All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Primary By Brenton G. Yorgason, Donald P. Magnum Press America (American Fork, Utah), 1997. Paperback: 148 pages. ISBN: 0-9659559-0-7 Suggested retail price: $9.95 (US)
Reviewed by: Jeff Needle

Two things militated against my reading this book at all: first, I'm not generally a fan of Yorgason. I find his story lines a bit timid and generally uninteresting. Second, I have an inherent dislike of books that crib from other book titles. You all know that a very successful secular book was published some years ago, having to do with learning everything in kindergarten, or some such thing.

Nonetheless, the book passed my way, and I decided to give it a read. I'm glad I did.

The story revolves around Richard and Maria Allred. Having met in college, they married and moved to New York State to raise a family. Faithful church members both, they've each fulfilled important callings. Maria has served as Relief Society President; Richard has been called to many offices, including Bishop.

When Richard was a young child, he received from a favorite uncle a Treasure Box. Upon opening it, Ricky (as he was called as a child) was disappointed to find it empty. His uncle explained that he should fill it with mementos of his childhood, things that would be meaningful later in life.

Fast forward to today. Richard is rummaging in his attic, and he comes across the Treasure Box. He brings it downstairs, and discovers that his children are fascinated by its contents. He uses Family Home Evening to remove the objects, one at a time, telling how he had gotten the object, and the lesson he'd learned.

But Maria has absented herself from these sessions. We know that Maria came from a broken family -- her father had walked out on her and her mother when she was very young -- and Maria simply can't bear to hear about Richard's happy childhood. She begins to distance herself from her family.

Later, Maria reconciles with her father, bringing about a sweet healing, one that unites them all into one big family.

The early chapters of the book are filled with delightful views of Ricky's childhood. We enter into the mind of an 8-year-old in such a real way, peering into the way their minds work. When Richard meets Maria early on in Primary (a meeting they just faintly remember), he realizes at that tender young age that he's in love. His mother asks, "What's her last name?" And Ricky realizes he doesn't know. So he answers, "She doesn't have a last name." Later, he learns Maria does have a last name, and wonders anew at how his mother knew so much.

Even the pet dogs make a memorable appearance:

Nosty was Buddy's enormous Labrador Retriever. Buddy didn't come up with the name, however. The story was that his older brother named the dog upon returning from college one summer. It seemed that the name 'Nosty' was short for Nostradomos, who was some kind of a prophet -- not a church prophet, as you probably know, but some other kind. Buddy's brother said that the dog wasn't exactly a prophet, but he could change someone's future. That took no further explanation, even for a fifth grader. (55-56)

The book goes along in such a lighthearted manner, I was a little disturbed that it took such a serious turn toward the end. I thought Yorgason might be able to revisit his delightful observations, but he never does.

I did like this book. It's a lovely read, especially for older children who are ready to learn the value of cherished memories, and the need for forgiveness and reconciliation. I have no idea why this book was not published by one of the regular LDS publishers.

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Jeff Needle
jeff.needle@general.com