Review: The Holy Covenants: Living Our Sacred Temple Promises

 

 

The Holy Covenants: Living Our Sacred Temple Promises by Anthony Sweat
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent book. Highly recommend for those who have made covenants, wish to remember them and ponder them more deeply and their meaning/effect in our lives. It was a short and very nice book to read. I felt like it was somewhat of a "spiritual oasis" that I needed at this particular time in my life as well - with all the crazy stuff going on in the world!

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Review: The Holy Invitation: Understanding Your Sacred Temple Endowment

 

 

 The Holy Invitation: Understanding Your Sacred Temple Endowment by Anthony Sweat
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very good book that has some great thought-provoking messages in it regarding the Temple, what it is, what it means, what it doesn't mean, how to prepare, etc. It's very short, and to the point without being overly disclosing of sacred matters. Really loved it and am now reading the second book, The Holy Covenants! Highly recommend! Great read to learn or re-learn what the temple is and should be about.

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Review: Beyond the Lavender Fields

 

 

 Beyond the Lavender Fields by Arlem Hawks
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book was ok. It wasn't something that had me super caught up in the story line - French Revolution times - and your average love story with complications and discoveries along the way.

It was a nice read and good to veg with, but nothing I'd say is superb.

It is G-rated - all books I read are G-rated, so you're safe there.

I did enjoy learnign a TINY BIT about the French Revolution, but whereas some books that take place during certain historical periods of time tend to 'teach' the reader more about that period of time, this one only touched on the Revolution a bit, and focused a lot more on the main characters. Which is fair, and that's not a bad thing. Being a history buff I was hoping for more interesting F. Revolution facts. Oh well.



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Review: The Dog That Talked to God

 

 

The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this one. Cute book that lays out great truths. It is especially fun if you have ever loved a dog. :) In a nutshell, and without giving spoilers, dog helps woman through life in a miraculous way by being able to "talk" with her - even though no one else can hear him. Lots of lessons learned and lots of experiences shared between the two.

It's very light reading - quick read too - but it can make you stop and think too. I would recommend this for anyone 12+.  Fun and good book!

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Review: One by One

 

 

One by One by David A. Bednar
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Really good book that helped me refocus on the fact that we ARE our brother's keeper, and we are to be mindful of others more so than the "what to do's". I love his calm and steady teaching that is filled with love. Just as we should travel this path of life: calm and steady, with faith in Christ and focused on loving others as we love God and realizing He loves US that way too. So we should love ourselves in the way He loves us - see ourselves as He sees us - at least try our best to do so. This book is about reminding us that we are all individuals and we each travel our paths differently - but that does not mean we should love everyone differently. We should be patient, understanding, kind, helpful and concerned about each of our 'neighbors' - whether they are part of our immediate family, our nextdoor neighbor, our coworker or someone we meet the local corner gas station. Each of us has eternal potential. Each of us is loved profoundly and perfectly by our Father in Heaven. Each of us has goodness in us - even those in prison - we all want the same thing: love, belonging, acceptance, and understanding of who we are and how we fit in to the big picture.

This book reminded me that we each lived in the preexistence with Heavenly Father, so we each recall, in a spiritual sense, the pure love, the "fitting in" the "belonging" that we each enjoyed there- and here on earth we constantly seek for the same thing, as a "remembering" of that preexistence and we want it back. So many of us seek it in the wrong places and the wrong ways, but that is still what we are seeking.

So for those who understand the Lord's great plan of salvation, we know better than to brush people off. We know what they are truly seeking and we know where they can truly find it. Of course we can't force. Nor should we. But we can LOVE. we can WELCOME and ENCOURAGE. We can offer friendship and a listening ear. We can offer patience as other people try to find their own ways through this life. After all that is nothing more than we, ourselves, are seeking too. We want God to be welcoming, encouraging, patient, friendly, offer a listening ear, and we want Him to love us no matter what. Therefore we cannot do anything less for others unless we want to be utter hypocrites.

Our Church is truly one to welcome all. Member, non-member, it doesn't matter. All are welcome. And anytime a member of the Church, in whatever position, does the opposite of this - they are living in contradiction to what the Lord has asked them and indeed to the covenants they made at baptism to do exactly this - care for others, mourn with those who mourn, by happy with those who are happy, etc.

Essentially - love one another as the Lord has love us each. Period.

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Prepare for Time of Imminent War

 I'm just copying and pasting from my journal entry today. Hope this will help someone out there.

