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Come to Zion #2
Come to Zion, vol. 2: Through Cloud and Sunshine
In this sequel to The Winds and the Waves, Will and Liz Lewis have settled in Nauvoo after emigrating from England. They experience life with the Saints and struggle to deal with the rigors of life in a new country. They witness crucial events in Church history during the last years of the Prophet Joseph’s life. Meanwhile, Jeff and Abby—living in modern-day Nauvoo—learn more about Jeff ’s ancestors and face their own set of challenges. Beloved novelist Dean Hughes vividly depicts real, everyday life in early Nauvoo—the spiritual and emotional challenges as well as the physical challenges. The skillful interweaving of the sto ries of these two couples, separated by five generations and 150 years, provides a unique way to bring Church history to life and show how much we can learn from those who went before us.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
23 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Dean Hughes
169 books347 followersDean Hughes is the author of more than eighty books for young readers, including the popular sports series Angel Park All-Stars, the Scrappers series, the Nutty series, the widely acclaimed companion novels Family Pose and Team Picture, and Search and Destroy. Soldier Boys was selected for the 2001 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age list. Dean Hughes and his wife, Kathleen, have three children and six grandchildren. They live in Midway, Utah.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
January 5, 2014
Oh, Brother Hughes, you can do better.
My complaints:
(1) There was no story. The book just meandered through a historical period. It was to the point where I wanted someone to cut Will just to get away from the monotony of Liz cleaning the house and Will overworking and attending Sunday sermons. I don't want to read the Days of '47 version of my boring life. Things finally picked up at the end, but it was too little too late.
(2) The characters were flat. They got all their development in Book 1, and they need no more development. Will is never going to be anything but a Peter Priesthood, the very model of a modern Mormon man thrust into 1840s society. In sum, the characters were lifted straight from a certain Gerald N. Lund series, and that is no compliment.
(3) Bro. Hughes advocates within this book a less sugar-coated version of history, and he commendably takes steps toward that, but he follows the good-and-faithful writer's stereotype of Joseph Smith as the jovial and charismatic sage, not the hothead who, say, throws trumpets around in Zion's Camp or is still fistfighting his brother in their adult years. The book also creates a confusing paradox of condemning the excommunicated unfaithful who disagreed with gathering en mass while simultaneously agreeing with their position that this is exactly what caused neighbors to hate the Mormons. Also, what was that bit about Liz not having anything to do while Will was away at work? These women made their own soap and butter and no counter space for a breadmaker.
(4) This is a tiny complaint, but it rubbed me the wrong way that the character in the present-day story is descended from a biological rather than adopted child of Will. It seemed a subtle snub of adoption when the adoption subplot is largely what carried the story. Hughes passed up an opportunity to show that heritage is more than blood.
Please don't feel bad, Dean. You're still the only LDS fiction writer for me.
Things that worked:
(1) Points for daring to include a female blessing. (Hurrah for Israel.)
(2) I appreciate the attempt at accuracy in depicting the circumstances of Joseph Smith's martyrdom. With the way the account is told in church, one is left wondering what was their deal, those guys who killed the prophet? (Musta been Satan at work, as well as beer and coffee and Pepsi and anti-gun legislation.)
(3) The theme of building Zion by helping each other is an important one, as is the theme of excluding those not of our faith.
My complaints:
(1) There was no story. The book just meandered through a historical period. It was to the point where I wanted someone to cut Will just to get away from the monotony of Liz cleaning the house and Will overworking and attending Sunday sermons. I don't want to read the Days of '47 version of my boring life. Things finally picked up at the end, but it was too little too late.
(2) The characters were flat. They got all their development in Book 1, and they need no more development. Will is never going to be anything but a Peter Priesthood, the very model of a modern Mormon man thrust into 1840s society. In sum, the characters were lifted straight from a certain Gerald N. Lund series, and that is no compliment.
(3) Bro. Hughes advocates within this book a less sugar-coated version of history, and he commendably takes steps toward that, but he follows the good-and-faithful writer's stereotype of Joseph Smith as the jovial and charismatic sage, not the hothead who, say, throws trumpets around in Zion's Camp or is still fistfighting his brother in their adult years. The book also creates a confusing paradox of condemning the excommunicated unfaithful who disagreed with gathering en mass while simultaneously agreeing with their position that this is exactly what caused neighbors to hate the Mormons. Also, what was that bit about Liz not having anything to do while Will was away at work? These women made their own soap and butter and no counter space for a breadmaker.
