Mormon America: The Power and the Promise

This account of the history and current situation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is better than its cover would lead one to believe. Packaged as another sensationalist expos of Mormon economic and political power, with chapters promising to unlock ""The Power Pyramid"" and ""Rituals Sacred and Secret,"" the book is in fact generally well-balanced and often insightful, particularly on matters of race and gender, and draws upon a number of recent studies by Mormon scholars. (The authors, a well-educated husband and wife team with copious journalistic accolades between them, describe themselves as ""conventional Protestants."") Their erudite chapter on Mormon theology sheds light on a fascinating but neglected subject (even by Mormons), and they sensitively portray what is at stake in the telling of Mormon history--a controversial undertaking nowadays due to the recent excommunications of some high-profile Mormon historians. Yet in its effort to provide a one-stop panorama of Mormonism, the book seems a bit of a hodgepodge at times (the authors evaluate the authenticity of Joseph Smith's revelation in one chapter and catalogue ""Great Mormons of Sport"" in another). Although the Ostlings say they hope to profile the ""multidimensional"" character of Mormonism, and they include chapters on Mormon family life and dissent, this is very much an institutional account, focusing on the ""very controlled...very top-down"" leadership of the church rather than on the mass of believers. Finally, while the authors attempt to be ""nonpolemical,"" their close attention to the church's financial assets cannot help but hint of conspiracy theory. (Why does no one write books on ""the Episcopalian empire""?) While this book is undoubtedly the best introductory snapshot of the Mormon world available in print, there is still room for improvement. (Nov.)