2026 Books

Books are rated on a 1-10 scale,
with 8.5 and above being a book
that I solidly recommend.

To start off 2026, I've been on a 4-week Instagram fast.  Hopefully I can keep going strong in this new year, because I can tell it has made a difference in my focus, my ability to be present, and it has INCREASED MY AVAILABLE READING TIME.  This is a note to my future self from my present (in every sense) self.  -Bec, Jan 6, 2026 

24. On Trails (____)
By: Robert Moor
Pages: 352
Published: 2016
Genre: Nature writing / Philosophy / Travel writing / Environmental nonfiction / Science writing
Bex rating: 

23. Theo of Golden 🎧 (____)
By: Allen Levi
Audiobook length: 8 hours 22 minutes
Read by: Allen Levi
Published: 2017
Genre: Literary fiction / Southern fiction / Character-driven / Reflective fiction / Spiritual fiction
Bex rating: ___

22. The Golem and the Jinni (____)
By: Helene Wecker
Pages: 486
Published: 2013
Genre: Fantasy / Historical fantasy / Mythic fantasy / Magical realism / Literary fantasy / NYC
Bex rating: ___

21. Wormwood Abbey (2026.04.22)
By: Christina Baehr
Pages: 200
Published: 2023
Genre: Fantasy / Gothic fantasy  / Adventure / young adult 
Bex rating: 9

This was a super fun recommendation from my friend Rachelle.  It was funny and original, and I am excited to read the next four books in the series! She told me that if I liked the Emma M Lion books, I would like these books.  These ones are definitely geared toward a younger audience, but this first volume was quite delightful.

20. The God of the Woods 🎧 (2026.04.22, book club)
By: Liz Moore
Audiobook length: 12 hours 55 minutes
Read by: Saskia Maarleveld
Published: 2024
Genre: Literary fiction / Mystery / Thriller / Psychological fiction / Family drama
Bex rating: 8

Ugh, this book filled me with absolute DREAD the whole time I was listening to it.  That said, I kind of couldn't stop listening, because I needed closure . . . it's just not a genre I would choose for myself.  It was so atmospheric--and had some pretty rough parts with terrible language, something that's always harder for me on an audiobook than a physical copy.  

I will say that the writing was very good, the characters were real, I felt invested. I think a lot of readers did not like the ending, but I thought it was PERFECT.

But overall, a toughie for me.

19. Uprooted (2026.04.17)
By: Naomi Novik
Pages: 438
Published: 2015
Genre: Fantasy / High fantasy / Fairy tale retelling / Mythic fantasy / Historical fantasy
Bex rating: 8.5

I would have given this book a 9 or maybe even a 9.5--but there were two fairly graphich scenes that kind of came out of nowhere and didn't flow with the rest of the story.

18. Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting (2026.04.04)
By: Clare Pooley
Pages: 368
Published: 2022
Genre: Contemporary fiction / Literary fiction / Character-driven / Humor / Social fiction
Bex rating: 8.5

My friend Cori sent his book to me FOR NO REASON JUST BECAUSE SHE IS THE BEST.  It was a much-needed escape during a very stressful time.

Iona Iverson is a "magazine therapist" in her late 50s who feels outdated and underappreciated.  She looks forward to her morning commute to work on the London underground more than anything, and a chain of events leads to her getting to know her fellow commuting passengers.  Soon these handful of people are drawn into each other's lives and they learn to support and help each other in their individual crises.  It was funny and warm and feel-good.  

