Both Things Are True

by Kate Holbrook

Joseph Smith’s observation that “by proving contraries, truth is made manifest” has become a beloved aphorism of Latter-day Saint thought. Both Things Are True is an experiment upon these words. Most aspects of a covenant life are lived in the tense space between contrary ideas that are equally valid but individually incomplete. When we learn to hold true things together in their natural tension, we find our hearts and souls stretched wide. The process can be challenging, even painful, but the spiritual rewards are great. Both Things Are True is a guided walk through six sets of tensions that disciples must navigate in their practical efforts to become like Christ. Author Kate Holbrook draws on her lifetime of expertise as a historian of Latter-day Saint women’s history to examine the “contraries,” the fruitful tensions that have stretched Saints present and past, including the true Church, revelation, housework, forgiveness and accountability, and legacy. While the book is richly illustrated with personal and historical examples, its ideas are expressed in the simple, gentle manner that is Kate’s trademark. Both Things Are True is remarkable in its ability to reach readers of every walk of life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Lds, Church, Faith, Essays, Audiobook

176 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was Kate's research assistant for one summer in college, and this collection of hers, published after her much-too-soon death and aided and augmented by those who knew her far better than I did, is like having her back for one last conversation.

Thank you Kate. Thank you for everything.

[Meredith Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exceeded my expectations and I absolutely devoured it. The section on the theology of housework (sounds strange, but trust me, it's good) was an unexpected answer to prayer. This book is a gift left from the author for anyone willing to read it. It may be my favorite faith-based book I've read this year, and I've read some fantastic ones.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first became acquainted with Kate Holbrook when I listened to a broadcast of a Face to Face event where she spoke. What she shared that night honestly, without exaggeration, changed my life. A while later, she spoke on a podcast I listen to and once again, her words made a deep impression on me. When I saw this book, I knew I had to read it.

Both Things are True is beautiful. Moving. Hopeful. Honest. Relatable. Thought provoking. Soul-expanding. Just thank you to Kate and her team for giving us this absolute gift. This is a book I know I will read again and again.

[Rebecca Russavage · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is heartbreaking that Kate died before she could write the book this could’ve been. Her thoughts are wonderful and I’m glad they are captured here, but I think the primary function of this book is to serve as a memorial and a placeholder for the book she could have written. Nevertheless, I am so grateful this does exist, as I thought the world of her.

[Raymon · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO MANY INSIGHTS. I found myself reading aloud to anyone who would listen. This book has heart and plenty of head too.

[Molly Titera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and thought-provoking perspectives from what I would define as a true feminist. As in someone who appreciates the real beauty in the good, bad and “ugly” in being a woman. But that’s not what it’s about, it’s much more. I really enjoyed her insights on faith and the mundane.

[Maddie Bagley]

Kate is so freaking awesome, and I feel like she's my friend after reading this. Thus, I am also in mourning, as this book was written and published as she was dying of cancer. I have long been obsessed with duality and the concept that multiple things can be true at the same time so I was inclined to like this book from the beginning. It's a short read, but here's some standout thoughts:
• The church should be a collection house of truth, no matter the source
• "true church" can also mean loyal
• the church is true AND becoming more true as we are true (loyal) to humanity
• sanctification of housework and recipes

Thank you Kate <3

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift to me at a time I needed it.

[Lindsey Memory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been picking this thin little book up and reading snippets every Sunday for several months. I have loved it! Loved the chapter on housework as divine (a really striking argument that falls straight down between the crevices of both feminism and SAHM-hood).

Loved the last chapter on legacy, and how wanting to leave one can be good and bad.

Loved her description of her humane, nuanced approach to telling the stories of those gone before during her career as one of the head historians of the LDS church.

Loved, LOVED her embrace of complexity, as underscored by her title: Both Things Are True (from my favorite of all Joseph Smith quotes, “By proving contraries, truth is made manifest.”). I have spent literal years of mental energy weighing and bouncing against each other seemingly contradictory yet evidently true things, and it looks like she has, too. I rarely rest easy with single-minded truisms. My thoughts immediately run to, “But in what cases would that NOT be The True Thing That Matters” Complexity is at the heart of each human experience. Kate does justice to that fact. She does not shy away from complexity, but rather embraces and honors that most mortal of struggles.

