Review
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Title: We’re With You: Counsel and Encouragement From Your Brethren
Authors: First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Doctrinal Inspiration
Year Published: 2016
Number of Pages: 281
Binding: Paperback
ISBN13: 978-162972-289-4
Price: $14.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association For Mormon Letters
One of the things I love the most about the talks the General Authorities give is the unique perspective that each brings not only to everyday situations, but also to the troubling questions, doubts, and fears that we all face at one time or another. This engaging new book is a literal gold mine and wealth of inspiration that covers all of that and more.
The messages in this book are excerpts from talks given by every member of the First Presidency and the Quorum Of The Twelve Apostles, to the youth of the church at various firesides, devotionals, and commencement ceremonies etc. The excellent counsel and teachings reach far beyond the youth — the wisdom contained therein is beneficial and necessary to members of the church of all ages.
The book is divided into fifteen sections by topic. These topics include: Recognizing Spiritual Promptings, Uncovering Your Life’s Work, When Blessings Are Delayed, Challenges of Your Day, Religious Freedom, Applying the Atonement, and more.
There are little known stories that are touching and uplifting. One such story is by President Thomas S. Monson. He tells the story of the time when he and President Hugh B. Brown were scheduled to attend a BYU commencement together. When President Monson picked up President Brown, he noticed that President Brown took out a handkerchief and waved it from the car window. When President Monson looked to the house, he noticed Sister Brown waving her handkerchief back. Upon inquiring about this ritual, President Monson learned that from the first day of the Browns’ marriage, Sister Brown would rap at the window and wave a handkerchief, and President Brown found a hanky in his pocket and waved back. From that day forward, that was a sign between the two of them that everything would be all right until they would be together again that evening.
That story is in a chapter about marriage, and President Monson goes on to tell that President Brown lovingly told his wife goodbye each morning for seven years as she lay bedridden and paralyzed by a stroke. Despite this hardship, President Brown was encouraged by her example: Sister Brown would whisper goodbye, she would whisper hello, but that was about the extent of what she could say. President Monson counts this story as a beautiful lesson that teaches an important principle.
I enjoyed the story of how Elder Ronald A. Rasband had to make a difficult decision early in his life, to either stay in college and obtain his degree, or to accept a once in a lifetime job offer from an internationally known business man that would start one week after he was offered it. He relates this life-altering experience and profound lesson in seizing opportunities in the chapter titled “Uncovering Your Life’s Work.”
Elder Robert D. Hales’ profound description of his interpretation of the word “understanding” is a masterpiece, as he describes his line upon line discovery of the deeper and spiritual meaning of the word.
Equally meaningful is Elder David A. Bednar’s designation of the difference between the redeeming power of the Atonement, and the enabling power of the Atonement.
Each chapter and section of this superb compact new book is filled with the wisdom, wit and counsel of these fifteen ordained men of God. Timely and sensitive topics of our day are carefully addressed, explained, and taught. These include the delicate balance between religious freedom and tolerance, and same sex attraction and tolerance, all explained within the doctrinal teachings of the church.
I would have appreciated a section detailing the dates, places and and names of the original talks by these brethren, so an online search could be done to read the talks in full. A list of links to find the talks online would have also been helpful. Nevertheless, these are well chosen excerpts from some of their finest and little known talks.
This is a must-have volume for every member of the church. The ability to read by topic. or simply cover to cover, makes this a top choice for Christmas gifts for nearly everyone on your list. Visiting and home teachers, family members, neighbor gifts, teenagers — the messages are for everyone of every age.