The latest edition of Sunstone Winter 2009 is a rich collection of writings by a variety of authors. I have enjoyed and savored each piece including the poetry section, the various columns, and book reviews.
The major part of the winter edition is dedicated to Asia. You will find an article on our family’s adoption experience in China by yours truly in this section. An article by Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye entitled Mormonism: An Eastern Religion? reveals similarities in LDS doctrine and Eastern religions. I was delighted to learn about truths found in other belief systems. Mei Li Inouye, the author of Mercy, tells a thoughtful short story about a lonely woman who encounters LDS sister missionaries. Thomas Rogers authored Interconnecting At Home and Abroad. His viewpoints are honest as he takes us on his travels to Asia and Europe. He did not travel detached as a tourist, but sought out real awareness with people in exotic cultures.
The diversity of Sunstone is evident in the reading of Brittny Goodsell Jones eye-opening article entitled Skirting An Issue? Cross-dressing and the LDS Church. Nuff said. I now have a window into this facet of the human condition.
Jeanette Atwood’s excerpt from a Book of Mormon graphic novel called Ammon Warrior Missionary is fun for all. Atwood’s cartoon characters are humorous. My kids enjoyed reading this familiar scripture story in cartoon form.
Jeffrey Needle is a reviewer for Association for Mormon Letters. Needle, who is not a member of the LDS church, is a LDS Hobbyist. In other words, Mormonism is his hobby. His particular niche is examining us as a people by reading books authored by members and then reviewing the books. Jeffrey Needle enlightens with an article entitled Reading Mormonism Through Jewish Eyes. He takes us thru his journey of faith first as a devout Jew and later a Seventh day Adventist. What I took from his article I will always remember: In all my years attending synagogue, I can’t recall a single person getting up and saying, I know that Moses was a true prophet of God. I know that the Bible is true. I know that Judaism is true. We Jews just don’t talk like that. Instead, we go about our lives as if we believed those things. A life lived is considered more compelling than a slogan recited. For this reason, a Jew would probably leave a Mormon testimony meeting scratching his or her head. Why all the protestation that one is a Christian? Why all the insistence that Nephi was a real guy? Just live it!
Good advice. Thanks Jeffrey Needle. Thanks to Stephen Carter and all the gang at Sunstone for putting together a truly delightful edition.