Sweets and Treats with Six Sisters' Stuff

~ Review by my daughter R, age 14

Sweets and Treats with Six Sisters’ Stuff is a very fun book. When I first opened it, the pictures stood out immediately. My mouth watered by just looking at the pictures. The great thing about this book is that whatever is shown on the picture can be made yourself.

I love the organization of the book. The recipes are all narrowed down in simple categories that make it easy to find what I want. Each page is marked with a tab that shows what category you are in.

The creativity in the recipes is superb. Each recipe had a simple foundation but then adds many components to make it special. I loved seeing the different components. Almost all of the recipes have three parts to them to make them extra special.

I tried one of the recipes, the “Frozen Grasshopper Cookie Pie.” It was very simple to make, and most of the people that tried it liked the pie. It makes me excited to see what else I can create.

The one negative thing I would say about this book is that these recipes are more for a party setting. Some of them take a lot of extra ingredients, not just the regular ingredients that we have around our house. It is not that they take a lot of time, but just a lot of effort to make all the different layers.

Overall, this cookbook is wonderful. It has a few creative crafts and delicious recipes. I would recommend this cookbook to anyone who likes creative dessert ideas. It has options from bars to homemade ice cream. It is another great book from the Six Sisters’ Stuff.

Amazed by Grace by Sheri Dew

Editor's note: I love sharing the opportunity to review books with family and friends. Today's review is from a dear friend who is an author herself. I'll just put a plug in for her books here (see more below in Pam's bio). Her first book was especially moving to me. It was one of those books I couldn't put down. It's a book about grief and loss, and faith and triumph. I still remember sitting in the dentist's chair waiting, reading, and weeping.

I think it's only fitting that Pam would review a book about grace. Thank you, Pam!
~Michelle

Amazed by Grace book review

by Pamela

Once again, Sheri Dew amazes.

After reading her book, Amazed by Grace (Deseret Book, 2015), I have a greater understanding of “the majesty of doctrine so central to the Atonement.” I found it uplifting and inspiring.

In the easily readable 75 pages, she asks four questions:
- What is grace?
- What difference can grace make in our lives?
- How does the Savior make His power available to us?
- What must we do to gain access to the Savior’s power?

After illustrating the concept of grace through two personal heartfelt examples, Sheri defines grace as “the power that flows from the atonement.” I loved what she had to say in response to her second question. “Faith in the Lord and in His grace” she states, “coupled with obedience and earnest seeking, can literally turn weakness into strength.”

Sheri answers the third question by teaching that “through His grace, He has made His highest, holiest spiritual privileges available to both men and women” through the divine power of the priesthood. Reiterating what she taught in her book,Women and the Priesthood (Deseret Book, 2013), “women who have been endowed in the temple have as much access to priesthood power for their own lives as do ordained men.” What a glorious truth!

And finally, in my favorite part of the book, Sheri discusses discipleship; describing it as “resisting the gravitational pull of the world and shedding the attitudes, appetites, and behaviors of the natural man or woman.” It means “remembering Him when we choose what media we’re willing to expose our spirits to.” It means wanting to be “part of the kingdom of God more than we want anything else.” Wow. That feels doable!

As we seek to implement the power of grace and the atonement in our lives, we would be wise to hearken to Sheri’s counsel: “None of us will stay here long. Doesn’t it make sense to devote as much energy as possible to things we can actually take with us into the eternities? To covenants, eternal relationships, our knowledge of truth, and the blessings that come from devotion to the Lord?”

I read this book three times, and gleaned additional insight each time. I’m going back for more.

Pam Hansen has enjoyed raising her children in various parts of the country, and currently resides in Utah with her husband, Mark. She is the author of Running with Angels and Finding the Angel Within. She helps host [and is the founder of] the annual ‘Running with Angels 5K,’ a Run/Walk which benefits Women’s and Children’s Services at Intermountain Health Care. Pam blogs at http://pamhansen.blogspot.com/

Focused by Noelle Pikus-Pace

Focused

By: Noelle Pikus Pace

Review by B., age almost 13

A few weeks ago, my mom told me that I could do a book review. She gave me a few different options but immediately, when I heard “Noelle Pikus Pace,” instantly I said yes. Right from the beginning I knew I was going to like it. It had colored, bright pictures with many amazing quotes.  

One of my favorite chapters was chapter 6, “A model of perfection.” This chapter was about a photo shoot she was invited to go to with only about 5 other Olympians. They gave her a size four when she was a size 10. She perfectly explained how much girls struggle, and she said that that was hard for her as well. Noelle said that we need to be so strong in knowing who we are as daughters of God so that these simple but harmful things in our lives do not get in the way. One of my favorite quotes she said was, “Be fearless and love yourself for who you are.”

