"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."
Personal
peace may be the best gift anyone could offer us in the New Year.
There are plenty of us who want it and plenty of reasons to need it,
yet no simple path to it. But taking even a few quiet minutes for
contemplation and meditation can bring respite. Here are three new
books that may help.
“If
you need a burden lifted, I want you to imagine that I am in a
personal, private, closed-door chat with you. I want to help you if I
can,” says Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in To My Friends:
Messages of Counsel and Comfort.
The
book is, for the most part, a compilation of post-2007 general
conference addresses, institute talks, CES firesides, and such in 21
chapters. Using ample personal experience and insight as well as
scriptures, Elder Holland teaches with convincing concern, addressing
friends who feel alone, face opposition, seek to build Zion, face
temptation, want to move forward, or are instruments in the hands of
God.
From
a 2000 BYU devotional where he addressed love and marriage: “Believe
that faith has everything to do with your romance, because it
does. Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is the only lamp by which
you can successfully see the path of love and happiness for you and
your sweetheart.”
Another
classic is “Standing Together for the Cause of Christ,”
from his address to Christian evangelical leaders gathered in Salt
Lake City in 2011.
It’s
a nice compilation of some truly memorable talks, with each chapter
prefaced by a quote superimposed on a serene scene. (Deseret Book
2014, 264 pages, including index, in hard cover, $23.99).
Draw
Near Unto Me, featuring the art of Greg Olsen, is exactly
what its subtitle promises: “Images to Lift and inspire.”
Succinct, one-sentence thoughts to contemplate accompany more than 50
images from the artist’s vast repertoire with subjects ranging
from the Savior to children and nature.
Such
phrases as “We’re all a work in progress; give yourself
time to grow,” and, “Every child needs a role model,”
give the reader plenty to think about while enjoying color
reproductions of paintings from Olsen’s deft hand. It’s a
feel-good book appropriate for any occasion (Covenant 2014, about 80
sturdy pages in hardcover, $14.99).
I
Will Not Leave You Comfortless: Finding Peace in Times of Grief
is slightly more defined in its approach. Also from Covenant, this
book is a collection of beautiful photos which act as backdrops to
brief quotes from writers, philosophers, literary characters, and
poets — including Mark Twain, William Penn, and Queen Elizabeth
II — along with slightly longer excerpts from Church leaders
and an occasional scripture.
It’s
not exactly in-depth, but the lovely images and well-chosen words may
be precisely what someone needs at a time of loss. There’s
solace to be found in this beautiful book (2014, 80 pages in
hardcover, $11.99).
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.
