Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration

by Robert A. Rees, Philip Barlow (Foreword By)

In Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration, Robert A. Rees embarks on an imaginative and profound exploration of Latter-day Saint theology and culture. Through essays, poems, and midrashic interpretations, Rees sheds new light on foundational doctrines, the roles of prophetic imagination, and the divine narratives within the Restoration. He reexamines figures like Joseph Smith and Heavenly Mother, urging readers to embrace a creative and expansive faith perspective that transcends mere tradition.

This captivating work invites readers into a visionary discourse that emphasizes the power of imagination as a spiritual gift. With poetic interludes and scholarly insight, this volume is a transformative invitation to both imagine and reimagine faith, theology, and cultural belonging.

209 pages, Paperback

Published August 19, 2025

About the author

Robert A. Rees is an educator, scholar and poet.
He was a bishop of the Los Angeles 1st Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Reviews

[Logan Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of essays disappointed me – despite knowing that the essays were written by a mind and spirit which is very different than my own and one which sees the world differently, I still left uncomfortable. The progressive and liberal (in the contemporary meaning of the words) imaginations and reimaginations of church structure, priority, and even doctrine were not the source of the discomfort. Indeed, those ideas and dreams were thought-provoking – I paused often to reflect and reconsider my assumptions and preferences in those spaces. Nor was it the author’s poetry – while I certainly could not judge its place among the songs, psalms, and poems of the Latter-day Saints, collectively they were the superior expression of the author’s dreams and visions.

No, my disappointment came from two choices (or priorities) the author made. First, Chapter 5 was misplaced. Second, the Temple is absent from the imaginings and reimagining’s of the Restoration. The misplacement of Chapter 5 is a minor gripe. While I disagree with the presentation of all the issues presented and the substance of many, that is not a reason to dock it. Rather, it should have been the penultimate chapter. Indeed, the final chapter offers a paraphrase of the many of the critiques in Chapter 5. I would recommend any reader skip chapter until the you reach the last chapter and then read it. This, of course, will mess up part of the flow of the book but I think it will allow readers to transition better between a more fun and bright speculation to the heavy criticism offered later.

The second issue makes this work flawed (I originally believed the error to be fundamental – I know think the error is more of a misplaced guidepost by the author). I counted (and then checked through a search function) 20 uses of the word temple in the 200 page collection (there are four additional times – two in the sources at the end of the essays and two in the Bibliography). The majority of the usage is tied to naming a physical location (i.e. when referring to the Kirtland or Nauvoo temples). The denial of temple blessings due to the Priesthood Racial restriction and an illusion to how the temple could transform LGBTQ+ Saints. The author also “quotes” President Heber J. Grant that, during the depression, he would be willing to close the temples if necessary to feed the hungry (I think the author is being loose with his quotation marks here, especially when the source cited does not have a source to back up this claim and does not use quotation marks for this quote).

Regardless, the author can imagine a lot of “solutions” to the Church’s challenges and reimagine much doctrine and theology, but does not include the project of the Temple among them. This is a grave mistake – while Jesus Christ is always the answer (something I believe is reflected throughout the essays), Jesus’s solution to these last days, or these modern and latter-day problems are the ordinances and covenants of the temple. The temple can heal the wounds of the Racial priesthood ban; the temple can make all of God’s children (including members) equal; the temple offers the most robust evidence for a Heavenly Mother; the temple provides the power and structure to behold the face of our Heavenly Father and Savior; the temple creates godly men and women. If we as Latter-day Saints should imagine and reimagine the Restoration, let our wanderings, dreams, and thoughts settle themselves in the temple. My note for every chapter was that the temple was the answer (by which I mean Jesus Christ is the answer by the means, structures, and powers He has set forth in the temples) and the author seemed uninterested it.

There could be some reasons for this. First, the temple is unavailable to certain members for breaking the law of chastity (both heterosexual and homosexual). Indeed, the temple is unavailable to the vast majority of the world due to the differing standards, beliefs, and desires between temple admittance and temple denial. So, while this could be a reason, I think it is reasonable – we should be pointing people to enter the temple, not point out that they can’t, even if “we” think they should. Second, perhaps the temple is too sacred to speak about – I find this also unreasonable. While there are certain aspects of the temple we CANNOT speak of, there are many other sections of the temple which we should be cautious about speaking of, temple doctrine, promises, and structures are much more open than general Latter-day Saint culture allows.

