Blog Tour: Living in the Eleventh Hour by Robert L. Millet

Living in the Eleventh Hour, By Robert L. Millet
2014, 160p, LDS Non-Fiction
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: Received a copy from publisher for an honest review

Just as the scriptures teach us that the Second Coming of the Lord will be "at midnight" (Matthew 25:6), so the signs of the times teach us that "midnight" is close at hand.

In Living in the Eleventh Hour, author Robert L. Millet points our minds and hearts toward the future—to the glorious day that lies ahead. This encouraging work not only assists us a Latter-day Saints to recognize and better understand the signs of the times but also reminds us of our individual responsibilities as we prepare ourselves and the world for the much-anticipated return of Jesus Christ.

Filled with uplifting quotations from Church leaders, insightful scriptural texts, and engaging personal experiences, this timely book inspires us to live today as if He were coming tomorrow.

Brother Millet's faith-building message is clear: Steadfastly doing the small things that allow us to live each day with faith, rather than fear, builds our trust that the Savior's return to earth to rule and reign will be a glorious and welcome event.

This book is a good reminder of what we all need to be doing daily to prepare for the Second Coming. Since nobody knows when it will be, we need to be prepared at all times. There are lots of scriptures, quotes and personal stories included. 

He spoke on filling our lamps with oil. When he was a Bishop, a couple came to him asking for help in getting more spirituality in their home. They hadn't been active for many years and their home life was falling apart. He gave several suggestions and they had a "reason" not to do each thing he suggested (reading scriptures, family prayer, Family Home Evening, even attending church). He asked again what they wanted and they said they needed to get God's Spirit in their home. At that point, he understood the parable of the ten virgins more fully. As much as he wanted to help them, there are some things that just can't be shared. They wanted the blessings that come with doing all those things but weren't willing to actually do them to obtain the blessings themselves. 

He also spoke about what it means to treasure up the word. I like this quote: "...Because we are largely a product of what occupies our minds and because our feelings and actions are so inextricably linked to our thoughts, we must see to it that what we think about is worthy of a son or daughter of God striving for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. ..." (p. 42) It's not possible for us to be thinking about the scriptures every minute of the day, but we can each find time to read or listen to something uplifting each day. He also spoke on the importance of memorizing scriptures and how remembering them in our tough times can give us strength. 

There are some other great insights and discussions and towards the end, he has a chapter on knowing the signs of the times. He doesn't go into them in any detail but shares principles he has gleaned over the years relative to reading the signs of the times. He ends by listing some of the personal responsibilities we share as we do our part to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Son of God. 

I enjoyed reading this book and I felt like I was able to check off some things that I'm doing well and also determine the areas where I need to make improvements. This is a book that reminds us that there is a lot to look forward to in the coming days and years and we need to be full of faith rather than fear.

You can read an excerpt here.

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About the Author

Robert L. Millet, an Abraham O. Smoot Professor and former dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University, is a professor of ancient scripture and a lifelong scholar of the last days. After receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BYU in psychology, he earned a PhD from Florida State University in religious studies. He has served in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a seminary teacher, bishop, stake president, and member of the Materials Evaluation Committee. He and his wife, Shauna, are the parents of six children.

Blog Tour: Follow Me to Zion: Stories from the Willie Handcart Pioneers, by Andrew D. Olsen and Jolene Spendlove Allphin; Art by Julie Boswell Rogers

Follow Me to Zion: Stories from the Willie Handcart Pioneers, by Andrew D. Olsen and Jolene Spendlove Allphin; Art by Julie Boswell Rogers
2013, 272p, LDS Non-fiction
My Rating=5+ Stars
Source: Received copy from publisher for an honest review

James G. Willie knew the trek would be arduous when he left Iowa City in July 1856, leading 500 handcart pioneers on a 1,300-mile journey across the plains.

But he could not have known that his people would run out of food while still hundreds of miles from Salt Lake City nor that the winter of 1856 would begin in the middle of October with prolonged, severe storms. Sixty-nine members of his company would die along the way. Yet from this tragedy emerged triumphant stories of personal endurance, courage, heroism, and unwavering faith.

Follow Me to Zion recounts 20 compelling stories of members of the Willie handcart company and their rescuers. Dozens of full-color images by artist Julie Rogers enrich this keepsake volume, which pays tribute to the men, women, and children who have become enduring witnesses of the power of faith and sacrifice.

Here you will find excerpts from their own accounts of the journey, learn what those faithful pioneers did after reaching the Salt Lake Valley, and read reflections on their lives by descendants.

