Compass of God (The Promised Land, #5) by David G. Woolley

Compass of God (The Promised Land, #5) Reviews

• 
  Mommywest

  I looked forward to this volume with great anticipation and expectation, and I wasn't disappointed. Again, David Woolley has produced a great story that keeps the reader engaged and involved. As with previous volumes, I began the novel with a bit of rebellion that my pre-conceived notions about aspects of scriptural history were being challenged (such as the premise that the Liahona was passed down through the generations), but, as usual, I found myself agreeing that the Lord does work in mysterious ways, and the means Brother Woolley described in the novel could very well be the way things happened. He has a talent for making the scriptures, and the people and situations in them, so very real, and his amazing knowledge of the areas, peoples, and cultures in this time period only make it all the more interesting and familiar. Some of the loose ends from the other novels are tied up in this one, many with a very satisfying, rewarding conclusion, and others quite surprising and thought-provoking.
  
  Brother Woolley's books have served to strengthen and enhance my testimony of the scriptures (particularly the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament) and the prophets (Lehi, Nephi, Jeremiah, etc.) I already know the scriptures are true, but I have appreciated the increased understanding and insights I have gained through reading this series. The Lord truly has a plan for us, and if we follow it, everything works out for the best good.
• 
  Linda

  It had been awhile since I had read the previous book in the series so I was trying in my mind to pick up where the story had left off. But once I got the story line again I quickly became interested in what was going to happen. It is an authors story that follows the Book of Mormon in a fictional since. Some of the characters in the book are in the Book of Mormon and others are made up. I enjoy reading historical fiction because it brings "real" people into the story who have "life" backgrounds. The families come to life for me. In fact I feel sorry for Nora and Hannah in this book as to in the end that they wind up with Laman and Lemuel. This book takes place in 592 - 600 years before Christ was born. Jeruselem is on the verge of being destroyed. Lehi and his family are still in the wilderness and if you've read the Book of Mormon you know what the Compass of God refers too. I'm not sure how many books the author is going to write with this series but this book leaves off with knowing their will be another one to come.
• 
  Alex

  This was my very first book by David Woolley. With that being said, I would recommend reading the 4 books that come before this novel first. Haha! Who would've thought, right?
  Now, you won't be lost if you pick this one up first, but you would probably understand a lot more of what was going on if you read the other books in the series first :)
  This book tells the story of the liahona (it's importance and how it came to be found outside the tent of Lehi), the daughters of Ishmael (how difficult it could have been for them to leave all they know and love and follow/marry the sons of Lehi), King Zedekiah (all things political that come with ruling a nation), and the Blacksmith family (the importance of family and forgiveness).
  All in all, it was a great read.
• 
  No, David! No!

  I want to like this book. I appreciate the work, and the different perspectives on how the history may have happened. I really struggle though with some of the apparent disconnects. The timing just doesn’t work for me. He does not seem to apply time the same to different events. I felt frustrated with what seems to be total disregard for time. Based on many statements and events, it has been YEARS since the earlier events, including since Aaron was injured in his leg and thought dead. BUT, Sariah was pregnant at that event, and they have Jacob as an infant still throughout the book. Those two things conflict. That is but one of many examples. Keeping timelines is a pretty basic part of story telling, so this failing really took away from my experience with the book.
• 
  Cheri

  What a great book!!! I love how David Woolley pulls you into the story from the first page!!! I had a hard time putting the book down The chapters bounce back and forth between characters- Mulek, Lehi and his family in the wilderness, Jonathan the blacksmith's family, Ishmael's family, the Royal family of Zedikiah and the chief elder Zadock. In the back of the book are Historical Notes listed by chapters so you can review as you read. It is amazing how much I remember from the other four books, although I wouldn't mind reading the whole series back to back sometime. I hope it doesn't take three years until the next one comes out, that is too long to wait!
• 
  Wendy

  I had heard that there weren't any more of this series being written. I am so happy to hear that this isn't true. I can hardly wait to begin again so that I can read Volumes 4 & 5. Yeah!!! I'm so excited!
• 
  Jen (In the Closet With a Bibliophile)

  YAY! So glad this is out. I've been waiting for this series to keep going for years! I finished the 3rd book in 2003 and the 4th in 2009. I'm excited to see what happens after the ending of the last one. I was so sad at the cliffhanger. My sister convinced me that wasn't the end. LOL! :D
• 
  Jared

  This book was a disappointment. The first three volumes of The Promised Land series were exceptional. The characters were well crafted and the story line fill with details and intricacies that kept the reader interested. Compass of God departed from this with a plot that moved too fast and did not have the usual details. The timeline was messed up as Volume 4 took place around 598 B.C., but this volume starts around 587 B.C. but the events seem like they happened a few weeks after Volume 4 ended. The author never resolved the timeline and it led to so much confusion. I really didn't like the focus on the daughters of Ishmael and really did not understand the purpose of the Viceroy of Egypt Ammon character. The last few chapters were so rushed it was unbelievable. I still need to read through the historical notes, maybe that will help make sense of it all. But in short, this story is incomplete and needed a lot more work.
• 
  Tanya

  What I like best about David G. Woolley's books would be his level of research. Although I have this listed on a book shelf "doctrine and insights" that portion is in his notes that go along with most of the chapters. He gives historical, archeological, doctrinal, and apocryphal sources, ideas, traditions and other insights that form the basis of how he portrays the events in the Book of Mormon. I find it fascinating to read.
  
  What kept me from giving this book 4 stars is the feeling that he is following the same format as found in the Work and the Glory series. There are also shades of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing". Not that it doesn't work in the story, it just feels like I have read it before and isn't as fresh as what the first couple of books were. (Other that the bit about the fight between two brother's, but at least that plot line isn't over a girl)
  
  I always find myself wishing the book wasn't over when it ends. I want more, and since he spends so much time doing his excellent research, I don't expect a sequel out for 3 more years.
• 
  Betty

  The liahona in the Book of Mormon has always been a mystery. To consider that it could have been passed down through centuries made my mind whirl. I love that idea.
  
  Sibling rivalry between Nephi and his brothers peaked in this volume, and it was probably as bad as it was portrayed, but it was unnerving. I realized that I hadn't thought everything out as I'd read the Book of Mormon in the past. This time it is coming home to me.
  
  I couldn't resist the urge to read the book of Jeremiah and remember his prophesies. I feel so much compassion for what he suffered as a prophet of God. Jeremiah and Ezekiel are more real to me after reading this series.
• 
  Jason Burt

  I've loved the other books in this series but for some reason had a hard time with this one. The message was good, but I had a hard time getting into the story. Maybe it was the lack of action or the hard to follow, simultaneous love stories of Ismael's 4 daughters? It also seemed like there was not enough conflict between good (Lehi, Nephi, Aaron, etc.) and bad (Zadock, Daniel, etc.). I'll still be a fan of this series and will hope for more with the next volume.
• 
  Liza Verdon

  I was really disappointed with this book. I expected it to be fulfilling, rewarding, and great, after all the other wonderful books David Woolley has written. But it was okay.