A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

6/10

I read this about nine years ago. It is very short and an interesting look into the heart and mind of C.S. Lewis. This book was written shortly after the death of his wife. It is basically his thoughts and the struggles he faced in dealing with this loss. It is very honest and it is always interesting to get into the mind of C.S. Lewis.

I didn't quite enjoy it as much as some of his better stuff, but that's probably because the topic "Grief" is not really supposed to be all that enjoyable. But like I said, it is interesting and short (only 89 pages not counting the Afterword) and so I would recommend others to give it a look.

There are several quotes I could share, but I chose to only post this one:

"If I had really cared, as I thought I did, about the sorrows of the world, I should not have been so overwhelmed when my own sorrow came."

The Third Thousand Years by W. Cleon Skousen

6/10

This is the second book in Skousen's Old Testament trilogy. I read this one about ten years ago-ish. I think. I still haven't finished "The Fourth Thousand Years," the final book. Very reminiscent of my actual Old Testament reading where I can get through much of it with relative ease and then I get to Ezekiel and stay there for the next ten years. Fun fact: There are three different book series that I haven't finished. I haven't finished the Ender series (I've read seven of the however many there are now). Haven't finished the C.S. Lewis science fiction trilogy (I've read two of the three). Haven't finished this one. Maybe that's why I haven't picked up Harry Potter yet, I need to knock these ones out first. Or I just suck at reading series.

Anyway, much like "The First 2,000 Years," this book was enjoyable. Provides good and interesting insight into the Old Testament. It covers from Abraham to Samuel and Saul. Lots of cool stuff during this period.

Quotes:

"Not only was it a desperate and challenging time for men to endure, but also for God to govern."

"God doesn't change, but circumstances do, and God's commandments will vary accordingly."

"Except Jesus Christ, there is more information concerning the prophet Moses and the works of his hands than any other personality in the Bible."

"[W]e have learned from experience that periods of apostasy do not usually produce good historians."

Revelations of the Restoration by Joseph Fielding McConkie and Craig J. Ostler

10/10

I love, love this book. It is a 1,000-plus page book that I read on my mission. It should also be noted that I bought it on sale for extremely less than the original price. It was like a $50 dollar book that I got for $15. You may not believe it, but it's true. Anyway, this book is so great. This is one of the few books that seems to be on my night stand more than it is on my bookshelf due to constantly looking things up for personal study/Sunday School lessons.

A sticker on the front cover of the book that has remained on my cover for 10-plus years says that it is "THE MOST Comprehensive Single-Volume Resource on the D&C" which I accept as a true statement. I haven't read other D&C resource books, but I do know that this one is very in depth and amazing, providing incredible background to each revelation. Although, I must point out that it is more than a D&C resource book. As the title of the book suggests, it is about the revelations of the restoration, not just the revelations contained in the D&C. So, in addition to discussing all 138 sections of the D&C, the book also discusses the Joseph Smith History, Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith Translations of the Bible, Lectures on Faith, the Wentworth Letter and the Articles of Faith, The King Follett Discourse, and the Official Declarations of the Church.

It is all so very good. I enjoyed when they would make statements about certain sections, such as:
- About Section 19: "This section ranks among the most instructive of our doctrinal revelations."
- About Section 76: "Doctrine and Covenants 76 stands unrivaled as the greatest revelation of our dispensation."
- About Section 93: "Section 93 is one of the greatest doctrinal revelations given in this dispensation."
- About Section 110: "This revelation...records some of the most significant events of this dispensation, indeed, of the history of the earth"

I would for sure recommend this book as a book to read alongside a study of the D&C and Pearl of Great Price.

Some good quotes about revelation:

"[R]evelation is the arch enemy of false religion. Nothing so threatens the prince of darkness as the light of heaven. Continuous revelation is as important to true religion as breath is to life or constant nourishment is to the body."

"Just as we cannot with consistency say we love the Father while rejecting the Son, neither can we profess to love the Son while rejecting those whom he has sent in his name to do his bidding. To accept his servants is to accept him, to reject them is to reject him."

"The Lord has never had a people he acknowledged as his own to whom he would not speak. Revelation is the sure sign of the true Church; it is the foundation upon which the kingdom of God must rest."

And then one of my favorites: "When Joseph walked away from the grove of trees near his home, he knew more about the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, than any other living soul."