• Today was going to be the day, thought Sanjay as he made his way to the New Malden station to catch his usual train.  The day he finally plucked up the courage to speak to The Girl On The Train.  He’d even worked out what he was going to say.  She always carried a book with her.  A proper one, not a kindle or an audiobook. (10)
• “What do you think of Mrs. Danvers?” He blurted out. She looked totally confused. She wasn’t even reading that book this morning. She was clutching a copy of Michelle Obama‘s autobiography. (13)
• What would Julie say, or all those people on the train on Monday who thought him some sort of hero, if they knew about his regular and debilitating panic attacks?  What if they could see him hiding in the family room, the toilets, or the store cupboard, bent double, head in his hands as he waited until he could breathe normally again? (29)
• Martha was spending a lot of her time feeling like David Attenborough narrating a nature documentary.  She was an observer, studying a foreign Species, trying to work out their habits and rituals, so she could move among them without being rejected or picked on.  Did other teenagers do this naturally?  Or were they all struggling to work out the rules? The rules that always seemed to change just as soon as you had them all figured out.  What brands to wear, what music to listen to, words to use, people to follow on social media, actors to idolize.  It was a jungle. (31)
• Piers hated feeling beholden.  He liked the satisfying simplicity of knowing that everything he was, everything he owned, was down to him, and him alone. (41)
• He clutched his chest with both hands, and gave her his soulful Labrador puppy look, the one he used to employ when he wanted to latest female intern to fetch his dry cleaning or a box of doughnuts, back when that sort of entirely reasonable request didn’t get you hauled into HR. (43)
• When, Iona wondered, had people started reaching out instead of merely calling? Apart from the Americans, obviously, who no doubt been doing it for years, along with circling back and thinking outside the box. (94)
• If you stand on the bridge for long enough, the body of your enemy will come floating by. -Chinese proverb 
• soupçon: a very small quantity of something. "a soupçon of mustard" (pronounced soopSON)
• identikit: In the UK, people commonly use identikit to mean a police composite or even a “typical example” of something. In American English, you’re more likely to hear: “composite sketch” or “police sketch”. The term comes from the Identikit system, and while that system was used in the U.S., the word itself stuck much more in British usage.

17. Tosoiba: Sparkling Waters (book club, 2026.04.02)
By: Lula Barnard / Faunda Bybee
Pages: 32
Published: 1994
Genre: Children's nonfiction / Regional history / Indigenous culture / Local history
Bex rating: 7.5

This was a book that was very interesting, even though it was poorly written.  My friend Niki chose it for book club because it outlines the history of our town.  It was complied by three women in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers organization, and there was so much interesting history, but sometimes it was pretty unwieldy and hard to understand. 

That said, Niki and I had an absolute BLAST doing a little sneaky reconnaissance to find "Mammoth Spring"--one of the sparkling springs that is now on private property and no one in Soda has heard of it.  It featured prominently in Tosoiba (which is allegedly a Native American word for "sparkling waters"), and now WE are officially Caribou County afficionados because we have imbibed of said sparkling waters.

Niki and I standing in an undisclosed location--
we waded across this stream to get to Mammoth Springs

• "There are some warm springs that may be used advantageously for bathing, but the most remarkable are the cool soda-fountains, of which there are several. These come bubbling up clear as crystal from the

2025 in a Nutshell

2025 broke the mold!  The biggest news is that WE MOVED!  Our 1400-square-foot house on Donahue remains the site of so many wonderful memories, and was the perfect home to raise our family in . . . now we are enjoying a new chapter of our lives just outside city limits in a house with ceilings tall enough for Truman enough room for everyone.

2025: getting our Christmas tree three miles up the canyon from our new house.
Zuko turned 10 years old this Christmas!

Truman was accepted into the nursing program at BYU-Idaho and I don’t think we have ever seen him so happy.  He absolutely loves his program, teachers, and cohort, and is excited to graduate at the end of 2026.  He worked hard all summer at a school for troubled youth near Jackson Hole, bought a new (to him) car, and successfully navigated his first break-up.

Brigham also did some breaking while attending BYU-I: he broke three school records: most standing squats in a minute, most sit-ups in a minute, and he shattered the student triathlon record by a blistering 20 minutes. He’s had about seven different jobs this year, and is currently home, enjoying his favorite job EVER as a wrestling referee for local wrestling meets.  

Mollie is breaking our hearts by becoming a senior this year. She got her dream job at the local library, and says working there is the best part of her day, every day.  She won a hefty scholarship by participating in the Distinguished Young Woman program, and plans on following her brothers to BYU-I this Fall.  Becca is making her own plans to stow away in her suitcase.

Calvin is fourteen and can’t wait for driver’s ed this summer–where we hope no breaking whatsoever will occur. His favorite part of the year was a Spring Break trip to San Francisco, the setting for all the stories and art he likes to create. He loved running cross country in the Fall, taking a weights class from his favorite teacher, and his talent on the piano exploded this year.

