Books

[mirkwood]

I have several Skousen books.  I have read The Third Thousand Years too, but it was so long ago I don't remember it.  I am re-reading the First Two Thousand Years with my family as part of our Sunday reading.  We will move on to the others in time.

[mirkwood]

My all-time favorite fiction books are-

 

-Gone With The Wind

-The Lord of the Rings

-Watership Down

-Memoirs of a Geisha

-Where the Red Fern Grows

-The Neverending Story

-Harry Potter

-Charlotte's Web

-James and the Giant Peach

-The Indian in the Cupboard

-Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh

 

I don't really have any favorite Non-fiction other than the scriptures.  I read a lot of non-fiction but I typically like them all about the same since i only read topics i already find interesting.  

 

I just finished a nonfiction called Dark Summit about the disastrous 2006 season on the North side of Mt. Everest.  This is a different story than what happened in 1996 on the South side that Krakaur was a part of.  Before that I read a nonfiction called Misconception about a two families that had a bad experience with IVF in 2009-one families embryos (the last they had) was accidentally placed into a different woman and she became pregnant with their child before the lab realized the mistake.  

 

The last fiction i read was called Zone One, which is billed as a zombie book for adults.  Stir clear.  It was horrible.  The most boring book i've ever read.  I am not at all exaggerating when i say that during one zombie attack the protagonist stopped and reveled in past memories for FOUR PAGES while a zombie was actively trying to bite him. By the time he got back around to the attack i couldn't remember what had actually been going on.  And the author used every big word he had ever heard of whenever he could.  It was like trying to read a story written by a thesaurus.  

 

Try Joe McKinney's zombie books.  The Remaining is a good zombie series too.

[ERayR]

For some fun science fiction Anne McCaffrey's dragon riders series are IMO both well written and entertaining.

[hagoth7]

Books in my reading stack that I'm currently working my way through (I grab any one of these, depending on my mood/impression, and work a bit more through it):

 

Who Shall Ascend Into the Hill of the Lord by Baker & Ricks

Historical Linguistics by Lyle Campbell

The Monsters and the Critics And Other Essays by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Heart of the Story by Randy Frazee

Ushering in a New Republic by Trevor Luke

The Death of Caesar by Barry Strauss

And a book given to me recently: N. Eldon Tanner - His Life and Service (he was my parents' stake president, my father's home teaching companion, and my father's business partner for a bit)

[bluebell]

I just finished "left for dead" by Beck Weathers.  He was the guy who was basically frozen on Mt. Everest during the storm in May 1996 and was left for dead (with another woman, who did die) and he just woke up out of a hypothermic coma for no known reason and walked back to his tent a day after being left.  He lost his hands, his nose, and parts of his feet, and it took the worlds highest helicopter rescue (around 20,000 feet if i remember right) to get him down off of the mountain because it was impossible to climb down the Kumbu Icefall without using hands.  

 

The book is mostly about his relationship with his wife and family, how much of a toll mountain climbing took on it, and how he moved one after May 1996.  It was inspiring and educational.

[Rivers]

Try Joe McKinney's zombie books. The Remaining is a good zombie series too.

I've never understood the popularity of Zombies

these days.

Edited October 13, 2015 by Rivers

[Garden Girl]

I've never understood the popularity of Zombies

these days.

 

Or... vampires, or going "back" in time...

 

GG

[bluebell]

I've never understood the popularity of Zombies

these days.

 

I like fantasy books in general (but not sci-fi.  I'm not interested in aliens or spaceships for the most part) and that includes scary books.  Zombies are just a part of the monster genre.  For me, the idea of someone that you love dearly dying (traumatic) and then coming back and trying to eat you (super traumatic) is the worst conceivable monster in existence.  I like to be confronted with that fear and reading about people overcoming it.

[Garden Girl]

I like fantasy books in general (but not sci-fi.  I'm not interested in aliens or spaceships for the most part) and that includes scary books.  Zombies are just a part of the monster genre.  For me, the idea of someone that you love dearly dying (traumatic) and then coming back and trying to eat you (super traumatic) is the worst conceivable monster in existence.  I like to be confronted with that fear and reading about people overcoming it.

 

Funny, just as I can't enjoy scary books, I can no longer watch scary movies... particularly the walking dead type... the last scary movie that I watched and actually liked was about werewolves and starred Jack Nicolson and Michelle Phiffer, titled "Wolf."  For some reason such books or movies just fill me with fear and hurt my soul.  Maybe it's an age thing...

