“The Savior Heals Without A Scar” by Wendy Watson and Sheri Dew is an Mp3 talk that shares recorded special insights from these two spiritual leaders as they testify to the personal nature of the Lord’s ministry in each of our lives. Wendy Watson and Sheri Dew both draw upon personal experiences that bring the strength of the atonement to life in front of a live audience.

The talks, given in succession, recount first an accident experienced by Wendy Watson when she was severely injured while on a trip with Sister Dew. She shared very specific detail she had lived through which paralleled for her and the listener the healing power that faith, prayer, and most importantly, the Savior, could have in our lives. Sheri Dew then relives an automobile accident that appeared to be far more than it really was, and how it was much like mistakes we deal with in our lives. Through parable-like use of that simile, she testified that each of us can be saved only through the merits of Jesus Christ, and that He has laid out a plan to help us all be healed “without a scar.”

Each talk helped me to liken the accounts and scriptural references to my everyday occurrences – bringing a stronger testimony of the atonement to my life. I only hope they will follow up these talks with a second set that enumerates or explains some practical processes by which we can allow the Savior to heal our lives.

“The Savior Heals Without A Scar” by Wendy Watson and Sheri Dew is available for MP3 download at ldsaudio.com.

Jennelle Dunn

In “A Crash Course in Teenage Survival” by John Bytheway, he reinforces the standards that are important, backed by doctrine, and presents it in a way that the youth can identify with as well as being fun to listen to.  John Bytheway never fails to entertain and teach!

This is probably one of the best John Bytheway audios out there.  He points out the gospel principles and helps the youth to stand for what they believe in, and shows them ways that they can avoid the worldly pitfalls. All our youth should listen to this MP3 book download.  It is great to listen to as a family! It is broken into different “courses” that would be appropriate for a family home evening topic. My 16 year old daughter listened to “A Crash Course in Teenage Survival” also and really enjoyed it.  She said, “It reminded me of the time I saw John Bytheway in a conference, only better; you can rewind it and listen again, and it was longer!” Then she suggested that her younger sister listen to it too!

Lisa W.
Springfield, OR; Mother of four 

“The Trial of the Stick of Joseph” by Jack H. West is an MP3 download. The book is a recording of two lectures Brother West gave on The Trial of the Stick of Joseph. I had the pleasure of personally attending many of Jack West’s lectures and it was a thrill to listen to this book, which is narrated by Jack West himself.

Brother West begins by giving a history of the idea behind writing the book. He and his father were partners in a large land development business in northern California, and it was decided that because of the size and complexity of their business, it would be helpful for one of them to get legal training. Because Jack was younger, he was selected.

In one of his years of law school, he had a law professor who was once a judge who believed that he shouldn’t give his students a written exam. He wanted his students to demonstrate their knowledge of the law in a classroom that was set up like a courtroom. Students were assigned to choose a subject to either defend or prosecute for this mock trial. Once they had selected their case and chosen whether they wanted to defend or prosecute, the remainder of the class would serve as the opposing legal team.  Brother West agonized over what case to defend or prosecute, until one day while reading the Book of Mormon, he became convinced that his test case would be to defend the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, the Stick of Joseph, against the charge of fraud. This was based on the many times that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were put into the position of doing this very thing.

When he announced before the class of his fellow law students that his intentions were to defend the Book of Mormon, they were elated, thinking they would easily win this in a day’s time. Most trials lasted a day or two and sometimes a week. This “trial” lasted three weeks.  The trial started out by Brother West eliminating hearsay, or as he puts it, “someone thought that someone had said that someone thought what someone had said.”  After nearly three weeks of trial, upon concluding arguments by both the prosecution and defense, the judge ruled in favor of the defense, Brother West, and told the prosecution that they hadn’t even gotten a “toe hold, much less a foot hold in breaking down the marvelous evidence of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.” After the trial, the law professor who was the judge, called Brother West in and told him that when he first told him what he wanted to defend, he “would not have given him a plug nickel” for the chances of his success, and that what he had heard was one of the most perfect law cases argued in all of his life.

Today, members of the Church are often admonished to be bold in our approach to sharing the gospel. Brother West has taken that admonition to the highest level.  Brother West was an entertaining speaker and was quick to back up his claims with scholarly works. He breaks his book down into three sections:

In the first section he discusses each one of the twelve personal witnesses of the Book of Mormon, and one by one describes their steadfast resolve to never deny their testimony of the truthfulness of what they heard and saw.

The second section describes how the Book of Mormon answers for itself the charges against it being the word of God. He describes how he debunked the prosecution’s assertions that the Book of Mormon could not be true by using the Book of Mormon itself.

The third part of the book goes into the anthropological evidence that has been found and is still being found to support the assertions made in the Book of Mormon. He gives several quotations from all the “ologists”, as he calls them, among which are anthropologists, zoologists, ethnologists, to name a few. In addition to all the scholarly works he used, he and his family personally visited South and Central America to gather evidence used in the presentation of this book.