Allen and Becca have been married for a quarter of a century! Getting married on a millennial year makes anniversary math so easy. To celebrate, we went on a fun trip to Southern Utah that involved mountain biking, natural hot springs, Shakespeare, and the new Red Cliffs temple. Our lucky breaks this year? Allen is transforming our new garage into his dream shop, and Becca landed her dream job as the seminary secretary for Soda Springs and Grace.

Life continues to be fun, challenging, glorious, heartbreaking, and faith-affirming.  We are each trying to deepen our conversion to Jesus Christ, the One who truly broke the bands of sin and death, who came “that we might have life . . . more abundantly” -John 10:10.

2025 Books

2025 Totals (so far): 

Number of Books: 46

Pages: 11,514

Audiobooks: 81 hours, 12 minutes

New Favorites: The Ogress and the Orphans, A Marriage at Sea, The Complete Brambly Hedge, Isola, We Solve Murders 🎧, The Impossible Fortune 🎧

Old Favorites: A Gentleman in Moscow, The Silence of the North

Favorite Vocab Words: To sit below the salt: comes from old European dining customs, especially during medieval times. It means to be of lower social status or less important in a group. In medieval dining halls, salt was a valuable commodity, and a large salt cellar was placed in the middle of the table. Important guests sat above the salt (closer to the host and the best seats), while less important guests sat below the salt, farther from the host and with less prestige. So, if someone says today that you “sit below the salt,” it’s a figurative way of saying you have lower rank or influence in a particular situation.

46. Born This Happy Morning (re-read, 2025.12.22)

By: John Bytheway

Pages: 112

Published: 2014

Genre: Religious nonfiction / Christian devotional / Christmas

Bex Rating: 9

I read this book two Christmases ago and it was such a great devotional to get me in the Christmas frame of mind.  It was just as good the second time.  I love the idea of having a "Level Three Christmas.  Level One is Santa Claus, Level Two is Silent Night, but Level Three is Christ the Risen Lord.

45. Hamnet (2025.12.18)

By: Maggie O’Farrell
Pages: 320
Published: 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction / Shakespeare / loss / love / plague
Bex Rating: 10

Oh my, this book was so good.  Trigger warning: it is about losing a child, and it was heart-wrenching.  But beautiful, and real, and relatable.  I was so moved.

• People would say these words, to each other, Did you ever hear about the girl who lived at the edge of a forest? as they sat around the fire at night, as they kneaded dough, as they carded wool for spinning. Such stories, of course, make the night pass more quickly; soothe a fractious child, distract others from their cares. At the edge of a forest, a girl.
  There is a promise, from teller to listener, concealed in that opening, like a note tucked into a pocket, a hint that something is about to happen. Anyone in the vicinity would turn their head and prick their ears, their mind already forming a picture of the girl, perhaps picking her way through trees, or standing beside the green wall of a forest. (39)
• She grows up feeling wrong, out of place, too dark, too tall, two unruly, two opinionated, two silent, too strange. She grows up with the awareness that she has merely tolerated, and irritant, useless, that she does not deserve love, that she will need to change herself substantially, crush herself down if she has to be married. She grows up, too, with the memory of what it meant to be properly loved, for what you are, not what you ought to be. (49)
• Her brother does not appreciate being pressed or rushed. He is someone who must be approached sideways, with caution, as with a rest of horse. She must gently probe him and, and that way, she will likely find out more. (65)
• How frail, to Agnes, is the veil between their world and hers. For her, the worlds are distinct from each other, rubbing up against each other, allowing passage between them. She will not let Judith cross over. (109)
• Whatever differences Agnes and Mary have, and there are many, of course, living at such close quarters, with so much to do, so many children, so many mouths, the meals to cook and the clothes to wash and mend, the men to watch and assess, soothe and guide dissolve in the face of tasks. The two of them can gripe and prickle and rub each other up the wrong way; they can argue and bicker and sigh; they can throw into the pig-pen food the other has cooked because it is too salted or not milled finely enough or too spiced; they can raise an eyebrow at each other's darning or stitching or embroidery. In a time such as this, however, they can operate like two hands of the same person. (109)
• There is so much to do in a family of this size, so much to see too, so many people needing so many different things. How easy is it, Agnes thinks, as she lifts the plates, to miss the pain and anguish of one person, if that person keeps quiet, if he keeps it all in, like a bottle stopper too tightly, the pressure inside building and building, until – what? (159)
• He needs to find his mother: amazing how strong this instinct is, even now, as a great lad of 11. He recalls the sensation, this urge – just – from when he was much younger: the driving need to be with his mother, to be under her gaze, to be by her side, close enough to be able to reach out and touch her, because no one else would do.(167)
• She now knows that it's possible, more than possible, that one of her children will die, because children do, all the time. But she will not have it. She will not. She will fill this child, these children, with life. She will place herself between them and the door leading out, and she will stand there, teeth bared, blocking the way. She will defend her three babes against all that lies beyond this world. She will not rest, not sleep, until she knows they are safe. She will push back, fight against, undo the foresight she has always had, about having two children. She will. She knows she can. (202)
• She, like all mothers, constantly casts out her thoughts, like fishing lines, towards her children, reminding herself of where they are, what they are doing, how they fare. From habit, while she sits there near the fireplace, some part of her mind is tabulating them and their whereabouts. (220)
• fossick: to rummage, to search

