Within a religious context, “pleasure” is a complicated sensation. Author Zachary McLeod Hutchins intellectually, artfully, and faithfully weaves the concept(s) of pleasure from that which is forbidden to that which is righteously fulfilling, beautiful, and good. It seems that the ironic is a place where Hutchins is comfortably positioned: as a professor trained in the “history of sexuality,” and as a lay minister for the LDS church, he examines the theory behind that which is acceptably pleasurable, and that which is not. But within this examination, he teaches the reader about cultural shifts in what is perceived as inappropriately pleasurable, often using familiar examples shared in recent General Conference speeches, making the book readable and friendly.

This is further enhanced with personal experiences, and wonderful examples of scriptures that are skillfully braided throughout the text (he even mentions Heavenly Mother and Adam’s first wife, Lilith!). To be clear, this is a book about sex within martial relationships, and how that is scripturally and doctrinally important.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Hutchin’s easy-to-read style, skillful examples, and solid conclusion. In this, I gave it 95% out of 100%. I reserved the 5% as I was disappointed that the book did not address or even acknowledge barrenness, infertility, or those who remain unmarried in the long-term; I even had the sense that these concepts were never considered by the author—which was a lost opportunity. Yet this book is well worth the meager investment for the beautiful rendering and analysis of the concept of pleasure within a devout Latter-day Saint frame. Again, I highly recommended this for both men and women.

Shall I have Pleasure?: An Answer for Sarah is published by Greg Kofford Books and may be purchased at Greg Kofford Books and Amazon.