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Apr 03, 2008

Michele rated it:

This book is by the same author of "The Peacegiver." The book is another classic which deserves to be read and reread time and time again. Beautiful! Anyone seeking to live a life of holiness will love this book.

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jul 14, 2008

James rated it:

This book is written for Latter-day Saints. It is a fictional story told about a man who is sitting in church one day listening to a talk given by an older man. He is touched by the talk so much that he decides that he needs visit the older man and talk to him about it. The relationship between the young man and the older man develop so much during their visit that they decide to visit again and again. Their visits consist of conversations around scripture study, church attendance, and temple at More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jan 13, 2009

Megan rated it:

This book was fairly good. It starts out with ideas and steps to learn to love the scriptures and how to really study and ponder them. Then it goes into insights he has gained from the scriptures. The first part was good. It reminded me of Preach My Gospel by the way it spoke of how to study. I'm not sure if I would recommend this as a book to read because 1. I think Preach My Gospel does a better job at going over study tactics and teaching you to love the scriptures if you really study i More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Apr 08, 2008

Sofi rated it:

I loved this book almost as much as The Peacegiver. I am impressed by the author's ability to teach gospel principles in such an engaging way.

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 04, 2008

Greg rated it:

There is a growing genre of professional and personal development books that seeks to teach fundamental principles of life and living through the medium of a fictional story. Early versions of this type of book were largely forgettable, and even now many that I see in my professional work are not worth the paper they're printed on. However, two that I’ve read recently, both from The Arbinger Institute, were outstanding. James Ferrell, the author of The Holy Secret is from that same Institute, an More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 21, 2008

Liz rated it:

I am not sure what I think of this book. I read and loved the Peacegiver, and so I expected to love this book too. The story is written in the same way with 2 main characters having a spiritual discussion- one is clearly the teacher with the other as the student. I can see how this setup is necessary for what the author was trying to do with the material he wanted to get across. I will say that with this book and The Peacegiver, they both made me really think and talk about them with others to s More...

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Jul 11, 2008

Patty rated it:

Defintiely not what I expected when I picked it up. I figured it was a non-fiction book, but it is fiction with interesting doctrinal insights. I didn't feel it helped me to enjoy holiness more, but it did give me some new ways to search my scriptures.

It was worth listening to, but it isn't something I would buy (I got it at the library) as a lot of the things he talked about just weren't new for me and I don't think I would like the format when trying to refer back to it. There More...

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Apr 18, 2008

Laura rated it:

Another great life changing, reach inside yourself experience will result from reading this book. I love the Arbinger Institute! Their work has awakened a need within myself to be more Christlike and truly understand what charity means.

I saw somewhere that you can read this book online, probably Deseret Book. I think a new chapter comes out each week. Check out this link for Chapter 1. http://deseretbook.com/mormon-life/news/...

Go to this link to read "The Peacegiver" More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 17, 2008

Bronson rated it:

First the disclaimer - I'm not normally a fan of LDS Fiction. I think there is enough good non-fiction we don't need to manufacture stories to influence spiritual experiences. That being said I enjoyed this story a lot. He had good information to deliver and wrapped it in a nice story. It was enlightening to read and I've been thinking a lot about it for the past couple weeks. I'd recommend it to any LDS person who feels a little stalled out spiritually.

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May 18, 2009

Melissa rated it:

"I believe that many today carry a secret: we do not love what we have been commanded to love; we do not love what is holy. While we might reverence things that are deemed holy -- the temple, for example, and the scriptures, and the Sabbath -- we do not love them. Not really. Not with our whole souls."

I loved this book. It really made me think deeper of how I read the scriptures and of the things we take so much for granted because they are so common, like the sacrament pra More...

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Jan 12, 2009

Mary rated it:

This was my second time reading this book, and I made notes this time, so I can remember specific things to do that will move me to action, rather than rely on just the good feelings it produces to be motivating. I think Ferrell is right when he says we have to engage in DOING these things (delving into the scriptures with our real questions, seeing and using the Sabbath as a gift, and understanding the role of the temple)or we will never learn to love them. I admit that I often do the right t More...

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May 25, 2009

Danielle rated it:

I enjoyed reading this book. It is a fictional story written in a format where an older member of the LDS church is teaching a younger member of the church how to gain greater insights into scripture study and to love temple worship. Scripture is presented and then the two characters interpret the scriptures in ways that have meaning to them in the context of their life experiences that are woven throughout the story. Therefore, some of the interpretations gave me great pause to ponder and re More...

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Jun 03, 2008

Andrea rated it:

He had great insights on scripture study, the sacrament, and temple worship, but I didn't enjoy the story as much as I did in the peacegiver. His dialogue was really lacking, I kind of wished that he would have shared his insights in a nonfiction work rather than using a fictional story to appeal to the masses. It's worth reading though.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 11, 2009

Lotte rated it:

Ferrell shares personal spiritual insights in a 200 page conversation between an older mentor and his troubled student. If you are newer to the scriptures, you will find more benefit in the book, but if you have loved and studied the scriptures for longer, you have probably discovered on your own much of what Ferrell shares.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 03, 2010

Wendell rated it:

A new book by the author of the Peacegiver, which I still believe is the most influential book I have ever read. In this book the author starts with a premis that many of us carry a secret: We do not love what we have been commanded to love. We do not love what is holy. Although we might reverence things that are deemed holy-- the temple, for example, and the scriptures, and the Sabbath-- we do not love them. Not really. Not with our whole souls. The Holy Secret is the story of a man who learn More...

