Let me begin this review by stating that, try as I may, I won't be able to do justice to the book. I received a prepublication galley last week, having requested it from the publisher and having no idea of its topic.

At its core, this book is about a young Native American girl named Mary. As the Mormon Church geared up its program to bring Native Americans into the larger society, Mary is taken, at a very young age, to live with the Jensen family in American Fork, Utah.

The transition is not an easy one. Mary refuses to speak, a trait that will follow her for much of the story. She participates in family activities only occasionally. It's not easy -- the Jensens already have nine children, but have elected to respond to the Church's request for faithful families to participate in the blossoming Native American relocation program.

Mary is confused by her immersion into a totally different culture. Her raw, primal existence among her people is no preparation for the sanitized, polite, restrained life in a Mormon household. Of course, her new parents want her to be baptized, but it would take years before Mary will consent.

As Mary drinks in the teachings of the Church, she has a vision, a dream, that she will bear a son who would be Elijah the prophet. The story of Elijah is an important one for her, and she is thrilled that this privilege would be given to her. And when the missionary who baptizes her returns and proposes marriage, Mary sees this as an opportunity to fulfill her destiny.

The book takes many twisty turns, with an ongoing tension between the sometimes sickeningly-sweet acceptance among her Mormon sisters, and, at times, their contempt for her dark skin. One cannot but shudder as one reads how Mary tries to come to terms with LDS teachings of "dark skin" and the punishment of the Lamanites. And her fellow church members are often no help. Mary wants white skin, as the Book of Mormon promises, but this seems not to be happening.

Additionally, Mary cannot rid herself of the beliefs and passions of her Native American heritage. The result is a volatile and self-destructive quest for acceptance and clarity. Much of the subsequent story involves her youngest daughter, Eliza (called Eli throughout the book), and her own quest for understanding. The relationship between Eli and her mother is often hostile and marked by a contempt for Mary that can make your skin crawl.

As if in another dimension, a secondary story is unfolding concerning the Coleman family. Chapters describing this family are very short, and written in a completely different style than the rest of the book, almost as if they were penned by a separate author. They've moved to American Fork from San Diego (why would they do that??), they are not Mormon. Mike, the only child in the family, is trying to figure out how he's going to fit in with his new friends and neighbors. And then his mother rediscovers her Jewish heritage, and sets out to establish their household as a Jewish home.

These chapters are actually quite funny. Mike is an impossibly impish young man, fond of mild swearing and utterly confused about life and family. And when Mike learns about a man who claims to be a prophet, things really heat up in the Coleman household. Some of it was laugh out loud funny.

The two stories hardly intersect, and it was difficult for me to understand why Cope included the secondary story. It became clearer as the book came to an end, but that clarity only came with a great deal of contemplation about the themes in this book and the tragic characters that populate it.

The Coming of Elijah explores so many themes -- racism, the nature of true faith, sexuality in a repressive environment, superficial belief in the Gospel, the value of individualism in a society that disdains it, the ever-presence of hypocrisy -- I could go on. Suffice it to say that this is a powerful and disturbing work that leaves the reader at times angry at the viciousness of some religious people, grateful for the occasional meritorious neighbor, resentful of the implied chauvinism in the Church's "placement program" -- although not viewed that way at the time.

This book is, according to Parables' website, based on Cope's actual experience as a product of this system. How much of this is autobiographical is hard to say. But there is a fervency here, a simmering anger, that bubbles up until it's boiling over.

Personal redemption is a difficult goal, and it is sometimes accomplished only by distancing oneself from the forces that have shaped our lives. These may include family, friends, church and work. Some choose to accomplish this distance on a psychic level, going through the motions, hoping, perhaps, for a deeper connection. Sometimes it just doesn't work, and the person must look outside the ecclesiastical box to find that redemption.

I thought the book needed some tightening up here and there, but it is a well-written, fully realized, and deeply personal account of what it's like to be lost in the Mormon cosmos, riding the Restoration merry-go-round, desperately hoping to find, and grab, that golden ring that will make everything all right. The frustration, the anger, and the sense of failure all lead to a compelling life story that will leave readers disturbed.

The Coming of Elijah is a powerful story that should be read by thoughtful people who are willing to suspend their distaste for anything controversial, who are able to open up to a visceral reading experience that will remain with you for a long time to come.

-----------------------------------

Jeffrey Needle
May 25, 2006