“The Trial of the Stick of Joseph” by Jack H. West is an MP3 book download that I found as fascinating as the live lectures of Brother West that I attended. I recommend this as an excellent resource to consult in a year when we are studying the Book of Mormon in our Sunday School curriculum. It gives us more insight into this wonderful book.

Review by Darwin Richardson

“One Clear Voice” by One Clear Voice is so soothing! I thought it would be great to play at home on Sundays, and it is, but it’s really good “driving music,” especially if you have to deal with a lot of traffic.  I grew up in a family where we were always singing, and my sisters and I would harmonize with each other. These four voices blend so well that it reminds me of those days. I’d like to think it’s the kind of music my sisters and I would create if we ever had the time to record an album. And yet, I flatter myself.  These women are true professionals, with clear, flawless voices and years of performance experience.

Johanne Frechette Perry was in my BYU ward years ago, single then, and singing with “Young Ambassadors.” I remember her as a really nice, down-to-earth girl, despite her amazing talent. She and the other members of the group are all mothers now, and several of their songs are about motherhood. I can imagine them sitting at a table with me and my friends at a Relief Society Enrichment meeting, talking about the challenges we face and the latest antics of our children.

One of my favorite songs is “See Things My Way,” which has a beautiful message for those who doubt their own worth. I also love “Savior,” which is sung a capella (my favorite kind of music). “One Clear Voice” by One Clear Voice is simply full of beautiful, uplifting music!

Review by Tina Cannon

A 2 hr and 53 minute Mp3 file, “Being the Mom: 10 things I learned by accident because I had children on purpose” by Emily Watts is a refreshing and very practical look at coping with the very interesting job of parenting. Read by Sister Watts herself, this book talks about the joys and frustrations that she experienced as a young mom and how she coped with it. She has said that this book about her strategies is more a series of hints to help other parents cope with young children. The strategies are simple and easy to implement into our daily lives.

While dealing more specifically with raising young children and keeping our sanity as we raise our children, Sister Watts also talks about our lives in general, our hobbies, our homes, and how all the things around us contribute greatly to how we raise our families.  When things around us are slightly out of balance, then the ability to cope with young children is less than it should be.  As we get so busy trying to put our lives in balance, then we don’t have energy for our families. Having Sister Watts read her book makes it more personal and easy to see the humor of her experiences as she learned the lessons she shares.

The strategy that stuck the most in my mind was strategy #3: Be Discerning. Sister Watts talked about how it is okay to go just one mile, rather than going all out on simple things. It made me realize that sometimes, as a member of the church, it’s important to make sure that my efforts are in proportion to what I am being asked to do. Sister Watts helpfully gives us the three main questions that she asks herself when doing something for others to make sure that all conditions are met. It is a good, objective way of realizing that sometimes its more effective to just give a little help or a bit of support. This really is a good book to give to new parents.

As a young mom myself, “Being the Mom: 10 things I learned by accident because I had children on purpose” by Emily Watts has been a great help to me and has really opened my eyes to ways that I can successfully raise my son and be able to give him a lot more of my time and my personality.  I had heard about this book in Relief Society one afternoon, and I am grateful for the opportunity to hear this book and for Sister Emily Watts sharing these helpful hints.  It is a very good guide to parenting and how to make our families our focal points.

Review by Amy Howard

“First Light: Scenes From the Restoration, Vol. 1,” by Brett Raymond, is a very nicely done musical look at the events of the early restoration. Brother Raymond does a fine job of taking us into the minds and hearts of various people, such as Palmyra townspeople (“Who Is This Joseph?,” “Insults”), the Prophet Joseph Smith himself (“How Is a Boy to Know?,” “Serious Reflection,” “I Can’t Deny It,” “Lost”) and even the Lord (“Still My Servant, Still My Friend”).

The portrayal of the Prophet is always completely respectful, while at the same time touchingly human. In “How Is a Boy to Know?” we see his confusion at the conflicting claims of the churches he looks at and his longing for the one true Gospel of Jesus Christ. In “I Can’t Deny It,” he comments that it would probably make his life easier if he were to retract his statements about what he has witnessed and experienced, but that he can’t, even if no one else believes him.

“Lost,” while dealing with the loss of the first 116 pages of the translation of the Book of Mormon, could also be the lament of any of us who feel that our transgressions have cut us off from the love and forgiveness of God. This is wonderfully answered in “Still My Servant, Still My Friend,” in which the Lord expresses His love and willingness to forgive the repentant sinner in a way that offers comfort and hope to any of us who need that reassurance.

The overall album, with a variety of musical styles and points of view reminded me of “The Forgotten Carols,” which is a favorite of mine. This was definitely a rewarding and enjoyable album to listen to, especially for the look at the Prophet’s mortal concerns and struggles. Frequently, prophets seem somewhat super-human, and as a result, hard to relate to; but this entirely believable look at a prophet’s concerns and mistakes makes him seem less a remote figure above the rest of us, and more a human being doing a huge job with much divine aid. I highly recommend “First Light: Scenes From the Restoration, Vol. 1” by Brett Raymond, to anyone with an interest in the history of the Restoration or who simply enjoys good, uplifting music with a solid spiritual base.