44. The Book of a Thousand Days (2025.12.10)

By: Shannon Hale

Pages: 320

Published: 2007

Genre: YA fantasy / fairy tale retelling / adventure

Bex rating: 9

I got his book at our annual Christmas book club book exchange, and it was so great!  I haven't read any Shannon Hale for a while and this book was so well done--kind of a Rapunzel story with a twist, set in Mongolia.  

• Why can’t my lady dip her hands into the wash water and give the clothes a good scrubbing or mend a rip or make a pot of something worth eating? I’d be pleased as anything if I never had to haul a bucket of water up the cellar ladder again, but some work isn’t so bad, not when you have naught else to do but star at a candle flame or into the shivering dark. (84)
• I’m a stubborn mare sometimes and must dangle my own carrot. (119)
• That boy Osol who winked at me, I saw him today winking at one of the cutter girls.  I guess he’s just a boy who winks.  It doesn’t matter, not in the least.  And I’m not goin to think about him anymore. (152)
• A bit of my mama awakened in me, a bit of the stubborn mucker soul, the stuff that keeps you alive when all the world is frozen and the food sacks empty. (168)

43. The Ogress and the Orphans (2025.12.07)

By: Kelly Barnhill

Pages: 400

Published: 2022

Genre: fantasy / middle grade / community / kindness / social commentary

Bex rating: 10

What a lovely story.  I got this book at the DI in May because I recognized the author from The Girl Who Drank the Moon, a Newbery winner a few years back.  In my opinion, this book is much better!  I loved the characters, the narration style, and the beautiful, timely story. It was just a pleasure to read.

• In those days, townspeople lounged in the promenades and the public square, discussing literature or politics or philosophy or art. All roads in town then led to the Library, which had wide windows, tall shelves, and deep cushions on the sofas, and which welcomed everyone. There were hand-bound books and modern books and ancient scrolls, and even texts carved into stones. The librarians bustled this way and that, sorting, preserving, shelving, and shushing. Even their shushes were lovely. (6)
• There is a power in a book that suppresses even that of a dragon. (67)
• The reason for the kindness is never as important as the fact of the kindness. Someone was kind. We need that kindness. Therefore, we are grateful. We can choose to be filled with suspicions, or we can choose to accept grace, and then continue to extend kindness to others. Which do you choose?(91)
• It was the game of it, the trick, his paw tingled at the very thought. For to trick another creature – to give them a version of the world that was upside down inside out and too then let it all come crashing down with delightful chaos – well, that was power indeed. Delicious power. And the dragon was hungry for it. (167)
• They remembered that a story, in the mind of the reader, it’s like music. And discussing stories among other minds and other hearts feels like a symphony. They remembered how Adidas make their own light, and how words have their own mass and weight and being.(327)

42. If We Were Villains (2025.11.28)

By: M.L. Rio
Pages: 400
Published: 2017
Genre: fiction / thriller / mystery / campus life / drama / tragedy
Bex rating: 8.5

I couldn't put it down, but it's not one I will be freely recommending.  Lots of F-words and drinking and drugs and promiscuity. Definitely in the vein of The Secret History by Donna Tartt, which I read waaaaay back in 2004 or 2005.

