“The Philosopher & The Quarterback” by Truman Madsen and Steve Young is a talk on MP3 format.  It was given by Truman Madsen and Steve Young at the BYU Women’s Conference.  It was an uplifting talk that helps you become more familiar with the Holy Land and the life of Jesus.  As they tell the story of the Holy Land and where Jesus walked, you get a feel for the land and how it was in Christ’s time.  Even though in the talk they talk about the slides they are showing at the time this talk was given, you can picture in your mind the lay of the land and how it could have been as Christ went about teaching his gospel to the people.  I enjoyed the friendship you can hear that these two men have for each other as they talked.  I gained a better understanding of the Holy Land from listening. 

J. Stevenson
Asotin, WA

“An Emotional First Aid Kit for Mothers” by Linda J. Eyre is a 3 hour and 5 minute book where five women share their own stories to help all mothers find humor and wisdom in our own lives.  As mothers we are expected to be the first aid giver to each child and to our husbands, and quite often we are the ones who need first aid in our own lives. The sisters all talk about lessons they have learned in their own lives as mothers and wives. This is a great book, particularly to help us understand that we don’t always have such a hard lot, and that there is a lot of humor and joy to be found by being at home. Barbara Bowen quoted James Thurber who said that “true humor is emotional chaos remembered in peaceful tranquiltiy”.  This is so true in the case of mothers, as we look back on situations after they have happened and find that they were very often humourous.  I think one of the other things that I particularly liked was something that Barbara Bowen did with her son which she called ”tell me your good, the bad and your funnies.”  This was a tradition that was shared by both mother and son. Earlene Blaser shared the experience of her son Brady, and how she learned to accept situations beyond her control by learning not to judge others without knowing all of the circumstances.  She also employed and talked about “the garbage can theory”.  Margaret Archibald talked about how as a mother she uses the “it all comes out in the wash” theory, meaning that it is okay to be flexible.
 
“An Emotional First Aid Kit for Mothers” by Linda J. Eyre is a great talk for any mother, as it helps just remind us that sometimes we forget to be flexible and relax as we strive to raise righteous children. The whole purpose of this book, as I see it, is to remind me to try harder to find the humor in raising children and to be flexible.  If I can find the humor in life, I will be more prepared to deal with whatever little challenges my children bring to me.  I will be better able to handle the stress of mothering and running a home. It is great to know that almost every mother experiences similar situations when it comes to their children. Thank goodness for that.
 
A. Howard, 
Hamilton, New Zealand

I just finished listening to “All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience” by Neal A Maxwell on an MP3 book download, and I just thoroughly enjoyed it!  What a wonderful book!  It was awesome to hear the abridgement read by Elder Maxwell!  I am glad to have had the opportunity!  It is an amazing download! 

I loved what he has to say to us!  It is easy for us to be put off by doctrine that we don’t understand, or doctrine that we would rather keep at arm’s length because of our perception that it’s difficult to live.  Sometimes it is hard for us to accept everything, because we all have our own ideas about how we want to live our lives!  We always think we know better, so we tend to accept and understand the doctrine that is easy to live.  He talks quite a bit about that.  I notice it in my own life.  It is something I continually work on!  It was great to hear it from a leader, especially one as wonderful as Elder Maxwell!  I do miss him.
 
I also appreciated his ideas on learning how to resist Satan as much as we resist the Lord!  It is interesting to note that concept.  He talks about how there is no real adventure in wickedness, as we are all lead ‘gently’ down to hell.  The real adventure is the climb up to righteousness, for “straight is the gate and narrow is the way” to righteousness, but few there be that find it!  I find that sad, especially in myself!  It is quite easy to forget the Lord, because He leads in a simple and quiet way.  Satan is much more brazen!  It’s easier to listen to him also, because he is right there in our faces!  Oh yes, how wonderful to learn to love the Lord and to learn to walk in His paths! 

I, for one, am going to try much harder to learn to love the Lord and accept all His doctrines, and I know that I can listen to this MP3 book download, “All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience” by Neal A Maxwell, and get a boost in my climb for righteousness.
 
