"Bridging the Divide," the new book from Robert Millet and Gregory C. V. Johnson, is a cottage with a huge front porch. The book itself is small and homey, but the introductory material goes on forever — promotional blurbs, a foreword, a preface, an introduction, two author biographies. Saying you "plan to get to the book" can mean you hope to eventually get beyond the introduction.

But there's a reason for that, I think, which I'll get to.

Millet and Johnson, of course, have been working at "bridging the divide" between Evangelicals and Mormons for many moons now. They tour together as The Mormon and The Minister, speaking to thousands and looking for a small platform between the two traditions where people can touch hands.

I'm intrigued by their efforts — intrigued and encouraged.

The late Eugene England, the brilliant LDS firebrand, never could see the point to this "bridging the divide" stuff. He told me it felt like LDS people were caving in. If there's a divide, he said, acknowledge it, be polite, but don't edge toward it. He didn't understand why LDS people felt such a need to cozy up to Evangelicals.

If Gene were here, he'd shoot down my explanations.

But if Gene were here, I'd tell him that people like Millet and Johnson cozy up for one reason: They simply can't help themselves.

I'm convinced when faith is authentic, it doesn't want to polarize, it wants to make connections. Honest faith, by its nature, wants to reach out. To use one of Millet's words, it's all about "inclusion."

That's why, I think, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spends so much time and money doing good deeds for people of other creeds.

It's why the Catholic and Orthodox traditions keep searching for a place to meet.

It's why the Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, wrote "Living Buddha, Living Christ," and why Thomas Merton, the Christian monk, wrote his "Asian Journals."

In my opinion, you can recognize real religion because it always will be set against a backdrop of generosity. The color of honest faith is "yellow" — bright, warm and inviting. Faith leads to hope, which leads to charity.

The Rev. Johnson puts it well in "Bridging the Divide" when he writes:

"Without question, the shared values and morals that both Evangelicals and Latter-day Saints hold dear are under sustained attack from a hostile, unregenerate world, and if we do not discover ways to come together, we will surely suffer together."

As for all that introductory material to their book, I think Millet and Johnson are saying the information discussed isn't as important as the tone of the discussion. How we talk to each other is sometimes more vital than what we say. In short, bridging the divide isn't about educating, it's about sharing. And all the material at the front of the book is to get people in the right frame of mind. As William Stafford used to say, when we talk with each other it's all about listening, it's about attitude — how we hold our heads.

And that's a message worth publishing.

Bravo, Brother Millet and Brother Johnson, for delivering it.

"Bridging the Divide" deserves an "Amen" from the congregation — both LDS and Evangelical.

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Jerry Johnston is a Deseret Morning News staff writer. His columns will appear weekly in the Mormon Times section. E-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com