But the SHAKESPEARE.  I was sucked in.  And it doesn't hurt that Allen and I have tickets to see Julius Caesar next week!

Spring Break in San Francisco: Top Ten

10. It’s STEEP, people. I mean, we kind of knew. But we’re from a mountainy state and a mountainy town and naively thought the topography was, perhaps, exaggerated. But day after day we climbed over ONE HUNDRED flights of stairs, according to my GPS watch--and according to my burning quads and tight calves and creaking knees.

9. We chose SF because of Calvin, who has loved this city since he learned about the California gold rush around 3rd grade. Calvin delved further into the earthquake and fire of 1906 and, of course, the fascinating history of Alcatraz (Allen made all Calvin’s dreams come true when he booked the creepy “Night Tour” of Alcatraz, much to my non-creepy chagrin). And our favorite episode of our favorite history podcast, “The Past and the Curious” tells the CRAZY story of “The Egg War,” which also took place in SF. (link in comments)

8. Public transportation! We left our car in a parking garage every day and saw the city the way the locals do. I was so impressed with SF Muni and BART, both of which accepted the Clipper Cards we got on our phones . . . it’s also a great way to meet some colorful characters!

7. Speaking of colorful characters, Allen is a MAGNET for them. They see his face and immediately discern (correctly) that he will be a sympathetic listener.

6. Our most serendipitous moment occurred when I asked my phone to find the “nearest park” and we were directed to the TransAmerica Redwood Park, only a quarter mile walk from where we bought dim sum in Chinatown. Did YOU know that there are 80 mature Redwood trees right in downtown SF? Next to the most iconic and interesting skyscraper in the entire city? And a free exhibit of model skyscrapers from around the world in the main atrium next to said redwoods? We had it all: amazing food, transcendent scenery, world class art. Ahhhhhh, I loved it.

5. I’ve said it before and it’s still true when you’re Westbound: I-80 is the boringest “I” in America.

4. There are wild parrots on Telegraph Hill. It all began in 1990 when one pair of cherry-headed conures escaped and found the perfect niche environment on the steep slopes below the city’s most famous lookout. It was our second-most serendipitous moment: we headed down the THOUSANDS of steps after enjoying the views from Coit Tower and heard a crazy, tropical sound. Flocks of parrots were all screeching and laughing at each other, and we watched them for a good hour as we slowly wended down and down and DOWN to the Embarcadero.

3. I love cooking and scouring websites and magazines for new recipes and making delicious meals for my family and friends. But I realized, once we returned home to “real life,” that maaaaaayyyyyybe the best part of this trip was that, although I packed enough snacks and sandwich fixings for a week, other people were cooking for ME for seven days in a row. Glorious.

2. PSA: I think when someone tells you where they are going on a trip, the correct response is, “Wow–you will have so much fun!” or some variation on that theme. We did have so much fun! All of y’alls’ dire warnings and fears and misgivings notwithstanding .

1. On our last day, we drove up to the Oakland Temple. The visitor’s center was absolutely INCREDIBLE. The temple itself was closed for cleaning, but the grounds were so beautiful, especially with the sun setting over the valley and San Francisco Bay. During this trip, we saw many impressive buildings and bridges and sculptures (and SO MANY steep hills and stairs)—but the Spirit confirmed to us, in that sacred space, that there is no structure more important than the House of the Lord.

Follow the Prophet

Round Two of me re-listening to all forty talks from President Nelson, one every day.  This time I am writing down phrases that resonate with me or inspire me to greater faith, greater humility, greater trust in my Savior.  

Hearing the actual voice of a living prophet's counsel every single day--it's changing my life.  It is such a privilege and responsibility to heed his words.  It is bringing personal and profound peace and comfort to me.

These words are pure doctrine and pure truth. 

