Restoration: God's Call to the 21st-Century World

by Patrick Q. Mason

The Restoration began in the spring of 1820, when Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees in upstate New York.  Joseph had questions, and Jesus had answers. 

That was two hundred years ago.  As the Restoration enters its third century, the world has new questions.  A loving God has answers.  In Restoration , scholar and author Patrick Mason reflects on what it means for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to participate in the ongoing Restoration.  Every generation must rediscover the gospel anew, and this book breathes new life into well-worn terms and phrases.  What does it mean to restore Israel ?  How can a church with less than one percent of the world s population be true ?  What baggage have we picked up these past two centuries, and how do we move forward with confidence, relevance, and impact?  The Restoration was intended to bless all of our Heavenly Parents children, especially the marginalized and vulnerable among us.  This book will inspire and challenge you to rethink, recommit, and respond to God s call to the 21st-century world.

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

100 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Valerie Campbell Ackroyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't yet know where I am going in terms of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but if I remain a member it will be due in large part to people like Patrick Q Mason. People who can articulate a much broader vision of what the Church represents than what I see here in my local area.
I love especially his vision for a church that embraces women as co-leaders, that eschews nationalism, inequality of wealth and that joins together will other seekers of God. It was an uplifting book to read--and a short one at that--at a time when I am so struggling with my religious identity.

[Mehrsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written specifically to an LDS audience, but if you are a Christian of any kind, this book is a must-read! I have been stunned to see how the church communities I grew up with who preached Jesus' teachings when it came to try them out in real life, they totally missed the entire point! Patrick uses the text and his deep understanding of history and doctrine to call people back to the essentials. He doesn't flinch either--he doesn't hem and haw about BLM, gay marriage, any of it. He's not saying: "your doctrine is wrong and backwards." He's saying: "your wrong and backwards actions are against your own doctrines!" It is, if you'll shed the excessive baggage on the word, a prophetic call to repentance (or restoration I guess). I was very skeptical to read this one because I had already decided to stop trying to fix the institutions from the inside so I was worried this book would be soft apologia. It was the opposite--it was actually a straight dose of truth. I know I am not exactly the target audience of this book (I will always choose the egg against the wall--as Murakami once said), but Patrick (who is also on the side of the egg) is trying to reach the wall people. I hope he succeeds.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who share my faith - wow! One of the best things I’ve read (and very short). This left me feeling like there is indeed a place for me.

[Ronald Schoedel III · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t recommend this book highly enough. For any member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Professor Mason’s message is an urgent one: let’s refocus the restoration on where the focus was always meant to be, on restoring God’s children to Him.

With clear scriptural support, Mason explains how the Restoration was seldom talked about in terms other than being a restoration of people until the late 20th century. President Nelson’s renewed focus on the gathering of Israel, God’s family, recenters the efforts of the church as an institution to focusing on people, and Brother Mason explains in relevant commentary how this effort can be implemented going into the third century of the Restoration.

Mason argues that Jesus’s commandment (which has been reemphasized numerous times in recent years by current church leadership) to love God and love every other member of the human family means that members of the church have a divine duty to figure out how to bring God’s message to the world in a way that focuses on the real restored truths the church has been given stewardship of, separating them from the excess baggage that we’ve become weighed down with (mostly as the result of Mormons trying to fit in with Protestant American cultural expectations).

I don’t recommend reading this if you don’t want to be challenged to rethink cultural attitudes and dearly-held traditions that have no basis in scripture or actual restoration teaching. But if this is you, the church will pass you by in time, be aware, as it does the hard work of shedding outdated and unscriptural attitudes picked up by trying to be too much like the world.

I read this through in one evening because it was “unputdownable”. I found myself agreeing that so much of what the author says just makes sense and I was intrigued by imagining just how much more of a force for good we as a church can be if the American members get on board with the goal of restoring God’s children, the family of humanity, to Him and to each other. Get it here: https://amzn.to/3bsF9jM

[Ryan Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason provides a timely and critical analysis of the LDS church's position within the global community. He argues that our stance since its foundation has been one of defense. Protecting our own while keeping the world out, but ranging out to try to convert. This position is no longer tenable for a number of reasons, and Mason uses the metaphors of light, leaven, and salt of the earth to explore ways that a reimagining of the meaning and scope of the Restoration can help us to understand how a church with a membership that is a fraction of the world's population can still have a sacred and transformative role.