Third, perhaps the author never considered the temple to be something imagined or something which could be reimagined. I don’t think this is the case. The most moving temple mention comes in Essay 9 “Imaging a Holier Holy Week.” There the author relates attending a Easter Sunday service in San Francisco – the author movingly describes the scenery as an important prelude to his worship that day. He then comments that he heard three raps on the bronze doors of the Cathedral – instantly invoking a familiar three raps at the temple. I will not share the rest of the moving experience (I would full-heartedly endorse purchasing the book for this essay and this section) but I can imagine how those three raps and its accompanying experience (see pages 138-39) relate to what is happening at the temple with its three raps. Perhaps my disappointment that the author did not really continue this theme would have been abated if more temple connections and visions were included, but alas, this was the only one I could find.

Whatever the reason, the absence of temples from these essays is notable. It leaves me wanting something more. While this book certainly inspired me to imagine and reimagine the temple, its liturgy, and its essential place more, the book did so by painful absence.

Overall, I can’t shake my disappointment but must readily acknowledge that the essays, poetry, and other interludes moved me, caused me to ponder deeply, and inspired me to better causes. Latter-day Saints should imagine and reimagine the world through the Restoration; Latter-day Saints should imagine and reimagine the Church through the Restoration; Latter-day Saints should imagine and reimagine themselves through the Restoration. Despite my disappointment, I recommend this book to all Latter-day Saints – in a world devoid of visionaries, we could use a few more in the Lord’s church.

[Max Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration
When I first received this book and read about the author and realized it was a book of assays my thought was it’s going to be interesting to read a UCLA professor thoughts. What I really thought was that it was going to be interesting to read a progressive write about gospel insights. I consider myself a very conservative TBM (True Blue Member of the Church), so I always find it interesting to see what the other side has to say. When I looked at the essay titles I knew that I was going to be for a treat.

I will say that I had one insight that made reading the book worthwhile. It was in his 2 essay entitled “Imagining the Restoration: Joseph Smith and the Face of Christ”. Dr. Rees asked us to imagine what it was like to gaze upon the Father and the Son and then he talked about the visions Joseph shared with Sidney Rigdon (D&C 76) and Oliver Cowdry (D&C 110). It hit me powerfully how different the First Vision was. Joseph describes the Father and Son standing above him in the air if the forest glade that he went to. They were there with him in the forest. In D&C 76 they describe seeing the glory of God and the angels surrounding them. It’s doesn’t sound at all like the First Vision. In D&C 110

2 We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.

That sounds like they’re seeing a vision not that the Savior has come to the Temple in person. I don’t know what to make of this, but it has me imagining that there is something that is important about the differences. That kind of insight makes reading a whole book worthwhile.

If you’re at all familiar with the liberal (The word is used in a pejorative. That’s the way it is nowadays. The author goes into some explanation about how liberal used to be someone who was open minded, tolerant and willing to discuss different ideas in a civil manner. To bad that’s not what it means today.) side of The Church of Jesus Christ you know what this book will include. Mother of God, more inclusion of women, the environment, LGBTQ+ etc. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t mind liberal ideas. I often think that they have some good points. Eugene England is my favorite essayist in the Church. I liked all of Hugh Nibley’s work but out of his collected works my favorite is “Approaching Zion” and Bro. Nibley covered most of these topics in that book. In fact Prof. Rees often quotes Prof. Nibley. I also love the way that Terryl Givins writes

Prof Rees will not become one of my favorite authors. His ideas are worth considering though.

I felt that the forward and the first essay “The Imagination and Christ” worked hard to show how important imagination is. I’m not sure why they need to emphasize this. When I read books like this and the author is saying we can do better and then describes what could happen I always think of it as being a vision of what my be. That’s just me though. Perhaps the author is striving to put having a vision on different more secular footing. I don’t know but it felt forced and I enjoyed those chapters the least.

In essay 8 “All in the Family: Opening Our Hearts, Homes, and Chapels to our LGBTQ Members.” The author says that we as a Church are driving away members who are LGBTQ and that is a tragedy. I disagree with the stance he seems to be taking by trying show that this is natural and should be accepted. He quotes some different studies showing that it’s totally natural. Well I could show some studies that show that monogamy is not natural. Men naturally have an apatite for more than one partner. Should we as a Church accept that, even if it can be shown by science to be right. No I don’t think that I’ve ever heard that even mentioned as possible. Another thing that annoyed me is that the author doesn’t even mention the many gay people that are making the Church work in their lives. I’ve read their articles and these are articles that just pop up I haven’t gone looking for them. The author doesn’t even mention them and I can’t imaging that the author doesn’t know about them. They’re fascinating. So I know it is possible to lead rich lives the the Gospel no matter our sexual orientation.