 

GG  

[VideoGameJunkie]

The worst book I ever read and most damaging to my testimony was The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball. I hope Bishops still don't use that.

[Rivers]

The worst book I ever read and most damaging to my testimony was The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball. I hope Bishops still don't use that.

They do.

[Bobbieaware]

The worst book I ever read and most damaging to my testimony was The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball. I hope Bishops still don't use that.

I have read much of the Miracle of Forgiveness and find its presentation of the repentance process to be no more harsh than the repentence process set forth in the scriptures. For this reason I'm fairly certain that for every harsh sounding statement of Gospel principle found in Elder Kimball's book, that I will be able to find an equally harsh sounding statement that focuses on the same Gospel principle in the scriptures. So I hereby challenge anyone else who's willing to show me the harshest sounding passages in the Miracle of Forgiveness and we'll see if I can produce verses from the scriptures that are equally hash sounding and uncompromising. This could be an interesting exercise that may end up vindicating Elder Spencer W Kimball. I'm hoping some here will be willing to take me up on this challenge because, quite frankly, I'm growing weary of members of the Church who attempt to condemn and invalidate the leaders of the Church, both past and present.

Edited October 13, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[VideoGameJunkie]

Well Bobbie, he said people are better off dead while clean than alive and in sin, especially sexual sin. Is it good to implant in people's minds that it'd be better if they were not living?

[Bobbieaware]

Well Bobbie, he said people are better off dead while clean than alive and in sin, especially sexual sin. Is it good to implant in people's minds that it'd be better if they were not living?

Please go to the book and cut and past what Elder Kimball actually said in context, presenting at least 3 paragraphs -- including the paragraph with the statement in question as well as the preceding the following paragraphs.

And without even having to look the verses up (although I will look them up and present them here after you cut and paste Elder Kimball's statement in context), you must surely know there are plenty of examples of followers of Christ in the scriptures who were willing to die -- and did die -- for the Gospel's sake.

[VideoGameJunkie]

I threw the book away so I can't go through it, but back then the apostles taught "Better dead clean than alive and unclean."

[VideoGameJunkie]

“Also far-reaching is the effect of loss of chastity. Once given or taken or stolen it can never be regained. Even in a forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation when there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one’s virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle.”

- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, LDS Prophet, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 196

Your virtue is worth more than your life. Please, young folk, preserve your virtue even if you lose your lives.”

- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, LDS Prophet, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 63

•No one can repent on a cross, nor in prison, nor in custody (p.167).

•Forgiveness is cancelled on reversion to sin (p.169).

Edited October 13, 2015 by VideoGameJunkie

[Bobbieaware]

“Also far-reaching is the effect of loss of chastity. Once given or taken or stolen it can never be regained. Even in a forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation when there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one’s virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle.”- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, LDS Prophet, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 196Your virtue is worth more than your life. Please, young folk, preserve your virtue even if you lose your lives.”- Prophet Spencer W. Kimball, LDS Prophet, The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 63•No one can repent on a cross, nor in prison, nor in custody (p.167).•Forgiveness is cancelled on reversion to sin (p.169).

JST, Mark 8:37–38.

Compare Mark 8:35

37 For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; or whosoever will save his life, shall be willing to lay it down for my sake; and if he is not willing to lay it down for my sake, he shall lose it.

38 But whosoever shall be willing to lose his life for my sake, and the gospel, the same shall save it.

[VideoGameJunkie]

That still seems rather extreme and mean that the better option is death. That's not loving or spiritual or hope for forgiveness or the atonement. It ignores the power of the atonement and the whole point of Christ.

[bluebell]

I don't think the prophet was ignoring the Atonement. Being raped is not a sin and no repentance is necessary.

However, I also find such passages problematic. I've heard that pres Kimball regretted the tone of the book later on. I think he was often speaking to a very specific kind of person but that a lot was lost in translation so to speak. It was too harsh for a lot of people.

[VideoGameJunkie]

It was way too harsh for me in my repentance process that I threw it away before finishing I was so horrified.

 

If you want to debate this book go to the Discussion thread.

[Bobbieaware]

That still seems rather extreme and mean that the better option is death. That's not loving or spiritual or hope for forgiveness or the atonement. It ignores the power of the atonement and the whole point of Christ.