From the epilogue, written after her untimely death from cancer by her husband, “This, to my eye, is the core gift of Jesus’ atonement. Both we humans and our divine parents can be one family; heaven and earth can be married in us. We imperfect people of dirt and mud can be perfect beings of light and spirit. These impossible possibilities are the life blood of atonement. When I hear Kate saying that ‘both things are true,’ I hear her saying that in Christ, apparent contraries are cast in faithful relation to each other. I hear in each one of these essays an attempt to trace the breath and depth of Atonement.”

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

5++++
This idea that both things are true is a fascinating and intriguing concept. Originally penned by Joseph Smith as “by proving contraries, truth is made manifest”, this idea is both instructive and enlightening. In this day of questions, doubts, fears and worries, of faults and failures and human failings, two contrary ideas can co-exist in harmony without prejudice or animosity. Nothing is ever black and white. There is room for gray. For cross over and complexity. This author through her essays, allows us the ability to see both sides of complex issues that could polarize us and utilizes both perspectives to be at peace with perceived conflicting ideas. The idea that both things are true is a defining perspective that helps organize and validate questions or concerns and allows us the ability to find peace in a very un-peaceful world.

[Brookie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the description:
Joseph Smith's observation that "by proving contraries, truth is made manifest" has become a beloved aphorism of Latter-day Saint thought. Both Things Are True is an experiment upon these words”


I loved this read. Kate seems like the most amazing person. I loved learning from her throughout this book. The concept of duality is so fascinating and beautiful to me, especially when looked at through a gospel lens.

One thing I loved is how she explained things from a historian’s POV. For example, how we tend to document people of history as all good or all bad. She gave a couple examples showing how our heroes are not perfect and those we villainize sometimes start out with good intentions that then get extreme and out of control.

Some other noteworthy nuggets (paraphrased):
- The church of Jesus Christ is true & living. But what does that even mean? Constantly growing and evolving.
- We (its members) make it true by being true to humanity around us. We accept truth from other religions and schools of thought. Not only that, but we SEEK it out!

[Doralie Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Kate teaches about how she has viewed opposing events, beliefs, and actions. This includes the importance of telling history the way it occured so we can learn from the truth. She addresses race, gender, legacy, housework and so much more in a way I found refreshing and authentic as well as true to my experiences..if you are looking for a message that discourages black and white, all or nothing thinking, this is a good read

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great work from such a brilliant woman.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely love the overall message of this book. I think Holbrook tried to look at some of the complexities of the gospel and how it impacts our day-to-day life.

I learned a lot. Agreed with a lot and disagreed with some of her ideas. But I think that's why reading books that examine my religion is important. I like pondering about what I believe and why.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

These beautiful essays are both a tribute to the legacy of Kate Holbrook and deep, thought-provoking, faith-promoting pieces about faith. Couple your reading with the podcasts and videos of her speeches to understand her great legacy to women's history in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely group of essays from the wonderful, Kate Holbrook, before she passed away. Wonderful ideas and presentation with smart prose. I really liked her theology on house chores as well as her essay on revelation. I should probably read this one again, sometime.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kate Holbrook! This was kind of a “Last Lecture” collection of essays. I wish she’d had more time to finish it, but they were very sweet to read. I’m looking forward to making her favorite chocolate cake. What a fun way to memorialize her. 🩷



"I have learned the most about Jesus when I have tried to do the work of Jesus."

"By definition, hope is something we have despite negative past experience, despite evidence that despair may be more rational. Hope is something we choose. When you feel acutely one of the world's problems, you can spend all your energy in anger and criticism, or you can study, pray, and choose to hope in the solutions that come through revelation. Criticism is vital to good thinking, but I believe we must balance it with hope and with positive action. We can hold that hope out in front of us to light our way and to light the way of others."

