Customer Reviews

Sojourner in the Promised Land: Forty Years Among the Mormons

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Reads like a combination of a coffee shop intimate chat and a stimulating history lecture. Mrs. Shipps writes clearly and engagingly about the evolving process of the LDS faith. I was engrossed the whole way through.

I loved reading how her personal life intertwined with her research and writing. I loved reading about some of the `behind the scenes' experiences and people that were the backdrop for some of her essays.

As a Christian raised with a protestant background, I was also intrigued how this book illuminates the process that births most religious groups/denominations as well as the LDS faith. It seems we have a lot more in common than many, in either camp, might like to admit.

Absolutely a worthwhile read.

Jan Shipps is probably the most respected "Mormon watcher" today. Her contributions both as a historian and a commentator of Mormonism are incalculable, a stunning achievement for someone not a member of the LDS Church. Her latest book combines an essay collection with her reflections on being an "inside-outsider." The result is a fascinating book where the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

The essays in this book come mostly from works not previously published or printed in places outside the normal "LDS filed of vision" (4). This is a shrewd decision, since these essays will be "new" even for a reader familiar with Shipps' work in LDS oriented forums. Yet it is "old" in the sense that she has discussed many of her themes before. Some essays did not have a primarily Mormon audience in mind. Combined with the autobiographical elements, this gives us better insights about Shipps herself and Mormonism. Significantly, it illustrates Shipps'status as an "inside-outsider" and will appeal to both Mormons and non-Mormons.

One thing I found particularly impressive was her reflections on teaching lower division introductory classes in both history and religious studies. Teaching these courses taught her "the usefulness of developing clear and meaningful categories and the need for clarity - straight talk rather than academic jargon" (155). Incidentally, it also serves as the reason why Shipps writes so well about Mormonism. Only a couple of the essays will seem too technical for the average reader. Otherwise, this volume is well suited for the public. It could serve as a scholarly introduction to Mormon history and contemporary issues.

Shipps, as an outsider, will help provide perspective on a variety of issues to Mormons, whatever their perspective on the current intellectual environment. Anyone concerned with the way denominational history is done will find new insights about "faith-promoting" history, the "new Mormon history," and even the way anti-Mormons do history in part two. The essays in part three are good examples of how she applies the lessons she learned from both Mormons and her students.

The major theme in this collection is the Church went through a dramatic change over the last half century, spurred mainly by its phenomenal growth. Shipps has been Mormon watching almost the entire time. At times, she has been a participant in the resulting growing pains,especially where it involved historiography. Her description of this unique journey as an "inside-outsider" sets this essay collection apart from any other volume I have ever read on Mormonism. I think you will agree.

The title of this book would lead a casual library browser astray. Jan Shipps, perhaps the most influential non-Mormon historian of Mormonism, does not present a true autobiography here but instead anthologizes her unpublished essays, some of which go back to the 1960s. As is often the case with collections of essays, their importance and quality varies widely, and everyone will have his own favorites and non-favorites.

Personally, I like Shipps' review of John Brooke's Refiner's Fire and her many autobiographical asides (Too bad she decided not to discuss the rearing of her son, the noted violinist Stephen Shipps.) Also highly recommended for any student of Mormonism are the notes, which follow each chapter and were definitely written to be read.

On the other hand, I began wincing every time Shipps invoked the mantra of her Methodism--especially since John Wesley would have pronounced her a heretic out of hand. For instance, Shipps' essay on "Is Mormonism Christian?" commences with mention of her Methodism and then runs on for twenty pages without defining either "Mormon" or "Christian."

A nice collection of Professor Shipps' essays spanning the years. This book serves as a nice stop between her famous and insightful work - 'Mormonism: The Story of a New Religous Tradition' and her future book looking at the last 50-60 years of Mormon history.

My favorite chapters in this work dealt with Shipps' personal experiences working with Mormon history.

Her insights into the challenges faced as an outsider writing about a growing and changing religion are often humorous, sometimes gently critical, but always done with exceptional research and amazing literary skill.

Jan Shipps' personal experiences can easily be translated and understood by those working closely with any type or level of cultural history or analysis.

I am a Christian person who has put some study into the Mormon religion to answer the very question Ms. Shipps dodges: Are Mormons Christian? The answer is no. Do they believe in one G-d? No. Do they believe Jesus gives the one way to eternal life? No. (They have a works-based system, believing you can "progress" to "Godhood".) They also believe in a Heavenly Mother, and that there are many planets out there with multiple gods. Your average nice Molly Mormon doesn't know this stinky bit of theology because their cult is so busy filling up their days with social events. Ms. Shipps obviously made some friends amongst the Mormons and wished not to offend them. Yes, they are lovely people but so are the Hindus and Buddhists, this doesn't make them Christian. I was excited to read her book because she obviously has some deep thoughts and some good points about how their stating they are "Israel" and everyone else a "gentile" has changed over time to softerlinguistics to confuse biblically illiterate people into thinking the cult of Mormonism is "Christian" For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 The angel Moroni is a self proclaimed angel of light. A much better resource is the book By His Own Hands on Papyrus, that show the original Joseph Smith papyri to be excerpts from the Egyptian book of the dead, as he "translated" them before people knew how to decipher hieroglyphics.