Out of the Best Books

We might have all at one point asked ourselves, “Why do we have prophets? Why should we listen to them?” In the restored gospel, we believe that the counsel we receive from prophets prepares us for all that lies ahead. The revelation they receive is for us today—revelation that takes into account the unique circumstances in the world now. In Prophets See Around Corners, Sheri Dew shares from her own experience working closely with prophets, seers, and revelators throughout her life and career. She answers common questions about prophets and affirms the myriad ways they point us to Jesus Christ. In this episode, you'll hear chapter 6, "Why Follow Prophets?" which helps answer one of those common questions and in it we see that God prepares us when we listen. Order your copy of Prophets See Around Corners now! Or head to your local Deseret Book store or download Deseret Bookshelf+ to listen to Sheri Dew read the entirety of her book.

As Latter-day Saints, we’re connectors. We care about creating and maintaining relationships both on earth and after death. And we want to better understand our unique doctrine of eternal relationships so we can better love and appreciate our relationships now, across the veil, and in the eternities.  Which is something Professor Amy Harris has a passion for. She’s a historian and genealogist who coordinates the Family History Bachelor’s program at BYU. Her enthusiasm for family history and her study of temple work in the D&C will help us see God’s abundant love and careful attention to all his children.  Her book, Redeeming the Dead: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants can be found at your local Deseret Book, or on deseretbook.com, or on the Deseret Bookshelf+ app.

Forgiveness is a principle of the gospel that serves as a salve to any and all of our relationships. We hope to receive it from the Savior, and we are promised that through His divine atonement, it is possible. Elder Anderson writes, "As surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, the Savior's divine gifts of repentance and of forgiveness, offered in the beauty of His encompassing love, are certain for those who come unto Him with full purpose of heart." In this book, Elder Andersen writes especially to those who are "awakening" unto God—those who are just beginning to discover or who seek the divine gifts and power of repentance and forgiveness in their lives. The Divine Gift of Forgiveness is organized in such a way that readers can choose the section or chapter that applies most to them and study it without having to have read from cover to cover. In this episode, we dive into chapter 7: Joy or Remorse of Conscience. This work will help all readers become more devoted disciples of the Savior. If you want your own copy of this book, head to deseretbook.com or find it now on Bookshelf+.

In the Church, we often colloquially refer to a trial as something we're “going through.” As if there is a finish line, or even a moment in time that we just need to get by. But perhaps the real need is to slow down in our hard times and find out what it is we can learn when we simply sit with them. Author Rachel Cope invites us to this very thing in her book The Slow Work of God. In it, she makes the case that sitting with grief, loss and hardship can bring us into a deeper conversion. She joins this conversation to share how a very personal loss taught her about God's nature, and that we are His slow work. Rachel teaches Church History and Doctrine at BYU. She holds a PhD in American history with an emphasis in women’s history and religious history. You can find Rachel's book The Slow Work of God on the Bookshelf+ app or at your local Deseret Book or head to deseretbook.com.

As we self-examine our own process of conversion, there may be big, miraculous moments that we can point to, but lasting conversion is generally a slower process. That process builds up over time and brings us a continued conversion. And learning to embrace this process, despite the hard, will bring us as much joy as the miraculous big moments. Author Rachel Cope is personally familiar with that formula for conversion through grief, as she explains in the introduction to her book The Slow Work of God. In this episode, you'll hear in her own words, the introduction of her book, which is the perfect starting point to understand where her motivations for writing about loss come from, and how that universal understanding can help us see the hope that comes through patience with the divine. If you want to listen to the rest of this audiobook, download Deseret Bookshelf+ in the app store and search her book The Slow Work of God. You can also head to deseretbook.com or your local Deseret Book to pick up your own copy today.

Steven Harper, author of 'Wrestling with the Restoration: Why This Church Matters', dives into the significance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He discusses the historical migration under Brigham Young, emphasizing humility in understanding sealing and exaltation. Harper explores the evolution of endowment ordinances, revealing their enduring nature. He highlights the urgency of revelation in genealogy work and the continuous restoration of temple teachings, all while urging listeners to connect with their ancestral roots.

Steven Harper, a professor of Church history at Brigham Young University and author of Wrestling with the Restoration, dives into the significance of faith and the Church in contemporary society. He discusses the importance of questioning beliefs, revitalizing faith amidst declining attendance, and the necessity of deep reflection in a fast-paced world. Harper encourages listeners to engage with historical narratives and the Book of Mormon, fostering a richer understanding of their spiritual journey and the unique teachings of their faith.

Steve Young, a first ballot NFL Hall of Famer and author, shares insights from his book, The Law of Love in Action. He discusses the essence of unconditional love as taught by Christ, emphasizing selflessness and serving others without expectation. Personal anecdotes reveal the power of altruism and its transformative effects, highlighting kindness as a vital connection. Through stories, Young illustrates how simple acts of love can lead to profound changes in both giver and receiver, reminding us all that love, indeed, is undefeated.

My Lord He Calls Me: Stories of Faith by Black American Latter-day Saints edited by Alice Faulkner Burch celebrates the stories of Black Latter-day Saints. It’s an essay compilation by active Black American members of the Church whose ancestors were brought to the United States from Africa and enslaved. Because it's Black History month, we wanted to hear about their conversion stories, what life is like as a Black Latter-day Saint, and why they choose to remain in the Church. You will be inspired by the faith, testimony, endurance, wisdom, and spiritual strength of these faithful Saints.  This episode pulls an essay called "Our Roadtrip to Jesus" and it's written by Haley and Millie Fletcher, two teenage sisters who are living in Utah. Their mother, who is white, encourages and plans a cross-country roadtrip with them so that they can connect to their ancestral roots. Their story promises that by finding out our own stories, we learn to connect with Jesus. If you want to listen to the rest of the essays, download Deseret Bookshelf+ where you can hear the entire audiobook. You can also head to your local Deseret Book or deseretbook.com to order your copy today.

Revelation is crucial to the restored gospel and crucial to our lives today. As Latter-day Saints, we know the heavens are open, but perhaps we all want to know how to hear God better and understand what revelation looks like in our own lives.   This podcast episodes features Janiece Johnson who will help us see that revelation is indispensable. She is a church historian and acquisition director at Deseret Book. She specializes in American religious history—specifically Latter-day Saint history and in her new book Revelation: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants, she focuses on revelatory moments in the D&C. You can pick up your copy of Revelation: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants now at your local Deseret Book store, or online at deseretbook.com. You can also read now on the Deseret Bookshelf+ app.