[Kaitlin Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful to have crossed paths with this book. I knew lightly of Kate Holbrook and her work, but I am forever impacted now by her words in this short work. I have tossed these same insights around in my own head and heart for the last while, and it’s beautiful to see it all be put into words. I am both inspired and educated by her insights. Kate Holbrook’s legacy lives on through her words. This one will be taking a permanent and well-deserved spot on my bookshelf.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. We are as her husband says, too brittle in our modern world; two seemingly opposite things can be true. I cried many times listening to this book thinking about a beautiful soul taken from us much too soon. I'm so thankful to Kate and the beautiful community around her that day this book into being.

[Nanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable thought experiment. As the title implies, Holbrook negotiates the seeming contradictions between history and testimony, culture and doctrine. As a Church historian, she has been at the heart of unresolvable discrepancy and found a faithful way through; she shares such journeys with readers as a lighthouse for those who might be navigating a stormy spiritual sea. It’s good to think on these subjects, and to normalize such turmoil, and to see another’s model for peace. Thanks, Kate.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely farewell to a fantastic scholar and human. It needs to be said that if you aren't familiar with Holbrook's work, this isn't the best place to start, as she died before this book could become the book it was capable of becoming. Still, if you know and appreciate her work, you won't regret reading this one, and I'm so thankful to her editors for giving us this opportunity to learn from her one last time. Holbrook is warm, wise, faithful, and perceptive. The idea of paradox has been very important in my spiritual life in recent years, so I very much appreciated her take on this theme.

[Marta Cleverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a powerful book that I’m grateful I had the opportunity to read. Perhaps the epilogue, written by her widowed husband stands out most. Christ’s atonement is not a “get out of jail free card” but rather bringing together two things that are in opposition—eternity and mortality, perfection and imperfect—both things are true

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written as her view of life and religion as she died of cancer, Kate Holbrook brought together her work as a historian and religious scholar. I enjoyed this book and found it touching. It mostly focuses on how we can view things with a dichotomy and accept two different things as being true. How to live with nuance and accept dissonance as a part of the human experience.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've long admired Holbrook's work as an editor and church historian. Her focus on women throughout church history has highlighted some incredible stories that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. This book was put together from Kate's own essays, speeches and work following her death after a battle with cancer. Her thoughts are personal, unique and intelligent. Some of my favorite takeaways:

- why is the church true for you? She provides her own thoughts and it's made me think about what makes it true for me.
- Wisely remember- the scriptures never say forgive and forget. We are commanded to forgive but it's the Lord who forgets. Sometimes we have to "wisely remember" injustices to prevent their repetition but also to remember the lessons they taught us.
- The insight into James Christensen's painting "The Responsible Woman." That's been a special piece to my mom and sisters and I loved Holbrook's perspective on the candle and what it represents.
- The story of Jane Neyman.. I'll save that quote about charity for the rest of my life.

A short, beautiful book that reveals a small portion of the talent and wisdom of Kate Holbrook.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kate Holbrook and have followed her work for many years. This final piece of her writing before her death is beautiful. The essays that stood out the most to me were Housework is a Crucible of Discipleship and the Weight of Legacy.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t cry while reading books. Ever. This book made me cry. I didn’t ever meet Kate, but when I was in graduate school, she was an inspiration. Her writing taught me that it was okay to be a woman and pursue academics. This book taught me how to do that.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a collection of thoughts and essays written by Kate Holbrook before she passed away. I feel kind of bad rating it only three stars. While it did have some interesting and insightful thoughts, it just didn’t blow me away.

[Tyler Critchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights. I was taking notes on just about every page. Highly recommend!

[Jenicca Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a lovely surprise coming after Kate’s passing. I deeply admire her for her grace, intelligence, humility, and thoughtfulness. I miss her insights and her spirit.

[Lexi Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, and I’m thankful for those who worked to finish it after the author passed away. The book contains many gems that ring very true to me, especially as a recovering black and white thinker. One of many concepts that hit home for me was the idea that acting on personal revelation does not guarantee we won’t experience pain. It seems to me that the choices I’ve made from my clearest personal revelation have resulted in some very hard times. And yet, they have also led to some of the best times and biggest blessings. Thus: Both Things Are True!