Cedar Fort is rapidly becoming one of the most prolific LDS publishers, offering a wide variety of books to satisfy nearly every interest. They have shown a good amount of creativity in their offerings, and for this we should be very grateful.

The title of the present volume, "New Light on the Atonement," can be a bit misleading. The "light" is "new," not so much to today's readers, but to those unfamiliar with the works and words of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Indeed, Mormonism has an expansive view of the atoning work of Christ -- from its extent to its efficacy -- offering the believer an amazing view of the forgiving nature of our God.

To my knowledge, only Mormonism understands the episode in Gethsemane to be explicitly part of the atonement. And Mormonism adds so much to our understanding of the whole idea of heavenly rewards. So much of what Latter-day Saints understand about the plan of salvation comes from the revelations of Joseph Smith.

Morris takes an interesting approach to his subject. He studies how the doctrine of the atonement developed over the years, and groups these developments chronologically, showing how they fit into the ongoing development of the Church and Joseph's own growth as student and teacher. We are given some unique glimpses into the mind of the Prophet, an aspect of his own maturing that is not often studied.

Readers may be surprised at how the revelations concerning the atonement fit into the overall historical structure of the Church. It's easy to imagine that the entirety of the doctrine, as understood today, came in a single package. Instead, Joseph, and the Church, had to go through a period of maturing and developing before the large scope of the sacrifice of Christ could be fully understood. Morris does a good job of leading the reader through this process.

Morris also takes a close look at the ongoing work of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, with extensive cites that reflect Joseph's concern with the doctrine of the atonement. He writes from the perspective of a true believer, and clearly treasures these additions to the canon.

This fine book provides what is so necessary in any study of this subject -- historical context. There was a lot going on as the various doctrines of the Church were being discovered and stated. Being able to glimpse at the history behind the belief can be helpful and informative.

In all, this book can be a profitable and enjoyable read. Its brevity suggests that this is not a deeply detailed study, but a lengthy bibliography can lead the interested reader to further study. And make no mistake -- there is much more to be said on this subject. It is worthy of our consideration.

I enjoyed reading this, and I gained a better understanding of how the Church came to its current understanding of the Atonement. I think Latter-day Saints will profit from reading this book, and can lead many to a deeper appreciation for the work of Jesus Christ and the loving care of God.