K. Meyer
Castle Rock, Colorado 

“Power In Purity” by Various Artists - EFY 2007   

I loved the Especially for Youth CD’s as a young man and as a missionary, and I continue to enjoy them now as a young adult.  Each year, some of the most talented and testimony-laden LDS artists come together to create a spiritual collection of music for the youth of the church.  EFY is one of the few places where contemporary sounds are mixed with powerful truth, and 2007’s “Power in Purity” is no exception.  

“Power in Purity” showcases the talent of Jessie Clark Funk, Jenny Jordan Frogley, Greg Simpson, Clint Poulsen, Felicia Wolfe, and many others.  The overall theme of this collection is, as the title suggests, a reminder to us all that true power and strength come from purity in righteous living.  We are reminded that we are children of God and that our potential as such is great.  I can not think of a more important or timely message for our society at large, and especially for the precious youth of the church.  

“Power in Purity” will make a great gift for a youth, a missionary, or for anyone who could use a great message of hope.  A variety of styles are combined to tell a variety of worthwhile messages.  There is a song for all situations: from the 15 year old waiting to date/drive, to those who are confused about the danger of walking past the line into gray choices, and extends to those who are just looking for a little bit of hope. 

“Power in Purity” is a powerful collection of music that will lighten hearts and will invite a bit of needed quiet reflection in each listener.         

B. Cartwright
Provo, Utah; Accounting Student

“A Heart Like His” by Virgina H. Pearce was a wonderful audio book.  Throughout the book, I found myself feeling uplifted and excited about service opportunities.

The premise of the book is based on a challenge a group of women decided to take upon themselves to prepare them to meet the needs of the women in their ward.  The challenge was to open and enlarge their hearts without adding tasks or special activities to their very busy lives.  I really appreciated that the author recognized that the lives of most of us are incredibly busy, and we don’t need another ‘to do’ to add to our list.  I loved the idea that the way to open and enlarge our hearts is not about what we do, but how we do things.
 
My favorite part of the book was when the women of the group, who each had a unique background and lifestyle, shared their experiences with the challenge.  I really appreciated the examples of different ways to open and enlarge a heart.  It made the challenge easier to relate to.

“A Heart Like His” by Virginia H. Pearce is a great audio book.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to know how to be like Christ despite very busy lifestyles.

Joni S.
Maple Valley, Washington

“The Broken Heart” by Bruce C. Hafen is an mp3 abridgement of a book by the same name that, as the subtitle suggests “[Applies] The Atonement To Life’s Experiences.”  Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the Quorum of the Seventy takes the complex and oft times difficult to understand doctrine of Christ’s atonement, and brings it to an everyday useful level for the reader/listener. In recent press, the religious world has questioned the LDS Church’s “Christianity”.  The doctrines of the church and its long list of covenants and ordinances, in the world’s view, makes our ability to claim Christ as our head difficult, if not impossible. Bruce C. Hafen tackles this issue at the beginning of the book, by reviewing a 1980 Newsweek article that discussed the beliefs of the church, and more notably, Newsweek’s view that we believe that we save ourselves through works. He noted that there was a letter written to the editor in defense of our position, and then shared the editor’s rebuttal explaining that he had simply described the doctrines of the church as put forth to him by its members. With this as the “jumping off point”, Bruce C. Hafen looks to help the reader/listener to recognize just how much we need the Savior to complete our eternal lives, after all we can do. Through many wonderful metaphors and analogies, Bruce C. Hafen details the various ways in which we can apply the atonement to our sadness, missteps, wrongdoing and wrong thinking, as well as our sins and infirmities.I have always enjoyed great talent to “liken” the scriptures and doctrine of the church to everyday life. I have several church leaders and educators, to whom I gravitate for my reading/listening/research based on their expositions on various and sundry subject matter. This book is no laggard in this area, and as a matter of fact, I find myself using similar metaphors to now share the universal application of the great sacrifice in discussions with friends and loved ones. I was moved to have my understanding and testimony strengthened by the creative endeavors of Elder Bruce C. Hafen.I feel that by virtue of reading/listening to this book, my mind and heart are more open to seeing and concordantly being more grateful for the many ways in which I am being blessed daily by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. “The Broken Heart” by Bruce C. Hafen is available on Mp3 download at ldsaudio.com which I would recommend very highly.

R. Dunn,
Syacuse, Utah