Overall the book is not bad. The questions that he brings up are important and worth thinking about. Wether you agree with the author and his stances these are questions that need to be considered. While most of them are not that important to myself, they are to some of the members of our Church family, and it’s good to know where they’re coming from.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration, by Robert A. Rees, offers a moving and thoughtful vision of what a progressive-yet-faithful Latter-day Saint discipleship can look like. Rees—a poet, scholar, and former editor of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought—draws on a lifetime of devotion and intellectual engagement to explore themes such as Heavenly Mother, the recovery of Christ-centered worship during Holy Week, environmental stewardship, and the creation of midrashic literature about women in scripture and Church history. His prose is interwoven with poetry and literary reflection, making the book as much an artistic meditation as a theological one. Collectively, it serves as a manifesto for a future Church that is inclusive, Christocentric, and animated by ongoing revelation.
Rees is hardly a newcomer to these conversations. Over decades, he has established himself as a gentle but persistent advocate for a more expansive and compassionate Mormonism—one that is willing to imagine new possibilities while remaining rooted in core doctrines. In this sense, Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration is both a culmination of his thought and an invitation to see the Restoration itself as a living, ongoing process rather than a closed historical event.
The range of topics covered is striking. His treatment of Heavenly Mother exemplifies the way he combines reverence with courage: he does not attempt to pin down doctrine prematurely, but he insists that our theology is incomplete without a more robust recognition of the divine feminine. Rather than providing a more robust theology of Hevenly Mother himself, he points to work that has already been done by members of the Church and encourages more. His plea for greater emphasis on Holy Week similarly pushes Latter-day Saints toward a deeper Christocentrism, reminding readers that the Restoration was never meant to eclipse the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus but to draw us closer to Him. The chapter on environmental stewardship situates Latter-day Saints within global Christian “creation care” movements, urging members to see earth-care as an essential dimension of discipleship rather than a peripheral concern.
Perhaps most compelling is his call for a Mormon midrashic tradition, modeled after Jewish practices of reimagining scripture through creative narrative. Rees not only outlines the potential of this approach but provides two powerful examples: a reworking of the prodigal son parable through the eyes of a mother and two daughters, and a lyrical expansion of Abish’s story in the Book of Mormon. These midrashim do more than fill narrative gaps; they expand our imagining of women’s voices in sacred texts in ways that honor both imagination and faith.
While I tend to be cautious toward projects aimed at “reforming” the Church, I found myself resonating with many of Rees’s proposals for development and renewal. That reaction likely reflects my own position as a moderately liberal Latter-day Saint in the United States as much as it does the persuasiveness of the book itself. Still, I suspect its reception will be shaped by the polarization within today’s Church: conservative readers will likely dismiss it as yet another progressive call for change, while liberal readers will embrace it eagerly. Yet even for those who disagree, the book remains valuable as a window into the hopes, commitments, and theological imagination of progressive Latter-day Saints.
In the end, Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration is less a blueprint than a vision—a hopeful sketch of what the Church could become if it drew more deeply on its own resources of revelation, inclusivity, and imagination. Rees empowers ordinary members to see themselves as participants in an unfinished Restoration, capable of contributing creative gifts that help the Church realize its divine potential. Whether one agrees with his conclusions or not, the book models the kind of hopeful, generous imagination that the Restoration has invited.

[Andrew Holdaway · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was hit-or-miss for me—some chapters were solid, others dragged, and a few felt like filler. It’s essentially a survey of big questions facing modern Latter-day Saints, but because it covers so much ground, no individual topic gets explored in much depth. That said, its real value (for me) was as a springboard for reflection rather than a source of new insight.

Rees addresses a wide range of themes: Mary, Heavenly Mother, women’s roles in the Church, climate change as a spiritual duty, LGBTQ+ inclusion, Church structure and reform, and even introduces the concept of a female Mormon midrash. The tone is hopeful, aiming for compassion and unity—even while advocating for change, which was a bit tedious for me.

Some ideas are intriguing but fall short in execution. For instance, I appreciated the idea of a female Mormon midrash. Still, the examples he made didn’t land for me. They felt like Deseret Book scripture fan fiction rather than something resembling Jewish midrash. That said, the book did introduce me to Jewish feminist midrash, which seems like something that is worth exploring.

