Book Review by Lu Ann Staheli. Original Review at luannsbookreview.blogspot.com used with permission

Out of Jerusalem Vol. 4 Land of Inheritance

The fourth and final book in the Out of Jerusalem series, Land of Inheritance, by H. B. Moore is as satisfying to the heart of a romantic as reading the scriptures is to the soul of the believer. Through meticulous and documented research, and a flair for a well-told story, Moore takes readers into the trials and triumphs of the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi and members of his family as they at last reach the New World, a place more foreign than any land they crossed before. Readers will find themselves pulled into the story immediately, and they will feel well-fed when they are done.

Heather Moore brings an interesting personal background to this series. Although she was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and spent most of her childhood in Orem, Utah, her family traveled back and forth between the Middle East and Utah. “I lived in Israel when I was seven,” Moore says. “We traveled with a BYU student group and my mother home-schooled us. We moved to Egypt for a year, and I remember having friends from all different countries.” At the age of eight, while living in Egypt, Moore was baptized in the Red Sea.

When she was 16, her family again lived in Jerusalem. “Life is much different there,” she adds, “from the food, to the clothing and living conditions. Most people live in small apartments. The women dress very modestly. It wasn’t uncommon for me to take a sharoot (shared-taxi) to go meet my friends. I went to a private high school where only nineteen people were in my grade. All my friends spoke two or three languages and had traveled the world.”

Moore’s personal experience is evident in the richly told details of her series. “Since I’ve lived in the Middle East, I know the sights, sounds, smells, etc. of those countries,” she explains. “I’ve always marveled at authors who are able to travel to the countries they set their stories in. I guess you could say I was able to do the same thing with the first book in the Out of Jerusalem series since Lehi and Nephi lived in Jerusalem. In the subsequent books, I’ve relied on watching documentary films set in Arabia and Guatemala.”

“I rely heavily on research when plotting and developing my stories,” Moore continues. “Of course my series is unique in the fact that it follows the events in the Book of Mormon. I stay as close to the scriptures as possible, and by reading my chapter notes, you’ll find that if something didn’t actually happen, it was very plausible. As historical fiction, my books must be as accurate as possible. If there is a large issue I am dealing with, I’ll explain my approach in the preface and follow-up in the chapter notes found at the end of each book.”

The daughter of noted scholar S. Kent Brown (FARMS), Heather Moore has an inside track when it comes to research. “I continually consult with my father about locating the most updated and most respected research that is available from Book of Mormon scholars and historians of ancient civilizations.” And that research and knowledge shows.

“I’ve had readers tell me that I make the Book of Mormon come to life. This would not have been possible if I didn’t have articles, essays, and books by scriptorians and historians to base the story on. I am the creative thinker, but I owe the richness of my stories to the scholars who have dedicated their lives in careful study. Reading my series, the reader will be able to picture the geography, understand the complex family relationships, and ponder the important role the women played in the journey from Jerusalem to the promised land. I also hope the reader will be touched by the incredible perseverance of Nephi. There is something in each book that readers will be able to relate to, whether it’s sibling rivalry, developing a testimony, relying on the Lord, remaining faithful in the midst of trials—all things Nephi dealt with.”

Readers who have enjoyed the Out of Jerusalem series will be glad to know that more novels will be coming. “I’m currently writing a new series set in Book of Mormon times. The first book introduces the prophet Abinadi as a young man. He receives his call to be a prophet in his mid-twenties, and subsequently will be put to death before he reaches the age of thirty. There is no hint to Abinadi’s age in the scriptural text, which made me consider a new approach. Most LDS art has depicted Abinadi as an elderly man, but I thought it would be more compelling to tell a story about a young man who dies for his faith—and still has his entire life ahead of him.”

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