Gary W. Toyn

What happens when readers encounter history they were never taught—and can’t look away from? An exploration of memory, silence, and what painful history asks of us once we know it . Many important stories from World War II never made it into our textbooks. One account is of the Ponary Massacre in the Baltic country of Lithuania. Here, over 100,000 people— 72,000 of them Jews—were murdered in what has come to be known as the Holocaust by Bullets. But what makes the Baltic Holo

Orange spray-painted swastika on a Utah bike trail, documented to report to city authorities I was enjoying a gorgeous autumn afternoon bike ride on a paved trail near Layton, Utah. The air was clear, the mountains stood sharp and tall, dusted in snow. For a couple of hours, I couldn't imagine a better escape from the world. Then I rolled up to this: a large, bright orange swastika spray-painted across the middle of the trail. It stopped me in my tracks. I stood there staring

From historical atrocity to modern-day antisemitism, the terrifying parallels between 1941 and 2025 For the last three years, I’ve been researching and writing my next historical novel that focuses on the Holocaust’s earliest, yet most overlooked events. Unlike those who live in the Baltics and Eastern Europe, most of the English-speaking world know next to nothing about it, and are unaware of its significance. I'm talking about the " Holocaust by bullets , " where where

Lithuania’s Holocaust and shifting blame echo in today's Gaza. Discover how victimhood fuels violence and why history’s lessons matter.

Summary : Reading historical fiction can be challenging because it compels us to confront our cognitive biases and embrace the messiness of history. Good historical fiction not only helps us discover untold stories, but also break free from oversimplifications, unveil new perspectives, and cultivate empathy. As I finish the initial draft of my next novel, I keep shaking my head because of the messiness of WWII history. In many ways, I find this messiness delicious. In other

Do you recognize modern propaganda? Here are examples both past and present.

I’m in Austria, and what’s hidden beneath decades of underbrush is all that remains of the infamous Nazi POW camp Stalag 17B.

Former historian of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Elder Marlin K. Jensen once spoke about “ Witness Trees ” located in "the Sacred Grove," a significant historical/religious site for the Church near Palmyra, New York. I was greatly intrigued by this idea. First off because Elder Jensen was a significant role model in my life. As a young man, he led my congregation as the "Bishop" and was also the leader of my youth group. But more important, I had never co

SA Members Enforce Boycott of Jewish Stores - Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-14468 Georg Pahl CC-BY-SA 3.0) Why did the Nazis ignore the “Mormon...

Guards use horses to patrol the perimeter or Crystal City Internment Camp, 1944 President Biden declared February 19, 2022, as a Day of...

I’m fortunate to have been brought up in Utah's Ogden Valley. For those who don’t know, “The Valley” includes the small rural communities...

One of the hardest things about writing a novel is enduring the review process. It starts six months prior to the release day when the...

Book review: God Isn't Here, by Richard Overton

We met a few times before she came to this book signing back in 2007. George E. Wahlen, Kim, Gary Toyn, circa 2007. Kim went out of her...