Jeff Head

A Most Excellent Book. I visited the USS Constitution in 1999 with my youngest son, then ten years old. We had seven children, three girls and then two boys...and have now got 15 grandchildren, 8 boys and seven girls. The Captain at the time was most gracious. I was in the late Winter and he spent well over an hour with me, taking me below and explaining the way they had worked the crosstimbers to strengthen the ship, and yet allowed it to be much more maneuverable. He also explained how the hardwood White Oak, and how its thickness on the sides of the ship helped keep the cannonballs of the day from penetrating, and how this gave the ship its nick name, "Old Ironsides." He recommended the book, "A Most Fortunate Ship," by Tyrone Martin, which I bought and am now making this report about. It went into all of these details and more, as well as the storied history of the ship and its combat stories. He talked about how the Frigate was more heavily armed than other frigates of the day with 44 cannons, and how it was able to take a crack at larger ships of the line, and then was fast and maneuverable enough to "shoot and scoot," to see what damage they could do, and then get away from the superior firepower if they had too, and how they could take on and defeat almost any other frigate of the day, and sometimes more than one at a time. I would recommend this book for any naval enthusiast. You will not be sorry you read it. My understanding is that there is a later volume now than the one I bought in 1999, which was published in 1980, and I plan to purchase the newer addition. BTW, if you get the chance, pick up my own, "Dragon's Fury: World War against America and the West," which is a modern, ,military techno thriller about a fictional World War III, delving into major fleet actions down to individual special forces actions and everything in between, including major land operations, air battles, terror attacks of all types on the US Homeland, etc. I believe any war enthusiast would find it of interest.

This is a GREAT history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, published by the Church. A lot of research went into it and it shows that some of the things that have been said about the Church by naysayers are actually true. For example, the young boy, Joseph Smith, after his 1st vision, did write various letters that differed in content in the explanation. I do not view this at all as some kind of great point that makes it untrue. In fact, it is realistic for a young man in his early to mid-teens, after such an experience, and when he was left for several years before other experiences came with the Angel Moroni, and when he only had something like a 3rd grade education because of the necessity of working so much to help feed their large family, to naturally make some mistakes. He was human...he was not perfect. How many of you, who have been married to the love of your life for over 40 years would be able to write a history of your life together, even with a college education and dear love between yourselves, and have both of you agree on every little point> Not many...if any...is my guess. And that's okay, it's part of being human. I believe when the time came, and the Lord commanded him to write the history, that the Holy Ghost and with the help of his Savior, Jesus Christ, the Atoner of all Mankind, that he got it right. Anyhow, I would recommend this book and the follow on volumes to anyone who wants to know the truth about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...what many call the "Mormons." I was raised as a southern Baptist and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 14 years of age myself, in 1970. I was already a believer in Jesus Christ and had already accepted Him as my personal Savior. But the fulness of the restoration and the work to bring the gospel to all of God's children, even those who may have been born in India, or mongolia, or China at times (and this is true even today) when so many never get to hear at all about their Savior, and the work that was revealed to Joseph Smith on how the Lord always had planned to teach those individuals...and in fact is the work He started in the Spirit World during his three days spent there after His death and before His Resurrection (which is referred to in the Bible), is a stunning and beautiful witness of God in Heaven's love for every single one of His children. Not one will be left out. Not one will not be able to hear and understand His entire message of atonement and Salvation. Aynhow, great book.