Goodreads Mobile | see what your friends are reading

Mar 26, 2008

Annalisa rated it:

Good, insightful, thought-provoking. But in trying to drag out the lesson in order for you learn the most from it, the book would become slow and repetitive. More often than not I would forget the point and remember the dragging on. So the book could have been at least half its size and more impactful, but nonetheless a good read.

While I am not a big fan of over-explaining, or in this case spending more time saying you are going to explain than explaining (the book could have been h More...

1 comment like (5 people liked it)

Oct 11, 2011

Rebecca rated it:

This book is EXCELLENT. The Atonement is something that I really don't understand - and surely will not in this life. BUT this book helped me to see the power of the Atonement in way I never had before. I actually read it before my book group did, on recommendation and as a gift from a very good family friend. I knew I wouldn't be disappointed because I love and highly respect this person, but it was better than I thought it would be. It is written as a parable, so it's not just straight up (com More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jun 18, 2008

Megan rated it:

Two stars is actually a bit generous, because I had to FORCE myself to finish it. Don't get me wrong; I love this book's message and its insights into understanding Christ's atonement. It really does have the potential to help with practical application of what Christ offers us. But I had an extremely difficult time with the delivery. Ferrell uses the parable method to get his point across, and it's the interaction between the characters in this parable that rub me the wrong way. When Rick's gra More...

1 comment like (6 people liked it)

May 13, 2008

Morgan rated it:

This book came to me highly recommended by quite a few people that I really trust. And I would recommend it to others, I suppose. But only as a secondary recommendation. It is a lesser version of the book I read a few months back, "Bonds that Make Us Free." "Bonds" is a very heavy book and difficult to wade through at times, but absolutely worth reading. This book, "The Peacegiver" is an easy read that explores the same concepts. I almost wish I read them in t More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

May 18, 2008

Pixie rated it:

I'm not sure how to rate this book because there are things I loved and things I didn't.
It does an excellent job of conveying and teaching relatively complex principles in a fun and easy-read kind of way, so if you're not into dense, philosophical literature, you can gain an awful lot from this. But, if I were to critique it as a novel, I would say it is not particularly well written, the dialogue is forced and predictable, and the plot is thin. I was getting impatient with it at times.
More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Feb 25, 2008

Angela rated it:

A friend offered to lend us this book on a Friday, with a very high recommendation. Both my husband and I read the whole thing over the weekend: it’s a quick read, and rather hard to put down. I loved it - It was profound and insightful, but in a very real and familiar way. The protagonist is invited to understand forgiveness and mercy through visions faintly reminiscent of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” except that the scenes he witnesses are from the scriptures, rather than his own life. As the More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Shannon rated it:

I usually don't like to mix gospel with fiction, but this is extremely well thought out and insightful. EXCELLENT!

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2008

Lucy rated it:

I've been wanting to read this book for years. Literally. I'm not quite sure why it has taken me as long as it has, other than the fact that it's a church book and being the literature heathen that I am, righteous books sometimes stay at the bottom of my often tall stack.

However, now that I've read it I can say that I am glad that I did because it changed how I think. I consider myself on the stubborn end of persuadable so that is saying something.

The Peacegiver uses a st More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 26, 2008

ashley rated it:

My relative wrote this book and my mother gave it to me for my birthday 2 years ago... finally got to it! A really good book to bring you back to the simple overlooked knowledge of our Savior and how he atoned for all our sins AND temptations. The book references a marriage that is in trouble because both husband and wife feel they have been wronged, etc. It reflects some stories of the Book of Mormon and how they pertain to this couple and how, through the Savior- and only because of Him, we ca More...

1 comment like

Feb 22, 2008

Rachel rated it:

Just so anyone who plans on reading this knows, the author of this book is not a novelist, he majored in Philosophy, so his writing reflects these facts. This is not a C.S. Lewis or Talmage writing style. It is much more simplistic in its presentation.

With that said, I think this is a book I will have to buy for myself and read it on a regular basis. I think we all know the basics of the Atonement, some more than others, but this book helps you see multiple facets of the atonement More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 19, 2008

Andrea rated it:

I had read that this was an "easy read" and have to disagree with that. It is not a book to read while your kids are running around in circles! Although it is nice because it is in parable form and compared to a modern day situation, it is still about the atonement and the topic alone makes it a deep concept. I already feel like I need to read it again to understand it more and I felt as I was reading it that just as with the scriptures, I need to stop and ponder all along the way. More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Apr 05, 2009

Heather rated it:

I thought this was a nice book, not a great book. I learned a few things about the Atonement but it wasn't life changing for me. The story got in the way of the doctrine at times and the doctrine got lost in the story. I am enjoying his book The Holy Secret much more than this one. I need to finish that....

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 05, 2008

Amy rated it:

This book has to be the one of the best LDS books ever written besides the Book of Mormon. It really gives you such amazing insight to the scriptures and explains it in such a way I never thought of before. It taught me that Christ not only forgave us our sins and mistakes but he has already gone through the sins and mistakes of those who has done us wrong and because of that we need to forgive them even though they may have not taken that step to apologize. It's absolutely amazing. A family man More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 28, 2008

Amber rated it:

Ok...so I'm not really the type that reads a lot of church books (unless they're fiction with a plot). But my ward highly recommended this one, and I was going through a "blah" stage, so I figured, what the heck. At the risk of sounding cheesy, this was the most uplifting book! I've read it three times since, whenever I need a little extra boost. The author does an amazing job discussing the principals of the atonement in an interesting way....he weaves doctrine and learning experience More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 13, 2011

Laureen rated it:

