Book Review - “Come As You Are”
“Come as You Are” by Samuel Norton
Quick Take:
Loved it! If you lead youth, especially in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (if you can see past the LDS examples, this is wonderful for any church or faith based youth leader) or if you want to have new ways to think about your faith and, more importantly, some traditions that are unintentionally getting in the way of bringing more unity to "the body of Christ" and others around you, this is a wonderful place to start.
Longer Take:
Come as You Are is a compassionate and thought-provoking guide for parents, leaders, and teachers within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I would argue any faith-based leader of youth. While the concepts and examples are very Latter-day Saint-centered and come from his experiences as a church member and leader, the point is to help youth follow Jesus and create and grow their relationship with Him, rather than exclusively or heavily on the programs of the church. That could be applied to any Christian parent, leader, teacher, or even an individual on their faith journey. Samuel Norton challenges cultural norms that may inadvertently distance youth from Christ, advocating for a more inclusive and understanding approach. The book emphasizes creating "space" for the rising generation to connect with Jesus Christ on their terms, fostering an environment where questioning and personal growth are welcomed.
About the Author - Samuel Norton is a British member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with extensive experience in youth ministry. He was called as a bishop in London at age 24 and served in a stake presidency for eight years. Norton and his wife, Jen, are seminary teachers and have also served as FSY (For the Strength of Youth) session directors in London. His insights are deeply rooted in his pastoral work and dedication to supporting young people in their spiritual journeys.
Key Themes and Ideas I found Valuable:
Creating Space for Individual Faith Journeys, Especially for Youth. Norton emphasizes the importance of allowing youth to explore their faith without fear of judgment, recognizing that personal experiences and questions are vital to spiritual development. In many ways, past traditions, perceived cultural norms, outdated "rules," or other attitudes can make youth feel not good enough, not ready, or simply out of place. Welcoming all where they are now, and who they are now, allows them to find their own path to Christ and then to grow into the faith and covenants at their own pace. Love replaces rules, and allows youth to feel included, and to include others.
2. Challenging Cultural Norms. The book critiques certain cultural aspects within the Church. Many of these are more about tradition than gospel and may hinder youth from feeling accepted. The author urges a shift towards practices prioritizing Christ's teachings over tradition.
3. Embracing Questions and Uncertainty. Acknowledging that not all questions have immediate answers, Norton encourages leaders and parents to support youth in their inquiries, fostering an environment of trust and openness. So often, church culture can be filled with others testifying that they "know beyond a shadow of a doubt," or "I know this," or statements about the "only truth," and more. While those are well-intentioned, they may make youth or friends who have questions feel out of place and not good enough. By teaching youth that questions are wonderful and that questions are where faith lives, they can embrace their own learning and build a relationship with Christ rather than compare their journey to others around them.
4. Moving Beyond Binary Thinking. The author calls for a departure from black-and-white perspectives, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of faith and individual circumstances. Our Father in Heaven has, is, and will give his all for all of us to return home to Him. Each individual is in a different place, has a different past, has experienced different traumas, has different questions, worries about different things, and so much more. Embracing those differences is what allows us to become one. Unity is not a place of sameness, but a place of acceptance.
I really loved reading this book. It is a fast read. I was stuck in Boston’s Logan Airport due to flight delays, and I read this while there in a few hours. I had to stop a few times to think and ponder on some of the concepts, but even with that, I got through it fairly quickly. I highly recommend this one.
BookTok led me here, and honestly, I should have paid closer attention to the demographics of who was raving about this book. Looking back, the passionate recommendations came overwhelmingly from readers who clearly love their romance—and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! I just went in expecting epic Greek mythology and found myself reading what's essentially a beautifully written romance novel with ancient warfare as backdrop.