21 days without power. 2 brothers on a desperate trek. 72 hours before time runs out...The Lockwood brothers are supposed to be able to survive anything. Their dad, a hardcore believer in self-reliance, has stockpiled enough food and water at their isolated Nevada home to last for months. But when they are robbed of all their supplies during a massive blackout while their dad is out of town, John and Stew must walk 96 miles in the ...

For fans of Gary Paulsen’s classic Hatchet and Lauren Tarshis’s bestselling I Survived series, J. L. Esplin's 96 Miles is a story of survival and desperation as two young brothers confront the worst in humanity—and themselves.Dad always said if things get desperate, it’s okay to drink the water in the toilet. I never thought it would come to that. I thought I’d sooner die than let one drop of toilet water touch my lips. Yet here I am, kneeling...

"Dogs of All Nations" by Walter Esplin Mason is a captivating exploration of the diverse breeds of dogs found across the globe. Mason delves into the history, characteristics, and unique traits of various dog breeds, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of their origins and roles in human society. The book is not only informative but also celebrates the bond between humans and dogs, showcasing how these loyal companions have been integral to cultures worldwide. Mason's enga...

The Sabbatical: A True-Life Scuba-Diving Adventure, Away From the Office by Gordon Esplin is a memoir that chronicles the author's transformative sabbatical journey on Vancouver Island. Leaving behind his engineering job, Esplin embarks on an adventurous hiatus involving scuba diving, abalone harvesting, and navigating the rugged and challenging coastlines of British Columbia. The book captures his experience of acquiring an old fishing boat, Dease Isle, and outfitting it...

In 1838, suffering from persecution, hardship, and uncertainty, members of the Quorum of the Twelve must have been astonished at the revelation that said: “And next spring, let them depart to go over the great waters, and there promulgate my gospel.” Their adventures in the British Isles are a truly epic story in Latter-day Saint missionary work — poignant, powerful, and inspiring.Men With a Mission is a carefully researched, compelling account of that work, taking us to s...

The twelfth volume in the Documents series, to be published in April 2021, features ninety-six documents including Joseph Smith's correspondence, accounts of his discourses, and his last major written revelation. The volume also features a representative selection of his more routine documents such as deeds, ecclesiastical authorizations, and financial and legal records.

In 1847 the Prophet Joseph Smith's plans for Zion were transported more than 1,200 miles west when the Saints established the City of the Great Salt Lake. Much of the history of Salt Lake City is grounded in the revelations, visions, and plans of the Prophet Joseph regarding Zion, and many of the commandments in the Doctrine and Covenants find their fulfillment in the development of Salt Lake City as the headquarters of the Church.This book tells the story of the Church in Salt Lak...

In the summer of 1842, Joseph Smith continued to direct the affairs of a growing Church. He introduced new religious rituals, oversaw missionary work, encouraged the construction of a temple, served as edit of the Church newspaper Times and Seasons, and struggled to help the hundreds of converts gathering to Nauvoo, Illinois. In May, he was elected mayor, adding new municipal responsibilities to his busy schedule. Financial concerns were yet another matter that required Smith's at...

The sixth volume of the Documents series, published in 2017, contains personal letters, revelations, discourses, minutes, legal documents, and financial documents, among other documents. The documents in the volume trace the establishment of Far West, Missouri, as the center place of Zion; the spread of Mormon settlements in northwestern Missouri; Joseph Smith’s incarceration in Clay County, Missouri; the Saints’ expulsion from the state; and initial efforts to establish church settlements...

In recent years there has been a growth in both the practice and research of dark tourism; the phenomenon of visiting sites of tragedy or disaster. Expanding on this trend, this book examines dark tourism through the new lens of pilgrimage. It focuses on dark tourism sites as pilgrimage destinations, dark tourists as pilgrims, and pilgrimage as a form of dark tourism. Taking a broad definition of pilgrimage so as to consider aspects of both religious and non-religious travel that might be ...

The eleventh volume of the Documents series contains personal correspondence, financial and legal documents, sermon accounts, and other documents from September 1842 through February 1843. These texts show Joseph Smith eluding arrest and extradition to Missouri while endeavoring to honor his many ecclesiastical and civic responsibilities in Nauvoo, Illinois. Key documents include letters Joseph Smith wrote to the Latter-day Saints instructing them on the practice of baptism for the dead, d...

In the mid-twentieth century, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) returned to Nauvoo, Illinois, home to the thriving religious community led by Joseph Smith before his murder in 1844. The quiet farm town became a major Mormon heritage site visited annually by tens of thousands of people. Yet Nauvoo's dramatic restoration proved fraught with conflicts. Scott C. Esplin's social history looks at how Nauvoo's different groups have sparred over heritage and historical memory. ...