Seanette B.
Sacramento, CA 

“What Are You Carrying In Your Backpack?” by John Bytheway is an amazing audio talk download. My teenage daughter and a group of youth listened to this on a trip to the temple. They were unable to complete the entire 62-minute talk on the way there, so they could hardly wait to return to the vehicle and hear the rest. When she came home she stated emphatically that I needed to listen to this talk because it was “great.” I even heard that the girls were quoting it in their young women’s class the following Sunday.

This talk had all of John Bytheway’s style with plenty of humor in the right places and yet a spirit that spoke to my soul. With an understanding of what teenagers are anxious about, what burdens they carry, and a sense of what they feel about themselves, Bytheway is able to reach out and bridge a gap. He is able to believably say “I know what you think and feel because I have been there, and I know this will help you because it helped me.” The title led me to believe it would be about unloading burdens, and yet after listening I gained a stronger understanding of who I am and how that knowledge can make things easier to manage. As Bytheway refers to the Serenity Prayer, I feel a resolve to change what I put in my backpack, because I cannot always change the path.

“What Are You Carrying In Your Backpack?” by John Bytheway is another great audio talk to add to your library and is just long enough to make the burden of dishes, laundry, or car pool seem a lot lighter and even uplifting for you and your teenagers.

N. Lenfesty,
Canadian Mother of Four

In the MP3 download “Testimony” by Alex Boye, his testimony of the gospel is beautifully expressed in his music. He has been called a spiritual soul crooner, although he describes himself as the “Token Black Guy in Utah.” He has a great sense of humor and a powerful presence about him.

He was born and raised in England, joining the Church as a teenager and serving a mission in his home country. He actually gave Prince Charles a Book of Mormon and continues to be a missionary today through his uplifting music. He gave up a lucrative career in mainstream music in Europe to share his talents and testimony with the Saints.

I saw Alex Boye perform at BYU during Women’s Conference a couple of years ago and fell in love with his warm sound and contagious energy. All of the women in the Marriott Center were swooning and cheering. He’s absolutely adorable.

The style of the “Testimony” album is very smooth, easy-listening, perfect for the Sabbath Day, but good any day of the week. It includes some of the beloved LDS classics, such as “I Heard Him Come” and “Because I Have Been Given Much”, but with a cool, new twist. It’s hard to choose a favorite song on this album, but I especially love the inspiring duet called “Somewhere Beyond The Moon” with the talented Jesse Clark.

Alex Boye’s CD “Testimony” has both heart and soul and will strengthen your own testimony. It does a lovely job of inviting the Spirit into your home or car, wherever you’re listening to it.

Reviewed by Trina Boice

“Stay in the Lifeboat” by Brad Wilcox, is just another example of Brother Wilcox’s very special ability to understand and reach out to the youth of the church. For decades, he has used this talent to encourage continued strength in the church.   As I grew up, I had the great privilege of occasionally interacting with Brother Wilcox and his family. I remember how personable and loving he always was. The same individual concern comes through as he presents this fireside.

In the talk, “Stay in the Lifeboat,” Brother Wilcox discusses how fortunate we are to be members of the LDS church (how fortunate we are to have a lifeboat while the world is sinking). He begins by relating a discussion that he once had with a skeptical investigator about the temporal blessings of being members of the church. The reasons and facts he gives are nice, but the real meat of the talk comes when he begins to discuss the spiritual blessings of being members. In his words, “What do we get from being members of the church?  Salvation.”

Brother Brad Wilcox helps to dispel some of the fog that sometimes persuades youth (and older members as well) that there is something better outside of the lifeboat. He candidly discusses the difficult temptations and enticing options facing the world today, and he bears his testimony that things always turn out better for those who wrap the church standards tightly around them.

I will definitely re-listen to the talk “Stay in the Lifeboat” by Brad Wilcox. It really helped me to remember why I make the choices that I make and gave me the perspective that I need to keep traveling safely through mortality.

B. Cartwright
Provo, UT, Accounting Student

“DNA and the Book of Mormon” by Ryan Parr is a one-hour video made at the FAIR conference in 2005. In this video, Dr. Parr, who is a biological anthropologist with over 20 years primary research experience in DNA, ancient DNA methods and mitochondrial DNA research, presents a very interesting discussion of DNA and the Book of Mormon. He approaches his subject from a population DNA perspective. Although somewhat technical in presentation, the video is easy to follow and enjoy.

There is great interest in the topic DNA and the Book of Mormon due to recent publications arguing against Hebrew influence on Central American populations. Dr. Parr presents arguments that negate the exactitude of these claims. He demonstrates that small, related populations which intermarry may over time have their DNA markers significantly diluted or disappear. The presentation was most stimulating and interesting. I believe it would have been helpful if his slides were also shown during the presentation. Not having his slides shown lessened the ability to follow his discussion.

“DNA and the Book of Mormon” by Ryan Parr is a timely, intellectually stimulating discussion of a topic of great interest to students of the Book of Mormon.  Dr. Parr’s presentation answers the basic questions presented by those arguing against Hebrew influence on Central American populations, and will stimulate the viewer to further research in the area.

Review by Pat Patterson