"Development of LDS Temple Worship" by Anderson

[Duncan]

http://signaturebooks.com/2010/04/the-development-of-lds-temple-worship-1846-2000-a-documentary-history/

I am comtemplating buying this book but $50 American big ones with shipping and all that isn't something I am interested in doing for a bad or mediocre book. It sounds very interesting and so I was wondering if anyone has read it or seen reviews for it or anything. I have never heard of the author before, thanks in advance!

[Emerson]

http://signaturebook...entary-history/

I am comtemplating buying this book but $50 American big ones with shipping and all that isn't something I am interested in doing for a bad or mediocre book. It sounds very interesting and so I was wondering if anyone has read it or seen reviews for it or anything. I have never heard of the author before, thanks in advance!

Depends on what you are looking for in a book. This is a documentary history, so it just provides documents relating to the temple over the last 150 years without much commentary. (Although, of course, the very choice and arrangement of documents is the editor's construct and is based on what the editor deems worthy of inclusion.) It does not provide a narrative or much interpretive analysis---things that most casual readers look for in a book. This volume is primarily designed for 1) academics who can use it in their own research, and 2) history buffs who are so committed to history that they can dig through the minutia of primary sources. If you consider yourself a diehard history nerd, then the price tag may be worth it for this book.

And then, obviously, there is the question of temple sacredness. I think this issue varies from person to person, and regardless what most say, I still hold that it is a personal issue and there is no definite answer on where the "line" should be drawn. There will likely be things in the book that many won't feel comfortable with, but there are also many who don't have the same problem.

The author is a really nice guy (from what I've heard through friends, anyway; I haven't met him). He is an active member, though in regards to my last paragraph, he obviously comes down on the side of being comfortable with discussing/revealing much more of the temple than others are.

[Duncan]

Depends on what you are looking for in a book. This is a documentary history, so it just provides documents relating to the temple over the last 150 years without much commentary. (Although, of course, the very choice and arrangement of documents is the editor's construct and is based on what the editor deems worthy of inclusion.) It does not provide a narrative or much interpretive analysis---things that most casual readers look for in a book. This volume is primarily designed for 1) academics who can use it in their own research, and 2) history buffs who are so committed to history that they can dig through the minutia of primary sources. If you consider yourself a diehard history nerd, then the price tag may be worth it for this book.

And then, obviously, there is the question of temple sacredness. I think this issue varies from person to person, and regardless what most say, I still hold that it is a personal issue and there is no definite answer on where the "line" should be drawn. There will likely be things in the book that many won't feel comfortable with, but there are also many who don't have the same problem.

The author is a really nice guy (from what I've heard through friends, anyway; I haven't met him). He is an active member, though in regards to my last paragraph, he obviously comes down on the side of being comfortable with discussing/revealing much more of the temple than others are.

hmmmm interesting! Diehard history nerd here!

[Calm]

May I suggest interlibrary loan first and then if you like it and want it as a reference, buy it.

[Duncan]

May I suggest interlibrary loan first and then if you like it and want it as a reference, buy it.

That is a great idea! I hope a library in Canada has one but that isn't my concern to find one! haha!