(4) This is a tiny complaint, but it rubbed me the wrong way that the character in the present-day story is descended from a biological rather than adopted child of Will. It seemed a subtle snub of adoption when the adoption subplot is largely what carried the story. Hughes passed up an opportunity to show that heritage is more than blood.
Please don't feel bad, Dean. You're still the only LDS fiction writer for me.
Things that worked:
(1) Points for daring to include a female blessing. (Hurrah for Israel.)
(2) I appreciate the attempt at accuracy in depicting the circumstances of Joseph Smith's martyrdom. With the way the account is told in church, one is left wondering what was their deal, those guys who killed the prophet? (Musta been Satan at work, as well as beer and coffee and Pepsi and anti-gun legislation.)
(3) The theme of building Zion by helping each other is an important one, as is the theme of excluding those not of our faith.
June 17, 2013
I wasn't overly anticipating this sequel to "The Wind and the Waves" that came out last year. The first one in the series was good, but one of the main characters was really annoying to me. This second book was so much better, and I really enjoyed it and learned a lot from it.
My favorite genre is probably historical fiction, and I have a soft spot for Nauvoo since I've been there a number of times. My parents were the first LDS people in our family, so I never heard stories of illustrious pioneer ancestors who trudged along the plains in search of Zion, burying their children along the way and leaving bloody footprints in the snow. I've heard plenty of those stories about other people's ancestors, and they honestly got kind of tiring to listen to. What I appreciated about this book is the way the early members of the church were portrayed as flawed and very human characters. Our church's history is not always a pretty one, and it was not always the innocent victim that modern-day members sometimes like to pass off as the truth. Too often, "The Pioneers" are thought of as super-human, capable of withstanding things that no modern person ever could. I reject that thought, as does this book, and believe that they were very mortal humans who got up every day and did what needed to be done. I prefer to believe that my family and many of those that I know could put one foot in front of another, see the humor in hard times, and accomplish every bit as much if push came to shove. I'm also extremely grateful that as of this writing, I've never had to put that to a test. :)
The series ends with the next book that should be coming out next spring.
My favorite genre is probably historical fiction, and I have a soft spot for Nauvoo since I've been there a number of times. My parents were the first LDS people in our family, so I never heard stories of illustrious pioneer ancestors who trudged along the plains in search of Zion, burying their children along the way and leaving bloody footprints in the snow. I've heard plenty of those stories about other people's ancestors, and they honestly got kind of tiring to listen to. What I appreciated about this book is the way the early members of the church were portrayed as flawed and very human characters. Our church's history is not always a pretty one, and it was not always the innocent victim that modern-day members sometimes like to pass off as the truth. Too often, "The Pioneers" are thought of as super-human, capable of withstanding things that no modern person ever could. I reject that thought, as does this book, and believe that they were very mortal humans who got up every day and did what needed to be done. I prefer to believe that my family and many of those that I know could put one foot in front of another, see the humor in hard times, and accomplish every bit as much if push came to shove. I'm also extremely grateful that as of this writing, I've never had to put that to a test. :)
The series ends with the next book that should be coming out next spring.
October 15, 2021
This is the second book of the trilogy. The story gets very intense as the events of Nauvoo are retold.
November 13, 2025
If you’re ever feeing sorry for yourself, read a book about the LDS church members prior to the assassination of Joseph Smith.
November 30, 2013
Nauvoo period. This one didn't work quite as well for me - Sam Taylor's Nightfall in Nauvoo had more sense of adventure.
I like Dean Hughes' sensibilities, but the Nauvoo period is hard to pull off. You want a protagonist with some sense of context and proportion, but the people at the time were very polarized and black-and-white in their thinking. They DIDN'T understand what was going on their their neighbors. So Hughes creates a character Will with more modern sensibilities, which sounds good to our ears - he loves his wife and hates the thought of polygamy; he worries about antagonizing neighbors by gathering and block voting; he abhors violence and can see both sides. That's how we look back on it, but I haven't read any journals with that perspective.
Still I enjoy these historical novels - hoping the next volume will be more engaging.
I like Dean Hughes' sensibilities, but the Nauvoo period is hard to pull off. You want a protagonist with some sense of context and proportion, but the people at the time were very polarized and black-and-white in their thinking. They DIDN'T understand what was going on their their neighbors. So Hughes creates a character Will with more modern sensibilities, which sounds good to our ears - he loves his wife and hates the thought of polygamy; he worries about antagonizing neighbors by gathering and block voting; he abhors violence and can see both sides. That's how we look back on it, but I haven't read any journals with that perspective.