Honestly, out of all the books I have read, this one was best written. Noelle was able to give such good advice in the funniest ways.  

A few of the bloggers and myself that read this book were able to meet her. She is just as spirited as she is, if not more in person. She looked you right in the eye and you knew that she wasn’t lying. She is so humble and so honest--I am so grateful for that opportunity. [Momma Editor's note: We all got to look at her silver medal. Here's my daughter holding it:

Two things that stood out to me when we interviewed her was her love for the youth. I think this was written for the youth to be a stronger generation. And she shared something she said that I really liked, “[You have to take] two steps into the dark to see the light.”

Some fun facts about her that I learned were:

• Graduated from Mountain View high school

• Her mom is her hero
• Noelle’s favorite holiday is Halloween
• She is going to be a pirate this year
• She put Milka chocolate in her sled to have the right weight of her sled
• Noelle played softball- she loves to pitch and shortstop
• She won her sixth grade spelling bee
• Noelle loves to bake
• She finished writing Focused in less than two months
• She ran track in high school
• She has a degree in communal health and an MBA
• Noelle owns a hat shop called “Snowfire”

Christopher Columbus – A Man among the Gentiles

By Clark B. Hinckley

Review by Kerry Barker

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this account of Christopher Columbus from a uniquely religious perspective.  Rather than calling Columbus a “visionary” man and interpreting his writings and as fanatical, the author presents the explorer’s account at face value through Columbus’ own diaries.  By doing so, many similarities are brought to light that compare to other spiritual leaders throughout religious history. 

Although understated, there are many references that link Columbus’ challenges to Biblical and Book of Mormon writings as well as Latter-day Saint history.  In presenting the writings and historical facts of Columbus’ journey, we are able to see more of the trial of faith that this incredible man went through.  I found it interesting that Columbus went through the refining process pattern that we see most religious leaders go through.  Similarities between Joseph Smith’s own refining and those with Book of Mormon leaders was thought provoking.  The author did an excellent job of presenting factual data and historical writings to portray the story around this very critical period in time.  I was truly inspired.

Columbus, in his own words, described receiving “keys” to unlocking the oceans in his visions/dreams, recounted being “chastised” by the voice of God for having a lack of faith, and always felt that he was pre-destined to fulfill a role.  This role was to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to this new country.  He felt inspired by biblical references to accomplish his goals and used them as a guide for his life.  He was a highly spiritual man.

The author created a very inspiring account in this book.  It really helped me to see how integral this man was in helping achieve the restoration of the gospel to all the world.  Now all my family members are trying to grab my copy!

Believe: A soccer movie

When I saw the title of this movie, I knew I wanted to see it...

...with my kids.

All three of my children are soccer lovers. So when I had a chance to preview this movie, I jumped at it. (Thanks, Deseret Book!)

We sat down to watch the film without much of any knowledge about it. (I'd jumped so quickly to respond that I didn't even read to the bottom of the email to learn about the plot!) The film is set in Manchester in the 1980s. (The color effects of the videography make it feel like an older film. My kids liked that.)

I'm going to give you the opportunity to choose whether or not you want the plot background. (See more below if you do.) In a way, I liked that we didn't know much about it; it allowed us to engage the film with no expectations or preconceived ideas. That made us work to understand what was happening.

And it did take some work at first. I feel the screenwriters could have done a little better job exploring the niggling, gnawing feeling Matt had about his past experiences -- giving a little more context for the change in his behavior from the beginning of the movie to when he starts to help the boys. Similarly, I feel like the "where has he been" elements of little Georgie's life were a little choppy as well. Still, it was fun to have light bulb moments as pieces of the plot puzzle started to fall together.

Once we got past the initial confusion about the story line, we were able to sit back and really enjoy the film. The first thing we noticed is that the children in the movie are really good soccer players. This delighted us all. We spent a few minutes trying to figure out if their playing was real or edited in. (It's real...be sure to watch the credits at the end to learn more about the children who acted/played in the film.)

We all cringed as we watched Georgie stumble along in his little-boy way trying to make his dream come true without letting anyone else help him. But we liked how his character developed as the movie progressed.

This film is different from most of the movies we have seen as a family, even though I'm not sure exactly how to articulate how and why it was different. I think it's the muted videography, perhaps. At any rate, we liked the differentness of it.

I liked that it was based on a true story. I liked that it took place in a different country from mine. I like that we had to work to understand some of the dialogue through the accents of the actors (well, at least my husband and I did). I liked Matt's side-kick friend, Bob; he made me laugh. I was delighted by the headmaster's character development. Some of those side stories really added to the whole for me.

I liked the scenery and setting and videography; I could almost feel the crisp, damp air of England as I watched. I thought they captured the life of the working poor really well. I loved the score and how it intertwined with the story. Some of the music is a bit unexpected. I liked that.