 This is not to scare anyone. This is simply sound advice to be prepared. We all recognize the world situation continues to heat up - whether it's race games, inoculation games, war games, religious games, political games, you name it. People are so far from God that they are devolving into animals again, as are the government who are supposed to lead by example. We all recognize the 'end times' are near, at least those who are paying attention, and we sense there is a need for preparation perhaps like never before. So, here are what I believe are the top TEN ways to PREPARE.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I just watched  three great videos on YouTube from the account: Prepsteaders

I like the lady that does these - her focus is on CALM and FAITHFUL preparedness and it is organized, logical, and methodical in is instruction.

So I wanted to keep the notes on her step-by-step suggestions, because I feel they are spot-on.

PREPARE:

Part 1 - https://youtu.be/2qs9P8E71Xg

1) Prepare Your Soul (we have to be right with God)
        -- Our physical body is not as important as our spirit: prepare your spirit
        -- have my scriptures with me at all times
        -- pray, study scriptures and journal daily

2) Prepare You Mind (the psychology of preparedness - it is crucial to our survival - otherwise our ‘world’ within our minds falls apart, then the real world falls apart)
        -- what are my strengths?
        -- what are my weaknesses?
        -- what are my beliefs about life? About giving up? Above enduring in Faith/strength?
        -- Be sure you have a reason for living - a purpose

3) Get Physically in Shape (we need this - even thought, yes, we should have been preparing all along, it’s best to at least start today and do what you can, rather than do nothing)

Part 2 - https://youtu.be/yADYgDw5_zU

4) Go have a 3-legged race ( https://www.resilience.af.mil/Portals/57/Airmanship%20200_Trust.pdf )
        -- where are you weak in trusting and falling in step with someone else?
        -- we must trust each other - and learn to work together
        -- we will NOT survive ALONE - form a group that will support each other in emergencies
        -- we will NOT survive by just knowing what to eat and how to cook and stay warm/cool

5) Read Selco Begovic’s book “The Dark Secrets of SHTF Survival “ or a podcast by him
        -- he survived 1 yr in Balkan War in 90’s - eye-opener to survival preparedness

6) Get and read The US Army Survival Manual - excellent ideas to prepare and IN THE ORDER needed ( https://www.amazon.com/Official-U-S-Survival-Manual-Updated/dp/1510764925?crid=3O58NSGFS15HW&keywords=us+army+survival+manual+fm+21-76&qid=1645122229&sprefix=US+army+survival+manual,aps,144&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQjlKUzdYWTVMUUMyJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDA0MTM4MjFYWDJMQ01JRzc4QSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjc0NDA3VUk3WTFYMU1HUE5CJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ%3D%3D&linkCode=sl1&tag=utlivife-20&linkId=6375fe553b99378e6e87f606f0357e24&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl )

“How can I know the will of God? Do what you know to do right now.” - Don’t get so big and lofty and crazy that you lock down and don’t know what to do. Especially in times of stress, stop breathe and take the next right step. If you know to pick up your socks or buy one extra canned good, then do it.

Part 3 - https://youtu.be/i-vAf0p1KTo

7) Fuel Sources
        -- buy as many gas cans and Kerosene lamps as you can
        -- there will be long lines of people trying to buy gas - you ‘ll need to hold/carry gas
        -- put stabilizer in them
        -- Buy a Kerosene oil lamp and extra clean-burning oil and enough matches
        -- AA batteries
        -- Propane & grill? Wood? (Strong recommendation, esp for fireplace), fire pit, sanitation!

8) Containers - Don’t Throw Them Away!
        -- find all we have: save them, even milk jugs and water bottles: fill with oil (glass container) and beans, peas, rice, wheat, barley, lentils, etc. (good for handing to any who might steal them/barter with)

9) Water Catching
        -- plan on how you can catch rain water - no matter ow big-small
        -- fill empty containers with water when possible

10) Stay in prayer and keep your faith!

Psalm 91:5-7 -  
    5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
    6) Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
    7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

The world is getting so dark out there - Go out! And GLOW! :)

Review: A Proper Scoundrel

 

 

A Proper Scoundrel by Esther Hatch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this G-rated romance and appreciated the G rating. I found I had to rewind several times (audiobook) while listening, because it didn't keep my attention all the time. There were times it did. But that may be just me. Maybe it has to do with me doing dishes or laundry or working on the computer while listening, too. It was nevertheless a fun book to read and "veg" with.