Still I enjoy these historical novels - hoping the next volume will be more engaging.
August 18, 2013
Another solid historical novel from Dean Hughes. I enjoyed the old Nauvoo storyline better than the modern day story, and from the amount of time the author spent with the old Nauvoo story, I think he did too. Having read many novels of this genre, I am afraid the third installment in this series might be a bit predictable.
April 13, 2016
I just started reading this and so far, it's better than the first in the series, though only slightly. The story of Will and Liz is fun to follow, so far. It's set in the 1840s
The other story going on at the same time is modern day and I don't find it as interesting. Maybe by the end of the book I'll see the relevance of the two volumes.
The other story going on at the same time is modern day and I don't find it as interesting. Maybe by the end of the book I'll see the relevance of the two volumes.
June 30, 2013
Clearly one of his best.
September 26, 2016
I really enjoyed reading about Nauvoo in those early days while I am living in Nauvoo. I could picture every street mentioned. The author really helped me FEEL the events of those days.
March 14, 2015
It was neat to learn more of the history and happenings of Nauvoo in 1842-44, but much of the history covered in this book is hard and sad. It is as the title eludes to a time of clouds of sunshine and a time to abide with the Lord (see LDS Hymn #166)! We will be safe with Him through the trials, even when we can't see an end in sight. Again, I enjoyed the parallel stories of faith and trust in the Lord, sacrifice and the blessings that come.
Here were a few quotes that I liked from the book:
"Will did want a house and a farm. But more than that, he wanted to live with people who followed Jesus Christ. He told himself every day not to listen to rumors, not to worry what John Bennett and a few others had to say, but to keep his eyes on the reason he had brought Liz to live in Zion (p. 8)."
"I know you kids are religious. I just want you to know that I am too. I'll spend these next two days thinking and talking with smart people, but I'll also be praying--the same as you. We'll find the right answer, and I promise I'll do everything I can to save this little boy's life (p. 26)."
"'I'll tell you what I've learned about these sisters in our mission--because I sit and talk to 'em all day this time of year when not many come 'round for our tours. Ever' single one of 'em has had her heartaches. And when they hear about your little guy, they want to do something. That's the sisterhood of the Church, Abby (p. 66).'"
"'But ships do sink. It's not like Mormons are protected from bad things that happen (p. 72).'"
"'Grandpa Lewis did learn to trust in God--but that doesn't mean he never had to face any more hardships (p. 73).'"
"'You're a mother in Zion, and you've chosen to do the things that will bring you exaltation in the celestial kingdom. That's the work of this life--serving in every way we can (p. 99)."
"'We do what the Lord tells us to do, and we don't always know the reasons why (p. 106).'"
"'It's not Joseph who called you, Will. It's the Lord. How can we turn Him down? You know what He's done for us. We both came close to death, getting here, and each of us begged the Lord for mercy. Now He's given us a little test--hardly any sacrifice at all--and we simply cannot say no (p. 110).'"
"Jeff had told Abby about Emma sewing the manuscripts of Joseph's translation of the Bible into her skirts. What Abby also knew was that Joseph had been in the Liberty Jail at the time. Emma had surely prayed that he would be released, but it hadn't happened, and she had trudged across the ice with her children, not knowing what would come of her prayers. She had simply done what she had to do. There was a painting of all of this. Abby had seen it in a book that Jeff had shown her. In the picture, Emma was about to step onto the riverbank, and according to the inscription on the monument, that would have been where Abby was now standing. She tried to picture it: this woman of faith accepting her lot in life, continuing on for the sake of her children, not knowing whether she would ever see her husband again. Abby didn't know whether she resented Emma for her tenacity or loved her. She had heard way too much about the noble pioneers being better than modern women. But what she was picturing in front of her, she realized, was what she had walked all day down here to experience. She wanted to feel the cold, and think about the ice, and she wanted to feel, as she had the first time she had stood here, that a strong woman didn't have to mope around and pity herself. She didn't have to lie down and give up. She could accept the Lord's will and move forward (p. 115)."
"'We don't know God's will, but it would help so much if we could find out (p. 120).'"
