America's Hope: Why Every Other Civilization Has Failed and What You Can Do to Save This One

This is a great book to enliven conscience and visit a panoramic view of some of the tests of this life through the lens of the Book of Mormon, as related to gospel subjects, duties, and challenges for our time. I was disappointed when chapter eleven referenced Jacob 2:35; 3:6, 7; and other scriptures, in portraying forms of apostasy among the Nephites and virtues among the Lamanites, while evading the full verse which delineates the precise command of the Lord in question, and precisely why the Lamanites would not be utterly destroyed: monogamous fidelity (the command for "this people" of the Americas to have one wife only--Jacob 3:5, 6; Jacob 2:22-35). Surely in our information age (after numerous works such as Richard S. Van Wagoner's MORMON POLYGAMY:A HISTORY, Richard L. Bushman's JOSEPH SMITH: ROUGH STONE ROLLING, Leonard J. Arrington's ADVENTURES OF A CHURCH HISTORIAN, Gary James Bergera's CONFLICT IN THE QUORUM, Eugene England's "On Fidelity, Polygamy, and Celestial Marriage," Stephen C. Taysom's "A Uniform and Common Recollection: Joseph Smith's Legacy, Polygamy, and the Creation of Mormon Public Memory, 1852-2002," Kathryn M. Danes' MORE WIVES THAN ONE: TRANSFORMATION OF THE MORMON MARRIAGE SYSTEM 1840-1910, and the resurfacing of THE BIBLE & POLYGAMY, DOES THE BIBLE SANCTION POLYGAMY?, etc., increasingly unfold the likelihood that our early consideration, promotion and practice of LDS polygamy were substantially errant wanderings from which we must rise) we must better acknowledge our own succumbing to error as well as pointing out the sins of the outside world (if our own credibility and integrity are important). The risks and dangers of mortality (well portrayed in Brinley's book) plead that we better acknowledge and discern how God's chosen also err (D & C 1:25; 33:2-4; 2 Ne. 28:14; Prov. 10:17, Mark 12:24), and that we must rise above such. Surely we aren't going to keep implying that polygamy by fundamentalist break-offs, or that polygamy by the outside world, offends the God of this land, while "our" form of the same practice pleased Him?

The author is a Church History Professor at BYU, so this book is a well-researched, scripturally based account of the history of failed civilizations on this hemisphere and the destiny of America. No wild speculations here, so if that's what you're looking for, search elsewhere. Most of the exegesis is based on scripture unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) so it might not be of interest to others (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price). But if you are interested, the author gives a quick overview of the covenant nature of this hemisphere (Serve the God of this land who is Jesus Christ or be swept off). He points out that this same covenant relationship has existed here since the beginning. The Adamic civilization was removed via the flood after the righteous had been saved through the Prophet Enoch. Then the Jaredites went through several cycles before they too were destroyed. Then the Nephites. The author explains the reason the Lamanites were partly spared. Then he discusses the current dispensation. He ends with current prophet's views and why we should be optimistic. This book does not dwell on all the cataclysms expected before the Second Coming, but rather on why and how there is reason for optimism regarding this nation. Lots of quotes from Ezra Taft Benson as you might expect. Now just 2 criticisms. First, the visions of Wilford Woodruff and the like are not mentioned. These accounts are not quite so pollyanna-ish but are needed for a fuller picture of upcoming events. And second, the idea of a covenant relationship is not at all solely an idea of the LDS church alone. Many of America's early Christians espoused this idea. The Mayflower Compact and the whole Puritan movement in this country were covenantal relationships. Many other similar groups from the Dutch to the Manifest Destiny believers also accepted this covenant idea. Overall, upbeat and enjoyable with the single best contribution of this book being what ripening in destruction means, and what exactly determines a civilization being fully ripe (society casts out the righteous).