The simple words “Follow Me to Zion,” cross-stitched onto small pieces of fabric kept in the journal of a handcart pioneer, are an invitation that still calls to us today.

The stories and paintings in this beautiful volume can inspire us to live true to our faith and reach out to help others do likewise.

I've heard many stories of the Willie Handcart pioneers and seen the movie 17 Miracles (I still want to see Ephraim's Rescue) and have always been amazed by the faith the pioneers displayed through all their trials. This book is incredible! First of all, it's absolutely gorgeous with thick pages and beautiful illustrations. Here are examples of some of the pictures and you can view more here. I also love that these stories are compiled into one book which makes them easier to find and read.

This picture represents one of our favorite stories from the movie 17 Miracles so I read this chapter with my children. Ann Jewell Rowley originally came from England. Her husband died before they left England so she started the journey as a single mother with 8 children. In mid-October, the food supply was dangerously low and it appeared they had no food at all. She remembered two hard sea biscuits she had in her trunk which were left over from her sea voyage. She didn't think it was enough to feed her family, but remembered the story of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes and knew that with God nothing was impossible. She put the biscuits in the dutch oven, covered them with water and asked for God's blessing. Then she covered it and put it on the coals. When she took the lid off a little later, she saw that it was full of food. Her family knelt to thank God for this miracle and were able to eat well that night.

I really like this picture because I think it depicts the journey and how they all had to work together to make it, and unfortunately many of them still died along the way. There are so many other wonderful pictures, so be sure to check them out.

This book starts with an introduction to Captain James G. Willie and how he came to be their leader. It also talks about the decision to move forward even though it was so late in the season. It then goes on to highlight other individuals and families who were part of the Willie Handcart Company. We get their story, an Epilogue so we know what happened to them after they reached Salt Lake and Reflections of a Descendant. There are also photographs of some of the landmarks and monuments that are currently found in Wyoming, and other photos related to their stories.

The last chapter is dedicated to their rescue. Salt Lake didn't know they were coming and were stunned when Elder Franklin D. Richards arrived in Salt Lake and told them about two large handcart companies and two wagon companies that were still on the trail. The handcart companies were limited in what they could bring so Salt Lake would send relief teams with fresh supplies to meet the companies halfway. Since they didn't know anyone was coming, those supplies weren't there. Brigham Young realized the urgency of the situation and sent rescue teams out right away. It took another month to get the Willie Handcart Company to Salt Lake. During that time, there were many miracles that occurred and still more heartache to endure. 

This is a great book to read when you need a good cry! I read many of these stories through tears and find myself once again amazed at their faith and strength. None of them complained about their journey and they never criticized anyone for decisions that were made to continue on (they actually knew at the beginning that it could have been just as rough if they had stayed in Florence for the winter, and there are stories about how rough it actually was for those that did stay behind). This is a great book to read when I think I have it so rough. I feel like my problems are small compared to what they endured and am grateful for the strength I feel from their stories which inspire me to be better and carry on! I highly, highly, highly recommend this book!

Deseret Book

About the Authors

Andrew D. Olsen is an editor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the author of The Price We Paid: The Extraordinary Story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Pioneers. Andrew and his wife, Linda, are the parents of 3 children.

Jolene Spendlove Allphin has a love for the 1856 pioneers and rescuers that continues to grow. She has published nearly 300 biographical sketches of them in Tell My Story, Too. Jolene and her husband, Michael, are the parents of 11 children.

Julie Boswell Rogers is an acclaimed artist who has won many awards. Her art has been featured in Church publications, visitors’ centers, and the Church History Museum. The book Emma, the Elect Lady contains many of her paintings of Joseph and Emma Smith. Julie and her husband, Russell, are the parents of 5 children.

Book Review: Shedding Light on the Dark Side by Stephen J. Stirling

Shedding Light on the Dark Side: Defeating the Forces of Evil, by Stephen J. Stirling
2013, 128p, LDS Non-Fiction
My Rating=5 stars
Source: Received copy from publisher for an honest review


It is time to rip the mask from the master of deceit.

Using the scriptures and modern revelation, Stephen Stirling defines who Satan is and what his role is on this earth. In a way that is engaging and perfect for youth to understand, he evaluates:

• What the scriptures say that Satan is and does
• Where Satan gets his power and why it influences us
• How to be better soldiers in the war Satan is waging on this world

We can overcome this deceiving yet unavoidably real being with the light of truth. The Prince of Peace holds the power to defeat the Prince of Darkness. The only question is where you will stand in this eternal battle of good and evil. Shedding Light on the Dark Side will help you understand the Adversary and his tactics so you can fearlessly stand on the Lord’s side.