Similarly, while the sections discussing Heavenly Mother acknowledge her importance, they do not offer much theology or development. For many readers, that restraint might be intentional or even refreshing—but for me, it felt like a missed opportunity. Also, one strenuous interpretation I remember is that when Jesus, referencing Isaiah, compares God to a hen who would gather chicks under his wings, because of the heavenly mother’s influence, which kind of ignores the historical hen in the analogy is what Latter-day Saints would consider Heavenly Father or Jesus and ancient deities foten exhibit male and female traits due to how powerful they are, including Jehovah. When applied broadly, this type of analysis minimizes feminine or just nurturing traits of God by randomly assuming anything feminine about the deity is about Heavenly Mother.

On the more successful side, I found the chapter on climate change compelling. It ties ecological stewardship to Zion-building and caring for others, grounding the argument in scripture.

His section on how differently people perceive the church relied on moral development theory, which, to me, is perhaps a prioritization of Western values. I would have preferred drawing on moral pillars theory, like Jonathan Haidt’s foundations theory. Still, I thought overall, Rees was very good at addressing perceptions about how different members perceive the church based on their moral logic and how we can be patient with each other. He also does a great job emphasizing the importance of compassion and empathy because past trauma can significantly impact people’s behavior.

The general thesis is that we need to imagine more to help bring about the restoration, and so he imagines various alternative approaches that could be taken in the church. Overall, while each section leaves something to be desired for me, but I could see this book being good for the average member of the church, as it gently touches on topics that are often seen as “too liberal” but affect us all.

[Brandon Burrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration is a powerful and heartfelt collection of essays by Robert A. Rees. Many of the essays explore morally and politically sensitive topics, and while not every chapter deals with controversy, a good number do. Rees doesn’t shy away from stating his views, which are shaped by years of study and his experience as a professor of religion.

I had a mixed reaction to some of the content, but overall I really appreciated the experience. While I differ from Rees politically in many ways, I found myself agreeing with him almost entirely when it comes to personal morality and how we ought to live. One thing I particularly valued was his explanation of classical liberalism—the idea of being open-hearted, open-minded, quick to give of our substance, generous, and gracious—and how that definition aligns with gospel teachings. He reinforces this with quotes from Joseph Smith and Christ, as well as many other modern day LDS voices, and I found it persuasive. As disciples of Christ, I think we do need to be more liberal in how we live our religion.

Too often, we let our political leanings dictate our religious views—but the scriptures teach consecration and compassion, not partisanship. This, I believe, is a core argument being made in the book. Reading these essays expanded my thinking and moved my heart. Rees writes with conviction and humility, encouraging readers to reexamine their assumptions and use imagination as a tool to become more loving, more giving, and more Zion-like—both individually and collectively as a Church.

There were moments where I didn’t quite agree—especially when Rees leaned on studies or articles from left-leaning and secular sources to back up his arguments. I also noticed a perhaps unintended, one-sided critique of conservative politics, without equivalent acknowledgment of issues on the liberal side. I think both sides deserve scrutiny, and recognizing that helps bridge divides. But I wasn’t offended—I truly sympathized with his perspective and appreciated the honesty behind his words.

One of my favorite things about the book was the interlude chapters featuring his poetry and short fiction. “The Parable of the Prodigal Daughter” and the poem about Emma Smith and the First Vision stood out as especially touching and beautiful.

I genuinely cherished my time with this book. It left me feeling enlightened, softened, and spiritually uplifted. Robert Rees’s writing invited me to reimagine the Restoration—and I’m grateful for it.

[Troy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Applying Imagination to Enhance the Restoration

