Hannah's Treasure

By Launi K. Anderson

Reviewed by Jacki Friedmann
On 2/20/1998

Deseret Book .
ISBN: 1-57345-297-1
Suggested retail price: $4.95 (US)

I enjoyed this book immensely.

While obviously written primarily for young women, as a grown woman, Ienjoyed the book and it touched my heart. A gentle lesson was to belearned that is invaluable to anyone at any age.

The book is set in 1840 in Pennsylvania. Reminiscent of Little House onthe Prairie, but with a religious undertone, the book shows of simplevalues with love as the basis.

Hannah, and her father take a journey from their small 2 room home wherethe entire family lives, to the large city of Philadelphia. They travel byhorse and cart and the trip takes several days. They are going there tosell their crops and earn some money for simple supplies like sugar andflour.

While in Philadelphia they are met up with Missionaries from the Church ofJesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. All his life, Hannah's father had beensearching for something, though he was not sure what. Their familyworshipped Jesus Christ but felt that something was not quite right. Thatperhaps they didn't have the whole truth. During their overnight stay inPhilly, he is touched by the spirit to give his small earnings to themissionaries instead of bringing home the supplies his family sodesperately needs.

When Hannah gives the missionaries the money, they give her a Book ofMormon. Hannah takes the book and knowing that they have sacrified theirsupplies, trades it for the sugar, flour and things they need.

In the meantime, her father is overwhelmed with good feelings for what hehas done. He tells Hannah that he knows the missionaries have somethingfor him. Hannah who has sold some of her own apples had traded herearnings for small treasures from the local store there to bring back giftsfor her mother and family. When she hears that her father is "searching"for something from the missionaries, she flees down to the store to tradein her family's gifts for the Book of Mormon.

Her father seeing she did this, sold the watch he had purchased forhimself, to retrieve Hannah's treasures.

The story is somewhat along the lines of Gift of Magi. Each one sellingsomething precious to give to someone else. Unselfish love for oneanother.

Hannah and her family live in a small home with two rooms only. They haveno toys, little furniture, few clothes and one hairbrush that they share. But they have learned the important things in life, are not actuallythings. But feelings for one another. Hannah felt joy in the "treasures"she brought back home for her family.

The real "treasure" in the story is the Book of Mormon. Upon theirarrival home, Hannah's father presents the book to her mother. Little issaid of this presentation, other than they hug each other and cry. Obviously what they had both been searching for is now here for them.

Hannah' s family has been given a real treasure; the words of theprophets, the words of Heavenly Father, and the teachings of Christ. Theyhave learned from their trip the true meaning of love for one another intheir unselfish acts. The true treasure was not the gifts purchased, orthe supplies brought back, or even the Book of Mormon itself, but thetreasure of love.

I recommend the book to all young women, to all young men, and to anyonewho wants to be reminded of the simple, yet most important treasure in ourlives.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Jacki Friedmann email: JackiKF@worldnet.att.net homepage: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/8163 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Copyright © 1998 Jacki Friedmann < JackiKF@worldnet.att.net >