1. "Introductory Remarks," April 2018, General Priesthood Session

• We are engaged in the work of Almighty God. Jesus is the Christ! We are His humble servants! God bless you, brethren, as we learn of and do our duty, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

2. "Ministering with the Power and Authority of God," April 2018, General Priesthood Session

• We can help all to see with the eye of faith that obedience and righteousness will draw them closer to Jesus Christ, allow them to enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and experience joy in life!

3. "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives," April 2018

• Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.

4. "Let Us All Press On," April 2018 closing remarks

• ...construction of these temples may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will. In that spirit, I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple.

5. "Opening Remarks," October 2018

• The adversary is increasing his attacks on faith and upon us and our families at an exponential rate. To survive spiritually, we need counterstrategies and proactive plans . . . through a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship.

6. "Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel," October 2018 General Relief Society Meeting

• Seek to know more, to understand more, to feel more about temples than you ever have before.

7. "The Correct Name of the Church," October 2018

• When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement.

8. "Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints," October 2018 closing remarks

• The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.

[Personal Note: These words of President Nelson had a really deep impact on me when I heard them.  And re-hearing them today made me take time to write down how they really touched my heart and led to action.]  

 

9. "Come, Follow Me," April 2019

• ...consider seriously the enabling laws of the Lord.

10. "Spiritual Treasures," October 2019, general women's session

• I hope the sisters understand the spiritual treasures that are theirs in the temple.

11. "Closing Remarks," October 2019

• Each temple is a holy place; each temple patron strives to become more holy.

12. "Opening Message," April 2020

• Though today’s restrictions relate to a virulent virus, life’s personal trials stretch far beyond this pandemic. Future trials could result from an accident, a natural disaster, or an unexpected personal heartache.  How can we endure such trials? The Lord has told us that “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” Of course, we can store our own reserves of food, water, and savings. But equally crucial is our need to fill our personal spiritual storehouses with faith, truth, and testimony.

13. "Opening the Heavens for Help," April 2020

• As followers of Jesus Christ, living in a day when the COVID-19 pandemic has put the whole world in commotion, let us not just talk of Christ or preach of Christ or employ a symbol representing Christ.  Let us put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ into action!

14. "Hear Him," April 2020

• The increasing darkness that accompanies tribulation makes the light of Jesus Christ shine ever brighter.
• The adversary is clever. For millennia he has been making good look evil and evil look good. His messages tend to be loud, bold, and boastful. However, messages from our Heavenly Father are strikingly different. He communicates simply, quietly, and with such stunning plainness that we cannot misunderstand Him.
• Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son.

15.  "Hosanna Shout," April 2020

• It is a sacred tribute to the Father and the Son, symbolizing the reaction of the multitude when the Savior made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It also reaffirms what young Joseph experienced that day in the Sacred Grove—namely, that the Father and the Son are two glorified Beings, whom we worship and praise.

16. "Go Forward in Faith," April 2020 closing remarks

• Because Jesus Christ is at the center of everything we do in the temple, as you think more about the temple you will be thinking more about Him.

17. "Embrace the Future with Faith," October 2020, general women's session

• When the Holy Ghost is with you, you can teach truth, even when it runs counter to prevailing opinions. And you can ponder sincere questions about the gospel in an environment of revelation.

18."Let God Prevail," October 2020

• Through this wrestle, Jacob proved what was most important to him. He demonstrated that he was willing to let God prevail in his life. In response, God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, meaning “let God prevail.” God then promised Israel that all the blessings that had been pronounced upon Abraham’s head would also be his.

19. "A New Normal," October 2020 closing remarks

• I have wondered what I might say to conclude this conference that would send you forth with the optimism about the future that I know the Lord wants you to feel.
  We live in a glorious age, foreseen by prophets for centuries. This is the dispensation when no spiritual blessing will be withheld from the righteous. Despite the world’s commotion, the Lord would have us look forward to the future “with joyful anticipation.”

20. "Welcome Message," April 2021 opening remarks

• Because of the Savior’s Atonement, His gospel provides an invitation to keep changing, growing, and becoming more pure. It is a gospel of hope, of healing, and of progress. Thus, the gospel is a message of joy!