Robert A. Rees’s “Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration” is a compelling and artfully crafted exploration of how imagination can serve as a transformative force in the lives of those engaged in the ongoing work of the Restoration. Phillip Barlow’s excellent foreword provides valuable and insightful information about the author’s challenging life experiences and his educational background, encouraging the reader to approach the book with an open mind and an active imagination.
The first chapter examines the imaginative power in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and describes Him as possessing “the most vibrant, fertile, and expansive imagination of anyone in history.” Another enlightening chapter explores how seeing the face of Deity and making direct eye contact with God the Father and Jesus Christ during his First Vision sparked Joseph Smith’s imagination with all “the possible glories of the Restoration.” I especially enjoyed the “Searching for Heavenly Mother” chapter where Rees explores the deep yearning many feel to connect with our Heavenly Mother – a divine being who we believe is a co-equal with God the Father and whose face was possibly the first we encountered as spiritual newborns in the premortal realm.
In Chapter Five, “Tikkun K’nessiah: Repairing the Church”, the author boldly discusses a list of six things he feels need to be repaired within the Church in order to allow for more change and less impedance to the progress of the Restoration.
Chapter Six discusses the important role Lester Bush’s Dialogue article “Mormonism’s Negro Doctrine: An Historical Overview” played in helping to change the Church’s Priesthood and Temple restriction policy.
Later chapters explore the importance of loving ourselves and others as we develop a love for God and learn to love our enemies and others we don’t know. I really liked the author’s insightful belief that we only need to live one commandment perfectly – “the commandment to love.”
The poetry and short stories contained in the Interlude sections, offered a uniquely artistic perspective on the themes covered in most of the chapters. Some of my favorites were ”Emma in Sunlight”, “Her”, “The Prodigal Daughter”, and “The Empty Tomb.”
“Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration” is a bold and insightful book meant to inspire church members and leaders to think more deeply about what the Restoration is, what it means to them and how they can actively, energetically and imaginatively seek a more abundant future as it unfolds.

[Tom Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints offers a rich and complex theology. This marvelous book helps the individual disciple or seeker alike to view the Church’s teachings and beliefs and practices through new imaginative lenses. Robert A. Rees has a distinguished scholarly foundation and a heritage of lived service which uniquely prepared him for creating this book. Rees’s poetic style, along with his frequent quotations of poets and theologians, and stories and “interludes,” enables an artistic atmosphere one feels throughout this engaging book. This book is far more “art” than “science” or “history”. The volume starts strongly with an insightful Foreword presented by Philip Barlow, and at a quick pace moves right into profound insights on the nature of Christ, and how His mortal birth and upbringing affected his role as Savior and Redeemer. I was completely carried away by Rees’s imaginative take on how the face of Christ must have been ever-present in the mind of Joseph Smith from the First Vision on. In turn, Rees offers lovely and inspiring imaginations regarding Mother in Heaven and Mary, mother of Jesus. At this point, I feel that Rees takes a speed bump too fast and loses a lot of momentum as the reader who has been wowed so far is jostled into a different paradigm. Chapter Five is the speed bump—it should have been sequenced later in the book. It serves as a “wish list”, or worse a “complaint list” of the issues facing the modern Church. His observations are spot on, but there was no transition from the beautiful to the trying. Maybe that mirrors life, but the reader won’t see it coming. Compounding the challenge of Chapter 5 is that the author doesn’t pursue imaginative solutions or alternative views, he too simply lists the issues and moves on. The good news is that the artistic and inspiring rhetoric of the first quarter of the book eventually returns, and the reader should realize greater heights and strength by the last pages of the book. The author offers creative and thoughtful approaches in the closing chapters to some of the Church’s modern day challenges. Overall, the book is a delight to ponder, and provides an appealing alternative voice in this dynamic period of the world wide Church’s history amidst chaotic societal change.

[Jacob H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a decent contribution to the liberal mormon tradition, and as such, it should at least be read by folks in leadership in the church. There is nothing trailblazing in the book, but the author has been a lifelong voice and support in the struggle to help the church be the best it can be. His words are worth considering at the least.

Regarding the structure, there is a light bibliography in the back as well as an "acknowledgements" section that lists all the essays, etc from which the author drew for this book. The text is also interspersed with poetic and creative "interludes". A couple chapters are adapted from previous publications.

Regarding the style, this book is very much a devotional work. It uses insider-coded language, or what I consider "virtue signaling", to fit many of its thoughts and inspirations within a mainstream "mormon" framework.

Regarding content, the book sometimes promotes shallow, mainstream-type answers to how to make the church better, such as "accept callings and then magnifying them" (page 66), and also negative views against outsiders or those leaving the church - "Abandoning the Church because of something broken in it is like leaving a house because the plumbing isn't working well" (page 72). At the same time, it promotes many liberal causes -- elevating heavenly mother within our discourse, moving past our racist and anti-LGBTQ past and present, being stewards of the earth, etc.

Personally, I prefer much more academic rigor, and you will not find that here. The writing sits on the verge of mysticism and "creative misinterpretation", both of which I find to be harmful misuses of the imagination. The author wishes to appropriate what might be called the "midrashic" impulse in behalf of the churhc, whereas I would prefer careful and deliberate deconstruction and nuancing of our perspectives rather than letting our imaginations play with and run roughshod over truth.