My son liked the fact that it felt real. My husband liked that it was set in a country where he spent some of his childhood. All of my kids loved the soccer, of course, and liked the positive message. I liked the fact that we could watch it together as a family.

The movie is about working for your dreams. It's about service, healing, closure, giving back, and moving forward. It's about the power of community and of good friends. It's about learning not to judge, about forgiving, about swallowing your pride and opening your heart. It's about doing and being good.

I recommend this film. If you see it (or if you want to see it) be sure to go the website or to Eventful -- Believe - A soccer movie to request that it come to your area. The more activity there is around the launch date of a film, the better chance there is that it will be shown in more places.

Believe opens in theaters on September 12.

Here is the trailer if you would like a sneak peak into the story.



Here is a link where you can read a little more about the main character, Matt Busby.

Believe won the Children's Film Audience Award in the Zurich Film Festival in 2013.

Like the Believe Facebook page

Saints and Soldiers: The Void

A couple of weeks ago, I had a unique opportunity to attend a pre-screening event for the film Saints and Soldiers: The Void at the invitation of Deseret Book. The film debuts Friday, August 15 in theaters. (If you are interested in seeing the film, please do it this weekend -- early attendance has a significant impact on whether or not the movie will be able to continue to be shown in theaters. You can also help the film by creating a demand at Eventful.com: http://eventful.com/performers/saints-soldiers-the-void-/P0-001-014195612-4/demands -- more demands = a greater chance they have to expand the movie's reach.)

This film is the third Saints and Soldiers film created by the Saints and Soldiers franchise. I hadn't seen the first two films but that made no difference in my ability to engage and understand the plot. Apparently they make them to be stand-alone films. I liked that. (I anticipate watching the other two films, however. Anyone up for a movie night?)

Director Ryan Little (Saints and Soldiers (2003), Forever Strong (2008) Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed (2012)) and Producer Adam Abel have both always loved World War II movies. Their vision for the Saints and Soldiers films is to explore what good people do when under intense pressure in hard situations, such as in war. 

In this film, racial issues in wartime were a key element of that exploration.

I'm not a film expert, and I'm not one who tends to do typical reviews that summarize the plot (that can be found in many different places, including on the film's website). I would recommend that you take a few minutes and read more about the historical context of the story. The opening scenes of the movie are stunning and sobering as the director takes you to that historical place, The Void.

I've always been fascinated by learning more about what goes into making a movie, what drives those involved in it, etc. As such, my favorite part of the pre-screening experience was the Q&A after with Little, Abel, and several of the actors. (My kids were pretty envious that I got to be in the same room with Matt Meese.)

So here I want to help create a little of that experience for you by gathering a few interviews that I found online.

This is a brief summary by Adam Abel of the main characters. (My kids were so envious that I got to be in the same room with Matt Meese.)



This is an interview with actor Adam Gregory, who plays the character who you will greatly dislike through most of the film. It's sobering to consider the kind of racial issues that existed during the war...as though war itself isn't heartrending enough.

Adam Gregory is also interviewed in this video, along with Danor Gerald, who plays the protagonist in the film.


Interview with the Actors of "Saints and Soldiers: The Void" from Workman Productions on Vimeo.

Corbin Allred talks about what it is like to work with director, Ryan Little. (Other Saints and Soldiers Roundtable discussions are available on their Facebook page.)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=918685164813434&set=vb.643230335692253&type=2&theater

Here are a few personal reflections:

I thought the film was well-done. The tensions were real, and the heavy reality of war hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks. That impact was significant enough that it was actually an uncomfortable experience for me to watch the film. Bear in mind that I am pretty sensitive to violence and intensity, probably moreso than most people. Let me be clear; it wasn't that they created gratuitous violence. But I didn't feel entertained when I left the film, I felt drained. (It may have something to do with the fact that my mom was just diagnosed with cancer; my real-life pain tolerance level is low right now.) My heart hurts for those who had to live through this horrible time, and for those who are engaged in war now. This movie did help me realize all the more how terrible war really is.

When I found out that the characters were based on real people, that also added a layer of meaning to me. God bless our veterans. There are fewer and fewer World War II veterans who are still alive, so I feel this movie helped honor those who served in such a difficult situation. (They had all those in the theater who have served or are serving in the armed forces stand. It was moving.)

And whoa. The tanks are the real deal. They were quite a spectacle to watch. Matt Meese said that it was a good thing that they wore helmets because getting in and out of the tanks and trying to maneuver inside of them was nearly impossible. It was fascinating to see what the inside of a tank looks like and how they functioned.

I would disagree with a reviewer at Meridian who said that it would be appropriate for young teens. I think it's more suited to an older youth audience and up. I think for those who enjoy wartime films, this is worth seeing. (Again, be sure to make some time for it this weekend if you can!)

