the majority of experts conclude.
A clear expert majority lends credence to scientific conclusions and should be weighed against personal, religious, or political bias.
Finding truth is an evolving pursuit of knowledge. Science is an iterative process of continued discovery and adaptation. Interpretations of empirical data and recommended procedures based on them change as new data are collected and interpreted (ex bloodletting accepted/rejected, earthquakes changed material/process of building homes...) modern societies owe much to the continual discovery and adaptation of scientific knowledge. Science provides a foundation for humans to solve problems and progress.
Just as scientific discovery leads to progress in society, the evolving pursuit of knowledge-continuing revelation-helps humanity progress toward a more Christlike society.
Science and revelation answer different questions. In studying geology, I sometimes encounter questions whose answers seem to contradict some interpretations of spiritual passages. I have learned to defer to scientific experts questions regarding physical earth and religious experts questions regarding salvation. James E Talmage, a geologist and theologian, apostle said “let us not try to wrest the scripture in an attempt to explain away what we cannot explain. The opening chapters of Genesis and scriptures related thereto were never intended as a textbook of geology, archaeology, earth science, or man science…we do not show reverence for the scriptures when we misapply them through faulty interpretation.”
My studies help me gain knowledge about how the earth operates, how it was created, and how it became geologically varied; my religious studies help me know why it was created.
Science illuminates the nature of God. My church doctrine teaches that I am on earth to learn to use my agency to choose joy despite the hazards of life.” Julie Barrett Willis

“Eternal principles of reasoning-a perfect reasoning (accepting only true propositions as axioms) valuations to recognize truth (in mathematics axioms are very few and seem obvious). For me gaining my own testimony was like a math equation, following these principles:
1-I try to identify the truth I want to know (find the proposition) 2-I develop a sincere desire to know it (prayer helps me for that) 3-the Spirit comes and testifies 4-then I know.”
Noemi Lubomirsky

“My faith is in the Lord above all else which guides me in discerning what comes from the mortal being and what comes from the Lords purposes and causes. The Lord shows us our blemishes along the way to heal and restore our beauty, as he teaches us in Ether 12:27 ‘if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong until them’”. Farina King

“Developing a historians mindset…helped me to be more cognizant of what-and how-to remember. The scriptures are suffused with the exhortation to “remember”. It is one of the most frequent things Christ said to his followers.
Common cliche is we learn history in order to not repeat itself, which learning from the past is wise. We also learn history to remind ourselves that the past could have gone many other ways, and therefore, the future both near and far is not inevitable either. We who live in the present get to birth that new life into being with our gifts of agency, imagination, and diligence. We decide how good, how fair, how inclusive, and how full of joy and beauty that future might be.”
Tona Hangen

“There is a sinew, a tenacious tether, that connects Latter-day Saint women with their foremothers, stretching back the generations to Mother Eve and beyond her to the divine Mother of us all. Why we as women must work so hard to uncover the legacy of involvement in the Restoration remains a mystery. Yet within the excavation process, I have found both mortal purpose and spiritual fulfillment. My delight in these discoveries has led to an affinity not only with the dead but also with my living sisters in Christ. The desire to share this “good news” has encouraged me to replace aggressive questioning with compassionate inquiry. Accusations of inequity are reframed as female centric lessons and talks. Through such approachable advocacy, I have engaged with many Latter-day Saint women thirsty for spiritual oases filled with female wells of knowledge. My work as a historian has not reconciled every concern I have as a feminist Latter-day Saint. However, I have come to see a consciousness of the persistent and creative faithfulness of earlier generations of Latter-day Saint women as essential to my apprenticeship as a follower of Christ. It is through reading and writing their histories that I believe I can be a dedicated, if at times discomforted, disciple.” Carrieanne Simonini Deloach

