The Eden Covenant - anyone read it?


alexgreene
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Just bought and finished The Eden Covenant by LDS author MaryAnn Ball. It's a solid read about preparing for the end days, but in a fictional format. Was wondering if anyone had read it?

I wrote the following book review of it... Would appreciate any feedback. Is it too in-your-face? Alex

Welcome to the latter days, or the days leading up to the Second Coming. Christ is on His way and as one of the devout faithful, you've done what has been required of you; regular church attendance, faithful tithing, service to others, as well as storing food and supplies to take care of your family during times of trial.

As a species we've always held a fascination with the prophecy of an end time when, regardless of your religious views, judgement day comes. During these days of global peril, as news headlines herald the disintegration of the very fabric of our way of life, Christians, and Latter Day Saints, in particular, feel a greater sense of urgency to prepare.

In her latest book, The Eden Covenant, MaryAnn Ball offers up the Carver family matriarch, Ellie Boyd, as the receiver of prophetic visions prompting her to gather her family and friends in order to understand and prepare for the peril she sees advancing.

Set in Western Idaho farmlands, the tale is told from the viewpoints of both Ellie and her sister, Becca. One is learning the value of uniting with family and friends in spite of resistance to change while the other, amidst the many changes, discovers an unexpected love.

As an LDS author, Mrs. Ball recognizes the need for preparation for whatever this world throws at us without force feeding readers the need to convert to Mormonism. Instead, she balances characters and their faith, with actions that rapidly progress the storyline in such a way that even those interested only in survival preparation will find interesting.

It is true that Latter-day Saints, (Mormons) believe in, and embrace preparedness as part of the doctrinal prescription. In a faith led through service to others, the Mormon Church has often been the first on the scene of disasters offering relief to victims of natural or manmade catastrophes. The LDS church welfare system also leads the world in distributing food stored in Bishop's pantries to those who may need a hand up rather than a handout.

For decades, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been encouraging members of the LDS faith to be prepared, as well as serve others who may need help. The Eden Covenant is not only a great story, it can also be used a manual, a reminder, of what it means to be personally prepared in terms of human and material resources.

In The Eden Covenant, the United States has come to a place where it is completely at odds with its Constitutional Mandate. Martial law controls California, one of many states that has economically collapsed. But California has also been invaded by tyrannical foreign armies who aim to destroy, control and enslave the native population.

In the meantime, many refugees trying to escape the mayhem and destruction in California are held at bay at the borders of Oregon and Nevada. As the Boyd family attempts to rescue their son, Christian, and his family, from the California/Nevada border, the extend of the chaos of the exodus is visible and a haunting echo of things to come.

Many preppers will recognize the signs presented in the book as events they have been preparing for. Armed with stockpiles of food, they understand the difficulties of feeding their families for extended periods, let alone friends, neighbors while fending off the lawless and disenfranchised who's goal is to survive at all cost.

Mrs. Ball offers a richly developed novel that brings both the characters and the circumstances to life.

Developed through independent publisher, Books You Can Trust, LLC BYCT (booksyoucantrust.com), the book is available in paperback and e-book formats, The Eden Covenant is the first of a series that is well worth the read.

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