He argues against exclusivism, the idea that the church alone contains all truth and keys to salvation, and relativism, the idea that all the world has truth and it doesn't matter where you find it. Instead, he offers particularism, the idea that God's work is ongoing in the world, and certain groups and religions are called to play a specific, critical role. He also highlights some baggage that the church has accumulated along the way, and forcefully denounces the racism, patriarchy, nationalism, colonialism, and fundamentalism that has seeped into our members and doctrine, calling for a renewed focus on the oppressed and marginalized in our efforts locally and worldwide.

Mason's book is a thoughtful and extremely necessary examination of what the church must do to remain relevant in the 21st century. All members would do well to read it and seriously consider its implications for faithful discipleship, church doctrine and policy, and a more open and outward reaching role in transforming the world into the kingdom of God.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

(audio)
This book started out good. But...

At some point the author goes full social-justice-warrior. He looks at history through our modern-day lens, which doesn't work- There is shaming and much virtue-signalling. Honestly, I can see where he meant to go. But it... Well never mind.

I feel like I could go on and on about this...this book ended with me just feeling angry. Never a good sign.

The author criticized an actual ancestor of mine- uncool!!!!

[Haylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes yes and yes again! “Religion is at its most potent when it challenges the present and reimagines the future” the future that Patrick q mason imagines is one of love, kindness, equality, and enchantment. I truly loved every sentence. This book reminds me of the joke - a person dies, goes to heaven, and is given a tour by god. God shows all the different groups of people that are up there, and when it gets to Mormons god says “shhhh, they think they’re the only ones up there” - Lol. Century three of the restoration is one where the draw bridge can come down <3 Zion is for everyone.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simplistic and hopeful viewpoint of what, I believe, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) need: go back to the roots and fruits of the gospel, which is loving each other.

I know too many people of the very best kind who are leaving the Church and I don't fault them. Right-wing ideology has turned the majority against helping the poor, caring for the environment, and seeking for peace in the world. (Unfortunate news headlines a few weeks ago announce that the many congregations of faith in a nearby county were opening their doors to allow those who are homeless to sleep inside... all except the ubiquitous LDS chapels in the area. Things like this make me firmly believe that the Church is missing true religion.)

I'm glad there are people like Patrick Mason. I want the Church that he sees.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to give this book alllll the stars. Such a hopeful, insightful look at what third century Mormonism might hold. I’ve been telling everyone I know about this book and can’t stop thinking about it.

[Deborah Brunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason writes a powerful reimagining of the restoration for the 21st century. Urgently needed is an LDS shift away from exclusivism and fundamentalism. He frames the alternative of particularity in hopefully a palatable light. That we can see the restoration as our particular gift with which we can be a part of Gods work for their children, and envisages God's work as being much more expansive than simply the LDS church. His interpretation of the gathering as taking notice and caring for the abandoned, the marginalised and oppressed is a breath of fresh air and certainly breathes new life into the oft quoted work for our modern church.

He astutely critiques the baggage the church has picked up as a somewhat by product of residing within the larger American culture including nationalism, racism, patriarchy, cultural colonialism and inequality.

Can we continue to be the salt, the light and the yeast, working together in God's marvelous work and wonder while retaining the ideology that our way is exclusive? Or can we opt to see a God who is bigger, more expansive who loves all their children and who is influencing, loving, guiding, touching lives in a myriad of cultural and religious and historical ways.

I really love this book, I only wish his chapters on the baggage were deeper, particularly on the issue of patriarchy. I would have loved to hear an LDS male speak to the harms to both women and men, rather than see it as simply a problem for women. I also wish that he was not silent on the issue of LGQBT+ marginalization, and also human domination of the earth.

[Brock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think all Latter-day Saints should read and understand this book. It would be extremely important for our church culture to move from such a "Fortress" viewpoint to a new more inclusive paradigm.

I could not fully agree with this book though as the premise lies on a literal restoration of the church, which I can't believe or accept. It still relies on the Church's mainline narrative of literal priesthood restoration, which is verifiably unhistorical and irrational. It seems implausible to say that God restored "His" church back on the Earth through literal laying on of hands and gave such an incredible gift to a small regional church that makes up less than one tenth of one percent of the worlds population and that ratio is shrinking on a yearly basis.

The book promotes inclusion, acceptance, and teamwork with other faiths, but the elephant in the room is that the Church still in its heart believes that they have the "real" authority of God over these religions.

Can't we just admit that our church is just a family-centered community that focuses on building faith in Christ? I don't need to pretend that the tradition I happened to grow up in is the only organization that has God's official authority to form a church in order for me to participate in the author's view of "restoration".

With that said, the ideas of inclusion and acceptance are important and ones that I will definitely be incorporating into my life.

[Janessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We miss something beautiful, profound, and important about the Restoration when we think about it only as a reprise of an original melody . . . Change means growth and development, but it also may entail leaving behind certain things. For us to move forward into the Restoration's third century, it's important for us to assess whether there are any teachings, practices, or habits from its first two centuries that are weighing us down and will hinder our progress."

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars because the book started out so well. About halfway through the author starts to mix in critical race theory and cancel culture with the gospel. I can't believe this many Latter-day Saint readers agree with this ideology. This really is a book where the philosophies of men are mingled with scripture.

[Emily Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This actually made me excited for the Restoration. Thought provoking yet easily digestible. One of my favorite quotes: “Our Heavenly Parents’ plan of salvation was never focused on preserving your family so much as reconciling and exalting theirs.”

Excess baggage chapter will be one I will revisit often.

[Kimberly Christenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a refreshing take on the value of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints without stakeholding it as the only true church on the earth that receives revelation from God. While there are unique facets and responsibilities the LDS church holds, there are many other churches and people who have and share truth, inspired by God. We are all essential counterparts to the body of Christ, and one is not above the other.

I appreciated that the author addressed the "baggage" of the LDS church it still holds on to (like patriarchy, polygamy, and gender inequality) and how religious culture and doctrine is and has always been informed by social tenets of the day, and how inevitable the fallacy of leaders, prophets and every human is, even in a God-inspired organization.

While I didn't agree with every sentiment inside, this book was a call for reformation while lauding the good the church does, and I appreciated that.

[Peter Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for non-Mormons: those quixotic Mormons are at it again! There’s an immense amount of literature and discussion by ex-Mormons, and an IMMENSE amount of literature and discussion by orthodox Mormons. However, there’s not a huge body of literature from “Mormons on the edge” like Patrick Mason — someone who is ardent in wanting to stick around, but has some really interesting insights into ways Mormonism could be steered in a more inclusive and positive direction.

Review for ex-Mormons: it may be slightly cathartic, because it does get at problems you may have noticed on your way out of the church. And it could be something you like to recommend to people you know that are still in the Church!

Review for Mormons: mandatory reading, and you (we?) should apply the things Mason recommends. Skillfully crafted from scripture, general conference, and other “Church-approved” sources to paint a narrative that the church still has some “Restoration” left to do.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended read for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (mormons) about how to better understand the meaning of the Restoration rather than limiting the word as an adjective attached to the church or the gospel. I loved Mason's metaphor of a fortress church and the danger any religion has, but particularly one as insulated in culture, beliefs and dogma as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of remaining as a fortress.

This book is filled with really helpful metaphors, like the various farmers working different parts of the farm and the Body of Christ, which speak to me. As much as I loved them, when breaking them down into what I actually think, I have a few intellectual and faith conflicts - mainly how to balance my understanding of his description of pluralism and that compassionate and without a doubt tenet that truth is abundant in various beliefs and not solely contained in any one belief system, and my ultimate belief that the covenants and ordinances that bring people closer to Jesus Christ, and ARE exclusive to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are necessary and matter.

It's a short book, either to read or to listen to, and definitely worth the few hours of your time.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now HERE is a vision of the role of the Church that makes sense to me. And one that makes me feel passionate about taking part in it! Another book I wish all members would read. Gonna be on a personal campaign to evangelize this one + All Things New to everyone I know.

[Beth Given · Rating 5 out of 5]

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we've been taught since childhood the story of the Restoration: how Joseph Smith prayed in a grove of trees and was answered with a vision of the Father and the Son, setting off a series of revelations that restored the ordinances of the gospel to the earth. That Restoration is still unfolding, modern apostles and prophets have declared, but what does that really mean? Patrick Mason suggests that, rather than seeing our faith as something that sets us apart from the world -- or fearing that the world might corrupt our precious truths -- we need to remember that God loves the world. We can learn from other churches' unique gifts and blessings, rid ourselves of cultural baggage, lift up the marginalized, and tend our part of the vineyard. We can be the yeast that, when put with other ingredients, leavens the whole lump.

This book is a breath of fresh air for a subject that's felt, unfortunately, a little stuffy as the years have gone by. It's a slim volume -- less than a hundred pages -- but packed with wisdom. It still took me several weeks to get through it because I ended up reading the entire thing aloud with my husband; there were so many ideas to discuss I wanted to discuss together and I didn't trust myself to summarize! We dove into footnotes together and talked about how the concepts might work in our lives.

If you're curious about this book, you can listen to the first chapter on a recent episode (May 30, 2021) of the Faith Matters podcast. It's definitely worth checking out.

[Abbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

an important book, but i didn’t necessarily learn anything new. i’m more into the heavy-hitting doctrine books that blow my mind and change my spirit.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!! Oh my goodness, this is everything I have been needing in my life lately. If there was a book I wish every Latter-Day Saint would read, it would be this one. It teaches such a beautiful balance of holding onto and sharing the unique gems of truth that we as a people and culture have been given while being willing and humble enough to learn about the gems of other cultures and religions (including science and secularism). I loved the emphasis on building on the foundation of our past while shedding the baggage that gets in the way of us living up to our potential (racism, nationalism, patriarchy, fundamentalism, etc.). Just…so good.

[Hannah Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This is a life changing book. It addressed some of my biggest questions about God/religion and inspired me in beautiful ways. I’m going to restart it and read it again tomorrow, it’s that good.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. So powerful and what I was looking for in this moment. Addresses many of the cultural issues of the church. Every LDS person needs to read. This book provided fresh ideas and viewpoints I had never heard before in many instances. Warned members to avoid holding up the nuclear family as an “idol.” (In addition to our nation state and other things.) Urged members to focus on loving god’s children over pretty much everything else.

[Murphy Lisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is the sort of book I wish every member of my church would read. Patrick Mason’s symbol of a fortified Saxon church - a relic from time past - carries throughout the rest of the book, illustrating how status quo and years of baggage have squashed the glorious goals of the Restoration - forward thinking salvation for all humankind, not merely self-protection and bureaucratic efficiency. I hope that voices like Mason’s continue to grow, because truly, his message is prophetic in vision and reach - a place where love, justice, and mercy meet, told with optimistic faith and hope.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is regarding content, not writing.

Patrick Mason's conclusions and hopes invigorate my part in what I consider a bridging generation, (those currently considered middle-aged). I agree with and share many of his hopes and findings, so maybe it just confirms my biases, but I found the book very intriguing. If what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraced and carried out is the same or similar vision of what Mason puts forth here, I could actively take part in that building, gathering, and creation again.

There are areas and topics that Mason avoids in this book, the questions and disparities surrounding which affect too many too close to me to simply overlook while "putting my shoulder to the wheel" forcefully once again immediately. He does, however, mention and advocate for change in areas closely tied enough so as to give me more on which to ponder. This work breathes enough enthusiasm and optimism to continue my own search for answers and direction for meaningful engagement around me, so I consider it a very valuable book.

[Jaclyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of books about faith and religion. I just can't seem to finish most of them, but Patrick Mason's Restoration is exactly the type of book we need right now. Mason pares back anything extra and deep dives into what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should and can be doing to lift themselves and others.

When I was in college, Bonnie Parkin, the then-Relief Society General President said, "If I could have one thing happen for every woman in this Church, it would be that they would feel the love of the Lord in their lives." That became one of my core beliefs - if people could feel our Heavenly Parents' love daily, so many of the world's ills could be cured. Mason's words give me hope that the core of what the church does could one day focus again on things that are that simple and profound, and that the culture of the church that so often takes over our faith could be restored to something better. I look forward with hope until that day.

Happy reading--

[Derek Driggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was directed at members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and written by a History PhD and Professor at Utah State University. He did an excellent job at laying out the context for how we see the context of restoration (a restored church) and how we would do better to see it (restoring marginalized people to wholeness). I also very much appreciated his discussion of relativism and particularism, and how all religions and groups have important claims to truth and important roles to play.

My struggle with books like this by scholars is that they ride the line between apologetics and reinterpretation of doctrine—never criticizing current teachings but skirting around their more problematic implications as if they can be selectively avoided. I feel it’s healthier to name them by name than to dance around them, not for critique’s sake, but for honesty’s.

[Kristin Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this as part of a book club (with just my dad and at his request:)) so I felt forced into it, at first, that is until I opened it up and realized what a gem this book actually is. I really liked how Mason chose to phrase the impact of the Restoration of the Gospel in the 21st century and our role as participants in it whether or not we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It was really so beautifully organized and thought-out in a language anyone can understand. I’m always thrilled when someone can discuss gospel topics without using our common verbiage. It’s more delightfully informing and tends to elicit new ideas and thought patterns for me.

“Religion is at its most potent when it ‘challenges the present, and reimagines the future.’”

[Courtney Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE book of 2021, for me. It was the perfect book to help me navigate the last year and a half and see what I hope for my faith reflected back at me. It has healed my heart and mind in many ways. I can’t recommend it enough.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing and inspiring

Fantastic book that gives the reader so much hope for the LDS church and what we need to do to truly be the church of Christ.