LDS Women's Book Review

"A fist made contact with the side of his face, and he fell back to the ground. His mind clouded for an instant, then the pain cleared it again. The guard gripped his neck, pressing with all his strength. The man's eyes were bulging with anger, and Alma knew he wouldn't offer any mercy."

Alma the Younger by H. B. Moore, page 112

"Before she had time to think, Aura shifted her body sharply to the right as a flash exploded from the gun barrel. In astonishment, she watched as the spinning bullet float past her, as if time had suddenly slowed to a glacial crawl. Overcome with a feeling of animal rage, Aura extended both arms toward the men. The jolt of energy that shot forth from her palms caught both attackers in the midsection and sent them flying back onto the sidewalk. "

Seventh Earth by Richard Bradford, page 144

Imprints by Rachel Ann Nunes, page 180

Visit Heather’s website: www.hbmoore.com or if you’re an aspiring writer, she also manages the editing company: www.precisioneditinggroup.com.

Author- Heather B. Moore

Publisher- Covenant Communications

Published Date- March 2010

ISBN# 978-1-60861-007-5

Hardcover; 102 pages

If I could have chosen anyone to write this absolutely wonderful book, it would have been Heather. Having read her Out of Jerusalem series as well as Abinadi and Alma I've really enjoyed the way Heather writes the women in her books. Okay, I like the way she writes her books period. Yet the way she captures what life might have been like for those women in her fictional retellings of Book of Mormon events have been particularly interesting to me.

I can honestly say that reading Women of the Book of Mormon has changed me. I've wondered about the women of that time period, most of whom go unacknowledged and unmentioned, as I've read the Book of Mormon. The women we do read about are usually unnamed and their accounts are brief.

With her first nonfiction book, Heather has opened my eyes to these women and brought me to a new level of understanding of how they spent the days of their lives: their challenges, responsibilities, feelings, and faith - or lack of faith. I've never really thought about these women as my sisters before, and now I feel a strong connection to them.

I was unaware of how young these women were when they became betrothed, usually at age 12 or 13. While the betrothal usually lasted a year, the thought that my 12-year-old daughter would have been engaged and awaiting her marriage if we lived during that time is simply unfathomable to me.

I also didn't understand just how much Sariah sacrificed when she followed her husband, Lehi, into the wilderness. I see why Laman and Lemuel were loathe to leave everything they possessed behind in Jerusalem. With Sariah it meant more than leaving behind a very comfortable life. It meant doing work that you previously had servants to do for you, bearing your children in the sandy wilderness, and wondering how you were going to manage your growing household when food was scarce and unvarying. It meant walking while men and children rode the camels since as a woman you were just a step above a slave. Sariah accepted and bore it all; she is a great example to me.

I've often thought Nephi must have held his mother in high regard and loved her immensely to have included her as often has he did while recounting his experiences. Heather shares examples that prove that though women weren't too high up in social standing, when a woman begged or pleaded on behalf of another it held a lot of power and influence.

Mormon's wife is another account I found fascinating. I'm pretty sure I've never given her a second thought until reading about her in Women of the Book of Mormon. Read the book to learn more about her life as a military wife in dark times.

I've barely scratched the surface of what Heather shares in Women of the Book of Mormon. This book would be a perfect Mother's Day gift, of course. While I was thinking of a couple of women I would point toward this book, it occurred to me that men would really benefit as well from reading Women of the Book of Mormon. If you purchase this book for yourself or as a gift, make a point to share it with the men of your life so they can better appreciate these women and everything they experienced.

Well done, Heather!

Heather has book signings this weekend. Click here to find out when and where.

Visit Heather's website and blog.

Women of the Book of Mormon: Insights and Inspirations is available at Deseret Book and Seagull Book.

My Rating: 5 stars (excellent!)

FTC FYI: I received a review PDF from the author; it had no effect on my review.

Don't forget to nominate your favorite 2009 books by LDS authors for Whitney Awards by December 31! Can't remember what you read? Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of books published by LDS authors in 2009.