"'Father in Heaven, I need to know--and Abby needs to know--Thy will toward our little William. If it's time for us to give him up, we'll do it, but we would rather keep him here with us. Just tell me what to want (p. 121).'"
"'We women can't teach the gospel unless we know it, and if we lag behind and let the men do all the thinking in this life, we'll miss our chance to be all we're capable of being. Some may tell you that you're not wise or bright enough to understand the grand truths, but it isn't so. This Church--and this nation--will prosper as men and women think and work together. And it's we young women who will have to see that change through to the end. Our mothers were too content to sit by the fire and do needlework (p. 135).'"
"'You'll see a temple there, still being built, and you'll meet people doing their best to look out for one another. But the Saints are not perfect. They're like me. I preach of Jesus and then toss a man in the mud. But I'll tell you what I know. We're trying to build a society like none other on earth--a people who follow Jesus Christ and love and respect one another (p. 154).'"
"'Don't worry, Brother Will. The Lord is in this, whether you see it or not....I need you and your oxen. That's why I sent for you....We need to increase our effort on the temple before the season ends this fall. We haven't pushed the work far enough ahead this year.'
'The problem is, I'm still farming and still plowing for people. I could maybe help out a little, but I--"
'Don't tell me. Tell the Lord. He needs you, Will. And He needs those oxen to haul stones from the quarry up to the temple site....it's mostly a matter of first things first. It's not easy for any of us, but it's what we have to do (p. 219).'"
"'There are more important things in life than big houses and fancy furnishings.....Jesus told the rich young man to give up everything and follow Him. If we call ourselves followers of Christ, we have to learn to put first things first (p. 223).'"
"'People don't have to know everything, or understand everything. And they don't need to speculate as much as I do. They need to hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost and recognize that's what they're hearing. That's what counts (p. 247).'"
"'I have everything I need, Ab. You and Will. Good friends. Good ward. But I think I've told myself all my life, I have to be somebody. I have to leave my mark on the world. Maybe I'm just growing up, but I don't think much about that lately. We had a chance to do something for Sister Doherty, and in a way, we saved her life. If I hadn't been involved, Malcolm still would have gotten it done. But I got to be there. And Linda, at work, she needed a guy to solve a little problem for her, and a lot of people could have done it--but I got the chance. That is sort of making your mark on the world. You know what I mean?'
'It's being a nice person.'
'Yeah, I guess. But I never knew that was what I wanted to do when I grew up. When people tell you to dream big, they never mention 'becoming a nice guy' as a particularly lofty achievement.'
'They should. It's what I want to teach William.'
'Yeah. Me too, actually. It's funny how you say that, because I've thought a lot about that lately. I don't want to be one of those dads who pushes his kids to feel like they have to win everything. I don't want them to feel like life's a contest and they have to compare themselves to everyone else all the time (p. 357).'"
"'We'll be all right, Will. We have Daniel. We have each other.' She didn't say it, but she knew somehow God was with them. All the pain and disappointment had made better people of them. There were blessings with the pain. But she couldn't get that many words out, couldn't even remember what she was thankful for; she just knew that they couldn't fall apart, that they had to accept one more hardship and more ahead once again (p. 370)."
"So many times in Will's life he had wished that he could receive clearer promptings, greater manifestations of truth, but at this moment [Brigham Young calling for a vote of everyone on his proposal for the Twelve to lead the Church] he was moved as never before, his chest filled with the vibrations of affirmation (p. 383)."
"Jeff thought of cycles. His own little William was one more life beginning, one more link in the chain. He had always known about generations, about genetic traits being passed along--even mannerisms and attitudes--but now he saw circle after circle, and he finally thought he was glimpsing the understanding that Joseph Smith had gained here. Joseph saw heaven, saw the connectedness of families, received the doctrines and the ordinances that could tie everything together. Christianity had lost this understanding, but Joseph Smith had heard the voice of God in Nauvoo, and he'd begun the process of sealing the generations one to another. Jeff loved the temple that Joseph had envisioned on the crest of the bluffs, and he understood why Joseph had worked so hard to see it finished--and why the saints had kept building it even when they knew they would have to leave. This was holy land (p. 393)."
"'A daddy eagle picks a spot, builds a nest, and then he goes out and gathers up fish--and roadkill--and he brings meat back and stuffs it in the mouths of his babies. That's probably what I ought to be doing.'
