"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention."
Boyd K. Packer,
President of the Quorum of the Twelve, borrows a phrase from King
Benjamin for the title of his new book In Wisdom & Order
(Deseret Book 2013, 260 pages in hardcover, $25.99). It’s a
collection of 28 talks from General Conference, CES firesides,
mission presidents’ seminars, and funerals over a quarter
century.
President Packer has
always told as it like it is, boldly and without apology, and the
talks here are no exception. Under sections titled “Gospel
Foundations,” “Principles for Perfection, Priesthood,”
“Youth and Family,” “Teachers and Servants,”
and “Lessons from Our Leaders,” subtopics include
“planned” parenthood (meaning deliberate
parenthood and parenting) and spiritual self-reliance.
His classic 1997 talk
on finding balance between family time and too many Church activities
should be reread: “No service in the Church or community
transcends that given in the home.”
The book appeals to
audiences of various ages, from youth to parents to mature members of
the Church.
The author quotes
snippets of poems and hymns he’s recited in talks, as well as
words from other general authorities. A real treasure of this
collection is the talks he gave at the funerals of Presidents Benson,
Hunter, and Hinckley, as well as his Ensign biography of
Spencer W. Kimball.
The origin of each talk
is given in a footnote on the first page of each. Also helpful is a
good index.
This one’s a
keeper!
Another great
collection is found in A Beginner’s Guide to Talmage
(Deseret Book 2013, 341 pages in softcover, $14.99).
James E. Talmage, a
well-educated and prolific LDS writer from another generation,
authored Jesus the Christ and The Articles of Faith as
well as a dozen other substantial volumes. How he came to do that
makes for an interesting story in itself, and compiler Calvin R.
Stephens does a fine job of laying it out for us. In fact, he makes
Talmage a lot less daunting and a lot more human.
Charming stories from
Albert L. Zobell, Jr.’s, compilation, The Parables of James
E. Talmage, give an inside glimpse into the man who was a geology
professor, insatiable learner, and beloved apostle (8,000 attended
his funeral in 1933).
How could you not like
a man who wrote this: “Early in life I realized that I would
have to live with myself more than with anybody else, and I have
tried to so live that I would be in good company when alone.”
Beyond the personal
background (including how he struggled to gain his own testimony as a
teenager), the book offers excerpts from Talmage’s own writings
under a dozen chapter headings, among them “The Godhead,”
“Mortal Probabation,” “Church Government,”
and “Responsibility of the Covenant People.”
Explicating doctrine,
citing scriptures, and illustrating points with his own stories,
Talmage illuminates more than 100 topics.
With the essence of all
his published work in one convenient place, this handy reference is
indeed a fine effort at untangling Talmage.
Laurie
Williams Sowby has been writing since second grade and getting paid
for it since high school. Her byline ("all three names, please")
has appeared on more than 6,000 freelance articles published in
newspapers, magazines, and online.
A
graduate of BYU and a writing instructor at Utah Valley University
for many years, she proudly claims all five children and their
spouses as college grads.
She
and husband, Steve, have served three full-time missions together,
beginning in 2005 in Chile, followed by Washington D.C. South, then
Washington D.C. North, both times as young adult Institute teachers.
They are currently serving in the New York Office of Public and
International Affairs
During
her years of missionary service, Laurie has continued to write about
significant Church events, including the rededication of the Santiago
Temple by President Hinckley and the groundbreaking for the
Philadelphia Temple by President Eyring. She also was a Church
Service Missionary, working as a news editor at Church Magazines,
between full-time missions.
Laurie
has traveled to all 50 states and at least 45 countries (so far).
While home is American Fork, Utah, Lincoln Center and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art have provided a comfortable second home.
Laurie
is currently serving a fourth full-time mission with her husband in
the New York Office of Public and International Affairs. The two
previously served with a branch presidency at the Provo Missionary
Training Center. The oldest of 18 grandchildren have been called to
serve missions in New Hampshire and Brisbane, Australia.
