Review
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Title: Q&A: Common Questions and Powerful Answers for LDS Youth
Authors: John Hilton III and Anthony Sweat
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Religious Nonfiction
Year Published: 2016
Number of Pages: 259
Binding: Paperback
ISBN10:
ISBN13: 9781629722344
Price: $24.99
Reviewed by Kristie Wilkins for the Association for Mormon Letters.
The restoration of the Gospel began with a young boy and thoughtful, intelligent questions and continued as a young prophet continued to seek and see answers from the Lord. As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said, “My dear young friends, we are a question-asking people because we know that inquiry leads to truth”. [x] As our youth and new members of the Church ask questions, it is essential that we as leaders, parents, and friends provide sensitive, accurate and respectful answers.
One of my favorite resources for age-appropriate answers to Gospel questions has been the “How” and “Why” books by authors John Hilton III and Anthony Sweat and I am pleased to say that a new installment in their series for youth is now available: “Q&A: Common Questions and Powerful Answers for LDS Youth”.
Laid out like a visual dictionary or encyclopedia, “Q&A” uses bright, colorful pictures, graphics including maps, charts, statistical comparisons, object lessons and discussions to illustrate in-depth, yet age-appropriate answers to Gospel questions. I love that this book is organized so that each chapter focuses on a specific topic presented as a question, allowing it to be read in one sitting or picked up to search by topic. The “Notes” section in the back provides chapter by chapter references for every quote used by the authors, making it very easy for readers to locate the original sources for further study. The majority of the sources used to answer the questions in the book are modern day prophets and apostles, “For the Strength of Youth” and “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” and the scriptures, so parents and leaders do not have to worry about whether the information presented is doctrinally sound.
A few of the many chapters that stood out to me are highlighted below. I encourage readers to prayerfully ponder which chapters they need to focus on for the youth in their stewardship, understanding that the value of this resource is that the questions and challenges our youth are facing change over time.
Chapter 20 addresses the question, “Why Should I be Sexually Pure?”. It begins with illustration of a young woman on a date who is asked why the church cares so much about premarital sex. Hilton and Sweat pose a question to their young readers to get them thinking: “Take a minute to think about your own or other people’s experiences. Do you know of instances in which somebody violated the law of chastity so that person would feel love? Did it work? The truth is that it doesn’t. This is one reason why it is so important to stay sexually pure-so that we can experience the respectful love that we deeply desire. When we violate the law of chastity, feelings of guilt, sorrow, regret, shame, and bitterness usually result instead of the love we seek.” [131]
Further questions and their explanations follow; “Why can something that is an ‘expression of love between husband and wife’ result in guilt and hate between those who aren’t married? If ‘physical intimacy between husband and wife is beautiful and sacred’ then why is it not so between boyfriend and girlfriend? It hinges on the timing or the *order* of when the physical intimacy takes place. There is a time and a season for everything, and God has commanded that marriage must come before physical intimacy. If we do this in the wrong order, something sweet can become bitter”. [131-132] Then the authors give an object lesson that youth can easily do at home to illustrate the point of doing things in the right order.
Some of the strengths of this chapter are the sidebars highlighted throughout the chapter with ten “Tips to Staying Sexually Pure: Prophetic Principles” that are straight from “For the Strength of Youth”. The “Tell Me One More Time” section reiterates the key points of the chapter and then addresses some specific questions about passionate kissing, NCMOs (as a parent, this is a term I had never heard before and I was grateful for the information), and sexual intimacy before marriage if you love someone.
Following Chapter 20 is an equality powerful and even more in-depth discussion on why same-sex marriage is contrary to God’s eternal plan. A must read for every LDS family, Chapter 21 emphasizes the love God has for *all* of His children while asserting that “[e]ternal truth is not relative, nor is truth made by the votes of society; truth is proclaimed by living prophets”. [139] The authors go on to explain the principles of marriage and sexual relations as revealed by modern day prophets and scripture including the “Doctrine and Covenants”, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” and the church’s official “Handbook of Instructions.”
I admire the straightforward, open approach the authors used to address a subject that is sensitive to many and a trigger point in the media. Sweat and Hilton are not afraid to address hard, emotional questions. Using the words of modern prophets and scripture give power to their words while also illustrating the love that church leaders and the Savior have for all people regardless of their challenges. I was particularly impressed by the conclusion, which focused on tolerance, respect, and the atonement of Jesus Christ: “To those who struggle with issues related to same-sex attraction and marriage, one of the greatest eternal, absolute Truths to remember is that because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, anything that may be unfair will one day be made right. *The central feature of the Atonement of Christ is to perfectly right any mortal wrong.* If we follow the Lord’s teachings related to the law of chastity and faithfully try to live our covenants with Him, we know He will make all things as they should be.” [144]
Another chapter that I found particularly fascinating was Chapter 33: “What Happens At the Second Coming?”. The authors begin by posing a scenario and asking readers if they are prepared for the second coming of the Savior. They go on to explain what the second coming is and what will happen during the second coming. Included are an eye-catching section on the signs of the times using a street sign illustration quiz [235] and a two page chart/check list listing the signs of the times with scriptural references and an opportunity for readers to ponder if the particular sign has been fulfilled, is in progress or has not started. [236-237]
The universal question of “When will the second coming be?” is addressed with the cleverly figurative answer- “tomorrow” [238] while the essence of the chapter is a challenge to the reader to live faithfully as if the second coming may literally come tomorrow. The pages that follow are devoted to how readers can prepare for the second coming, providing youth with uplifting, empowering answers; stand in holy places, look to modern prophets. Again I love the “Tell Me One More Time” summary at the end of the chapter, highlighting the key points and answering several additional related questions, one of which surprised me and may surprise you too.
John Hilton III and Anthony Sweat have provided another wonderful reference guide for the youth of the LDS Church, their leaders and families. The layout of the book perfectly lends itself to personal study, lesson preparation, and even Family Home Evening lessons. I strongly recommend that parents, grandparents, Bishops and Young Women leaders invest in copies of this great resource and take the time to familiarize themselves with “Q&A: Common Questions and Powerful Answers for LDS Youth”: the power behind the answers comes from modern revelation and eternal truths which makes it an essential resource.
My personal copies of “How?” and “Why?” have been lent out numerous times to my children’s friends who are struggling with questions, and their parents, whether newly converted members of the church or lifelong members, with questions about principles and doctrine. I am sure that, like its companions, “Q&A” will spend more time off my bookshelf than on. Yes, the books are written specifically for the youth, but the questions are universal and the answers essential.