2 books, DVD might fill bill as LDS gifts

The "Mormonism" book is written by Drew Williams, a Brigham Young University graduate who lives in Springville and teaches writing at Utah Valley State College. (Actually, as it has a 2003 copyright date, I assume the book has been out for awhile, though everyone I've shown it to is surprised.)

It's written in the "Idiots" style: chapters laced with factoids, little boxes, cartoons, jokes. But it's not really irreverent, as it reports the history, doctrines and functions of the LDS Church in a fairly straight-faced manner.

In general, it's a nice quick-read overview of the LDS Church, albeit necessarily a bit superficial in places.

• Another LDS item that crossed my desk last week is "Standards Night Live" (Deseret Book, $19.95), a DVD with John Bytheway, a well-known writer/speaker on the LDS youth circuit.

If you know Bytheway just from his books, this disc is a revelation. He's a better comedian than anyone on last year's LDS stand-up DVD, "It's Latter-day Night!"

"Standards Night Live" is, of course, aimed at youths and comes with a pointed religious message, but it's also very funny, with Bytheway joking in a self-deprecating manner about everything from his name to various aspects of LDS culture. It's also well-directed by J.T. Taylor and Scott Freebairn so that, at 90 minutes, it doesn't feel static.

Look for the 15-minute bonus "concert," as Bytheway sings some hysterical songs, including parodies of Primary tunes (although he purloins a couple of short bits from Tommy Smothers).

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E-mail: hicks@desnews.com