Before the Dawn (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reminds us of what Relief Society and Sisterhood can be, February 13, 2008
By Terry

I loved this book. After reading a copy from my local library, I purchased one of my own so I could share it with my daughters and friends. It's a beautiful tribute to Relief Society and Sisterhood and an honest portrayal of how very 'human' and prideful all of us can be. It reminds us that by holding on to each other, we can survive and overcome our challenges. Thanks, Brother Hughes.

Great Read, September 05, 2007
By Fred E

Since purchasing this book I have not been able to put it down. It has been a wonderful read. I am not much of a reader but this book is outstanding.

Good Read!, October 28, 2007
By Melissa

I loved Leah, she was so real. I think she is like most of us in one way or another. I loved her views of herself and how that view changed as she served. I could really relate to her and her struggles to come to grips with who she was and who she becomes as she serves. It was a good read.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Description

When the bishop calls Leah Sorensen to be Relief Society president, her first impulse is to assume he's joking. "They'd all vote against me if you put my name up," she tells him, "and I'd vote with them." She's prickly and proud, a farm widow who doesn't get along with the town women at all. Why would the Lord want her? Because it's 1932, the depth of the Great Depression, and, as the bishop tells Leah: "You lost your husband and you didn't give up. You know how to survive hard times, and some women in our ward don't. I'm not looking for a nice church lady right now. I'm looking for someone with some grit, and that's what you've got." But will frit be enough when the opposition begins?

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Deseret Book Company (August 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590387880
• ISBN-13: 978-1590387887
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #559,342 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Novel About the Depression Era!!!, November 17, 2007

By	Teri Rodeman "sweet-tangerine" (Benton City, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I just finished this wonderful and very insightful novel about the Depression. This is a story about Leah Sorensen, a widow with two teenaged children, who has what it takes to raise her children and manage her farm. I learned some new insights on just how severe the Depression was and how long a drought we had. Leah is called to be the Relief Society President of her ward for which she feels too inadequate to handle. Dean gives insight to how the ward members all helped one another and Leah learned just what it is to be a Relief Society President and what Relief Society is!!!! And, that the Relief Society is what holds The Church together because we are the heart. There are some humorous incidents in the story that are very touching and heartwarming. Dean was able to have some good insights on this subject, as his wife was in the General Board of The Relief Society just this year, and was recently released. If you want to get a better insight into Relief Society and the role of a Relief Society President and the Depression, read this book. You'll be glad you did!!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is what it is like to be a Mormon woman!, January 16, 2008

By	K. Fife (Del Rio, Texas USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am so thrilled with this book. I love the sensitivity, humor, insight and historical facets of Mr. Hughes' writing. The characters are very well-developed...so much so that I felt so connected to them and their situations; it was almost as if I were part of this small town. Not only is this such a realistic story, it tells the truth about the mission of the Relief Society, and the true teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (patience, love, forgiveness, the constant quest for bettering oneself). Although it doesn't delve into specifics of the religion, I would be proud to recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about what it is like to be a Mormon woman...this is it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Worth Reading, March 14, 2008

By	Deborah Balzotti "Book Look author" (Utah) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a book reviewer for a newspaper and a wary reader of Christian Fiction, I was happily surprised by this book. The characters are heartwarming and real. The setting is a great choice since we all admire those that survived and triumphed during the depression years. Somehow as we face our own fears during economic and family difficulties we are able to learn from the characters in the novel. The target audience seems to be Mormon women but others have enjoyed it since it has some universal themes. A perfect choice for book clubs!