That's the point -- it only SEEMS harsh. The Gospel of Christ often expects a lot of its adherents. Think of the Christian students who attended Columbine High School in Colorado, as well as those recently murdered Christian college students in Oregon, many of whom confessed they were Christians rather than deny the Christ to save their lives. Did they do something wrong, stupid or dishonorable when they were willing to die for Christ? President Kimball was simply teaching that some things are more important than life, as exemplified the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who died or were maimed in war to preserve our nation's freedom. You'll have to forgive Elder Kimball because he grew up in a day and time when the members of the Church were taught honor and holiness were worth fighting and even dying for -- as demonstrated by the following ancient saints whom Paul praised for their spiritual heroism:

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11)

Edited October 14, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[Stargazer]

Or... vampires, or going "back" in time...

 

GG

 

Personally, I prefer going forward in time.  In fact, I do so every day!

[Stargazer]

I like fantasy books in general (but not sci-fi.  I'm not interested in aliens or spaceships for the most part) and that includes scary books.  Zombies are just a part of the monster genre.  For me, the idea of someone that you love dearly dying (traumatic) and then coming back and trying to eat you (super traumatic) is the worst conceivable monster in existence.  I like to be confronted with that fear and reading about people overcoming it.

 

The funny thing about this is that fantasy is exactly that -- it ain't gonna happen.  Science fiction, however, has a certain amount of predictive ability, and even inspirational force.  Take Star Trek, for example. 

 

Remember those "flip phones" that are now less prevalent than they used to be?  Think "Star Trek" communicators, how they were used -- Capt. Kirk would flip it open and talk.  Martin Cooper of Motorola, the man who invented the cell phone, cited Star Trek as his inspiration for it.  The man who invented the first home computer, the Altair 8800, named it after a star system mentioned in a Star Trek episode, and he stated that the show inspired him to make what was the first user-friendly computer system.  The first African American astronaut, Mae Jemison, said it was Star Trek that inspired her to want to go to space.  Etc.  And who invented the geostationary communications satellite?  Arthur C. Clarke, one of the Big Three classic SF writers (along with Asimov and Heinlein) was one of the first to propose them.

 

The only thing that fantasy writers like H.P. Lovecraft ever inspired was fear.  I will cheerfully admit that works such as his, and others of a more positive bent, such as Tolkien, provide a lot of thoughtful entertainment, but the first Space Shuttle was named after a spaceship from science fiction, not after something in fantasy.  Although I do think that a spaceship named Dawn Treader would have a perfectly awesome name!

Edited October 14, 2015 by Stargazer

[bluebell]

The funny thing about this is that fantasy is exactly that -- it ain't gonna happen.  Science fiction, however, has a certain amount of predictive ability, and even inspirational force.  Take Star Trek, for example. 

 

Remember those "flip phones" that are now less prevalent than they used to be?  Think "Star Trek" communicators, how they were used -- Capt. Kirk would flip it open and talk.  Martin Cooper of Motorola, the man who invented the cell phone, cited Star Trek as his inspiration for it.  The man who invented the first home computer, the Altair 8800, named it after a star system mentioned in a Star Trek episode, and he stated that the show inspired him to make what was the first user-friendly computer system.  The first African American astronaut, Mae Jemison, said it was Star Trek that inspired her to want to go to space.  Etc.  And who invented the geostationary communications satellite?  Arthur C. Clarke, one of the Big Three classic SF writers (along with Asimov and Heinlein) was one of the first to propose them.

 

The only thing that fantasy writers like H.P. Lovecraft ever inspired was fear.  I will cheerfully admit that works such as his, and others of a more positive bent, such as Tolkien, provide a lot of thoughtful entertainment, but the first Space Shuttle was named after a spaceship from science fiction, not after something in fantasy.  Although I do think that a spaceship named Dawn Treader would have a perfectly awesome name!

 

None of that matters in the least to me though.  I like Fantasy, I don't like Sci-fi.  I don't care what a space shuttle was named after.    

[Stargazer]

Funny, just as I can't enjoy scary books, I can no longer watch scary movies... particularly the walking dead type... the last scary movie that I watched and actually liked was about werewolves and starred Jack Nicolson and Michelle Phiffer, titled "Wolf."  For some reason such books or movies just fill me with fear and hurt my soul.  Maybe it's an age thing...

 

GG  

 

I don't know about that being an age thing.  I went to see Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds when it was first in the theaters, and I had to leave the showing around the middle of it because I was scared spitless and my guts hurt.  I was about 12.  Since then I have never had any interest in horror flicks.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Stargazer