Blog Tour and Review ~ Consider the Blessings by Thomas S. Monson
Consider the Blessings
by Thomas S. Monson
Hardcover, 160 pages
Published September 24th 2013
by Deseret Book
LDS Non-Fiction
Book Source: Publisher
5 stars
If you ask people what they love most about President Thomas S. Monson’s teaching style, chances are they’ll say something about the personal experiences he relates. The accounts President Monson shares are always true, taken from his own life or the real lives of other people. Those warm, memorable accounts have truly become a hallmark of his messages.
Who can forget the woman who saved one of the two sticks of gum Elder Monson passed out to youth in postwar Germany? Or the neighbor who returned a box of baseballs to young Tommy as a thank-you for his kindness to her? Or the father who declined to attend a “Mormon” meeting with his family but had his heart softened by a message he heard on a radio that was actually broken?
In celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of his call as an Apostle, Consider the Blessings presents fifty of the true accounts President Thomas S. Monson has shared over the years. With beautiful photographs and heart-touching content, this is a book to treasure with the whole family.
Review: There truly could not be a more perfect book for me than Consider the Blessings. I have always enjoyed the stories President Monson shares, and have wanted to learn more about his life for a long time. But I admit, I have a hard time sitting down with a large biography or doctrinal volume with lots of pages. I am a visual learner who gets easily distracted when I try to focus on “big books” of non-fiction.
That’s why when I started reading all of the “True Accounts of God’s Hand in Our Lives” interspersed with beautiful photographs and graphic design that fit each story, I was moved several times to tears. These are the tales that make up one man’s life– and not just any man, a spiritual hero, a friend and a leader. I came away uplifted every time I opened this book.
At one point my little five year old snuggled up by my side while I was reading in bed. He asked,
“Is that the prophet?”
“Yes.”
“It’s good you’re reading that mom. It will being the Spirit into our home.”
Such wise, profound words from such a little one who could recognize truth when he saw it.
Consider the Blessings taught me to never postpone a prompting and to live a life of faith–that there is a Heavenly Father who knows and answers our needs. What a treasure and gift Thomas S. Monson has left his readers. His stories are proof that God is in the details of our lives, that He often works through other people’s hands and delivers his messages all throughout the world.
Thanks to Deseret Book for asking us to be a part of the blog tour and for offering me a book in exchange for my honest opinion.
About the Author: President Thomas S. Monson was set apart as the sixteenth President of The Church of Freiberg Germany Temple and in advancing the Lord’s work in other eastern European countries that were part of the communist bloc. He also served as chairman of the Scriptures Publication Committee and supervised the process that resulted in the new editions of the scriptures. His ministry has been characterized by his compassion for the needs of individuals and his gift for one-on-one service.
President Monson and his wife, Frances, are the parents of three children, grandparents of eight, and great-grandparents of eight.
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. He had previously served for twenty-two years in the First Presidency of the Church, after having been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since October1963. Five years after his call to the Twelve, he was given a special assignment for the work of the Church in Europe, requiring many visits with members behind the Iron Curtain. He was instrumental in the construction of the Freiberg Germany Temple and in advancing the Lord’s work in other eastern European countries that were part of the communist bloc. His ministry has been characterized by his compassion for the needs of individuals and his gift for one-on-one service.
Learn more at Deseret Book. Add it to your GR shelves