Growing up, I knew several Mormon families. The LDS Church purchased a home in the neighborhood as a residence for the President of the PA mission. After several Presidents with older children that did not accompany them to PA, a family with 13 children arrived. Of all the families to occupy this house, I came to know the "B" family the best. As I read this book, I recall things about my Mormon friends I haven't thought about in a quite some time - like their mothers were always baking bread! Based on my prior experiences and perceptions, if I were to describe a member of the LDS Church, a few adjectives come to mind - wholesome, adventurous, friendly, and caring. Given their caring nature, I can understand why Martha felt the need to return to that community, given all that was going on in her life. As a result of reading this book, I also realize my perceptions of the LDS Church are based on what I observed through my interactions with these families. Other than knowing Joseph Smith was considered a prophet and they didn't drink coffee or tea, their faith was always a mystery to me. Things Seen and Unseen, a title of a book we've previously read, seems to apply here as well. Considering the LDS Church's strong emphasis on mission, how do you reconcile what is outwardly projected with the beliefs that are so secretive? How does it compare with what we as Lutherans and Christians project in our interactions with others? What are your perceptions based on what you've read so far?

Our Winter 2011 Selection: "Leaving the Saints"

The next book for the Women of Trinity Book Blog is Martha Beck's, Leaving the Saints: How I Lost the Mormons and Found My Faith. For those familiar with Beck's writing, they know she is a talented writer who openly shares her experiences. In this book, she chronicles her return to teach at Brigham Young University after the birth of her son, Adam, who was born with Down syndrome. (Her book, Expecting Adam, tells about her pregnancy and the faith she found despite the challenge of having a Down syndrome child.)

We will "live" blog at 7 p.m. on the following Thursdays, covering the noted chapters:
* Thursday, February 17 - Chapters 1-15 (pages 1-107)
* Thursday, March 17 - Chapters 16-18 (pages 108-218)
* Thursday, April 28 - Chapters 29-Epilogue (pages 219-336).

Chapters 18 -25

I have enjoyed reading this book. There were many instances when I laughed at her directness. I am in awe of both her dedication to and the scope of the food pantries she developed. She fed the body and the spirit. However, as the book progressed, I wanted to see her broaden her interpretation of communion. Initially she made a wonderful connection between the communion meal and reaching out to feed those in need physically and spiritually. Though,with the exception of her description of administering communion to her dying friend, I didn't get the sense that I shared the same understanding of communion. Communion as the representation of Christ's suffering and death for our salvation.

Discussion: Chapters 10-17

I am amazed at Sara's ability to continue to grow so much in her faith and to expand her love for God by serving others. In Chapter 17, The Desert, she talks about recognizing that the beautiful space and rituals we experience while attending church, while important, aren't the only places we should be "seeing" God. And this moves her to go searching in the nearby projects, delivering food in assistance to another pantry.Later, she writes that one of her friends notes that once "church powers" start to control how communion is handled, it gets "further and further from the power and the genius of that meal." What do you think about that?

Discussion: Chapters 1-9

I have to be honest, Take This Bread, isn't what I was expecting. It's a brutally honest look at religion from a person who had no faith to start with. Unlike, Girl Meets God, Sara Miles comes to church not knowing what to expect and being overwhelmed with the feelings she has when she receives communion. But as I read further, I appreciate her transformation and feeling that God has spoken to her and she hears, "Feed my sheep." Her connection with food reminds me a bit of another author, Ruth Reichel, and the beginning of the book reminded me of some of Reichel's tales. Reichel, a former food critic for the New York Times and editor of Gourmet, doesn't follow a religious path.

What has struck you the most about the book so far?

Live blog changes to Sept. 23

Hello everyone,
Hope you're all enjoying the book this session. There are several of us who have a conflict with next week's "live" blogging session. We will be moving that session to Thursday, Sept. 23. I apologize for the schedule change.

Beginning in September, we'll be reading Take this Bread by Sara Miles.

Linda Post Bushkofsky from the WELCA wrote this review of the book: "I thought this was going to be yet another memoir of a California-based journalist who finds religion and becomes an Episcopalian. There’ve been a lot of those. It was this, but then so much more. Miles’s faith is grounded in the Eucharist, the table to which Jesus invites all. Since she wasn’t raised in the faith, Miles doesn’t get bogged down in rituals and pretense, like so many cradle Christians do, and instead lives the Gospel and creates church – communion – in a food bank that serves all, without question."

The "live" blog will begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 16 and will cover Chapters 1-9; Chapters 10-17 on October 21 and finish with Chapters 18-25 on November 18. If you have any questions about the blog, please contact Kim Shindle at kimstamps@comcast.net.