“I know that leaders and followers of the Church are fallible, but I choose to stay in what I consider my spiritual home, the place where I learned to seek and gain revelation for my life, where I consistently feel Gods love, and where I nurture and am nurtured by my fellow fallible saints. I choose to depict them (my family, Brigham Young…) as the whole humans they were-flawed, sinning, and sinned against, but also striving and capable of redemption. I have come to believe that hearing the stories of individuals who sinned and fell short, of the suffering they caused as well as the good they did, is a necessary step toward the reconciliation we seek individually, in the Church, and in the world.”
Jenny Hale Pulsipher

“Mormon’s story has inspired me, guided me, and served as a template for shaping my life. I am better, and different because of him. I’d like to take the credit (for the accomplishments in my life-writer, professor, ER doctor…) but I cannot. Some of the credit belongs to Mormon, and far more to God. I simply leaned in. I had no idea what God has in store for me or how following this path would shape who I am.” Marion Bishop

“I have sought to examine the relationship between my faith and my study of law. I’ve highlighted the influence one has had on the other, especially as it relates to the vital importance of my faith as a guide in my study and application of the law. They have acted as my bulwark against all forms of injustice and oppression.”
Esohe Frances Ikponmwen

“Like Christ asked that man,…I realized that Christ was asking me everyday, “wilt thou be made whole?” Implicit in this question is the promise that, when I am ready, Christ can and will make me whole. Alma 22:18 (Lamoni’s father says ‘I will give away all my sins to know thee’.) To be healed we must lay our sins at the altar, including our pride and our attachment to our own stories about who we are, who we should be, and what our lives should be like. Broken heart and contrite spirit isn’t the price we pay, but the process of how we come to know Him. His grace will heal and transform us. He…inviting us to make our identity as children of heavenly parents our central identity and to access his power to become our best selves.” Lisa Grow

“As a Seneca woman, disciple of Christ, descendant of pioneers, attorney, and an academic, many identities meet in me. I am the confluence of many stories and the heir of many traditions. I have navigated the paradoxes and complexities of identity and history in my personal and professional life. But we are all many things at one time. Whatever our complex histories and the diversity of many societies and cultures across the world, as children of heavenly parents, we aspire to harmonize those diverse parts into a cohesive whole that draws strength from its constituencies so that we may each flourish together.
MLK Jr argued-a more just society blesses all and that an unjust society limits all. As we are better able to perceive and realize our interconnectedness, we may heal the wounds of division and escape the bondage of racism to build a more welcoming future.” Michalyn Steele

“I learned I had to work hard and to do it prayerfully in order to do well with both academic and religious studies. At that point in my life, I learned that if I invested time studying the gospel with my head and heart, He would open my mind, and I would see the beauty of his gospel. I learned that if I did this in tandem with schoolwork even if it seemed like sheer drudgery, initial glimmers of insight would be followed by an avalanche of light and knowledge.” Tanya Wendy Samu

“The person I was before my baptism would respond to conflict in a black/white, win/lose way. Now that I have been baptized and possess the doctrines of the gospel, I respond with prayer, asking for heavenly Fathers help to let me understand the other persons position and to deal with our differences in a loving way. My business unfolded more smoothly and my family became more harmonious.
When we have an open mind and let curiosity lead the way, it is much easier for us to get to know others in a deeper way. Because in our heart, everyone desires to be seen by others.
If you ask me (as a career women, wife, mother) what the relationship is between my life experience and my spiritual growth, I would say that we often count our blessings from Heavenly Father when we live a happy and successful life. However, the challenges and adversities in life are gifts as well. I grew much stronger as a person and in faith when I endured these things. I know in my deep heart that I am a precious daughter of our heavenly (parents) and that there is a plan for me. All I need to do is follow and harken to the counseling voice of the Holy Spirit. “
Connie Xiaohua Zhang

“The opportunity I was afforded to live and work around the Baoule and Senufo confirmed my conviction that both the body and the spirit are essential to any real religious understanding. Knowledge and revelation are conveyed through both.
My experience as a missionary worked me over, from the inside out, and this is how I knew: for the first time in my life, my spirit carried my body rather than the reverse. I felt as though I had entered the rich vein of our religion. As I sought to nourish others by rejoicing in the power of Christ and his plan of salvation, my whole souls felt nourished. I felt full of joy.”
Ariel Clark Silver

