Review
Title: The Heavens Are Open
Author: Wendy W. Nelson
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Nonfiction/Inspiration
Year Published: 2019
Number of Pages 151
Binding: Hardback
ISBN13: 9781629727158
Price: $18.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association for Mormon Letters
When I became a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints forty-five years ago this month, there were many new doctrines, beliefs, and practices that were new to me. The one I was most interested in was the process and definition of revelation. This was an entirely new concept for me, since it was not taught or even mentioned in the Methodist Church grew up in. Even forty-five years later, I think I am still learning about how our Heavenly Father wishes to communicate with us, and what is required of us for Him to be able to do so. It is an ongoing and life long learning process.
Sister Nelson has authored a wonderfully enlightening book that instructs, motivates and inspires us to persevere in our quest to draw closer to the Lord, and to greatly improve our spiritual growth and communication.
She lovingly teaches us concepts with an eternal perspective that are down to earth, from her own personal experiences, scriptures, and quotes from others.
Some of the timely and relevant truths she expounds include the following: The heavens will open when: We take a question to general conference, or to the scriptures. The heavens will open when we open our computers to do family history research, and they are more likely to open when we have faith that they will.
The importance of removing contention from our lives is also discussed. Sister Nelson uses her experiences as a marriage and family therapist to instruct us how to remove contention from our hearts and minds. Such truths as the importance of using a softer voice, the importance of using loving words, even when others don’t respond, the power of our positive or negative thoughts on others, the importance of commending others in public, and the importance of handling with extreme care and love the first few minutes when we are with someone-such as the first few minutes in the morning, and again the first few minutes of being together at the end of the day.
The most memorable teachings for me were the personal thoughts, feelings, and revelations the author shares from her own life. This includes an experience she had when she fasted and prayed before general conference one year, to seek confirmation on whether or not to accept a marriage proposal. As conference began, she was fascinated to realize every single talk was on marriage. The message she received at the end of that day of conference was crystal clear: “Do not marry this man.” She recounts how the Lord’s tender mercy and loving kindness to her in having the Holy Ghost relay that message to her, also included Him refraining from telling her, “by the way, It will be thirty years before your husband shows up!” Years later when asked to teach a Relief Society lesson on marriage, she pulled out the audio tapes she had made of that general conference session, and listened to each and every talk once again. But this time was different. She was shocked to learn that the subject of marriage was not mentioned once- not even one single time in that session. But, she knew what the Spirit had told her, and she did not deny it.
Such is the style of Wendy Watson Nelson! Her engaging writing style is delightful. Her familiarity with personal revelation leads to meaningful and tender stories from her and President Nelson’s life.
She graciously shares with us many personal experiences she has learned from and skillfully instructs us how to focus on what matters most, heeding warning signs, doing things the Lord’s way, not the world’s, celebrating Christ’s atonement every day, searching diligently in the light of Christ, and her personal witness and testimony of his calling as the Prophet at this time.
Sister Nelson’s humility, honesty and humor come through in this joyful new book. Even though I just finished reading it, I could gladly start it all over again. Such is the wealth of timely, eternal teachings that I have no doubt I would glean new insights again. I am going to purchase the audio version for my husband so he can listen to it whenever he likes.
This book would be understood and enjoyed by by three eldest grand- children, ages 9, 12 and 13, as well as adults. This book is by far my favorite of all the books I have read this year.
It’s not too late to give this as a meaningful and thought-provoking Christmas gift. Every family and individual would benefit from this book being in their home.