14.5.12

The Worth of a Soul

Posted by Seth Wilkins | Labels: , , , , , ,





A fascinating, heart-wrenching, and tender memoir.  A story which, had it been fiction, would risk being dismissed as not credible.  It is sobering to realise what some people experience.  Set mostly in Turkey, this provides an intriguing glimpse of a convert's pre-LDS life, happening somewhere beyond the West.  Really good.    

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3.5.12

Virtue and the Abundant Life

Posted by Seth Wilkins | Labels: , , , , , , ,

A collection of thoughtful essays. I haven't read them all but so far have been interested to read those by C. Terry Warner (Bonds That Make Us Free), K. Newell Dayley - who writes about virtue in relations to the Arts (with a nice summary of thoughts from the LDS novelist Orson Scott Card); and Emily M. Reynolds, whose contribution called 'Chastity as Virtue' I found extremely thought-provoking.

This book has been created from a 2010 Symposium shared between BYU Religious Education and the Wheatley Institution, the latter group I had not heard of before.  But whose work you can learn more about at:

  http://wheatleyinstitution.byu.edu/

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11.4.12

Look Up, My Soul by Gerald N Lund

Posted by Seth Wilkins | Labels: , , , , , , , ,



This new book by Gerald N Lund completes a recent set of three gospel discussion books which he says 'completes what could be considered a somewhat loosely linked gospel trilogy' (The other books are Hearing the Voice of the Lord and Divine Signatures).


Having only just begun it, I can only give an initial impression, but I sense his desire to acknowledge the crippling sense of struggle so many people seem to be experiencing and meet it with a thorough study of what the power of hope can mean in our everyday lives. I'm sure that anyone who has already enjoyed the other two books mentioned above will also be glad to add this to the collection.


It's filled with stories to illustrate the discussion and is laid out in a very readable manner.

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4.4.12

Falling to Heaven by James Ferrell

Posted by Seth Wilkins | Labels: , , , , , , ,



Instinct often seems to tells me to 'Trust' in a kind of self-sufficient way; to shore up against weakness and frailty - to bar these liabilities from my personality. And yet, I value those who are brave enough to show this vulnerability - and don't think less of them for it, but more. I should have learned this lesson long ago, wanting as I do to be a writer. Refusing to hide my weakness makes me more able to reach others. I think of Michael Wilcox's book Sunset or Virginia Pearce's observation:


'I was speaking on a program once with Emma Lou Thayne. She is a wise and gifted writer. On this particular day, she shared with a group of seminary students a tender and personal story of her daughter's battle with an eating disorder. She openly discussed her own struggle as a mother, trying to help her daughter. It was touching. Afterwards I said to Emma Lou, "I am in awe of your willingness to be so personal about your own difficulties. I don't know that I could do that."

I will never forget her answer. She turned to look at me squarely, but with understanding. Her gentle response went something like this: "Virginia, our stories are what make the difference, and if we can tell them honestly we can hope to help each other. In the end, we have nothing to offer each other but our stories."

(From A Heart Like His pp. 80-81, a book I've highlighted elsewhere in Top Picks).


Falling to Heaven; the surprising path to happiness, is a brand new book by James Ferrell, author of The Peacegiver. He especially focuses on the distinction between our struggle to forgive versus the gospel message of repentance - suggesting that humbly seeing and accepting our need to change, is key to happiness. That it is the honest acceptance of our weakness that enables us to feel strengthened by the Lord.


He writes: 'As absurd as it may sound, happiness apparently lies not in our trying to feel better about ourselves but rather through our allowing the Lord to help us see truths that at first might make us feel worse. In these lowest moments--the moments when we give up resisting what we haven't wanted to see--we are finally immersed in the joy we have always sought but have never found, a joy that comes not because we have lifted our hearts but because we have finally allowed them to break.' (p.xi)


If you enjoyed The Peacegiver, The Holy Secret, or Terry Warner's Bond's That Make us Free you'll appreciate the message of Falling to Heaven.


