I just finished this book. It was enlightening. I think it has given me a better understanding of why there is so much controversy about the church. I feel like the authors went to great lengths to make it honest, and I appreciate that. It was well written, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in American or church history. Lots of quotations and sources. I will probably read it again. It isn't a completely feel good book, and leaves you realizing just how human these people were. I like that about it. It is written from a faithful perspective, but still gives you enough details to see the conflicts and allows you to explore your open feelings.

I think this book was well written, easy to understand, and honest. I think it does a good job of including the controversial topics that bother people. I do wish they gave a little more time to the good. At some points it seems like there authors are trying so hard to show all the controversial parts that they skip over the hope that the gospel was bringing to so many people. I think more first hand quotations from converts would be nice. Overall I'm glad they touched on so many topics, but I think to really do it justice, a little more light and doctrine should be added. Never the less, I would recommend it.

It is the most historiclly accurate book on the structural and the religious belief in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

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Kudos to all the saints who kept journals and recorded the events of their lives, that someone would/could compile them for us to read. It’s given me a greater appreciation for the restored church.

I am listening to this on audio and I just love it! So good and so exciting. Thanks Rhonda

The Book arrived on Thursday afternoon and I read 4 Chapters before going to bed. I found this book such an interesting Read, that I couldn't put it down. I finished reading it the following Wednesday. I can't wait to read volume 2 in the series. The book goes into so much detail about what Joseph Smith and the Saints went through yet still pressed forward.

This arrived well ahead of time, great coditition. This is a wonderful account of the beginning history of the saints and really helped me open my eyes to greatest understanding of what it was really like in the early years of the restoration of the church.huge testimony builder!

Gives you a better understanding of how things really were for the early saints. My appreciation has grown tremendously for the trials and sacrifices they encountered. Im so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Very easy to read and understand. Well-written. I've read a lot of church history and still learned some new things from this book.