Mary, Martha, And Me - Hardcover

Olson, Camille Fronk

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1590385470 ISBN 13: 9781590385470

Publisher: Deseret Book Co, 2006

Synopsis

When someone says, "She is a Martha-type," we know just what that means: a woman who is practical, competent, down-to-earth. We understand that Marthas are certainly useful and necessary, but it's usually Mary that gets the halo. Author Camille Fronk Olson brings unique insights and perspectives to the biblical story of two sisters, Mary and Martha, who serve Jesus in different ways. Exploring the mixed messages in daily life, she discusses the motives and focus that determine our choices and the problem of comparing our gifts and contributions to others. In her warm, engaging style, the author brings to light the lessons Mary and Martha learn from each other and the "one thing [that] is needful" for both.

About this title

About the Author

Camille Fronk Olson, associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, served as dean of students at LDS Business College before joining the BYU religion faculty in 1993. She earned a master's degree in Near Eastern Studies and a Ph.D. in sociology of the Middle East from Brigham Young Univiersity and has published numerous articles and chapters in various compilations. She has served on the Young Women General Board and Teacher Development Curriculum Committee for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

From Publishers Weekly

In this brief and engaging work on Jesus' interactions with Mary and Martha of Bethany, Olson shows her chops as a professor of biblical studies (she teaches at Brigham Young University), paying very close attention to the gospel texts. She begins with the famous story of Mary of Bethany sitting at Jesus' feet, listening to him teach, while her sister Martha bustled about and was "cumbered about much serving." But Mary, Olson cautions, did not choose the "better" part by eschewing housework for study, but rather "that good part." Neither path is better than the other, Olson says; for both women, one thing was needed: to fully embrace truth and serve Christ. Olson contextualizes the story with first-century customs and religious observations, relating it to other narratives about Lazarus's death and resurrection as well as Mary's controversial anointing of Jesus with spikenard. Olson mixes the biblical explorations with stories from her own life, including her relationship with her grandmother (who comes across as at once tender and formidable). Although this book is intended for an audience of Mormon women and draws occasionally on the Book of Mormon and the teachings of LDS leaders, it deserves a wider readership for its fresh and thoughtful rendering of familiar New Testament stories. (Apr.)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Deseret Book Co
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1590385470
• ISBN 13: 9781590385470
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 96