Let's not mistake this book for Mormonism for Dummies, reviewed earlier this year. With the publication of the present volume several years ago, we now have a guide for everyone, whether you're an idiot or a dummy. So far, nothing for morons.

I've always wondered what motivates people to buy books whose titles at least imply that they are less than intelligent. I suppose we all have our periods of intellectual uncertainty. Perhaps many are comfortable when they feel that they're reading something written below their level of understanding. Whatever the reason, these books sell like hotcakes.

The bio for Drew Williams indicates that he teaches gospel doctrine to both youth and adults. His long experience as a teacher shows in his sensitive and balanced treatment of Mormon concepts and history. His chapter on the Book of Mormon, for example, offers brief biographies of some of the more important characters (including a pronunciation guide), along with the general storyline, finally ending with Moroni's promise. It is aimed at the new student of Mormonism, and invites readers to discover for themselves the book's qualities.

He sets his goals early -- in several dozen chapters, to enlarge on his basic premise/question, "So What Exactly Is 'Mormonism?'" Here's his summary:

Mormonism, quite simply, is the unique position that God created mankind in his own image, first in spirit, then in material form, and that under the direction of men whom the LDS community believe to be ordained and led by Jesus Christ himself, faithful followers will be allowed to return into God's presence and live as part of an eternal family -- so long as all of the laws of Christ are adhered to. (p. 7)

His method is to present Mormonism, as he understands it, in a simple but comprehensive way. He sticks pretty close to the iron rod, rarely venturing into dangerous territory, an approach appropriate for a book like this. For many readers, his orthodoxy is beyond question in this entry from his acknowledgements page:

I must first acknowledge my Heavenly Father, in whose good favor I am constantly striving to gain. I must also pay homage to the man in whose name the subject of this book is about -- even Jesus Christ -- who stands at the head of the LDS church. (p. xx)

I found the second sentence a bit awkward, but I understood his meaning.

Occasionally he presents a wrinkle in a doctrinal position not often found in introductory texts. For example, chapter 18 is titled "Meet the Wives and Kids." As you may guess, it's about polygamy. I was pleased to see his take on the 1890 Manifesto:

[President Wilford] Woodruff issued a formal statement called the "Manifesto," which proclaimed an end -- or rather, more of a suspension -- to the practice of plural marriage. According to many historical accounts, there was a transition period in which additional marriages were practiced for a very short time that followed, and there were many hurt feelings and even personal family devastations over the matter. But the majority of obedient Saints heeded their prophet's counsel and stopped the practice. Some accounts say that after the Manifesto, husbands continued to offer financial and spiritual support to their extra wives and children, but remained intimate only with their first wives.

There are many Saints today who still believe polygamy is a divine principle, one that will be restored after the Lord's Second Coming, but which needed to be removed from the world out of necessity to live among the unbelievers of this divine principle. (p. 167)

Williams states what is not generally said out loud, that the Manifesto simply suspended the practice, and did not affect the principle at all. And he presents it, not so much as a revelation, but an accommodation, an approach agreed upon by many historians.

The author spends a good amount time and space explaining "the great apostasy," followed by a brief outline of Christendom up to the Restoration. His explanations are clear, concise and constitute a sympathetic view of wider Christianity.

Williams sprinkles the book with welcome humor, although many of the jokes (called "Latter-day Laughter" and presented in inset boxes) are only mildly amusing.

Little boy to Sunday school teacher: "I have a riddle about Laman and Lemuel for you."
Sunday school teacher: "Oh? What is it?"
Boy: "If they were here today, what would their favorite TV show be?"
Teacher: "I give up."
Boy: "Diagnosis Murmur." (p. 118)

I need not mention that there is none of the delightful sardonic humor found in Mormonism for Dummies; no doubt, this is not Williams' style.

Other inset boxes include: "Mormonology," a guide to Mormon terminology; "Mormon Myths," an attempt to dispel them; "Words of Wisdom," a variety of relevant citations from Church leaders and others; and "And It Came to Pass," little known facts about Mormonism.

One minor irritation -- the constant confusion of "principle" and "principal." An editor should have caught these mistakes.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Mormonism is a fundamentally sound and very readable introduction to Mormonism, sticking pretty close to the basics, but all the while inviting the reader to study further.

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Jeff Needle
October 17, 2005