Bookstore Home > Various Religions

Celebrating Passover: A Guide to Understanding the Jewish Passover for Latter-day Saints

Marianne Monson-Burton, Bountiful, Utah: Horizon Publishers, 2004, 6x9" softbound, 161 pages.

In recent years, many Latter-day Saints have participated in Passover observances. This has been done in seminary and institute classes and in family and neighborhood gatherings. Some have even shared the Poassover observance with Jewish friends and neighbors.
While participating in Passover meals and observances is not a part of designated Latter-day Saint rituals, many participants see the activity as a way to re-enact the observance as it was structured in Old Testament times, and tie it to their modern-day Easter celebrations of the atoning sacrifice and glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. With this in mind, many have expressed a desire for more information on how to combine the two events effectively.

To meet this need, Celebrating Passover recounts the history of the Passover feast, including its importance, origins, symbolism, and developments through time. Then, it corrrelates the Passover observance with Christ's life and LDS beliefs and prophecies, explaining differences in the emphasis and showing how to prepare a modern Latter-day Saint Passover observance that truly is Christ-centered.

Celebrating Passover provides all the information needed for modern LDS families to hold a gospel-oriented Passover celebration that respects the Old Testament Passover instructions but still focuses on the mission and gospel-centered message of salvation through Jesus Christ. This well-written, highly informative book provides a complete script, recipes, music, and all the instructions needed for a meaningful, joyous celebration.

Review Excerpt:

"The subtitle to this very interesting book is A Guide to Understanding
the Jewish Feast for Latter-day Saints. Monson-Burton took up the study
as she became more involved in finding messianic meaning within both the
Passover story and its observance throughout the centuries. There's
certainly plenty of material for an ambitious student.

The author begins with a rationale for a Latter-day Saint interest in
this most important of Jewish feasts. She reviews the story of the exodus
and the institution of the Passover celebration. Her recounting of the
story is very nicely done, clear and crisp.

She then embarks on a most ambitious study -- a survey of how the
Passover has been celebrated across the centuries. I had some inkling of this
aspect of the story, but her insights and information were a real
eye-opener for me. It is amazing how such celebrations mature and
evolve over the years.

Another chapter studies the observance of the Passover in the time of
Jesus Christ. It, too, is well written and informative. Following this is a
study of allusions to the Passover in the Book of Mormon. Although the
Passover is not specifically mentioned in the Book of Mormon, the
author sees places where the feast may be referenced.

The balance of the book is a "how-to"manual for planning a Passover
celebration from a Latter-day Saint perspective. It is filled with
recipes for preparation of the food, and a complete Hagaddah (liturgy book for
the Passover meal, the Seder) from a Latter-day Saint perspective.

One theme that permeates the book is the relationship between Passover
and Easter, and how the celebration of the Passover morphed into the Easter
celebration. There is some historical evidence for this being true.

I enjoyed this book. My own Jewish background made me ever aware of
how the author would treat the observance and ritual. In the end, it is
done with a sense of deep affection and respect for the Passover
celebration, and the grand meaning behind it.

I recommend this book for anyone wanting to study this interesting
subject." --Jeffrey Needle, Reviewer, Association for Mormon Letters

Marianne Monson-Burton grew up in Naperville, Illinois, the oldest of five children. She has wanted to be an author since she learned how to write. She spent six months studying at BYU's Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies, and continued studying the Hebrew Bible after returning to Provo. She graduated with University Honors in English Literature from Brigham Young University.

Following graduation, she worked as Managing Editor at Beyond Words Publishing. Sister Monson-Burton has published books for children, articles in the Ensign magazine, and teaches writing classes at Portland Community College.

Sister Monson-Burton has been accepted into Hebrew Bible graduate programs at Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of Chicago.

Title: Celebrating Passover: A Guide to Understanding the Jewish Passover for Latter-day Saints

Retail Price: ~~$13.98~~

Your Price: Only $12.55

FAIR is not owned, controlled by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR, and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice.

You can send comments/suggestions using our contact page.