“Journeys into the sacred are a familiar concept in many religions.
I knew I was an imposter-began legal education in early 30s, husband, 3 daughters under 10, mortgage, and small business. As I kept moving forward, however, I felt my faith grow as well as my love of the law. Given the challenges I prayed more, and listened more after praying than I ever had before. I doing so, I gained a sure sense that the Lord was guiding my path. Often, I knew what the right thing was even if I did not know how it would be accomplished. I learned that if I did my best, was organized, and prioritized my family and the Lord, everything would work out. As I tried to do what was right, the Lord expanded late nights, early mornings, and small pockets of time. He multiplied limited budgets, energy, strength, and knowledge. On many occasions I was able to recall things that I had only read briefly in crucial moments.”
Keakaokawai Varner Hemi

“Gardening is a place of reconciliation for me:the garden focuses me entirely on the present. One thing that practice has taught me is that no matter how much I study the soil, water, and light needs if a plant before making it comfortable in the ground, I can never fully predict whether it will thrive. The more years I work on this plot of land, the better I get at guessing, but every time I introduce some life to new ground, I’m aware of the many limits to what I can control.
When it comes to human lives rather than those of plants, relationship with God is the system that can lead us to the place and conditions in which we can flower. Crucial to my experience and understanding of life is the knowledge that when we reach toward Gods light, God will meet us where we are and offer us the personal conditions for our flourishing.”
Kate Holbrook

[Julee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable compilation of two dozen essays of diverse Latter-day Saint women from around the globe discussing how they approach and wrestle with their faith, how they integrate their professional expertise and life experiences within that faith, and how they seek and create belonging.

From the introduction by editors Dr. Inouye and Dr. Holbrook...

This book gathers together perspectives from scholars and professionals who demonstrate a multidimensional and characteristically Latter-day Saint approach to sacred endeavor.... By recentering this scholarly conversation to include many experiences of those who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, or who reside outside of North America, we hope to reflect "Latter-day Saint thought" more accurately than projects with a much narrower conception of who the Latter-day Saints are."

Lots of gems in this volume, but my personal favorite contributors include Keakaokawai Varner Hemi, Astrid S. Tuminez, Kimberly Applewhite Teitter, Lisa Grow, Michalyn Steele, Tanya Wendt Samu, and Esohe Frances Ikponmwen.

On a personal note, I've crossed paths with both editors at various events in the past and I've always been struck by their intellectual acumen and their warmth & humor. Reading both the intro and the afterword made me a little teary as I absorbed some of Kate's last writings before her death (last year as this book was going to press). I'm incredibly grateful for Kate & Melissa's voices and the ways they radiate and share their light.

[Maddie Bagley]

It is quite refreshing and inspiring to hear the stories of 24 brilliant women from across the globe share their passions about their scholarship, careers, faith, and families. I appreciated hearing how their diverse fields of study inform their faith and vice versa. It did take me forever to read because my loan lapsed, and in round two, I switched to audio, which I preferred.

I did feel like these women often had to paint the broadest of brush strokes (presumably) because they knew this was one of their only opportunities to share their story with a wide audience, so for them, it’s their life story. In contrast, we know sooo much about our male leaders because we get multiple books, biographies, and ofc, a 15-minute talk every 6 months, plus devotionals. I crave more stories for women in the level of detail and frequency we get from the men.

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from these scientists, activists, lawyers, and artists share their wrestles, their insights, and their testimonies. There are so many nuggets of inspiration that I personally would be more opt to apply and retain if I had studied this with a discussion group.

