Presented to: Don H. Staheli
For: The Story of the Walnut Tree
In the first session of the April 2000 General Conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley told a story about a black walnut tree he had planted many years ago. When the tree died, rather than having it destroyed, he asked experts whether its wood might still be useful. That walnut tree became the pulpit that stands at the front of the new Conference Center, the pulpit from which President Hinckley spoke. "It is an emotional thing for me," he said. "I offer my profound thanks for making it possible to have a small touch of mine in this great hall where the voices of prophets will go out to all the world in testimony of the Redeemer of mankind."
In The Story of the Walnut Tree, Don Staheli has transformed President Hinckley's simple, heartfelt story into a modern fable about unexpected beauty. The walnut tree, planted on a whim, seems to lack all the qualities that make the other trees special; it is not as tall as the maple, not as beautiful as the quaking aspen, not as full and richly scented as the evergreen. But, as the "kind man" of the story reminds us, sometimes things we discount as unworthy turn out to be the best of all. Though this statement, and other morals, are stated explicitly in the story, the parallel to Christ's life is more powerful for never being overtly stated. Robert Barrett's rich illustrations, with their predominance of trees and foliage, suggest vitality and strength, a fitting complement to the simple yet beautiful text.
While Mormon children's literature has many stories about Church history, and many stories of powerful metaphor, it has very few that are both at once. The Story of the Walnut Tree combines deep gospel principles with an engaging story, simply told. It depicts a true story from contemporary Church history without resorting to hagiography or saccharine perfection. This is an exceptional book.