To My Friends: Messages of Counsel and Comfort by Jeffrey R. Holland
Book Description:
"If you need a burden lifted, I want you to imagine I am in a personal, private, closed-door chat with you. I want to help you if I can." With those words, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland invites every reader of his latest book to become a friend, to receive instruction and encouragement, counsel and comfort.
Elder Holland addresses these powerful messages "to my friends who love the Lord," "to my friends who want to change," "to my friends who face opposition," and more. Each chapter begins with a beautifully designed quotation to help convey the message in an artistic way, making the book a lovely gift for friends to share.
Throughout, Elder Holland's powerful witness of the Savior shines through, for, as he writes, "I am grateful for the greatest friend any of us could ever have, in time or eternity, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Review:
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland is always a joy to listen to. Even when his words are a reprimand of sorts, you can tell that what he's saying is said with love. Having heard him speak often, when I read To My Friends I could almost hear his voice. I know his advice is lovingly given, and as a friend, I should heed his counsel.
The words on forgiveness really stood out to me. He mentioned a boy from his hometown that had a bad situation, and those surrounding him who should have been his friend and good examples as followers of Christ, didn't help him rise above his situation. Years later the boy had turned his life around, but when he returned to his hometown, his old "friends" didn't let him forget his past. Elder Holland said that when someone is struggling in the waves, we shouldn't use our boats to go out and beat the swimmer with our oars.
Not only are the words beautiful, but the book has some beautiful images.
About the Author:
JEFFREY R. HOLLAND was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in June 1994. A native of St. George, Utah, he received bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University and a master's degree and PhD in American Studies from Yale University. In 1974 he became dean of Religious Education at BYU and two years later was named Church Commissioner of Education. In 1980 he was appointed president of BYU, where he served until he was sustained as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1989. Elder Holland is the author of several books, including Broken Things to Mend and Christ and the New Covenant. He and his wife, Patricia, have three children and thirteen grandchildren.
Title: To My Friends: Messages of Counsel and ComfortAuthor: Jeffrey R. Holland
Publisher: Deseret Book
Published: December 2014
ISBN: 1629720291
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for a review.
Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book
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