Review
Title: Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree
Author: Edward Dube
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Inspirational
Year Published: 2021
Number of Pages: 157
Binding: Hardback
ISBN: 978-1-62972-919-0
Price: 18.99
Reviewed by Amanda Ray for the Association of Mormon Letters
Books by general authorities can be a way to gain some spiritual insight and also come to know a church leader. When I read Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree by Elder Edward Dube, I immediately came to appreciate his approach in this book. I also learned about the culture that Elder Dube grew up in and the experiences of Saints in another part of the world. Since he was raised in another faith and converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Dube has a different perspective and background than many of our general authorities. This lets him align with newer members of our faith and speak to them differently while still having so much to offer all members.
Dube explains the title of his book by showing how mango trees were a common sight where he grew up. They were a place where he sought shade and would learn from his mother and others. Mango trees are a comfort, and they are part of his home. He then compares the shade of the mango tree to a Book of Mormon hero needing to leave his own shade under a proverbial mango tree because, “[…] at some point, each of us needs to be ready for the Lord to show us more: More than we think we know about our environment. More than we think we know about Him. More than we think we know about ourselves.” I loved this simple and beautiful way of describing how each of us can learn to recognize and appreciate and learn from the mango trees we stay under and can learn to leave their shade.
One thing that becomes quickly evident in this book – and other books of similar size by general authorities – is how each chapter is its own talk. Almost every chapter could be a contained talk, with a story, a lesson, and scriptures referenced. Split up in this way, with bite-sized chapters, makes this book a nice guide for family home evening lessons or personal study. One can look at how a particular event in Elder Dube’s life is related or not related to you or how you would handle that particular situation. Or perhaps look at the scriptures he references and use his interpretation as a springboard to find your own meaning.
Elder Dube is honest and forthcoming with problems he had to work out for himself, both before and after his conversion, in the personal, professional, and spiritual aspects of his life. It’s refreshing to hear how imperfect a general authority can be in a relatable way, such as having misconceptions about people from another country or recognizing from a close friend how you need to change to progress in an area of your life. Even if our circumstances are different, we can relate to someone who’s struggling with what job prospects to act on, where to move to, and how to deal with difficult people. So not only do we learn a lesson on how the gospel worked for one person, we can see easily how it relates to us.
There were times when I felt Elder Dube could have fleshed out some of his stories a little more, giving the reader some deeper context for his culture in Zimbabwe to better grasp the connotations. The way some of his stories were presented, I didn’t quite get why a phrase used was so emphatic, or why certain decisions made were that pivotal for his family. But in the end, it’s easy to move past that slight confusion and get at the heart of why the story was presented in the first place – to show an aspect of Elder Dube’s life that gave him a chance to leave the shade of the mango tree and become closer to Christ.
Beyond the Shade of the Mango Tree is a sweet, quick read that gives the reader spiritual nourishment and helps them come to know another member of church leadership in a relatable way. It’s not a treacly gift book read – this short book has a surprising punch to it that offers a deeper look into how we all can leave our own mango tree shades and emerge as better Saints in Zion.