Heaven Knows Why

by Samuel W. Taylor

Book by Taylor, Samuel Woolley

Genres: Humor, Lds, Fiction, Religion

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny book about a small-town LDS man who finally gets some ambition after being vistited by his deceased grandfather. Originally written in 1948. Samuel Taylor is a son of the polygamist John W. Taylor, who kept living it after it was abolished, and a grandson of President John Taylor, the 3rd LDS prophet.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tongue in cheek tale that annoyed me when I first read it as a teenager, but made me smile as an old lady.

[Linda Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful book about early mormon settlement in Utah. Full of history and that laughter that produces tears of mirth.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funniest Mormon novel ever. Very mid-century, though, so if you don't like jokes about postum, this isn't the book for you.

(I did read the serialized version, but I assume it's not much different)

[James Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. One of my favorite. Pokes fun at silly traditions of our fathers, while keeping the reader on the edge of the seat. Great action, and many impossible obstacles to be overcome. Loved it!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's humorous and irreverent.

[Beth Given · Rating 2 out of 5]

Supposedly this is one of the hallmarks of Mormon literature, even though I’d never heard of it. The premise is interesting and clever: Moroni Skinner, who has completed a full life on earth, looks down from heaven and is frustrated with his grandson, who is amounting to nothing due to his lazy attitude. Moroni decides that what his grandson needs is a gentle push from beyond (i.e., a visit from his grandfather) to marry the town sweetheart and make a name for himself in the valley.

It’s a pretty well-written book — you can feel the small-town feeling in the dialect. But as kind of a Molly-Mormon girl myself, I could see why not many Mormons have read this book and why Deseret Book hasn’t picked up its publication or anything. The text is generously littered with the “minor” swear words, the bishop has his calling based on the amount of land he owns, and the Word of Wisdom is treated as a burden rather than a blessing.

And for being touted as “the funniest Mormon novel” I wasn’t laughing nearly as often as I should be (come to think of it, did I laugh at all?)

Still, I thought that the underlying theme was good: through hard work and courage, you can succeed. It’s an interesting path to see how the grandson so dramatically alters the course of his life — and the lives of all the folks around him.

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in 1948, this is one of the first, if not the first humorous LDS novel written by an LDS author. Relating the events prompted by an angelic visitation to a ranching community in Wyoming, the ensuing havoc challenges the faith of many of the residents, threatens the wedding of the bishop's daughter, reveals religious hypocracy, renews old grudges, and fosters chaos among the saints, devout, less active and apostate alike. Central to this cleverly plotted chaos is an affable protagonist, a young man, recently returned from the war, who gets into more trouble than anyone ought to for telling the straight truth.

Samuel W. Taylor has a gift for molding amusing dialogue and the switchback plotline. Although some of the humor shows it's age, this frolic is a lot of fun.

[David Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lighthearted romantic adventure set in Mormon country. First published in 1948 by a grandson of Mormon prophet John Taylor, the book is a quick read, and the author isn't afraid to spice his story up with such controversial elements as embezzlers, idlers and apostates along with misadventures relating to the improper consumption of coffee and alcohol.

I enjoy the more contemporary Mormon fiction of such authors as Levi Peterson and Doug Thayer, and I recently discovered Jack Harrell short stories and David Pace's new novel _Dream House on Golan Drive_.

_Heaven Knows Why_ was entertaining but also interesting as a window into an earlier period of Mormon writing.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because someone on the internet called it the funniest Mormon novel ever. I don't think it was the FUNNIEST, but it was pretty funny. I was just thinking that someone should write a book about a "short stay in heaven," and I'm happy that some work has already been done on the subject. I'm not sure how true-to-life the characters are to actual rural Utahns, but the "mystery" of how the main character's grandfather's prophecy gets fulfilled was well-executed. There was even a little serious religious thought about how things that are coincidences can be religiously meaningful.

[Luise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a funny book. The plot had enough twists through the whole book that kept it entertaining. There was swearing, coffee drinking, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and an illegitimate baby, which are not usually found in Mormon based books. The characters lacked testimony and were of a strange variety. The setting is just after World War II in a very small town. The main character shows consistency in his honesty. The expressions and dialect used are sometimes hard to follow. There are very few good lessons to be learned, but I still found it entertaining.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evoking life in a rural Utah town shortly after World War II, Taylor sets up a divine comedy where against all odds things seem to work out. Moroni Skinner looks down from heaven and sees that his grandson Jackson is not living up to his potential. He gets permission to manifest himself to Jackson and tell him to marry the bishop's daughter, Katie Jensen. Only she's engaged to be married to Henry Brown, the first counselor and a successful businessman. If you want to read a work of Mormon Lit that will keep you laughing, read this while nursing a cup of Coffee-Near. Worth it!

[Tamra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly funny! It's a nice history piece on Mormonism, too.

I would recommend this book to any Mormon who can laugh at themselves. Truly worth the read!!

I have a copy of this book, if anyone wants to borrow it. It's out of print and there's little to no chance of getting it back IN print. So good luck finding it.

[Mark Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The grand, nay sublime good humor of this funny and touching story got me through some dreary days as a lonely bachelor in Hong Kong some decades ago for which I'll be forever grateful. I had the good fortune to thank the author personally for his efforts at his home in Redwood City CA back in the 80's.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is billed as the funniest Mormon novel ever. I have to agree. Coffee-near, visitations, apostates, and in-fighting--I've known some of these people. Even though it is 40 years old, it holds up.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's a funny, lighthearted read. One of my family's favorites.

[Steven Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very funny. The "Coffee-near" episodes kept me in stitches.

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a funny book, especially for LDS people. It examines the early 1900s Utah Mormon small town culture. But really it's just a hoot. I found it surprisingly uplifting.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Anita for loaning me this book. I love laughing at our religion!! It was even better since it was written by my husband's family member.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! Hilarious and clever! Jeff and Katherine loved it as well.

[Beth Essex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and my children enjoyed it even more, some of them would give it five stars and others four stars.

[Jeff Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing and a little irreverent.

[Patrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, fun, read.