“And my Father dwelt in a tent.” 1 Nephi 2:15.
I remember back to my seminary days in high school and it always seemed that there was someone who would jokingly recite this saying that it was their favorite scripture. Or, when trying to show that they had one memorized, they would quote this one. But, recently, I read a book that gave this sentence some meaning.
It was recommended to me long ago by a friend to read the book, The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. She suggested that it was about women in biblical times, but other than that, I knew very little about it. Recently I was at the library with my kids and thought that I wanted to find a book for me, and for some reason this book, that made the bestseller list about 10 years ago, popped into my head. In the very small library branch, they had a copy, so I grabbed it and away I went.
I have read other historical fiction novels in the past by LDS authors, but this was my first experience reading a book by a non-LDS author that was basing her story in biblical times. I found myself reading with interest, but also reading with some skepticism. The author’s writing is most likely largely based in her own belief system of being Jewish, and the history that their culture and religious views have. Although I can’t say that I loved this book, because there were a lot of themes in it that disturbed me, I will say that it opened my mind to what life was really like on a daily basis during old testament times. And, I think having your mind opened is always a good thing.
Now, when I pictured Lehi and his family, going into the wilderness and dwelling in tents, I could truly picture it. When I thought of how different that lifestyle must have been from the way that they had been living within the walls of Jerusalem, I could empathize with their complaining to leave all the comforts of home. Maybe I might not have been able to understand that before.
However, I could not help but feel a sense of sadness for women during this time. In my lifetime growing up as a member of the LDS church, I feel loved and revered, and respected as a woman. Women were not accustomed to those types of praises from men so long ago. While the book did have some beautiful themes in it regarding the bonds that women formed living the lifestyle of being one of multiple wives, and being so separate from the men, I couldn’t help feel grateful that I was born today, and not then.
I’m not sure I would “recommend” this book to an LDS friend, but if you can read it with an open mind, it might just open the book of the Old Testament to you in new light.
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