"Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring" by Henry J. Eyring

So I was really sneaky and actually finished reading "Mormon Scientist" before "The Three Musketeers," but I promise to all of those who voted on my poll to finish it that I will.

First off I have to say that my husband and I read a book called "Reflections of a Scientist" together a few years ago. It is a compilation of talks given by the well renowned Mormon scientist by the name of Henry Eyring (not to be confused with his son and apostle, Henry B. Eyring). If you have worked much in the fields of physics or chemistry then you are probably familiar with his ART (Absolute Rate Theory) - I cannot properly describe this without much plagiarism, but it has to do with being able to predict the rate at which particles will react (check out what is happening at CERN in the near future and you will kind of get what I think I mean). Of course my husband, being the physicist/electrical engineer that he is knows all about Absolute Rate Theory. Henry Eyring was one of THE preeminent scientists of our time (being a contemporary of such scientists as Einstein, Heisenberg and Polanyi).

I realize I got way off topic. So anyway, we read "Reflections of a Scientist" together, which is now out of print, and it was very interesting and uproariously funny. It is a collection of talks that he (Henry Eyring) gave, mostly in church settings, sharing his views of science and religion, including his quick wit that he was famous for.

So when I saw that there was a new biography out on his life I didn't even think - I just ordered it right away! It is written by Henry J. Eyring (there are so many Henry Eyrings it is hard to keep track of), although much of the book includes excerpts from the scientists' letters and talks. This book was organized very differently from other biographies - it did not start with his grandparents, birth, youth, etc. Instead, the author broke the book into four parts: Legacy, Heritage, Paradoxes, and Testament. Each part was then subdivided into basic concepts that Henry Eyring believed in and shared with others. Along the way the reader does learn some of his early years and enough about his grandparents to make it interesting.

I have to admit I prefer the standard approach to a biography, but the subject was so interesting that I loved the book anyway. In the course of the book we read that Henry Eyring had a very strong belief that science and religion are not different at all - although not all has been revealed. The gospel includes everything that is true. I quote from pg. 53, "The gospel, then, is the search for truth, and there is only one truth - there is a God in Heaven, who, if He is God over the world and over the universe, certainly understands everything, and inside His mind there must be no contradiction."

Something that makes this book and subject approachable to all is that Henry Eyring had such a sharp wit and was constantly making himself the brunt of his own jokes. Near the end of his life the chemistry building at the University of Utah was named for him. His final comment at the end of the ceremonies for the new building was this: "I'll keep working as long as I can find my way to the chemistry building and somebody will let me in. Now that my name is on the building, it should be a lot easier." (pg. 286)

This is only a very small taste of the book. The most important aspect of the book was in reading his thoughts on faith and science. Also his encouragement while speaking to youth and college age students to educate themselves and to have a life-long love of learning - and to look forward to an eternity of progression and learning.

I give this book five * * * * * stars and highly recommend it to all, whether you agree with LDS "Mormon" doctrine or not. For more information go to mormonscientist.org

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19
"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."