Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Well-meaning but misguided attempt to encourage young Latter-Day Saint children to live specific standards espoused by their faith. The book is intended to help children make moral choices ahead of time to increase the likelihood that they will exercise good judgment in the 'heat of the moment'. For example, if a child has already made up his mind not to smoke, he/she will be less likely to bend to peer pressure when offered a cigarette. The intended message is unwittingly overshadowed by the unfortunate use of a "club" as a framing device. The child in the story is not allowed into the club until he has committed to live the principles espoused, and the "not even once" pledge implies that he will no longer be welcome if he fails to live each standard perfectly. If the "not even once" pledge is taken as a metaphor for the promises made at baptism children are given the mistaken impression that the LDS Church is an exclusive club for the righteous, rather than an inclusive gathering of sinners dependent on Jesus Christ.