....'Last winter, when we'd drive along the river, we'd see all those eagles out soaring, hunting for something to snatch up and take home. But I always noticed, they would ride the wind, lean this way and that way, almost like they were skiing on the air. I'd always get the impression that it may be the eagle's job--you know, to fish and to 'feed the family'--but that he was also enjoying every minute of it....I can't take all the soaring out of you....You're a gifted man, Jeff. It's not right to ignore that and never find out what you could do with your life.'
For now, though, he was happy he had a nest, and happy that Abby understood his need for sky (p. 400)."
"Brigham wasn't going to allow the Saints to look backward. He was going to march the membership forward and chastise the stragglers along the way. Joseph had brought spiritual enlightenment to the world; Brigham was going to turn Joseph's doctrines into realities (p. 402)."
"'It's not good to separate ourselves so completely. Zion is a fine idea, but we live in this country, and we need to trade with the people, do business, even compare beliefs and find out we're not so different as they think we are (p. 405).'"
"'We can't ask so much of God as we've asked, and then say we'll choose what doctrines we'll live and which ones we won't. I keep thinking of you telling God no--that you would never sacrifice your son--but that means giving up on being like Abraham. Is that what you want?'
'Maybe God can ask too much, Liz. Maybe I just know what I can do and can't do--and I have to hope that a test like that will never come my way. Maybe some of us could never be like Abraham, however much we tried.'
....'You accepted when you had to. And then we got our son back. That's how it works with the Lord sometimes, don't you think?'
'Aye. But some things, I hope the Lord will never ask.'
'Will, I feel the same way. But let's not vow to defy God. We've come too far for that (p. 409).'"
Here were a few quotes that I liked from the book:
"Will did want a house and a farm. But more than that, he wanted to live with people who followed Jesus Christ. He told himself every day not to listen to rumors, not to worry what John Bennett and a few others had to say, but to keep his eyes on the reason he had brought Liz to live in Zion (p. 8)."
"I know you kids are religious. I just want you to know that I am too. I'll spend these next two days thinking and talking with smart people, but I'll also be praying--the same as you. We'll find the right answer, and I promise I'll do everything I can to save this little boy's life (p. 26)."
"'I'll tell you what I've learned about these sisters in our mission--because I sit and talk to 'em all day this time of year when not many come 'round for our tours. Ever' single one of 'em has had her heartaches. And when they hear about your little guy, they want to do something. That's the sisterhood of the Church, Abby (p. 66).'"
"'But ships do sink. It's not like Mormons are protected from bad things that happen (p. 72).'"
"'Grandpa Lewis did learn to trust in God--but that doesn't mean he never had to face any more hardships (p. 73).'"
"'You're a mother in Zion, and you've chosen to do the things that will bring you exaltation in the celestial kingdom. That's the work of this life--serving in every way we can (p. 99)."
"'We do what the Lord tells us to do, and we don't always know the reasons why (p. 106).'"
"'It's not Joseph who called you, Will. It's the Lord. How can we turn Him down? You know what He's done for us. We both came close to death, getting here, and each of us begged the Lord for mercy. Now He's given us a little test--hardly any sacrifice at all--and we simply cannot say no (p. 110).'"
"Jeff had told Abby about Emma sewing the manuscripts of Joseph's translation of the Bible into her skirts. What Abby also knew was that Joseph had been in the Liberty Jail at the time. Emma had surely prayed that he would be released, but it hadn't happened, and she had trudged across the ice with her children, not knowing what would come of her prayers. She had simply done what she had to do. There was a painting of all of this. Abby had seen it in a book that Jeff had shown her. In the picture, Emma was about to step onto the riverbank, and according to the inscription on the monument, that would have been where Abby was now standing. She tried to picture it: this woman of faith accepting her lot in life, continuing on for the sake of her children, not knowing whether she would ever see her husband again. Abby didn't know whether she resented Emma for her tenacity or loved her. She had heard way too much about the noble pioneers being better than modern women. But what she was picturing in front of her, she realized, was what she had walked all day down here to experience. She wanted to feel the cold, and think about the ice, and she wanted to feel, as she had the first time she had stood here, that a strong woman didn't have to mope around and pity herself. She didn't have to lie down and give up. She could accept the Lord's will and move forward (p. 115)."
"'We don't know God's will, but it would help so much if we could find out (p. 120).'"
"'Father in Heaven, I need to know--and Abby needs to know--Thy will toward our little William. If it's time for us to give him up, we'll do it, but we would rather keep him here with us. Just tell me what to want (p. 121).'"
