The Conversion of Jeff Williams

by Douglas Thayer

Description

Provo is a world away from San Diego. In this topsy-turvy tale, it is the wealthy, religious, east-bench Provoans who enjoy the best that life can offer and share it with a less privileged, laid-back, So Cal teenager over one summer vacation. At first, Jeff Williams finds himself dazzled by east-bench affluence and faith. But as the summer progresses, events persuade him to rethink this religion-and-riches culture and to accept that the normal temptations and foibles of youth without the show more Porsche are just fine: Every September before school, Dad gave me a blessing and told me to be receptive to the guidance of the Holy Ghost. I didn t particularly like the idea of the Holy Ghost following me around, checking up on what I was doing all the time, but Mom said I needed all the help I could get, particularly when it came to girls. I liked living in Aunt Helen s eight-million-dollar house. It made me feel like I might enjoy the summer more than I had thought I would. I knew that I wouldn t be able to wander around the house in my boxers and t-shirt, but I felt important. " show less

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cpg 222 reviews

Not what you'd expect from Signature Books

If you're like me, you've come to expect the books published by Signature to promote the revisionist agenda of LDS dissidents. (Their recent fiction has, in particular, an unusual number of oppressed Mormon homosexuals who end up dying by strangulation.) Well, in spite of themselves, Signature has published a wonderful book in _The Conversion of Jeff Williams_.

The plot summary that Signature prints on the back cover (and that Amazon has reprinted above) really seems to miss the point of the book. This is classic Thayer, with strong messages of redemption, grace, and love, conveyed by a story that is honestly told in simple, uncontrived language. It is so easy to take cheap shots at various types show more of characters perceived to be pervasive in the LDS community, but in _Jeff Williams_ Thayer adamantly refuses to do so. There isn't a character in this book who isn't portrayed with sympathy--a sign, I think, of Thayer's belief in the ability of grace to touch the most unlikely people.

In a fireside talk he gave shortly after he wrote his first novel, _Summer Fire_, Thayer opened my eyes to the beautiful message taught in Moroni 10:32-33, a message he said he tried to convey in that first book. Through his fiction, Thayer continues to teach me wonderful things. show less

Oct 17, 2017 (Edited)

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