And Now You Know

By Larry E. Morris

And Now You Know presents fifty behind-the-scenes stories of prominent Church members you only thought you knew.

In this rare collection, author Larry E. Morris reveals startling true experiences in a “rest-of-the-story” format that will keep you guessing as each tale unfolds. Who was responsible for the tragic accident that caused his younger brother’s blindness? Which General Relief Society president endured the loss of her eldest son in a violent Indian attack? Who tenderly cared for her deaf sister during the last twenty-five years of her life while shouldering enormous responsibilities as the wife of a church president?

Each story recalls a forgotten fact from Church history and provides a lesson in faith, courage, and determination. Well documented and presented, And Now You Know opens little-known corners of the past, providing an interesting and personal look at experiences of prominent member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This was an anthology of stories about actual people who lived and their stories of faith within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was formatted in such a way that you were introduced to the character without knowing their name and then after a few pages you were told the rest of the story as the name was revealed. Some of the names I knew very well, and others I’d never heard. It was a nice short read with a lot of entertaining and inspiring stories.

I give it a 3.25 out of 5 

To My Friends

By Jeffrey R. Holland

“If you need a burden lifted, I want you to imagine I am in a personal, private, closed-door chat with you. I want to help you if I can.” With those words, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland invites every reader of his latest book to become a friend, to receive instruction and encouragement, counsel and comfort.

Elder Holland addresses these powerful messages “to my friends who love the Lord,” “to my friends who want to change,” “to my friends who face opposition,” and more. Each chapter begins with a beautifully designed quotation to help convey the message in an artistic way, making the book a lovely gift for friends to share. Throughout, Elder Holland’s powerful witness of the Savior shines through, for, as he writes, “I am grateful for the greatest friend any of us could ever have, in time or eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

First off, how can you go wrong with Elder Holland? This is a LDS book (A book geared more toward members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) written by one of the apostles. Elder Holland has a way of being personable even in book format, and he speaks from the heart to the heart. This is a great addition to my library and would definitely be for yours too. With messages that uplift and bring comfort and hope in a world where it’s difficult to find peace and truly live a Christian life, this is the book to study and give as a gift. I found the formatting to be as beautiful as the contents, which only adds to it in my opinion. My favorite chapters were Chapter 9: To My Friends Who Seek to Build Zion, Chapter 13: To My Friends Who Want to Move Forward, Chapter 16: To My Friends Who Stand as Witnesses, and Chapter 18: To My Friends Who Seek Happiness. I was surprised how much this helped me with my perspective, though I probably shouldn’t have been. I especially liked the chapter about Zion. It talks about making Zion a place in your heart so you’re able to live in the world but not get swallowed up by it. I loved it and needed it. All of the sections are wonderful, but a few hit me especially hard, and I would recommend this to anyone. LDS or any Christian, though like I said, certain things are not going to make a lot of sense if you don’t know about the LDS church. The principle is there though, and it’s beautiful.

I give it a 4.75 out of 5 

No One Can Take Your Place

By Sheri Dew

Have you ever wondered if you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing with your life? Maybe you have a testimony of Jesus Christ but aren’t quite sure that he will really help you with your problems. Or, like most of us, maybe you have those days when you just don’t see how you’ll ever measure up.

No One Can Take Your Place is a book that will help you. It will help you catch a glimpse of the power our Father in Heaven wants you to have. It will help you learn how to lay hold upon that power, how to overcome the temptations that stand in the way of your happiness, and how to shine as a leader in the world. It will help you understand who you really are.
True happiness comes from doing what we were meant to do. This book will motivate you to find out what that means for you; it will also inspire you to carry out your unique work on the earth, for truly, no one can take your place.

 

I’ve read a few of Sheri Dew’s books, and all of them are well done and have precious truths in them, but I think this is my favorite so far. The entire book is filled with great things to keep you going, but the last section of the book is where I found the things that were the most precious. It was in this section that she talks about being kind to yourself and seeing yourself as someone who matters to the world, to your friends and family, and especially to God. This is a book especially for women and a great one at that. If you need a gift for a friend that’s struggling with feeling important, this is a great buy. Love it.

 

I give it a 4 out of 5

Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy

By Richard G. Scott

The gospel offers us the unmatched gifts of peace, happiness, and joy, but often these promised blessings seem elusive. In his long-anticipated book, Elder Scott powerfully outlines the truths we need to understand and embrace in order to experience these gifts. You’ll appreciate the encouragement, practical advice, and profound apostolic counsel from this trusted mentor.