"'We women can't teach the gospel unless we know it, and if we lag behind and let the men do all the thinking in this life, we'll miss our chance to be all we're capable of being. Some may tell you that you're not wise or bright enough to understand the grand truths, but it isn't so. This Church--and this nation--will prosper as men and women think and work together. And it's we young women who will have to see that change through to the end. Our mothers were too content to sit by the fire and do needlework (p. 135).'"
"'You'll see a temple there, still being built, and you'll meet people doing their best to look out for one another. But the Saints are not perfect. They're like me. I preach of Jesus and then toss a man in the mud. But I'll tell you what I know. We're trying to build a society like none other on earth--a people who follow Jesus Christ and love and respect one another (p. 154).'"
"'Don't worry, Brother Will. The Lord is in this, whether you see it or not....I need you and your oxen. That's why I sent for you....We need to increase our effort on the temple before the season ends this fall. We haven't pushed the work far enough ahead this year.'
'The problem is, I'm still farming and still plowing for people. I could maybe help out a little, but I--"
'Don't tell me. Tell the Lord. He needs you, Will. And He needs those oxen to haul stones from the quarry up to the temple site....it's mostly a matter of first things first. It's not easy for any of us, but it's what we have to do (p. 219).'"
"'There are more important things in life than big houses and fancy furnishings.....Jesus told the rich young man to give up everything and follow Him. If we call ourselves followers of Christ, we have to learn to put first things first (p. 223).'"
"'People don't have to know everything, or understand everything. And they don't need to speculate as much as I do. They need to hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost and recognize that's what they're hearing. That's what counts (p. 247).'"
"'I have everything I need, Ab. You and Will. Good friends. Good ward. But I think I've told myself all my life, I have to be somebody. I have to leave my mark on the world. Maybe I'm just growing up, but I don't think much about that lately. We had a chance to do something for Sister Doherty, and in a way, we saved her life. If I hadn't been involved, Malcolm still would have gotten it done. But I got to be there. And Linda, at work, she needed a guy to solve a little problem for her, and a lot of people could have done it--but I got the chance. That is sort of making your mark on the world. You know what I mean?'
'It's being a nice person.'
'Yeah, I guess. But I never knew that was what I wanted to do when I grew up. When people tell you to dream big, they never mention 'becoming a nice guy' as a particularly lofty achievement.'
'They should. It's what I want to teach William.'
'Yeah. Me too, actually. It's funny how you say that, because I've thought a lot about that lately. I don't want to be one of those dads who pushes his kids to feel like they have to win everything. I don't want them to feel like life's a contest and they have to compare themselves to everyone else all the time (p. 357).'"
"'We'll be all right, Will. We have Daniel. We have each other.' She didn't say it, but she knew somehow God was with them. All the pain and disappointment had made better people of them. There were blessings with the pain. But she couldn't get that many words out, couldn't even remember what she was thankful for; she just knew that they couldn't fall apart, that they had to accept one more hardship and more ahead once again (p. 370)."
"So many times in Will's life he had wished that he could receive clearer promptings, greater manifestations of truth, but at this moment [Brigham Young calling for a vote of everyone on his proposal for the Twelve to lead the Church] he was moved as never before, his chest filled with the vibrations of affirmation (p. 383)."
"Jeff thought of cycles. His own little William was one more life beginning, one more link in the chain. He had always known about generations, about genetic traits being passed along--even mannerisms and attitudes--but now he saw circle after circle, and he finally thought he was glimpsing the understanding that Joseph Smith had gained here. Joseph saw heaven, saw the connectedness of families, received the doctrines and the ordinances that could tie everything together. Christianity had lost this understanding, but Joseph Smith had heard the voice of God in Nauvoo, and he'd begun the process of sealing the generations one to another. Jeff loved the temple that Joseph had envisioned on the crest of the bluffs, and he understood why Joseph had worked so hard to see it finished--and why the saints had kept building it even when they knew they would have to leave. This was holy land (p. 393)."
"'A daddy eagle picks a spot, builds a nest, and then he goes out and gathers up fish--and roadkill--and he brings meat back and stuffs it in the mouths of his babies. That's probably what I ought to be doing.'
....'Last winter, when we'd drive along the river, we'd see all those eagles out soaring, hunting for something to snatch up and take home. But I always noticed, they would ride the wind, lean this way and that way, almost like they were skiing on the air. I'd always get the impression that it may be the eagle's job--you know, to fish and to 'feed the family'--but that he was also enjoying every minute of it....I can't take all the soaring out of you....You're a gifted man, Jeff. It's not right to ignore that and never find out what you could do with your life.'
