Review: Season of Sacrifice

Season of Sacrifice By Tristi Pinkston

From the back cover:

Sarah Williams is a young Welsh immigrant, coming to Utah to join her sister Mary Ann Perkins. When the Perkins are asked to join the San Juan mission to pioneer a trail through Southern Utah, they take Sarah along to help care for the children.

But a six-week journey turns into six agonizing months of hard work and toil as the Saints blast their way through a cliff to bring their wagons down what would become the famous Utah landmark, “Hole in the Rock.”
Finally settled in the San Juan, Sarah’s true hardship begins when Ben Perkins asks her to be his second wife. With their faith and testimonies challenged to the core, both Sarah and Mary Ann struggle to find the true meaning of Christ-like love and obedience. Will they make it through?

I enjoyed this book. Pinkston does an excellent job of portraying the struggle to travel to the San Juan. I have a greater appreciation for the Saints who were called to build this trail and the suffering they endured. My testimony was strengthened as I read about these real men and women who experienced great trials but never gave up. What tremendous faith these people had and Pinkston made me feel like I was right there experiencing it with them.

I was tempted to close the book after they made it to the San Juan because I’d grown to love the people and didn’t want to read about them having to endure the even greater trial of polygamy. I think Pinkston handled the polygamy aspect with great care and tenderness. I could really feel for Sarah and Mary Ann and how difficult it must’ve been to face the hardship of sharing a husband. I liked how Pinkston showed Ben’s feelings as well and his struggle to obey a commandment while being concerned about the feelings of Mary Ann. He didn’t make the decision lightly.

My favorite passage was when Sarah realized that though she didn’t have a testimony of polygamy, she did have a testimony of God and keeping his commandments. That’s still true today. We may not always understand a commandment, but if we are obedient, we will be blessed. We must learn to live by faith. I think this is the main message of this book.

I recommend Season of Sacrifice to anyone who wants to learn more about the expedition through the “Hole in the Rock” and who wants to understand more about those who practiced polygamy.

You can purchase your own copy here.

Visit Tristi's website www.tristipinkston.com to learn more about her and her other books.