I read many books that one could consider "heavy" so every 2-3 books I like to listen to something just for fun, no note-taking, and no huge effort to remember the history or names of people and places. lol!  (Have I mentioned I love history? Politics? Historical fiction? Philosophy? Geo-Political books, past and present? Religious books? Biographies?)

A story of a young woman decidedly against marriage, in old England when women were to be at home, yet she was a railroad owner and businesswoman, and was decided on fending off any suitors (and there were plenty.) So she decides to engage a man, known to be a womanizer, to pretend they're bf/gf. He, too, has made solemn resolutions to never marry again after his first marriage went south.

You can guess the rest. As they interact, they can't help but be drawn like magnets and begin to have feelings for each other. And so the story goes.....

Fun to read/listen to.

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Review: Oil in Our Lamps - Finding Hope and Peace in the Last Days

 

 

Oil in Our Lamps - Finding Hope and Peace in the Last Days by Craig James Ostler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this book. However, and maybe this is just me, it wasn't a big "ah-hah" type of book for me. I had already known most of what is in the book, but I feel it served as a great reminder to me to stay focused on Christ, even amidst turmoil and the crazy world we live in today, as well as to look forward in faith to that "great and terrible" (both day of His eminent second return.

I feel like it is just a good, solid, "steadier" of a book. An encouraging book. Good to read, and a short read as well. The audiobook only took me about 8 hours total.

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Review: My Name Used to Be Muhammad: The True Story of a Muslim Who Became a Christian

 

 

My Name Used to Be Muhammad: The True Story of a Muslim Who Became a Christian by Tito Momen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Couldn't put this book down. I found I looked forward to reading more each day, several times a day.

Very eye-opening into Islam, especially radical Islam, but even the not-so-radical. It was fascinating to hear his walk from radical Islam to Christian convert and how that affected him and those around him. Especially great to see the miracles and the hand of God in this walk to find God.  He makes a lot of valid points as to why Christianity just 'made sense' and was logical too.

It does describe some abuse and other things that make this book not a good idea to share with children. I'd personally recommend this to ages 20+.  Heaven knows we need to save and protect our children's childhood even more today than ever before.

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Review: White Rose

 

 

White Rose by Kip Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A really worthwhile and good book to read.

First the obvious: it was very touching and hallowed to read what these young people did & went through. The strength of their convictions, their faith, their love of country, family and friends, their patriotism and their willingness to be free thinkers and not just follow what their government and Mai stream media told them. They’d courage is admirable and inspiring.

Secondly: the semantics of this audiobook took my breath away. The story is told from each person’s point of view, shared in tiny segments of 13-25 seconds each, rather than your normal chapters. It gives the listener feels like he’s listening to the actual audio diary of the person speaking - therefore it is enthralling and keeps the listener pinned. Also, from time to time when “Sophie speaks” you hear “bum bum” repeated once or twice. It took me a couple of times to understand what that was: Sophie’s heartbeat! It added a lot to the telling of the story & I could feel my own heartbreak speed up a bit as I listened to that part of the story. Again, making me feel like I was right there living it alongside Sophie.

The book is not long at all. You can read or listen to it in a day. It sure throws light on how some people truly rise with their character & integrity to do what is right and defend their nation and family/friends, no matter the sacrifice, while others rather cover their eyes and ears and not make any waves. I think Sophie said it best:

“The real damage is done by those millions who want to ‘survive.’ The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves - Or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honor, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you will keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits in tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe? From what? Life is always on the edge of death: narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I’ll choose my own way to burn.”

Every teen & adult should read this book. And then watch the movie, which follows pretty closely. What happened to these young people is awful and infuriating. It is truly unfair. Yet their courage, spirit & strength have the power of elevating the reader to greater and better human heights and patriotism.

SO many parallels to today - 79 years later! History truly repeating itself on so many levels!

I’ll end with a couple more great quotes by Sophie:

“Laws change. Conscience doesn’t.”

“My God, glorious Father, transform this ground into fertile earth so your seeds may not fall in vain. Let the longing grow for you, the Creator, that they so often do not want to see. Amen.” - Sophie’s last prayer

“ I know that life is a doorway to eternity, and yet my heart so often gets lost in petty anxieties, it forgets the great way home that lies before it - - “

Read this book - and if you have kids, read it with them and discuss it. (Ages 14+ I would recommend)


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