For now, though, he was happy he had a nest, and happy that Abby understood his need for sky (p. 400)."
"Brigham wasn't going to allow the Saints to look backward. He was going to march the membership forward and chastise the stragglers along the way. Joseph had brought spiritual enlightenment to the world; Brigham was going to turn Joseph's doctrines into realities (p. 402)."
"'It's not good to separate ourselves so completely. Zion is a fine idea, but we live in this country, and we need to trade with the people, do business, even compare beliefs and find out we're not so different as they think we are (p. 405).'"
"'We can't ask so much of God as we've asked, and then say we'll choose what doctrines we'll live and which ones we won't. I keep thinking of you telling God no--that you would never sacrifice your son--but that means giving up on being like Abraham. Is that what you want?'
'Maybe God can ask too much, Liz. Maybe I just know what I can do and can't do--and I have to hope that a test like that will never come my way. Maybe some of us could never be like Abraham, however much we tried.'
....'You accepted when you had to. And then we got our son back. That's how it works with the Lord sometimes, don't you think?'
'Aye. But some things, I hope the Lord will never ask.'
'Will, I feel the same way. But let's not vow to defy God. We've come too far for that (p. 409).'"
January 13, 2018
This is the second book in the series that I am listening to as an audiobook. (Kirby Heyborne is an excellent audiobook reader by the way). I really enjoy stories set around real events of church history and this series is great too. I enjoyed the characters both the modern and historical and the historical accuracy of events, however I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as Dean Hughes Children of the Promise or Hearts of the Children.
May 12, 2020
I'm still really enjoying this series, though I think maybe my teens wouldn't be as captivated by this one since the romance and adventure have gone down a notch since the characters got married and arrived in America already, haha. But the ups and downs that both the past and present-day couples are going through are still keeping me very interested. I enjoy getting a feel for church history sites and events too.
June 18, 2018
I liked the day to day life of someone living in Nauvoo, I have read many heroic events of the period and great stories but I appreciated the story of just a regular family and their questions and confusion during this time. I liked how Will and Liz depended on their testimony to get them through troubling times.
Abby and Jeff are learning the same things, looking forward to the next book.
Abby and Jeff are learning the same things, looking forward to the next book.
May 8, 2018
Dean Hughes - not my favorite author. I guess I'm hooked enough to finish, but barely. This book is the story of the family in Nauvoo. Fun to hear about life there- from a first hand experience. Too much fluff....
October 16, 2018
This is a good book. I enjoyed the storyline. If I were to read it again I would skip through and read the 1800's part then go back and read the current day. It was less enjoyable for me to have it flipping back and forth.
May 9, 2017
I enjoyed reading this second book in the series and look forward to starting the third, and final volume.
August 16, 2017
7.2017 Edith Browns book. kearned a lot abt Nauvoo.
March 23, 2018
I definitely have a greater understanding of the pioneers and their testimony being tried continually.
July 8, 2018
Loved listening to the audio book. Outstanding performance.
July 29, 2018
Loved learning more of the history of Nauvoo and I enjoyed the alternating story lines.
August 29, 2019
3.5 stars- a little slow, but a good look at what life might have actually been like in Nauvoo.
September 19, 2019
I had family that owned land in Illinois before being driven from their homes. One ancestor was a body guard to Joseph Smith. This story kept me very interest to see another perspective.
March 22, 2020
Online school is helping me to go through audio-books.
This series is amazing. If you like church history, try reading this series by Dean Hughes.
This series is amazing. If you like church history, try reading this series by Dean Hughes.
March 30, 2020
I enjoyed the two stories running parallel. That is a different way to do it but it helps me feel that we are all humans going through life and we all have similar experiences to go through.
September 29, 2021
I appreciated the correlations in this volume and the lovely ending. This is his 100th published book!
May 2, 2022
As said on 1st, this book was given to me by a friend who enjoyed it. It was good but nothing to write home about. Enjoying some of the church history aspects of it.
April 12, 2024
This book continued the storylines in the first book well. I liked this book better than the first one and found it more compelling. I can’t wait to finish the series.
May 31, 2024
That was kinda an emotional rollercoaster
November 9, 2024
Really come to love this series and these characters.
December 9, 2024
Great series!
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