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May 19, 2008

Colleen rated it:

This is another book that teaches gospel principles through fiction. I enjoyed this one even more than The Peacegiver, his other book. I especially loved what I learned about the Sacrament. I'm planning to read this book again when I have more time to think about it.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 10, 2009

LS rated it:

What an amazing read! This is one of those life-changing books that really pulls you to think outside your normal conceptions and find much deeper meaning in your beliefs. You follow the main character, Michael, as he takes a journey of discovery led by his mentor Albert. Their conversations, questions/answers and discussions incomprehensibly expand your knowledge. The major theme is to truly love what is holy. We may think we do, but our lives show otherwise. New connections or thoughts a More...

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Jun 20, 2009

Mindy rated it:

Overall, I liked this book. The story didn't grab me, but I really appreciated the message. The whole idea that we must come to love what God loves in order to be happy with him in the next life really resonates with me. I do wonder at times how to make the most of this human experience. It's so easy to get caught up in the daily toilings and not see the big picture. I feel like I catch more glimpses now than ever before, but still I spend most of my time with my vision of the eternities ob More...

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Mar 25, 2008

Christine rated it:

Written by the same author of the peacegiver; this book helps us understand how to search the scriptures better, how to enjoy and get more from the temple, how to more fully love holy things and be more holy.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 25, 2011

Martin rated it:

This book gave me a new perspective on three very important area of my spiritual life, Scriptures, the Sabbath and the temple. Well written with a great story line. I'm into my second reading.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 01, 2010

Laura rated it:

If it weren't for the narrative style, this would have been five stars. Although I liked going through the process of discovery with the main character, I felt at times the narrative got in the way of the message. I am certainly not deterred from reading other books from Ferrell. I love his insights on making scripture reading more meaningful and understanding the nature of the Sabbath. The temple section was the weakest for me. I may have missed some deeper insights because what he says ab More...

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Jan 19, 2010

Rachel rated it:

This book has changed me. Actually, it has encouraged me to have the desire to change. I didn't even realize that I needed to read it. I was wrong.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 16, 2010

Martianngray rated it:

This book was just okay for me. I loved his other book The Peacegiver. The thing that I liked most about this book is that it has ideas and steps to learn to love the scriptures and how to really study and ponder them. It definitely gave me new ideas of how I can study the scriptures more effectively. The author definitely tries to playoff your emotions, which I am not a big fan of, but I think he does that in all of his books. There is a lot of insight to the scriptures that are of his own opin More...

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Mar 31, 2008

Richard rated it:

This book is absolutely amazing. It definately takes the holy things in life to a completely different perspective.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 15, 2009

Karen rated it:

After reading the Peacegiver, I picked up this book by the same author and I'm so glad that I did. I see that just being a "Church Going" person is not enough. There is so much more that is there for me "IF" I decide to open my heart, soul and thinking there is so much more for me. I see that having and feasting are two different things. The simple things of the Gospel are just that simple and yet I make the more complicated then they really are. Grasping the good of lif More...

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Aug 21, 2009

Heather C. rated it:

I wish there were half stars on Goodreads...this would be 2 1/2. Should I feel guilty for giving a book about church stuff a lowish score? Don't get me wrong, there were life-changing concepts in this story for me. And that is why I read it, so I am thankful for that. But, just like in the author's previous book, The Peacegiver, the story that contains the principles is lame and so contrived. Honestly, I would rather that James Ferrell just write out his thoughts in essay (church talk!) form. I More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 23, 2009

Angie rated it:

I really learned a lot on how to really LOVE things that are Holy. In other words, do I attend the temple because that is what I'm supposed to do or feel obligated to do, or do I really want to go there more than anything else? I also learned a lot about the sacrament and the significance of the prayers. Finally, I've always had a love for the scriptures, but my efforts to study them have ebbed and flowed over the years. Asking ourselves questions when we read the scriptures will keep us eng More...

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Dec 30, 2010

Katie rated it:

The first part of this book was really great and gave great insights, but then it moved to a different realm of doctrine. I didn't agree with a lot of the "thoughts" of the author's interpretation of the Gospel, and didn't like how it was too deep about certain subjects. I feel like if you are to really like this book it is because you agree with what the author wrote, but much of his doctinal "theories" were purely speculative and have not been supported by any General Aut More...

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Jan 05, 2010

Scott rated it:

This was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. Ferrell gave some very interesting insights that cause me to think about certain principles differently.

Overall, I liked "The Peacegiver" better (so I had to give this one a slightly lower rating...consider it a 3.5) because "The Peacegiver" told the story and allowed me to come to different insights on my own more, whereas this book walked you through each principle he wanted to teach.

In the end, I would More...

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Apr 28, 2009

Sara rated it:

The author uses fiction simply as a device to get his doctrinal messages across, so don't expect an amazing plot. However, the doctrine IS amazing and provides a ton of food for thought. This is one that I think I'll buy and revisit periodically; the reader has a wonderful opportunity to ask himself or herself this key question: "do I love what is holy?" If I really do want to live with God again and that's a priority for me, then do my attitudes and actions surrounding the holy script More...

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