To Infinity and Beyond: Journeys of the Mind & Spirit

"The notion of infinity has fascinated philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians for millennia. Its enigmatic nature seemed to thwart all attempts to unlock its secrets. Scriptural allusions to the infinite evoke a similar sense of mystery. 
"Few have been as intrigued by the concept of infinity as the German mathematician Georg Cantor. Between 1874 & 1884, Cantor published numerous papers that illuminated some of the shadowy regions of the infinite. He discovered a realm where half of a pie is as large as the whole, infinity comes in different sizes, and miracles are mathematically plausible." 
So begins Chapter 1 of "To Infinity and Beyond: Journeys of the Mind & Spirit," which explores fascinating mathematical ideas from a distinctly LDS perspective. The concepts and exposition are intended for an educated lay audience. 
As evidence of the accessibility of Dr. Kent A. Bessey's work, Chapter 1 sprang from the article, "To Journey Beyond Infinity," published in BYU Studies (vol. 43, no. 4). 
Chapter 2 Examines contradictions by exploring the ideas of "consistency" and "completeness," which help make sense of important yet perplexing scriptural accounts: Adam and Eve; Abraham and Isaac; Nephi and Laban. Dr. Bessey's analysis not only sheds light on puzzling accounts in the scriptures, but it also provides an interesting perspective on the Atonement, drawing a possible distinction between transgression and sin. 
Chapter 3 Explores one of the simplest mathematical ideas formulated, "the pigeonhole principle," yet its simplicity belies its surprising applications. Using this principle, amazing conclusions can be drawn that would be difficult–if not impossible–to verify in practice, but are nonetheless true. 
Chapter 4 Features mathematical "wands" that perform countless tasks quickly, produce objects with mesmerizing properties, and even cast light on the mysterious relationship between human agency and truth. 
Chapter 5 Explores "supertasks," which are tasks that require an infinite number of steps but are completed in a finite amount of time. Supertasks unify and extend the ideas presented in Chapters 1 through 4 and provide a metaphor for appreciating vital aspects of the Atonement. 
Advance Reader Comments 
- After finishing this book, I felt exhilarated. It was as though a window in my mind had been opened, giving me a glimpse of eternity.  (Jacob B.)
- A mind-expanding experience!  (Robert H.)
- To say the least, this book was intriguing. I especially enjoyed the discussion of higher dimensions.  (Olivia W.)
- I was wondering if I would understand anything, but the next thing I knew, I was convinced that "half a pie can be as large as the whole pie!"  (Spencer C.)
- What an interesting feeling when your mind is exposed to things you have never even thought of considering. It is not so much what I read, but what I felt while reading it.  (Janelle W.)
- I absolutely loved this book. The idea of sharing infinitely many gold coins with infinitely many people while retaining infinitely many for yourself was fascinating.  (Jaimee P.)
- I have to say that I will never look at half of a pie, a line on a paper, and an edge of a box in the same way again!  (Daniel B.)
- An enlightening view of perplexing scriptural accounts.  (Stephen N.)
- I liked the playful use of "magic wands" throughout Chapter 4 that draws the reader in and engages the imagination.  (Tracy R.)
- My mom walked in when I was reading the part about Gabriel's horn. She read along with me. She was blown away. Although I had read that part once already, I was still amazed that such an object can even exist.  (Heather L.)
- I enjoyed every chapter of this book, for each one exposed me to remarkable ideas that have really added to my intellectual and spiritual development. Thank you.  (Eric B.)