[Sisjane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the afterword of this book brilliantly written by Rosalynde F. Welch she states, "You will soon close the covers; now ask yourself what the book will go on to do." This powerful challenge reminded me why I initially purchased this book. I purchased this book because Melissa Inouye and the late Kate Holbrook are thoughtful, insightful scholars, who in their writing/speaking have encouraged me to evaluate my own thinking. It is encouraging and uplifting to read those who seek for truth across disciplines and with faith. This is a powerful indication of the good that exists when we look for wisdom "by study and also by faith". Now I must ask myself what will I do/be because I have read this book.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Singing As A Teacher and Inescapable Connectedness were my favorite essays. I understand the motivation behind having a zillion accomplished women writing about their faith, but this felt real lengthy.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of essays by educated, religious women. I was so inspired by the way they actively choose faith and logic--that they can hold both in their hands.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-I loved these insightful essays about a variety of topics because of their differing professional lives but how it intersects deeply with their faith. There were some that really hit me more than others but I’m so glad I got to read this collection. So much wisdom to gain from it.

[Blaire Watanabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to savor this book slowly. These essays written by academic women expanded my soul. They share what they do in their profession, research, and studies and connect it to their faith. It’s inspiring. It’s heavenly. “But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” 2 Nephi 9:29 These women are scholars and leaders in various academic fields. They are also faithful followers of Jesus Christ. I’m grateful for their sharing of their work and faith.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book Deseret Book has ever published. I stayed up all night reading it and started it again the next day. It felt as if every author had something to say just to me. Realizing that thousands (millions?) of women share experiences and thoughts that I thought were unique to me was the best thing that’s happened to my faith in a long time.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible collection of essays. The life stories, the scholarship, the faith, these essays are perfectly curated. Thank you Melissa, thank you Kate for this incredibly beautiful and important book.

[Kansas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long loved how learning and growth in one area feeds learning and growth in others, and this is particularly true for my academic and spiritual learning. This is a valuable book for those that also feel this interconnectedness, but also more broadly appealing to general spritual learners. One of their marketing quotes (not from a book contributor) said, “This collection is, first and foremost, a trove of insight and inspiration from some of the Church's greatest scholars of our day.” For sure.

[Isaiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading the essays in this book because they gave me a vision of what it means to be a strong, smart, faithful Latter-day Saint women. This book is a milestone in LDS publishing. I learned so much from the individual contributions and am thrilled that the authors have such varied backgrounds in terms of their disciplines/professions, nationalities, cultures, and languages. This book presents me with so many different exemplars and so many different perspectives on spiritual experience.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Female LDS scholars in a range of disciplines share their life journey and insights along the way in an essay collection that inspires, and illuminates a variety of life paths. Rosalynde Welch's afterword is a soul-pricking finale, with a personal call to action. Well-done, all.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a treasure. Every essay is unique and inspiring! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning from these women who come from a wide range of backgrounds and scholarships. Well done!

[Tamhack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an inspiration book about remarkable women who applied the teachings of Jesus Christ in their lives.

The book is broken down into five different sections:
1. My grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly
2. In Theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel...of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth
3. Things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad
4. The wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgements which are on the land
5. A knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms--that ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you

Under each of these sections different women tell how these were applied her life. The women come from many different backgrounds, cultures, educational and life experiences.

Some of my favorite parts from the book:
pg 5 " The essays narrate journeys through challenging terrain. In many cases, authors explain how their faith led them to scientific breakthroughs, professional success, and new insights into the human story. At other times, disciplinary perspectives compelled scholars to measure and test their beliefs, along the lines of the prophet Alma's "experience" to discern what is real."
"The polyphony of voices in this collection is a rare gift."

pg. 37 Emily Bates "In my belief system, God gives guidance that helps us to have the healthiest and happiest life that we can with out individual constraints (our biological and economic situations). For example, following the Word of Wisdon protects us from some difficult mental and physical challenges, but it doesn not give a charmed life, free from all mental and physcial health struggles. God inspires goodness, progress, kindness, learning, understanding, and wisdom."
"God helpds us to see our greater potentila and motivatge us to reach that potential."

pg 80 Kyra N. Krakos ...teaches "science is a how, faith is a why."

pg 95 Julie Barrott Willis "Revalatory and scientific methods are valid truth-seeking tools, useful within their own spheres for seeking knowledge. They both follow a pattern of asking questions, seeking answers, interpreting information and sharing newfound knowledge."
"Studying science has taught me the accuracy of Alma's declaration: "All things denote there is a God; year even the earth and all things that are upon the face of it, year, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a a Supreme Creator" (Alma 30:44)."

