"AGAINST THE WALL: Johann Huber and the First Mormons in Austria," by Roger P. Minert, BYU Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book, $23.99, 230 pages (nf)
"Against the Wall: Johann Huber and the First Mormons in Austria" is a well-researched, painstakingly documented story of Johann Huber's conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the persecution that decision invited.
It not only has a wealth of historical information about Huber and his battle with the Catholic Church leaders, who feared him and his new beliefs, but there are myriad documents, photographs and maps that supplement the text.
"Against the Wall" follows Huber's story from his first brush with the Mormon doctrine in Rottenbach, Austria, in 1899 through his years fighting to keep his children, his farm and his right to live as he believed he should.
On April 21, 1900, he was baptized into the LDS Church in a stream in a public park and became the priesthood leader and branch president of a tiny unit, a role he held for more than 40 years.
Officially, he became the 10th native Austrian member of the LDS Church, according to the book.
When he refused to allow his baby daughter to be baptized in the usual Catholic infant rites, he infuriated the local clergy. When he said no to school confessionals, he stood to have his children taken away to an orphanage.
"Against the Wall" shows how Huber was courageous and stubborn. When lies were printed about him in the local newspapers, he wrote bold answers back. He refused to be silenced and his faith was unwavering.
When the local pastor said Mormonism had "sneaked in Rottenbach" to bring the polygamy and chaos his enemies feared, Huber was busy spreading the doctrine.
When Huber withdrew from the Catholic Church, he was cursed and berated as a radical and a devil. He was liberal in a time of great political upheaval.
Even when years went by without an arrest or a summons to court, he and his family could not relax. He continued to be vigilant.
His is a remarkable history. His story makes for an informative, educational read with no sex, no bad language and no violence except some implied beatings and harsh treatment.
Author Roger P. Minert lives in Provo and is a professor of family history at Brigham Young University.
Sharon Haddock is a professional writer with more than 35 years' experience, 17 at the Deseret News. Her personal blog is at sharonhaddock.blogspot.com.
Email: haddoc@deseretnews.com