Hillary's Book Club # 4

It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. A rich account of her family’s polygamous history is revealed, including how both she and her mother became plural wives. Yet soon after Ann Eliza’s story begins, a second exquisite narrative unfolds–a tale of murder involving a polygamist family in present-day Utah. Jordan Scott, a young man who was thrown out of his fundamentalist sect years earlier, must reenter the world that cast him aside in order to discover the truth behind his father’s death. And as Ann Eliza’s narrative intertwines with that of Jordan’s search, readers are pulled deeper into the mysteries of love, family, and faith.

From this book I have seen what an incredible job Bridgman Young did in building what could almost be an empire in what was at one point just desert. He created government, society, and faith out of nothing. Well with the help of his God. Did I feel Bridgman abused his power over thousands, absolutely. Do I also know this book is the work of fiction, yes, but this is based on facts that can not be exulted from the Mormon history. But do most men in power abuse in, as we look through history, yes. With power comes responsibility and with him I noticed a sense of higher achy, holy then thou since he could use everything in God name. Saying it was all just a testimony from God Himself. Enter in polygamy. As a woman I find it hard to believe that any women would be fine in the name of any god or goddess to share her husband. If so why not take more then one husband? There’s a concept. After getting a glimpse into polygamy I want to know more. I enjoyed the past story as apposed to the present one. I get why they did it to show that the LDS really haven’t come that far. Either its part of your Bible and your religions or it never was. You can’t just take things out. I liked this book. Yes at times its slow, reading journal entries of Brigham Young, riveting. Ha!