Whenever you're engaged in battle, it's always good to know the enemy so you can figure out what strategy to use to defeat them. There have been times in my life when I felt like Satan was winning the war against me and it would be easier to give in than to continue fighting. In those times, something always seems to happen to help me keep going and turn to Christ. At that point, life always improves!

This book is packed with scriptures and quotes from General Authorities, past and present. I highlighted so many sections so I can go back and reference them as I need to. The main point I felt the author tried to get across is that Satan is, indeed, real and his objective is to destroy the world by taking us down individually. Because of choices he made, he's miserable and wants us to feel the same.

This book is not all doom and gloom, though. There is a winning formula and it is outlined in this book. There are things we can do here and now to win the battle. We each have our agency and are able to choose for ourselves who we will follow. This book says it's a guide for Youth and Young Adults, but I still learned plenty and it's a great resource to use in the future. I highly recommend this book to Youth, Young Adults and Adults!

Deseret Book * Amazon * Cedar Fort * Website

Stephen J. Stirling was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in the Southeast LA semi-ghetto of Huntington Park. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Brigham Young University in 1976, and then spent the next several years wandering America in search of adventure as a professional vagrant. Interspersed through his college career and days on the road, he served a mission in Chile and taught for 5 years as an early morning seminary teacher in various ports of call.

Stopping in Chicago, he entered the profession of advertising, a field in which he ultimately held many positions with companies from the Mid West to the Pacific Coast. He eventually settled in Orange County, California, where he established Stirling Communications and spent 15 years as a freelance copywriter, scriptwriter, and video producer. In 1994 he was hired by the Church Educational System and relocated with his family to the Phoenix Valley in Arizona, where he has fulfilled a lifelong dream of teaching released-time seminary for the past 19 years.

He and his wife, Diane, were married in 1981. They have five adult children, two horses, several chickens, and a farm in Adam-Ondi-Ahman, Missouri—where they plan to retire someday.

Book Review: Written on Our Hearts by Emily Freeman

Written on Our Hearts, by Emily Freeman
2013, 176p, Inspirational, LDS
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Provided copy by publisher for an honest review

If you have ever found the Old Testament intimidating, you're not alone. The less-familiar history, themes, and language, coupled with the length of the book, make it a difficult read for many. But author Emily Freeman loves the Old Testament, and as she shares some of the wonderful things she has learned in her study of this book of scripture, you will find yourself coming to love it too.

Written on Our Hearts is not a commentary or an intensive doctrinal study. Instead, Emily writes about the stories of the Old Testament, stories of trusting and overcoming and enduring and believing. Within these stories are all kinds of applications for the challenges we face today.

"There will come a moment in your life," the author says, "when you or someone you love will struggle with a challenge so great you will wonder how you will make it through. In that moment you will long to better understand the Savior's role as the Deliverer, and to do that you must go to the book of scripture that describes that role the best—the Old Testament."

Discover the delivering power of the Lord yourself in the pages of this book—and experience the scriptures in a new, more personal way!

What a fabulous book and a gorgeous cover! I am definitely intimidated by the Old Testament and over the past two years have studied it more than I have in a long time. I realize I have a long way to go so I was interested to read Ms. Freeman's perspective on how the teachings contained in the Old Testament can apply to our lives today. 

The chapters are short so it's easy to read a few pages at a time. However, the information found in these short chapters can be pondered over for a long time. I needed to get through it quickly but plan to read it again more slowly so I can savor her teachings and stories.

One of my favorite stories was found in her chapter titled, "Here I Raise My Ebenezer" (p. 53-55). She said that 25 years ago, she was asked to play "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" at a missionary homecoming and she had never heard it before. The part that says, "Here I raise my Ebenezer; Here by Thy great help I've come" didn't make sense to them so they changed the words and left out that part of the song. After the meeting, the missionary came over to thank them and then told them that they left out his favorite part of the song. They explained why they left it out and asked him what it meant. With a smile, he told them they would need to figure it out for themselves and gave a hint that it could be found in the scriptures. She found the answer in 1 Samuel 7. You'll need to read her book to see what she learned. I enjoyed this because it's also one of my favorite songs and I've never taken the time to figure out what that part meant and now it means even more to me! And I'm thinking I need my own Ebenezer.

