Shall I Have Pleasure? An Answer for Sarah

Shall I Have Pleasure? An Answer for Sarahby Zachary McLeod Hutchins Now Available "This little volume overflows with the sweetness of the gospel's good news and a celebration of our bodies' capacity to perceive the goodness of Eden as we strive towards Zion." Kristine Haglund "A rich and readable contemplation of the historical, scriptural, and theological issues that is well worth chewing on." Taylor Petry "A beautiful and profound affirmation of the divine goodness and gift of pleasure."

by Zachary McLeod Hutchins

Now Available

• "This little volume overflows with the sweetness of the gospel's good news and a celebration of our bodies' capacity to perceive the goodness of Eden as we strive towards Zion." — Kristine Haglund
• "A rich and readable contemplation of the historical, scriptural, and theological issues that is well worth chewing on." — Taylor Petry
• "A beautiful and profound affirmation of the divine goodness and gift of pleasure." — Zachary Davis

  
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Read a Q&A with the author.

Book Description:

Shall I Have Pleasure? An Answer for Sarah explores the complex relationship between faith, desire, and the pursuit of joy through a spiritual and philosophical lens. Drawing from religious narratives, scriptural analysis, and theological insights, the book delves into how pleasure is perceived within Christian traditions, particularly among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through reflective anecdotes, historical context, and doctrinal interpretations, the author challenges the tension between spiritual duty and sensory enjoyment, encouraging readers to reconcile divine purpose with the pursuit of happiness.

Rooted in scripture and enriched by personal storytelling, this thought-provoking work invites readers to reconsider long-held beliefs about pleasure and self-denial. By examining biblical stories like Sarah's incredulous laughter at the promise of joy in old age, as well as Christ's compassionate acceptance of human love and generosity, the book offers a fresh perspective on living a life of spiritual fulfillment that embraces joy as an essential part of divine intent. Through this lens, Shall I Have Pleasure? becomes a call to rediscover pleasure as a God-given gift intertwined with human purpose and eternal potential.

Praise for Shall I Have Pleasure?:

"'Men are, that they might have joy.' But many Latter-day Saints are ambivalent towards—or even skeptical of— the role of pleasure in the joy God wants for us. In Shall I Have Pleasure? Zachary Hutchins responds to this confusion with a beautiful and profound affirmation of the divine goodness and gift of pleasure. He invites readers to see pleasure not as a temptation to avoid but an essential and cherished part of our embodied life." — Zachary Davis, Executive Director of Faith Matters and Editor of Wayfare Magazine

"A taut, elegant argument for the centrality of embodied joy in the restored gospel. Beginning with the question posed by Sarah to the angel announcing the birth of Isaac—'Shall I have pleasure?'—and using examples from Jesus's life and teachings and the words of modern prophets, Hutchins reminds us that it is no better to make an idol of work than of pleasure, and urges his readers to seek revelation in pursuit of a balanced life. He argues eloquently that 'joy is the end for which we were created, and pleasure is one facet of the fulness of joy that our Heavenly Parents intended us to receive.' This little volume overflows with the sweetness of the gospel's good news and a celebration of our bodies' capacity to perceive the goodness of Eden as we strive towards Zion." — Kristine Haglund, former editor of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought

"A thoughtful and inspiring meditation on pleasure. Hutchins challenges the puritanical culture that Latter-day Saints have inherited to argue for a measured and deliberative enjoyment of divine gifts. This book is a rich and readable contemplation of the historical, scriptural, and theological issues that is well worth chewing on." — Taylor Petry, author of Tabernacles of Clay: Sexuality and Gender in Modern Mormonism

About the Author:

Zachary McLeod Hutchins is Professor of English at Colorado State University, where he teaches courses in early American literature and religion. As a native of New England, he spent many early summers in Sharon, Vermont, the birthplace of Joseph Smith, and developed an interest in early American history. After serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he completed a BA in English at Brigham Young University and received his MA and PhD degrees in early American literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author or editor of a half dozen books, including The Best Gifts: Seeking Earnestly for Spiritual Power.

More Information:

111 pages
ISBN 978-1-58958-819-6 (paperback)