I applaud filmmakers who seek to reflect moral values in their work. The Saints and Soldiers team definitely does that. Hats off to all who dedicate their talents and resources to such creative efforts.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SaintsAndSoldiers3

His Holy House by Robert A. Boyd

I just had the experience of looking through the book His Holy House by Robert A. Boyd. If you haven't heard of Boyd, perhaps the photo on the front of his book will look familiar.

This "coffee table" book is full of photographs of various temples in the United States and Canada. Each photograph is its own a work of art, and then the layout of the pages adds more meaning and feeling to the pictures.

Because I'm less than an amateur photographer, I feel woefully under-qualified to review this book. Still, I will share a few things that stood out to me.

My favorite spreads on first impression (if I had to choose) were the one with Isaiah 1:18 as a reference, and the collage of photos of the Salt Lake temple in all four seasons. I'll not say anything more than that with the hopes that you will go look at the book for yourself. If you do, let me know what you think of these spreads, and share which ones you liked most.

It was interesting to see the different architecture of various temples side-by-side. I love how the Church often adapts much of the architecture to the local area and seeing many temples at once reinforced in my mind how that is the case. Many photos also capture the exquisite craftsmanship, the attention to detail, and the use of shapes, space, and symmetry that are often part of temple architecture. I think there are things to be pondered in such elements in temple design and I think Boyd captures them in a wonderful way.

It's also striking to see the different locations and the natural settings of the various temples. God truly is such an amazing Creator! Since I'm a lover of waterfalls, I found the photo of the Twin Falls Idaho temple particularly stunning (see p. 21). And how many temples stand boldly on a hill! The mountains of the Lord hold the figurative mountain of the Lord's house. I love that.

I got a better sense for how many temples tell about our history. The temples in Palmyra, Winter Quarters (note the glass work on p. 99), Nauvoo, St. George, and Salt Lake left me reflecting on the sacrifices of those who have gone before. These temples seem to be not only houses of worship, but monuments to the faith of Joseph Smith and the early Saints who did so much for the Lord's work. We are so blessed to live in a day when so many temples dot the earth that we may participate in hastening that work.

I found that my spirit and mind were even more engaged on the pages that had scriptures on them. Although I can understand the decision not to put many words on the pages, I wish that the artist had included a few more scriptural references to invite more reflection and insight into his thoughts about what he captured and how photos were clustered and arranged on the pages.

Along those lines, I also wish I knew a little more about the artist and his thoughts about and experiencing with these photos. Just as museums have placards explaining the artists' thoughts and impressions that can enhance one's experience with the art, I would have liked to hear more from Brother Boyd. I feel it might have enhanced this amateur's experience.

I did look up Boyd's website online that said that as soon as he started using his talents to photograph temples (first in response to his mother-in-law's request for a temple photo), "it seemed as if new, beautiful scenes were now waiting for him every time he went to photograph." I could feel his testimony that God was helping him, that he has experienced many tender mercies, that the Lord had prepared the way for him to capture the beauty of natural creation around these earthly creations that are His houses. Reading those words made me engage the photos even more earnestly to try to sense how God helped make these photos happen. It's a gift when someone seeks to use his talents to glorify the Lord and I feel that Brother Boyd desires to do this.

If you are like me and like getting glimpses into an artist's thoughts, you will definitely want to read the introduction of the book. For example, Boyd shares a little of how the temple helped him and his wife as they grieved the loss of their son. He shares about how the temple is, for him, a place of inspiration. And he shares a little about how he feels God helps him with his work: "I learned a long time ago that I cannot created beautiful, inspiring artwork alone.... Sometimes after finishing a new temple piece, I pick it up and feel like I am seeing it for the first time."

I'll end this review with a quote from that introduction, one I had never heard before.

"Every day an aura of light flows into the temple from the depths of eternity. As we enter the temple with a humble and receptive heart, we absorb some of that light. Thus, when we leave the temple, a portion of that light comes with us and 'without compulsory means' (D&C 121:46), radiates to those about us, bringing increased love, goodness, and joy to all." ~Elder John H. Groberg

About Robert A. Boyd: For ten years Robert A. Boyd has been creating images of temples around the world in a unique fine-art style. A professional photographer for nearly twenty years, Robert traveled the world photographing for clients, when one day his mother-in-law expressed her longing for a beautiful picture of the temple, and suggested that he should use his talents to photograph the temple in his artistic style. As soon as he began to try this it seemed as if new, beautiful scenes were now waiting for him every time he went to photograph. Robert hopes to share his feelings of the beauty of the temple as he strives to illuminate his photographs with peace, light and balance. He lives in Utah with his wife, Eleah, and their five children.