"GOOD ANSWERS TO GOOD QUESTIONS," by Chris Huston, Covenant Communications, $9.99, 146 pages (nf)
Chris Huston’s recent book "Good Answers to Good Questions" teaches members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints how to share their basic beliefs accurately and simply. The LDS author provides substantive, pithy answers to 50 questions Mormons are commonly asked, supporting the responses with scripture, historical context and personal experience.
Huston writes that LDS Church members are most effective when they follow Jesus' teaching style, that is to “speak briefly, pause and see what happens next.” He maintains that a short, thoughtful answer will either satisfy the questioner’s interest without overwhelming him or will lead to another question.
While his work is basically a reference book (unfortunately lacking an index), it reads conversationally. In each chapter, Huston poses a question on topics ranging from Mormons’ Christianity and temples to views on social issues. He then suggests a possible answer, one that is precise and relatable. For instance, when a Mormon is asked why he doesn’t drink, smoke or do drugs, he or she might say, “The main reason is that I don’t want to. … We believe our bodies are a gift from God and we need to stay away from that stuff.”
According to the former broadcast journalist, humor and candor can help clarify misconceptions. Question: “How many wives do you have?” Answer: “One. And in my experience, that’s plenty. And just for the record, it’s been more than 120 years since the church allowed polygamy.”
The author also addresses how to handle questions that are too deep for a short answer or potentially venomous in nature. In these situations he suggests strategies such as ascertaining the questioner’s real interest, delaying until a later time and stopping adversarial conversations immediately.
The book teaches readers how to craft short answers to a questioner’s first query. Answers that will hopefully lead to another question; for “the second question — the real one on his mind,” the author writes, “will allow you to catch a glimpse into your friend’s heart and find out how you can best help him.”
Huston’s shortest answer “may be the best answer to every question: Come and see. Come and see what we have in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Gail Sears is a part-time teacher with a passion for learning. Her favorite instructors are her husband and five children.