Dew, “Women and the Priesthood: What One Latter-Day Saint Woman Believes” Revised Edition/Journal Edition (Reviewed by Christine Tensmeyer)

Title: Women and the Priesthood: What One Latter-Day Saint Woman Believes – Journal Edition (Revised Edition)
Author: Sheri Dew
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Non-fiction/Theology
Year Published: 2021 (revised from 2013 edition)
Number of Pages: 204
Binding: Paperback
ISBN10: 1629728950
ISBN13: 978-1-62972-783-7
Price: $19.99

Reviewed by Christine Tensmeyer for the Association for Mormon Letters

I thoroughly enjoyed Women and the Priesthood: What One Latter-Day Saint Woman Believes by Sheri Dew. While not a big book, it covers a multitude of topics within its pages. While the title of the book is Women and the Priesthood, I feel that that subject is really only discussed in the last three chapters of the book. The first four chapters of Women and the Priesthood give the background of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and discuss Church history, faith, worldly views, and what being “all in” or being truly converted to the Gospel of Christ is.

This revised edition of Women and the Priesthood comes in two versions, a “standard” hardback edition and a softcover “Journal Edition.” This journal edition has larger margins that provide plenty of room for making notes. It also includes QR codes that link to various video segments, and has an extensive notes section in the back of the book, giving the resources Sheri Dew used.

While Women and the Priesthood is only 180 pages long, not including the Notes and Index section, I felt that it wasn’t a quick read. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I read a book so slowly. There were so many truths, nuggets of wisdom, tips on how to be all in the Gospel, and stories of faith across the spectrum of time, that there was a lot to unpack and digest in this book while reading. Sheri Dew has self-reflection questions peppered throughout the book.  Women and the Priesthood also has many questions that will help deepen one’s immersion in the Gospel in these latter days.

This book was well researched by Sheri Dew. She has quotes that span the modern apostles and prophets, scripture stories from across all books of scripture, and specific stories from the early days of the Restoration.

While none of the principles that Sheri Dew teaches in her book are new, she has a gift for explaining things in such a way that makes familiar principles freshly applicable and relevant to your life now.

Sheri Dew’s book is full of personal stories and bears a strong witness of not just how Women and the Priesthood exist (and they do!) but also how to fully immerse ourselves in the Gospel with great love in her words. I would highly recommend this book.