 

There is nothing like Elder Scott looking directly into your eyes. Reading this book I kept hearing him speaking and what a wonderful talk it was. He has a way of making everything intimate and personal as well as personable. There are some fantastic chapters in here, and some that didn’t apply to me as much, but will definitely apply to someone else. This is a great book and I know I’ll read it again, which is saying something for me because usually I don’t revisit this genre unless it was incredibly worthwhile.

 

I give it a 4 out of 5

21 Principles: Divine Truths to Help you Live by the Spirit

By Richard G. Scott

“As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles,” counsels Elder Richard G. Scott. “Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.”

In this exciting book, Elder Scott offers 21 principles he has distilled from his life experiences. These “concentrated truths” will help you understand more fully how to be guided by the Spirit. Elder Scott’s brief explanations open the way for your own discovery and exploration.

“I bear witness that Jesus Christ knows you personally,” Elder Scott writes. “He will provide answers to every difficult problem in your life as you trust Him and do all you can to understand and apply His doctrine and strive to live by the Spirit.” 21 Principles will be a valuable tool in that quest.

 

I loved reading this book. It was concise and simply formatted, giving the reader 21 different principles to ponder and apply in their lives.  I doubt it was a coincidence that it was 21 principles, which could be applied in 3 weeks-the time it takes to form a new habit. I enjoyed the sections on dreams and had many inspirational moments as I read the thoughtful and beautiful insights of this apostle of God. Elder Scott has a way of gently speaking straight to the heart of people and if you have ever heard him talk, you can hear his loving voice in every word. I highly recommend this book, in fact I cannot say enough how I think everyone should read this book and re-read it again. It would be a fantastic gift. 

 

I give it a 5 out of 5- Yes, it was perfect!

Hope in Our Hearts

By Russell M. Nelson

Few people understand the human heart better than Elder Russell M. Nelson, who, prior to his call into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was a pioneering cardiac surgeon. Today, as an Apostle, he understands our hearts in a new way—most particularly, he understands our need for hope in our hearts. As a special witness of Jesus Christ, he testifies powerfully of where that hope can be found.
In Hope in Our Hearts, Elder Nelson brings his remarkable grasp of the gospel and his unique medical training to bear in eighteen outstanding messages that focus on family and relationships, Church doctrine, and personal growth. The book includes such classic addresses as: “Nurturing Marriage,” “Jesus Christ—The Master Healer,” and “The Magnificence of Man.”
“My greatest desire,” writes Elder Nelson, “is to be a worthy disciple who willingly follows the Lord Jesus Christ. If my testimony and the teachings in this book prompt anyone to follow Him more diligently, I will be most grateful.”

 

First off, this is a book pointed toward a “Mormon” audience, or people belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Russell M. Nelson is one of the 12 apostles.  It would probably get a tad confusing to read if you aren’t a member of our church. This is one of those compilations of different talks given either in general conference or at devotionals and such. I’m not sure, but you can probably find most of them online at lds.org, but there are some that I’d never heard before that were absolutely wonderful.  I especially liked the chapters on Christ’s birth and the last few chapters contained messages about the influence of good music and the character of man. There were a lot of choice messages in here along with some good messages that didn’t apply specifically to me.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Through His Eyes

By Virginia H Pearce


As anyone who has ever cleaned out a closet or a basement can attest, clutter is a reality of life. And it’s not just a physical reality. Our minds can become cluttered too, filled with beliefs about everything from our relationship with God to our feelings about our bodies to our housekeeping methods. Some of these beliefs are what author Virginia H. Pearce calls “Truths with a capital T.” They are eternal and will always be true, whether anyone believes them or not. The confusion in our lives comes because mixed in with those Truths are other beliefs, some of which might be useful but some of which are just plain harmful.
In this insightful new book, Sister Pearce invites us to become “inquirers after truth,” to examine all of our beliefs and try our best to see them in the light of the Truths we know to be eternal. By doing so, we can discard the half-truths and lies that may be hindering our progress. Our lives can be filled with greater happiness than we ever thought possible as we learn to see them Through His Eyes.


Read this book. Really. Read it. Doesn't matter if you're LDS or not. This is an awesome book to help you clean out the attic upstairs and gets some better ones in their place. This book is all about watching our thoughts and realizing that sometimes the things we take as truth can be outright lies and bad for our health and self esteem. It helps you to recognize truth with a captial 'T' and truth with a lowercase t and the outright lies that we tell ourselves daily that we hang onto without even realizing it. This is such a wonderful book full of great exercises to get you thinking and on the way to feeling better about yourself and rooting out the weeds in your mental garden.