21. "What We Are Learning and Will Never Forget," April 2021, general priesthood session

• You may feel that there is still more you need to do to make your home truly a sanctuary of faith. If so, please do it! If you are married, counsel with your wife as your equal partner in this crucial work. There are few pursuits more important than this. Between now and the time the Lord comes again, we all need our homes to be places of serenity and security.
  Attitudes and actions that invite the Spirit will increase the holiness of your home. Equally certain is the fact that holiness will vanish if there is anything in your behavior or environment that offends the Holy Spirit, for then “the heavens withdraw themselves.”

22. "Christ is Risen; Faith in Him will Move Mountains," April 2021

• The gospel of Jesus Christ is exactly what is needed in this confused, contentious, and weary world.

23. "COVID-19 and Temples," April 2021 closing remarks

• I pray that your desire to worship and serve in the temple burns more brightly now than ever.

24. "Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation," October 2021 opening remarks

• There has never been a time in the history of the world when knowledge of our Savior is more personally vital and relevant to every human soul. Imagine how quickly the devastating conflicts throughout the world—and those in our individual lives—would be resolved if we all chose to follow Jesus Christ and heed His teachings.

25. "The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation," October 2021

• ...as we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power. And oh, how we will need His power in the days ahead.
• The Lord has declared that despite today’s unprecedented challenges, those who build their foundations upon Jesus Christ, and have learned how to draw upon His power, need not succumb to the unique anxieties of this era.

26. "Make Time for the Lord," October 2021 closing remarks

• 
  

Remodel Your Home Into a Center of Gospel Learning

"The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining." -President Russell M. Nelson, "Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints," October 2018 closing remarks 

These words of President Nelson had a really deep impact on me when I heard them.  I knew he did not mean "remodel" in only one way, but I felt impressed that we needed to make our living room a beautiful space.  I was literally thinking of the temple and how it is not just a spiritually uplifting atmosphere--it is also a physically beautiful space.  

This thought persisted, and those two phrases "transform your home into a sanctuary of faith" and "remodel your home into a center of gospel learning" kept playing in my mind for months.  I talked about it a lot with Allen and we decided to save up to "remodel" our main living area, about a year after this talk was given in November of 2019.  

We replaced our broken front door, installed new flooring (with generous help and instruction from our brother Rich!), and purchased a pretty, white shelving unit that fit perfectly, making better use of our small space.

Look how small that room is!

We could never have done it without Rich--he came for three
days and taught Allen how to install flooring.  It was so kind!

Fast forward four months from when our "remodel" was complete.

We were sitting in our "new," peaceful living room, as Truman and Brigham blessed and passed the sacrament, during the beginning days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

I felt an overpowering, confirming witness that our Father in Heaven had guided us to "remodel" our home--and that physical, temporal spaces and spiritual, holy spaces can actually be one and the same.  We did not go into debt for this remodel, and we took our time and performed the labor ourselves--to transform our living room into a living ordinance room . . . without ever guessing that we would be partaking of the sacrament and renewing covenants for many months in that very space.

We bought this end table at a thrift store and
Allen sanded and repainted it.  It ended up
becoming our sacrament table.

Allen preparing the sacrament.  Truman is 18 and Brigham 15

Our Father in Heaven speaks to us so subtly, so personally.  I am grateful that I allowed the words of the prophet to pierce my understanding and sink into my heart, leading to a course of action that I never would have thought could even come from heaven.

Remember when Oliver Cowdery said "Here were days never to be forgotten" about those early days of translating the Book of Mormon?  That's how I feel about those sacred Sundays during the pandemic--they were "truly a delight" as President Nelson promised.  As awful and scary and serious and unsettling as that time was--we felt peace each week as we worshipped together at home, and not only on Sundays.

Reflecting on this experience fills my heart with such gratitude!  It also reminds me, five years later, that I need to care for my physical space and clear out clutter, because "all things unto [God] are spiritual" (Doctrine & Covenants 29:34).  

I am so grateful for prophets on the earth.  Listening to their words, with my ears and with my spirit and with my heart, continues to bless my life and help me to feel peace, even in the middle of such a tumultuous world.

January 2020
New floors, rugs, shelving, and TV.  Couch, chairs, 
basket, lamp, tables and curtains from the thrift store

February 8th, 2025