Review
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Title: Promise of Zion
Author: Anita Stansfield
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Genre: Fiction/Historical
Year Published: 2008
Number of Pages: 238
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 979-1-59811-516-1
Price: $15.95

Reviewed by Karen Hamilton

As this saga comes to its close, the reader is immersed into Iris’s story. Her parents have had center stage in the first three books and still play a major role in this book. James, the head of the Barrington household, is dealing with new health issues and getting old. Iris is now an adult and is struggling to overcome heartache and trust issues. Her suitors have labeled her a shrew. The whole family is waiting for the right time to move to Salt Lake City to be with the other Saints. As the waiting is stretching out, life continues to move forward.

The newest addition to the family is Casey Harrison, who is a new convert to the Mormon faith. He is looking for a job to help him buy the needed supplies to make the trek to Salt Lake. The job offer comes from James Barrington and is a double blessing for Casey. In this setting, he is tutored in his new faith, receives a paycheck and makes lasting relationships with the Barrington household. Here he also receives the opportunity to exercise his new faith as everyone, except Iris, welcomes him into the household family.

Iris and Casey weather emotional and spiritual storms separately and together as they try to claim the blessings of God. Casey has fully embraced the redeeming power of the Savior and has repented of his past misdeeds. Iris is leery of committing to a relationship with him as his past is not something Casey feels comfortable discussing. With Iris looking for a reason not to trust Casey, she finds one that threatens to pull them apart and leave them lonely for the rest of their lives. The issues of trust and forgiveness are central to the relationship these two are trying to develop.

As the Barrington household commits to making the move to Zion, there are health and emotional issues that make it much more difficult for everyone. The wagons are ready, the company is organized, but not everyone is totally ready for the loss of security they have enjoyed in Ohio. The trek will test them all and Zion still seems so far away that at times it feels as if the end will never come.

As the story concludes, all of the loose ends are connected and it is nice to know what happens to the Barrington family. Faith, sacrifice, obedience, courage and love will help make the road of life easier to travel. Again Anita Stansfield has woven a masterpiece for her fans to read and enjoy.