The Continuous Atonement

By Brad Wilcox


“I’ll never do it again,” we say—and then we do it. In a world full of challenges, temptations, and even addictions, it is easy to lose hope for ourselves and those we love. During times of discouragement, we must remember that the purpose of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is not just to cleanse and console, but also to transform—and that takes time. Christ is not waiting at the finish line once we have done “all we can do.” He is with us every step of the way, and His Atonement will be available as long as the perfecting process takes—continually.
Most members of the Church acknowledge that perfection is a long-term process, but overlook the continuous nature of Christ’s Atonement that makes that process possible. Peace is found not by giving up or erasing the need to change, but by turning to the One who makes change possible and realizing that we get lots of chances to start again. So, if at fist you don’t succeed—if at second, third, or fourth you don’t succeed either, don’t find excuses. Find the Savior and the blessings of His continuous Atonement.

"Christ doesn't just make up the difference, He makes all the difference."

Reviewing this book is somewhat difficult, because the words to describe it are hard to find. It's inspiring, touching, and filled with hope and love. Everyone finds themselves wishing they didn't make some of the mistakes they made, or like the first line says, breaking promises to never do "it" again. There is so much to know about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and so much that we misunderstand or simply never knew; for me this book brought to light many things that I just didn't understand or misconceptions that I had about regrets and repentence. If you struggle with anything in your life, pain, sin, sorrow, or loss; this book is for you; a labor of years of experience and collaboration from Brother Wilcox. I only wish with all my heart I could've read it about 10 years ago. It's a book that I know I'll return to with pen and paper in hand and love in my heart.

The Work and the Glory: Pillar of Light

By Gerald Lund

The first volume in the series The Work and the Glory begins the epic story of the Benjamin Steed family. In the 1820s they move from Vermont to Palmyra Township in upstate New York in search of better farmland. There they meet a young man named Joseph Smith and are thrown into the maelstrom of conflict and controversy that swirls around him. Did he really see the Father and the Son in a pillar of light? Has he truly been visited by angelic messengers? What is all this talk about gold plates and new scripture? In short, is he a prophet and seer or a monumental fraud? The answers each one gives to these questions-intensely personal, potentially divisive-will dramatically affect the lives of the Steeds forever after.


So here's another great historical fiction about the LDS (Latter Day Saints) and just how our church was founded and started. I adore this series, it helped me learn the history and I fell in love with the fictional Steed family of the early 1800s. If you are a member and you haven't read this series, I highly highly recommend it to you, and if you aren't a member go ahead and read it anyway, it's a great way to understand the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (also referred to as Mormons). Hear it from the mouth of an LDS author and follow the amazing history of this church and its pioneers.


You may have seen the movie- the first one was okay, but you really need to read the book my friend. Don't judge a book by its movie!

Perfection Pending

By Russell M. Nelson

“We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous and endless. Perfecion is pending…it awaits all who love Him and keep His commandments…It is the end for which we are to endure.”
In this important book Elder Russell M. Nelson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, offers o=hope and valued counsel to those who are struggling along life’s path to perfection. “If we do the best we can,” he says, “the Lord will bless us according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts.” And, in the same encouraging spirit, he notes, “Men are that they might have joy—not guilt trips!...Remember that the Lord gives no commandments that are impossible to obey.”

This is a book of favorite discourses by Elder Russell M. Nelson, who always gives wonderful talks at the LDS General Conferences. I adore his talk that this book is named for; if you are a perfectionist you MUST read this one talk at least. I'm sure you could find it at lds.org, but whatever you do it is wonderful and gives you peace about trying to follow the commandment to 'be perfect evan as your Father in heaven is perfect'. This talk is just the beginning in this book that focuses on the plan of salvation, home teaching, serving others, and many many other topics that will enhance your understanding and enrich your day. I loved it and hope others will pick it up and read it.

Change Your Questions Change Your Life

By Wendy W. Nelson

As a young boy, Joseph Smith asked a question that not only changed his life forever but also changed the world. Truly, questions are powerful agents of change. Do you want better relationships? Ask better questions. Do you want a great life? Learn to ask great questions. The questions we ask ourselves and others can significantly influence the kind of lives we create. They can motivate or they can demoralize. They can increase our ability to solve problems or they can make situations worse. Sharing information based on more than 25 years of clinical research and practice, Dr. Wendy Watson Nelson helps readers look at the questions in their lives and the influence of those questions on their relationships, their challenges, and their beliefs. In her first book since marrying Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve in 2006, she discusses how our questions influence our attempts at problem solving and shares seven questions that can change our lives. Full-color graphics and illustrations throughout help readers visualize these important concepts.