There are many other great experiences to learn from and I'm grateful for how much she opened up and shared. Her explanations have helped me see how the lessons taught in the Old Testament can apply to me and help me find peace during the tough times. This is a book worth reading again and again and I highly recommend it to everyone! 

You can learn more about the women of the Old Testament by clicking here to take a trivia quiz.

Deseret Book * Amazon

Emily Freeman took her first creative writing class in high school and has loved writing ever since. She finds great joy in studying the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Her deep love of the scriptures comes from a desire to find their application in everyday life. She is the author of several books, including The Ten Virgins; 21 Days Closer to Christ; and The Promise of Enough. There is nothing Emily enjoys more for breakfast than a bowl of vanilla ice cream, raspberries, and chocolate chips. Other favorites include parades, vacations, firework displays, and going for a long walk with a good friend. Emily and her husband, Greg, live in Lehi, Utah, with their four children, whom she adores.

Book Review: Face to Face by S. Michael Wilcox

Face to Face, by S. Michael Wilcox
2013, 154p, LDS, Inspirational
My Rating=5 stars
Source: Provided copy by publisher for an honest review

“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

Is it possible to talk with God as Moses did—face to face? This is not only what we long for, but what God also ardently desires. For Moses that may have meant an actual physical encounter, but for most of us it is an expression that suggests friendship, open communication, honesty, and the conversations of familiarity. But how is that done? And how can we learn how God speaks to us individually? Bestselling author S. Michael Wilcox explores the scriptural expressions and concepts of “pouring out,” “wrestling,” being “filled with desire,” and “knocking” at the door Jesus promised would open to us— particularly in those times when we deeply need heaven to hear us and to confirm to our souls that more than our words are being received. (Amazon)

Michael Wilcox is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! I've currently only read one other book of his, When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered, which I reviewed when I first started my blog, and there are many others I want to read. You can read my review of When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered HERE. When I saw this book available for review, I was excited to read another one of his books, and it didn't disappoint!

He poses the question of what do we do when we feel that prayer is not enough. We need to change the formula which will shift us into a new mind-set. His formula consists of six things we need to do and the names of his chapters are: (1) Reaching Through Pouring Out, (2) Reaching Through Wrestling, (3) Reaching Through Believing, (4) Reaching Through Acting, (5) Reaching Through Desire and (6) Reaching Through Acting.

In the first chapter, Reaching Through Pouring Out, he shares several examples in the scriptures where people poured out their hearts to God and how this suggests a little more then simply praying. Pouring out suggests there will be no holding back and doing this can bring relief to our souls. As we pour out our hearts to God, God is able to pour in the things we need. This applies to both the good and bad in our lives (confusion, anxiety, gratitude, joy, etc.). While reading this section, I realized that I had a situation I was feeling anxious about and I felt I needed to pour out my heart to God, so I did. I let God know every care, concern and thought I had on the issue and didn't finish until there was nothing left. I felt such relief and comfort that all was going to be okay. Pouring out doesn't need to be done daily but should be done frequently. Since I have other situations where I need to pour out my heart (yes, there are good things, too), I think I have this covered for a very long time. Here's a video where he explains this concept and tells a great family story:



In his Reaching Through Wrestling section, he tells of two areas of the gospel that he has wrestled with and how he came to receive a testimony of each of them. "I think often of the interior of the soul as a beautiful building held up by masterfully carved pillars that represent those irreplaceable truths we all fervently wish to know with unshakable firmness." (p. 71) Sometimes the doctrines we wrestle with become some of our strongest pillars to hold our testimonies in place.

There's lots of other inspiring and motivating information in this book; I have touched on a small portion of what you will get when you read this. This is another one of those books that isn't long but it's full of meat so it's not a short read, either. He speaks so eloquently and presents the information in a coherent way. I know I didn't understand everything he talked about so I will get even more out of it the next time I read it. This is a book that I highly recommend reading!!

About the Author

S. Michael Wilcox received his PhD from the University of Colorado and taught for many years at the LDS Institute of Religion adjacent to the University of Utah. He has spoken to packed crowds at BYU Education Week and has hosted tours to the Holy Land and to Church history sites. He has served in a variety of callings, including as bishop and counselor in a stake presidency. He has written many articles and books, including House of Glory, Sunset, 10 Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven, and Finding Hope. He and his late wife, Laurie, are the parents of five children.

(Note: This book won't be available for Kindle until September 5, 2013 but is available in hardcover now)