Review
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Title: A Peculiar People
Author: Joseph Fielding Smith
Compiler: Lynn Pulsipher
Publisher: Eborn Books
Genre: Nonfiction
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 160
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN13: 978-0962254512
Price: $24.95
Reviewed by Trevor Holyoak for the Association for Mormon Letters
Joseph Fielding Smith was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he died in 1972. Prior to that, he was an apostle, being called in 1910. During his time as an apostle, he wrote a series of articles for the Deseret News with the theme of the Latter-day Saints being a “peculiar people.” These articles were not well known, although some were quoted in the recent volume of Teachings of the Presidents of the Church bearing his name. They have now been compiled and published together in a book for the first time.
The book starts with an introduction by the compiler, Lynn Pulsipher, where he gives a brief explanation of how he came to put the book together. He also points out that he made a few minor edits, which he felt Joseph Fielding Smith might have made himself, and states that some scripture references were also added. There are two indexes in the back: a topical “General Index” which seems fairly thorough, and a “Scripture Index.”
The articles ran from May 2, 1931 to June 25, 1932. They appear in order, with excerpts from a talk given on January 3, 1954 inserted at the end of eight articles that cover similar ground as the excerpts. There is also an excerpt from a talk by Gordon B. Hinckley at the end of one article.
The articles (the book actually calls them “essays”) are pretty simple and straightforward, with titles such as “Vision of the Father and the Son,” “Zion and Jerusalem,” and “Eternity of the Family.” These articles are meant to point out different beliefs and practices that make us “peculiar” from those not of our faith.
Here is one example: “The doctrine of marriage for eternity was made known to Joseph Smith by revelation from the Lord. It is peculiar to the Latter-day Saints. No other people accept it as a fundamental principle of exaltation and as a part of the great plan of salvation. Nevertheless, let any faithful man and woman, who truly fear the Lord and love each other as husband and wife in the holy covenant of marriage, be asked the question: ‘Would you like your marriage covenant to endure forever?’ and they will, without exception, make answer in the affirmative. To all such we say: According to the gospel plan, marriage is an eternal principle and the family in the kingdom of God shall endure forever.” (page 100)
For those interested in the teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith, this is an interesting compilation of articles. It is nice to have them readily accessible.