This book is amazing. It is truly different from the typical doctrine-like books you find. Wendy Nelson leads you on an amazing journey, asking questions and making you think in ways you never have before. More importantly, she helps you realize how to ask the questions that you need to ask right now. With pictures to illustrate incredible lessons, and read-and-answer sections, this book is a great gift and learning tool. I keep learning every time I read it. Excellent book.

Pathways to Perfection

By Thomas S. Monson


I’ve been reading this one for months. It was my Sunday reading, so I was doing one chapter once a week about. It was excellent. It’s a bunch of compiled talks that President Monson has given throughout his apostolic career. This book was published quite a few years ago, so this was before he became the prophet. It’s been fun because I recognized a lot of the stories from talks he has given recently. They are just tweaked a little. Then there are some stories in this book I’d never heard before and greatly enjoyed and were very inspiring. President Monson’s book is filled to the brim with stories, poems, and motivational talks. I greatly enjoyed it.

Stories From My Life

By Elder James E. Faust

There isn’t really a synopsis for this particular book since it’s a compilation of stories and little snippets of talks given by Elder Faust. I’ve had this book for about 5 years, my grandmother having given it to me. She used it for her own Family home evening lessons. The stories are at average just 2 pages each, being on all kinds of topics ranging from honesty, to nurturing faith, to poise under pressure. I really enjoyed it as a little refresher thought book with short but poignant messages. A great book of insights from a truly wonderful apostle.

P.S. I couldn't find a picture of the book, so I just got a picture of Elder Faust. :)

The Boy Who Dared

By Susan Campbell Bartoletti

In the newly formed Third Reich, Hitler's initial political doctrine is filled with hopeful solutions for a country plagued with unemployment, poverty, and a post-World War I feeling of defeat. Propaganda and promises quickly turn to oppressive new laws including the required participation in the Hitler Youth. Helmuth Hübener enters the program and is at once impressed with the bravado, shiny uniforms, boots, and patriotic fever sweeping the country. But his Mormon-based teachings trigger questions in his mind about the reality behind the regime's invasions of neighboring countries, mistreatment of Jewish citizens, and closely controlled media. He creates an underground newsletter with information gathered from BBC reports using an illegal shortwave radio. As he secretly distributes the flyers throughout the town, his boldness encourages him to gather several accomplices resulting in his arrest, trial, and execution. The novel opens as he is on death row, and the story is told as a series of flashbacks. Helmuth is portrayed as a brave, outspoken voice amid a family of acquiescing brothers, mother, and new SS stepfather.

This book was incredible. I usually steer away from WWII books and holocaust anything, simply because it makes me feel sick. But this was something different. This was a story about a young German boy who doesn't agree with Hitler and makes the ultimate sacrifice to tell people how wrong the new reich is. And what surprised me even more was that he was Mormon, which made me feel strangely connected to the story. Helmuth Hubener was a real boy and a true hero. After reading this book I thought a lot about his story and I don't think I would've had the courage to rebel against the government. It's a great story about a horrible time in history. And for me, Helmuth has become one of my heroes. The above picture was taken when he was 16, just a year before he was executed.

"Truth and Treason" is a major motion picture coming soon to theaters based on the life of Helmuth Hubener. Haley Joel Osmet is playing Helmuth. If you want to watch it go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx1jHc8H2EY It will be a spectacular movie.

However Long and Hard the Road

By Jeffery R. Holland

“It is difficult to make a man miserable while that man feels worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.” Often in our most difficult times the only thing we can do is endure. We may have no idea what the final cost in suffering or sacrifice may be, but we can vow never to give up. In doing so we will learn that there is no worthy task so great nor burden so heavy that will not yield to our perseverance. We can make it…however long and hard the road.
Elder Holland tells how others have overcome temptations and feelings of inadequacy and, through repentance, have obtained forgiveness and strength- and how we too may find success in our searchings.

I haven’t read too many books by the general authorities and apostles, and what I have read is sometimes difficult to understand, though it has much to offer. Elder Holland is different in this respect. He does not mince words, and he writes in a way where all can understand. This book had so many treasures in it, with so much to offer those who struggle with living this earthly life. Whatever may be your affliction, trial, or challenge, Elder Holland gives many examples from the scriptures, modern literature, and his own experiences, to help us find the way to God despite all that may cause us pain or doubt. Everyone who would read this book thoughtfully will come out the better for it if they put into practice the hope-filled messages contained in this book.

Interesting info: Elder Holland has also written: Christ and the New Covenant, Of Souls Symbols and Sacraments, and Broken Things to Mend.