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13.3.12

Beyond the Call of Duty by Fisher and Borrowman

Posted by Seth Wilkins | Labels: , , , ,



A memoir of Colonel Bernard Fisher, written with the assistance of LDS author Jerry Borrowman ('Til The Boys Come Home, Attack the Lusitania!, A Distant Prayer), this is an interesting account of a Latter-day Saint's life in the US air force, climaxing with an account of a daring rescue of a downed pilot during an intense Vietnam battle at Ashau Valley. Fisher received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions - the highest award the US can give.


I personally felt a little uncomfortable at times with some of the apparently casual references to the use of Napalm for example; although I also understand that to psychologically survive 'a gruesome and cruel venture that forces men to kill', as Fisher refers to war, emotional distance from the humanity of the enemy must be a necessity.


I have never had to experience first hand what he had to live through. So I do not want to be unduly critical.


For sure, armed conflict is fraught with grief and indifference to others needs. It is traumatic, messy, and tragic. But it is also the arena in which the most remarkable acts of humanity and courage are displayed. And so I appreciate the opportunity this memoir gives to share in understanding one of those inspiring experiences.


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12.3.12

Shaken Faith Syndrome by Michael R. Ash

Posted by Seth Wilkins | Labels: , , , , , ,



This is a good attempt at responding to some of the more frequent criticisms levelled at Latter-day Saints. It may provide useful food for thought for those struggling to make sense of 'things they've heard'.


As the back-cover blurb says:


'In today's Internet world, an increasing number of Latter-day Saints are encountering anti-Mormon material. Since most members don't have all the answers at their fingertips, LDS-critical claims can be unsettling or create doubt. Some arguments have caused a few members--even active members with strong testimonies--to lose their faith.


'Backed by extensive research and decades of experience dealing with anti-Mormon allegations, Michael Ash explores how we can be both critical thinkers and devout believers.


'Because misconceptions can make us vulnerable to a shaken faith, the first half of this book offers suggestions on how we can strengthen our intellectual foundations against challenging issues. Ash invites us to fortify our testimonies as we develop a more mature appreciation of the role of prophets and personal revelation, as well as a greater understanding of the inherent limitations of science, history and even the scriptures. The second half of this book exposes common anti-LDS tactics and engages some of the most frequent criticisms.'


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13.2.12

Sunset by S. Michael Wilcox

Posted by Seth Wilkins | Labels: , , , , , ,



A very heartfelt, tender, and brave reflection on death - up close and painful. Thank you, S. Michael Wilcox for having the courage to write about this personal experience of bereavement.


Speaking of the book's creation, he says:


'I did not initially intend it for publication, but somewhere along the journey I was reminded that we are under divine injunction and sacred covenant to share our burdens, our mourning, our comforts, and our witnesses. To that end, and by way of tribute to the woman I love, I offer my own passage, desiring that it may lift others who share the path with me or who will one day find themselves on the same road hoping someone left a few signposts to help them find their way.' (p.4)


He writes of the discovery of his wife's illness, the realisation there was to be no recovery, the effort to maximise the time left to them, the final stages, and the dark experience of fear and doubts; at the same time noting the moments of respite from his pain - 'compensatory graces' he call them - and I was especially inspired by his resolution to be as Jacob who was required to work seven years (and more) before he could win the companionship of his beloved Rachel.


All of us will encounter death, and it hurts. I know this personally. So I very much appreciated that the book retains, throughout, an acknowledgment of ever-present vulnerability. This is one man's very real struggle with loneliness and grief - which was, for me, a relief, validating my own experience of the sadness of losing someone dear; so he achieved his desire to share my burden - but it is also bravely laced with insight and experiences that were both healing and cause for deeper faith.





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2.2.12

Rescued by Jerry Earl Johnston

Posted by Seth Wilkins | Labels: , , , , , , , , ,



I've never heard of Jerry Johnston before; but I really appreciate his candor and his earnest sharing of self in this new release.


Jerry Johnston is a journalist who moved away from his LDS faith for twenty years. And then through a sequence of life-sculpting spiritual experiences, moved back in.


It's short (only a little over 100 pages) but has the gift of being thought-provoking, inviting, and insightful. I particularly enjoyed the way it concludes ...


(There is also a foreword by James Ferrell, author of the highly rated The Peacegiver).

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