The Gun of Joseph Smith is a slight, and quickly told, tale of a young family making their way west in the year 1850. Mark and Rebecca Morgan, and their son Tucker, meet up with Tim Selman in Nauvoo. Tim, while cleaning out the Prophet's residence after the Saints' departure west, discovers hidden away a fine rifle. He wonders if this might be Joseph Smith's gun. Thinking it might be, he sets it aside, waiting for the right person to take charge of it.

Taking a liking to Tucker, Tim gives him the rifle. The Morgans are not Mormon, but the gun itself holds much intrigue for all of them. Before departing Nauvoo, Tim gives Mark Morgan a copy of the Book of Mormon to read during the journey.

During their journey, the Morgans meet up with band of Mormons. They are told the story of Joseph Smith's gun; one of the elders prophesies that that gun would one day save young Tucker's life. This prophecy would come true later in the book.

During much of their journey, they are accompanied by a rough but likable named Grant Holloway. He, like Tim Selman, takes a liking to Tucker, and is fascinated by the story of Joseph Smith's gun.

Ultimately the family decides to settle in Salt Lake with the Saints, and are finally baptized. Holloway returns later in the story and, like the Morgans, is baptized in Salt Lake City.

As you can tell from the size of the book, this was a very quick read. In fact, while reading it, I was reminded of the days when I read the Readers Digest Condensed Books. Remember them? You were able to say you read a book, but you had far fewer words to contend with. Later, you might wonder how you got from point Ap to point B so quickly, but then you remember that details were left out in order to make the book shorter.

With this book, I felt as if some things were left out. Characters were not fully developed; plot lines moved unevenly and predictably. I wished I'd learned more about the people -- their desires, how they interacted, their doubts and their fears.

The book hits a strange note throughout. The gun, thought to be Joseph's but not demonstrably so, becomes something of a talisman, a good-luck charm. Such oddities have been with us forever -- from the relic-bones of the early church saints, to the lucky rabbit's foot -- but you don't hear much about them in Mormonism.

The last book I remember reading that focused so much on an object is "Brigham's Bees," a volume I've lost track of. A dandy mystery, if I remember correctly. Mormons generally keep clear of such neo-idolatry, making The Gun of Joseph SMith odder than most.

Many here will remember the "Faith Promoting" books written by early writers. The stories were upbeat and positive, the story lines fairly simple, the message intended to instill loyalty to God and to the Church. The Gun of Joseph Smith is just such a book. When considered as an entry into this genre of writing, it fits well. The question remains as to whether this kind of writing will be appealing to this generation of readers.