Really like the whole chapter by Noemi Lubomirsky -Eternal Principles of Reasoning. Using mathematics, the science of patterns.

There are many, many examples in the book to read, study and ponder.

Summary: (https://www.associationmormonletters....)
"Every Needful Thing is an exploration of how the life of the mind and the life of the heart and spirit interact with each other and complement each other.
The book provides mentors and role models who have pursued careers in in biology, law, medicine, geology, history, political science, mathematics, psychology, public health, literature, business, education, botany, and choral music.
It includes luminaries such as Esohe Ikponmwen, retired Chief Justice of Edo State in Nigeria; Astrid S. Tuminez, UVU’s president; Elizabeth Hammond, a medical researcher; and Valerie Hudson, a celebrated political scientist.
It also includes rising stars such as Farina King, a scholar and public intellectual in the fields of history and indigenous studies; Keakaokawai Varner Hemi, a scholar of law and Pacific studies at the University of Waikato; and CarrieAnne Simonini DeLoach, a scholar of Latter-day Saint attitudes toward war and violence.
There are incredible meditations on science and faith from Emily Bates, Julie Willis, and Kyra Neipp Krakos. Krakos, a biologist who studies plant-pollinator interactions, begins her essay with an unforgettable opening image of “petting bees.” Ana Maria Gutierrez Valdivia tells her incredible personal story of growing up in extreme poverty and becoming a public health professor and eventually academic vice-rector of one of Peru’s major universities. Kimberly Teitter talks about how her faith and the work of clinical psychology overlap. Tanya Wendt Samu lays out the “pillars” of her faith as a Samoan-Maori Latter-day Saint academic: tautua (service & responsibility), alofa (love and commitment), fa’aaloalo (respect).
As an example of the intersection of academic and spiritual inquiry in the book, here is a wonderful story told by Noemi Lubomirsky, a mathematician. She recounts how, after many times of attempting to solve a difficult mathematical problem and failing, in the quiet peace after serving for several hours in the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple, “I decided to return to a very difficult problem related to my thesis. I took a sheet of paper, and once more, as I had done many times in the previous months, I wrote out my problem. As I worked, I began to see relations between many principles I had studied before, and I was finally able to prove one of the main theorums of my thesis. It was not that I found the proof in any principle that I learned in the temple, but I think it was not a coincidence. I needed a clear mind, full of light and truth, to find more truth.” (p. 109)
I don’t have space, or else I would give a summary of every single contributor and their story! You’ll have to read the book!
Every contributor is a world-class scholar or practitioner. They all happen to be practicing Latter-day Saint women, as well. These essays combine candor, faith, hope, and charity, wrestling with tensions and demonstrating how they kept finding the path forward. In so many instances it is clear how religious faith was not an encumbrance to brilliant scholarship or professional achievement, but the catalyst for it.
Also there is a stunning cover image custom-painted for the book by Melissa Tshikamba. The image is a sort of “still life” that captures elements of the kitchen tables or work desks of the twenty-five total contributors. Note the bees, one of Tshikamba’s favorite images, and also a reference to Krakos’s essay."

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This collection of essays were written by LDS women who are scholar disciples (each having earned doctorate degrees and made significant contributions within their field of study). Each essay offered a unique perspective, but overall I loved seeing how their faith contributed to scientific breakthroughs, professional success, and insights into the human experience. On the other hand, their areas of research also influenced, tested, and expanded their faith. I appreciated seeing how both religious faith and academic research took persistent study, critical thinking, and personal experiences that made both more mature, real, and resilient. I liked witnessing how God inspired and directed them on their unique paths of discovery (one author stated “I can easily see God’s hand in my life”—what a beautiful gift to seek for). Overall, this book helps inspire more intellectual and spiritual curiosity, while reminding that the purpose of higher education is service.