I asked for a digital copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes, but did not receive any cash or discounts or other incentives to influence my opinions stated here.

For more of my thoughts, look for my blog post that repeats this but includes more.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration
By Robert A. Rees
Reviewed by Adam Oliver Stokes
In religious discourse, imagination is often contrasted with theology. Theology, particularly systematic theology, is viewed as pointing to established and concrete truths about the nature of God. Imagination, on the other hand, is commonly treated as suspect. Using one’s imagination means creating things that are fictional rather than factual. In Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration, author Robert Rees presents a significant challenge to this view. Rather than shying away from our imagination when discussing theology, Rees argues that we should embrace our imaginations and our ability to “image” things as one of God’s greatest gifts. In doing so, we emulate the creative spirit of the Old Testament prophets who used poetry to create the image of God found in the Bible. It is our creativity as humans, Rees suggests, that aids us ultimately in discovering who God is. In reference to the current state of the church, Rees advocates for a new understanding of the reception of divine revelation. As he puts it, “Mormonism’s future requires nota passive waiting for God to reveal those things yet to be revealed, but an active, energetic, imaginative seeking and working for their unfolding” (Rees, p. 18). As a model for this new understanding, Rees turns to the controversial figure of Heavenly Mother whose current role largely stands undefined in Mormonism and is in need of imagining/re-imagining. In closing, this book provides an excellent alternative to traditional/systematic ways of approaching theology. Perhaps its most significant examples of theological imagining are seen in the various samples of modern poetry scattered throughout. The book also contains an excellent introduction by Philip Barlow, author of Mormons and the Bible.

[Ron Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration" may end up being a significant contribution to contemporary Latter-day Saint thought. It's a book that invites introspection, encourages open-mindedness.

This is not the type of book that I naturally gravitate to. I tend to be very traditional and conservative in my life and my approach to living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jame Talmage once quoted "The man who cannot listen to an argument which opposes his views either has a weak position or is a weak defender of it. No opinion that cannot stand discussion or criticism is worth holding."

The book is divided into several thematic sections, each delving into different aspects of the Restoration. Rees examines theological concepts, historical events, and contemporary issues facing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A central theme throughout the work is the idea that the Restoration is not a static event, but a dynamic and continuing process. Rees encourages a more expansive and inclusive understanding of what the Restoration entails, pushing beyond traditional interpretations to embrace a broader vision of God's ongoing work in the world.

As I read this book it time and again caused me to put it down and ponder the progressive positions Rees explores.

The book’s willingness to address sensitive topics with the faith is its strength.

I recommend this book for those interested in exploring a more progressive, nuanced, and non-traditional approach to Latter-day Saint theology and history.

[Alan Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom always used to say a book she loved was "her friend." While she was being a little silly, I've always thought there's some truth in there. Books have personalities, you know? Some are your loud, funny friends, others are mysterious and full of drama. And then there are the condescending know-it-alls you'd rather not hang out with.

But Robert Rees's Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration? This book is like that incredible mentor you've always wanted. He doesn't grab you by the collar and force you to see things his way. Instead, he pulls up a comfy chair, points to a fascinating path, and just says, "What do you think about this?" He invites you to explore, to imagine, and to discover your own truths. There's no pressure, just an open-ended invitation to learn. And in that space, I've found some truly meaningful insights. This isn't just a book; it's a wise friend and a patient guide. I appreciate a good mentor, and I really appreciate this book.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insightful collection of essays from a committed disciple scholar on the spiritual gift of imagination, especially as it pertains to Latter-day Saint Christianity. Robert Rees takes seriously the charge given by the late Church leader B.H. Roberts to express the message of the Restoration in ways that stay true to its heritage while enlarging upon it for the 21st century. Some of its contents may be uncomfortable for more orthodox Church members, but they are nonetheless important to consider, regardless of one's intellectual inclinations.

[Andrew Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational read. Before reading this book I had not considered imagination as a gospel principal. Yet we are commanded to ponder the scriptures. As we ponder can we imagine being more Christ like, more loving of others, even more of a Zion society. This book will help the reader imagine a better gospel.

I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of the book, but the opinions expressed are my own.

[Roxanne Shull · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that can move to higher imagining or twist the heart into very uncomfortable ways of thinking about the restoration. It delves into many themes we are currently living in our modern world. Some of it can be hard to digest, but it worth reading and considering. The book is thought provoking. I received an advance copy of this manuscript to read and review.