"THE WORLDWIDE CHURCH: Mormonism as a Global Religion,” edited by Michael A. Goodman and Mauro Properzi, BYU Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book, $31.99, 454 pages (nf)
“The Worldwide Church: Mormonism as a Global Religion,” edited by Michael A. Goodman and Mauro Properzi, is a collection of 19 of the over 50 presentations given at the 2014 Church History Symposium.
From India to Taiwan to Africa, Czechoslovakia, Mexico and Russia, the essays examine the history and challenges that are part of the growing international nature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Keynote addresses given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church, and Terryl Givens, professor at the University of Richmond, bookend the collection.
President Uchtdorf’s address, titled “Seeing Beyond the Leaf,” emphasizes the importance of knowing history and encourages church members to see themselves as parts of a greater whole.
Givens’ presentation, titled “The Global Church,” uses scriptures to explore the ideas the Prophet Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ taught regarding both the temporal and spiritual manifestations of Zion and how that relates to a global church.
The remaining presentations focus on specific countries and time periods, with topics ranging from translation challenges to political and economic challenges faced by the expanding church membership.
This kaleidoscopic collection of papers offers insights as well as faith-promoting stories and experiences illustrating the multifaceted and expanding international nature of the LDS Church.
The book includes an index as well as a number of black-and-white illustrations that include charts, graphs, maps and photos. Each chapter concludes with extensive endnotes.
Both editors are members of the LDS Church.
Goodman, an associate professor of Church History at Brigham Young University, has worked for the Church Educational System since 1989. He and his wife, Tina Anita, have two children.
Properzi, a native of Gorizia, Italy, is an assistant professor of Church History at BYU, where he teaches courses on world religions and Christianity. He recently published “Mormonism and the Emotions: An Analysis of LDS Scriptural Texts.”
Rosemarie Howard lives in a 100-year-old house on Main Street in Springville, Utah. She enjoys creating multimedia projects. Her website is at dramaticdimensions.com.