The Crucible of Doubt by Terryl Givens and Fiona Givens

This is an amazing book that came to me at precisely the right time. My wonderful friend (and LDS counselor) Trish prepared a presentation for us Stake Welfare Specialists to adapt and use in our Stake on dealing with questions of faith and doubt. She based much of her presentation on another book, Planted (by Mason), and as I considered buying it, I kept reading reviews that referred to this Givens book that intrigued me. I eventually ordered both of them, but it's this one, the Givens' book, that I return to again and again.

Essentially, this book opened up my view to the breadth and depth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My view was limited by my lack of knowledge and history and probably other things as well! I am not a particularly deep or disciplined thinker. These authors opened up my thinking and helped me throw off chains that were holding me back! And they do it in such a faith-promoting and wonderful way...

I suggested to our great friend Levi that he read it, and we spent a rich Sunday afternoon discussing it among the four of us -- his wife, and Len. We all came away uplifted and revived by the ideas and the discussion as we sampled some of our favorite parts and discussed them. He said, "This book changed my life!"

I lent it to my deep friend Christy, and she graciously underlined her favorite parts...but we haven't had a chance to discuss it together yet. She underlined some amazing passages that I missed, so I'm looking forward to a walk and talk with her.

I read an excerpt to my friend Ramona, who promptly asked me to copy it into her hospital log so she could share it with her family. I have read enough of it to Leonard that he has become a big advocate as well! We have realized our study of church history has been too shallow. This book helps us uncover how we could more faithfully and appropriately move forward.