Sisters in Spirit: Mormon Women in Historical and Cultural Perspective

by Maureen Ursenbach Beecher (Editor), Maureen Ursenbach Beecher (Editor)

This book of essays about Mormon women, all written and edited by scholars who are themselves Mormon women, is a brave and important work. Readers will fully appreciate just how brave and important it really is, however, if they can see how this work of historical theology fits into the history of historical writing about Mormon women, as well as how it fits into Mormon history itself.
 
"The women who contributed to this book are among the best of the Mormon literati . . . [they] hold that there is hope within the church for change, for reform, for expansion of the place of women." -- Women's Review of Books
 
"Historians of women in America have a great deal to learn from the history of Mormon women. This fine set of essays provides an excellent introduction to a subject about which we should all know more." -- Anne Firor Scott , author of Making the Invisible Woman Visible.
 

Genres: Religion, History, Womens, Nonfiction, Lds, Mormonism

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1987

Reviews

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every LDS woman should read this book. It is a compilation of scholarly essays written by (mostly) BYU professors. There is so much history related to women in the early days of the LDS church that simply isn't widely known in the LDS community. Why don't we talk about these early accomplishments of LDS women? As a feminist, it answered so many of my questions about the past and filled me with hope for the future. Love, love, loved it.

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend let me borrow this book, after I mentioned reading an article I had come across regarding women and the priesthood. As it turns out, the article, "A Gift Given: A Gift Taken" (1981) was written by Linda K. Newell, one of the contributors to this book. I have also been pondering the idea of a Heavenly Mother for some time, so it was excellent timing for me to discover this collection.

I read the entire book in a matter of days, and I found it to be a rare combination of intellectual and spiritual enlightenment. It is a group of essays and poems by women, many of them scholars, on the history and culture of women in the LDS church. Sadly, I have not found too many books that take such an honest look at the LDS church's history and administration without being overly-critical.

I did not feel I was reading a bunch of disconnected, random essays. Even though the contributing women had some differing opinions, I felt I was reading something intricately woven together, more congruent than most historical accounts I have previously read regarding LDS history. I feel a connection to the women who were willing to candidly share their research and views in this book, and the editors who did a superb job piecing the writings together into a wonderful book. I also feel a connection to the women of the early LDS church, which I had not felt previously with most women I had learned about in a limited way in LDS settings.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primarily, I learned from this book how little I know about Mormonism. These articles were quite interesting, thoughtful, and scholarly, all written by Mormon women. Sometimes I felt like I was putting together a puzzle, finding a name or a bit of doctrine in one article and piecing it together with the same name or another bit of doctrine in another. I was extremely engaged, but also realized this must be how other people feel when I'm like, "Ooh, read this," and it's some book on specifically Catholic feminism or something. Like... it's super interesting, but there are parts of the language I don't speak, and also questions that don't seem as personally pressing to me as they must to a woman within the tradition.

I was especially intrigued by the article on the Mormon idea of a Mother in Heaven. Like, not a Mary-mother in heaven, but a divine Mother as counterpart to the divine Father, though there are many ideas as to what this actually means, i.e., she's not definitely a goddess as such.

I am clearly still too ignorant of Mormonism to make very definite statements about it! But it was a highly interesting book.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Mormon woman should read this book or anyone interested in women's studies. I have long believed that Mormon women of past generations were more dynamic and powerful than they have been given credit for, and this book proves my point. Mormon women of today have a lot to learn about their heritage and this book is inspiring and encouraging.

[Jenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, along with Women and Authority, is a must read for Mormons with an interest in the history of women in the church. An updated volume for the current decade is needed. With the pace of policy changes in relation to female saints, there will be much reporting to do on what influences brought about those changes, and someday we may know.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are interesting essays on women, spirituality, and religious culture. Women need to believe in themselves, and they need to know about accomplishiments in the past, as well as abilities in all our futures.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is actually a collection of essays (and one poem) written by different women about Mormon women from a historical and cultural perspective. Very interesting.

[Liaken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I applaud this book. It is one of the best collections of essay on various aspects of the female within Mormonism that I have found.

[Katie Bullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

How often do I give non-fiction 5 stars? This was fascinating. I learned so much, and it was so well-documented and a fair account. Guess I'll buy it.