A number of years ago, I spent a day in Salt Lake City. I did not get to hear the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but I did walk my dog around the city's Temple Square. It's a really beautiful area and I was highly impressed with the amazing Salt Lake Temple.
I recently finished reading
The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith by
Joanna Brooks. Brooks was raised in Orange County, California at a time when girls aspired to be like Marie Osmond. Drinking root beer was approved and being part of the Mormon community felt good. But while attending Brigham Young University, Joanna became aware that being feminist and liberal were also important to who she was. I really like that she realizes she is all of these things, and doesn't have to give up pieces of her self or what she believes in to do it. Brooks struggles to reconcile her beliefs and feelings, but never shirks putting in the work. The book is interesting, funny, and shines a bright light on what it means to have faith.
