Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women's Local Impact

Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women's Local Impact
By Neylan McBaine
Greg Kofford Books, 2014. 189 pgs. Non-Fiction

This is a timely, thoughtful, and inspiring book written in a moment when gender issues are a source of great conversation and rapid change in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Neylan McBaine writes from the perspective of a woman deeply devoted to the LDS faith, but takes an honest look at the issues and complications surrounding gender issues within the church. The purpose of her book is to bring understanding and compassion to the issues, and discuss real applicable changes that can be made within the church at a local level regardless of any large scale changes (ie women being given the priesthood, or a revision of the Church Handbook).

As a LDS woman, I personally found this book riveting and recognize in McBaine a kindred spirit. I was so impressed with her intelligence, grace, generosity of spirit and faith and found myself more inspired to contribute towards greater understanding within my own local congregation. McBaine speaks authoritatively (she is the founder of the Mormon Women Project and works as a brand strategist for Bonneville Communications) and personally interviewed hundreds of Mormon women and men ensuring she relied on authentic voices and impecable scholarly research in writing this book. I highly recommend this book for any person in the LDS church, especially those in leadership positions. It is illuminating, inspiring, and filled with practical questions and ideas.

ZB