Title: The way to the Shining City: a story of the early Mormons in Missouri and Nauvoo, Illinois
Author: Elaine Stienon
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 9781456754150
Pages: 300
Genre: Historical fiction
Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert
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Pacific Book Review
As Mormons, they were looking to build God’s Kingdom on Earth; Zion they called it, but religious intolerance made it hard to accomplish this holy goal for the early Mormons. In her newest addition to her books on Mormon life, The way to the Shining City, Elaine Stienon brings historical fiction fans an immersive saga which follows a group of early Mormon settlers, chronicling their experiences with life, love, tragedy and triumph and especially religious persecution, during their quest to live in peace in a community of their brethren while faithfully adhering to the tenets of their religion without harassment.
Presenting an engrossing story from the start, this character driven narrative competently intertwines with historical events, as readers are taken back in time to the 1800’s where in the harsh environment of the American Midwest a small group of Mormon pioneers find themselves facing the daunting task of resettling after having been forced to flee from Kirtland Ohio, due to harassment and intolerance of the Mormon lifestyle. The group consisted of a varied mixture of people including married and single adults, a child, and a freed slave. The group made their way to Nauvoo, Illinois, where others had already started a community, albeit a fledgling one at that.
Central to the group and the story is Gabriel Romain, a doctor and a church elder. Introduction to him comes by way of a passage from his diary, within which he ponders the current state of his people and the church. Gabriel lives a stressful life but is a fascinating character, whose strength, stalwart disposition, courage and kindness play out well throughout the story. Moreover, multiple perspectives of life for the settlers fuel the story as individual characters are affected by their rugged life, their varied perspectives intrigue as the intimate details of life at that time keeps the story flowing and engaging.
Conclusively, I found The Way to the Shining City to be an altogether stimulating read that provided and expansive view of life for the early Mormon settlers as well as providing empathetic food for thought. Author Elaine Stienon tells an illuminating story which flows gracefully while imparting knowledge and essential details about an aspect of history, not usually found to be a topic of discussion. She essentially grants the reader intelligible access and insight into one of the many unfortunate aspects of human history, with her portrayal of life for the Mormons, who were violently attacked and persecuted by the Gentiles and chased from settlement to settlement, while looking to build a city dedicated to God; as well as having to manage a growing dissension within the religion itself.
The Way to the Shining City is a book which fans of historical fiction or anyone with a thirst for knowledge about how the many varied religious paths ultimately lead up to the current day will find very satisfying.
