Review
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Title: No Ordinary Women: Making a Difference through Righteous Influence
Author: Elaine S. Dalton
Publisher: Deseret Book Co.
Genre: Religion & Spirituality
Year Published: 2016
Number of Pages: 111
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN13: 978-1-62972-151-4
Price: $16.99
Reviewed by Elizabeth W. Roach for the Association for Mormon Letters
It just takes a little bit extra to turn ordinary into extraordinary, and that is what Elaine Dalton’s new book, “No Ordinary Women: Making a Difference through Righteous Influence” does. As a counselor in the Young Women’s General Presidency for years, and having served as the president from 2008-2013, she has been a remarkable leader, touching generations of men and women as she has calls for a return to virtue and reminding us of the blessings and power of covenant keeping.
Elaine Dalton starts her story with personal experiences that helped determine the course of her life, including the circumstances surrounding her touchstone advice of “what-e’er thou art, act well thy part” which she first encountered during a deep personal trial while in Scotland. She learned that each part of the puzzle is essential to the success of the whole and that each piece is as valuable as all the others. From there, she shares the experiences of people from around the world, including Australia, Denmark, India, and the United States who did a little bit extra and went from ordinary to extraordinary.
She is well known as a marathoner and includes a story of an inspirational race. Another story, the one about the twin girls, has been a part of my personal hero wall for years as a reminder that when we do whatever is in our power to do, it is enough to make a difference and can even save lives.
In part one of the book, Dalton sets the stage by reminding women of the source of their power. In part two, the author gives six empowering ways to make a daily difference.
No matter how inspirational the advice, it counts for little unless it is applied. Probably my favorite parts of the book are the pages at the end of each of the two sections where she pauses for a moment to ask readers to reflect on personal experiences similar to those discussed. After pondering on these prompts, readers are then challenged to make and keep some fresh commitments to living their lives in a way that we can do what we were sent to do.
Several questions could lead to insightful journal entries or book group discussions. These sections are short; perhaps six paragraphs total, but I think this is where much of the power of the book is. If carefully and thoughtfully read and re-read, these pages have the potential to be life changing.
Conveniently sized to fit into purses, backpacks, diaper totes and yoga bags, Elaine Dalton’s new book “No Ordinary Women” is proof that small and profound things can pack a lot of power. It can and should go everywhere women go. The questions in the reflection pages reminded me that Dalton served as leader and mentor of the Personal Progress program for years. She, along with others, has helped train a generation of young women who were ready to stand up and answer yes when the opportunity came to serve missions at a younger age in October 2012. They had been taught and prepared by this powerful woman’s leadership to be covenant keepers who are reestablishing virtue in the darkening world around us.
Sister Dalton reminds us of those same simple principles so we can also be inspired to stand up and fill our roles as women having righteous influence in whatever location or occupation we find ourselves, so what-e’er we art, we can act well our part.