Favorite chapters in this stage of my life (although every chapter offers something uniquely valuable):
3-How God intervenes and inspires with goodness
7-Reconciling her faith and study in a way that strengthened both; “Here is where I find my humanity is part of my divinity”
9-How faith and science work together (science is a why, while faith a how)
14-Seeing historical figures in context and with nuanced eyes
22-Led to continue her education with God’s help

Favorite quotes I want to hold onto:

-D&C 88:118-119: “And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom, ye seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom. Seek learning, even by study and also by faith. Organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.”

-“Attending to every needful thing can include wrestling with long-standing questions, walking through a meadow, reading scripture, and singing with children. Instead of confining ourselves to artificial dichotomies forcing choices between faith or reason, the past or the future, work in the home or in the community, love or law, truth within the restored gospel or in the wide world of all human experience, we must unflinchingly seek ‘anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report’ and learn to flourish in a world of complexity and abundance.”

-“The inclusivity of gathering every needful thing brings challenges. How can our limited time and energy stretch to address life’s many pressing needs. How do we know we’ve accounted for everything within our stewardship while still preserving moments of stillness? How can we fearlessly follow reason, logic, and the pursuit of evidence along a path to truth? How can we have the courage to maintain a knowledge of things not seen?”

-“The diligent pursuit of intelligence of all kinds will enrich God’s children eternally.” Joseph Smith

-“My faith has needed to become less brittle, less prideful, less bigoted, less insecure, and more curious, joyful, open, and alive. My work has given me a broad exposure to ideas, people, industries, and cultures that has helped me understand the humility that Christian faith demands.”

-“One of my favorite scriptures tells us that God invites all of us to goodness. I read this to mean that we can all take inspiration from our Heavenly parents to do good, to love, to learn, to create, to nurture, to contribute and participate in God’s work, bringing to pass good for humanity.” “For he doeth that which is good among the children of men and women and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men. And he inviteth them all to come unto Him and partake of his goodness and he denieth none that come unto Him, black and white, bond and free, male and female, and he remembereth the heathen, and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” God does only that which is good.

-“Faith is a complex system. The fragile web of answers from parents, teachers, and church leaders that sustained my childhood faith could not withstand the shaking of my questions as I grew. As I learned to think critically, I had to build a new system with redundant mechanisms for nurturing faith and spiritual growth in the face of new information and more complex questions. My spiritual life identity was ground down and rebuilt again and again. My understanding comes in agonizing incremental steps.”

-“I love the commandment given to Eve and Adam, and therefore to all of us, to ‘multiply and replenish the earth’ because I believe it has meaning far beyond human reproduction and childbearing: a book, an article, an essay, a lecture, a syllabus, even the arc of an entire academic life. These are things that multiply the earth and replenish its goodness and abundance.”

-“I have no illusions that there are purer institutions elsewhere. I know that leaders and followers in the church are fallible, but I choose to stay in what I consider my spiritual home, the place where I learned to seek and gain revelation for my life, where I consistently feel God’s love, and where I nurture and am nurtured by my fellow fallible saints. I love the church and sometimes I feel protective of it…but as I write of [past leaders and members of the church], I choose to depict them as the whole humans they were: flawed, sinning, and sinned against. But also striving and capable of redemption. I hope they would do the same for me. I have come to believe that hearing the stories of individuals who sinned and fell short, of the suffering they caused as well as the good they did, is a necessary step toward the reconciliation we seek individually, in the church, and in the world.” ch. 14

-“Giving away our sins isn’t merely the price we pay to know God, instead that process is how we come to know him. We can’t really give away all of our sins and weaknesses on our own, it takes his help, his power, his grace to heal and transform us. We come to know Christ as we test out his promises, then we experience his power to redeem us by changing our hearts.” ch. 17

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible collection of essays of accomplished women from all over the world. Their stories are inspiring and often overwhelming in their lives where they have overcome so many obstacles.

[M Summ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cerebral- “short” stories written by scholarly women that tell their experiences gaining testimony, becoming educated, and what the both together provide. It was informational, but not enjoyable to read.

[Alex Petty · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, some of the essays are way better than others, but it’s worth finding the ones you resonate with. I would say this book strengthened my testimony at least a little bit.