Maren's Favorite (Religious) Biographies #2
Sometimes I hyperfocus on certain topics (I mean, you saw how many blogs I did about the Olympics).
This round I hyperfocused on religious biographies about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I wonder what topic I'll choose next time?
Insights From a Prophet's Life by Sheri Dew
Russell M. Nelson is two months shy of his 100th birthday, and this book proves he hasn't wasted a single year.
He's well known for two things: his tenure as a world-renowned surgeon and his service as a Prophet and Apostle for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints-- and Insights covers both.
Each chapter is a story from President Nelson's life, so Insights is the perfect book to read over a stretch if you are strapped for time. There are stories from his early high school years, like how he made the football team but didn't participate because of future goals; there are also stories from his professional career and his and his wife's roles in creating the first artificial heart.
This is also a delightful book to listen to. I hope you enjoy it!
Fathers of the Prophets by Susan Madsen, Emily Jones, and Rebecca Thornton
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints tend to unknowingly believe that past and present Prophets and Apostles were born perfect and we'll never catch up.
At least, I tend to. I'm working on it.
But Fathers of the Prophets was very effective in disabusing me of that false notion. I'm sure all this information was out there, but I'd never bothered looking. Sweet stories about how these Prophets learned from their fathers' in all areas of life reminded me that we all start at the beginning, but if we want to make it to the end we've got to lean on each other. One of my favorite stories was about the Prophet who struggled with deep depression his whole life. He often wouldn't be able to leave his bed without his father's daily encouragement.
If you're religious, you'll love this book.
And if you're not, you'll still love how these fathers loved their sons.
Model Mormon by Rosemary Card
Model Mormon was one of my lucky library book drop finds. I laughed at her stories, and then I laughed harder when I realized I'd bought a few of the dresses she designed.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ are known for their strict modesty standards. Things are a little different now, but I'm not sure most people would expect modeling to be a favorite career choice for devote members. Rosemary Card certainly didn't, but when she was an extra for High School Musical while filming in Utah, one of the cameramen threw it out as an option.
Rosemary was a young teenager when she started modeling, and she describes the glitzy, terrifying, once-in-a-lifetime, amazing opportunities that it opened up for her. But navigating a world she'd never heard about often came with scary or hilarious mishaps. How do you stand up for yourself when your standards are so different than the job you were placed in? How do you figure out where your hotel is when you are jetlagged and don't speak anything but English? How do you get over the horror of looking back on styles you thought looked "so cool" and realizing they were "so not"?!
Read the book to find out!
Without the Mask by Charlie Bird
I didn't get this out in time for Pride Month, but it was inspiring. You might have seen Charlie Bird a few years ago, sweeping across YouTube. But he was also dressed as BYU's Cosmo the Cougar, so maybe you didn't know. Charlie is an incredible dancer, but being able to excel at that talent while wearing a heavy, sweaty suit and head raises the bar.
When Charlie came out as gay a few months after gaining fame, he released this book, Without the Mask, to attempt to explain all the feelings that came out of these experiences. Living a religion that seems to be in direct opposition to something you have no control over takes a special kind of grace that few possess. Charlie did a great job in starting a conversation about the merciful sides of God we haven't even begun to understand, the painful things even the most well-intentioned people say, and a few suggestions on how we can all start down a better road to loving each other, whatever the differences.
As a straight woman, I found his perspective to be very helpful, especially when it comes to loving my friends and family in the LGBTQ community.
The Heavens Are Open by Wendy Watson Nelson
It's something that can never be "proven" but it is something I'd like to believe. The Heavens Are Open is the book I read when I'm feeling foolish to believe in something I can't see.
While not intended as a biography, Wendy Nelson-- wife of Russell M. Nelson-- shares some very personal stories and testimonies of why she chooses to believe there is a God that speaks to her. Wendy was a college professor for most of her career, and she turned down some very prestigious opportunities because she trusted that God had something better for her.
Trusting in a God who may or may not hear me is beyond hard, but The Heavens Are Open has always been able to encourage me it's worth it to believe one more day.
Happy Reading!
*All links are simply links, I don't get any money if you click them. I just want to make finding great stories as easy as possible for you!*
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Maren's Favorite Biographies #1
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