For just the writing, I'd give this one two stars. But for the purity of the principles, I'd give it five stars. Though the story is a tad on the trite side, there is a universality in the need for healing in a marriage relationship. It is at this point in most marriages when people call it quits. This book shows principles that can make us all dig a little deeper - in ourselves - to bring about change and healing. It unapologetically proposes that the ultimate healing of any relationship co More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 13, 2009

Danica rated it:

This book was awesome. It's about a strained marriage, but the principles apply to any strained relationship, which was very helpful for me. I can't stand in books where the main character is being asked questions and doesn't know the answer when it's totally obvious, or they're clueless when I as the reader can see clearly where it's going (read: Bella in the Twilight series!). At first there were a couple times like this, but soon after when I read questions in the book I had no idea of the More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 08, 2008

Kijuana rated it:

This is an interesting book that I recommend to anyone. One interesting insight is that the author relates sinful thoughts/behaviors to addictions. Basically, if you get used to sinning, it is more likely that your body will get "wired" to continue acting the same way. It kind of makes sense since it is often hard to change our habits. The book sort of feels a little simplistic in its structure at times, but the message is very positive so it's easy to overlook some of that. It's More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 16, 2008

Connie rated it:

What a wonderful book. It explores in story form how we need to look within instead of placing blame on others.

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 26, 2008

Krista rated it:

This book offered a new way to understand the Savior's Atonement and actually apply what it means in your own life. It's a great lesson on how to extend true forgiveness, and how to overcome things that might be holding you back. The author uses the journey of a husband in a difficult marriage to make a complex concept like the Atonement/repentance/forgiveness slightly easier for us to understand. Somewhat unexpectedly, this book actually prompted me to change some things in my life (and hear More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 26, 2008

Mom rated it:

I listened to this book in the mornings as I ran on the treadmill and then finished it on a trip. I had heard so many people say how wonderful it was, and I wasn't disappointed. I would actually like to read it over, because something was lost in the cds as they were quite damaged and when I listened in the car the people I was listening with insisted on trying to make negative comments about things I didn't feel were important. I wanted them to be quiet and get the point. I hope what I lear More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 12, 2008

Ariell rated it:

This book is a book that's meant to help a person change their behavior but it is written in a story format. For me that was very helpful in getting through the book. I'm not always very good about reading self help books partly because the usual approach is so dull to read. There are levels of meaning in this book that, like the scriptures can be reread again and again to delve into the deeper meanings personally and generally. I would definitely recommend reading this book whether you have st More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

May 21, 2008

Beccaboodle rated it:

This covers forgiveness and the atonement in a way I have never contemplated before. The author uses a fictional story about a man who is in a marriage that seems to be on it's last possible leg. The husband's grandfather comes to him in a dream, kindof Dickens' style, and explains things from a different point of view. An easy read that explained the situation to my heart instead of just my head. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to invite any sort of peace back into their life More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 28, 2008

Matt rated it:

This book is a great read for anyone that is LDS, or just has a desire to better comprehend Christ's sacrifice for us. Through the main character and his dreams, where he speaks with his grandfather, he is helped by visualizing scenes from both the Old and New Testament, as well as the Book of Mormon, he is changed and sees the error of his ways. He realizes again that he has only partially understood the Savior's message of grace and redemption and what it means to us and our responsibility to More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 24, 2008

Ane rated it:

This is a MUST READ for everyone!!! When I first started it I felt like the boy in the Princess Bride, who asks the question with skeptism & chagrin. . . "Is this a [kissing]/[marriage counseling] book?"
To my surprise, it was NOT a marriage counseling book, but a book on the atonement. It was AWESOME! It wasn't preachy or assuming, it was a teaching guide. It helped me think of the atonement in a totally different light.
IT'S ONLY 200 PAGES, SO TAKE SOME TIME A READ IT!!! More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 17, 2008

Celese rated it:

I think that everybody should read this book. It changed my life in ways that surprised me. I understand the Atonement and how it relates to me so much better. I have found forgiveness in areas of my life that I never thought were possible. I have been giving this book as gifts to everybody because it has such a healing power that I want to share with everyone. It is a little deep, though, and I did have to read some sections over a couple of times to truly understand. It is worth every second, More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 01, 2009

Loralee rated it:

I've heard good things about this book for a couple of years. Recently my book club decided to read it. I'm glad we did! I'm going through a challenging time right now and as I read it, I realized that the author is correct when he states that our trials are given to us to help us become closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. For that reason, I am grateful for the hard times--although I'm looking forward to less stress sometime in the future.

This book is a modern day parable. More...

0 comments like

Mar 09, 2009

Craig rated it:

Ferrell’s Strength in Analyzing Scripture

Ferrell is strongest in his retelling of scripture stories and in his deep and insightful analysis and commentary on those stories. In the first section of the book, Ferrell brought to life for me the story of Abigail, David, and Nabal found in 1 Samuel 25. Ferrell is a close reader of scripture, asking questions of the text that yield various levels of meaning. His commentary on Abigail as a type of Christ was beautifully done. His unpack More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 05, 2008

AnnaMay rated it:

I liked chapters 21 and on the best. Maybe it's because I had already read his other book, but I just didn't find myself as wrapped-up in this one. It seemed like it took a long long time to get anywhere. I heard Brother Ferrell speak and he addressed the accounts in this book, so maybe that's why this one didn't grip me like The Holy Secret did. If I hadn't heard him give the whole book in a talk, then I can only assume that I would have liked it as well as his other book (The H. S.)
I More...

0 comments like

Feb 13, 2008

Nicole rated it:

I was working at Deseret Book when this book was released and it FLEW off the shelves. For some reason though, I never had time to sit down and read it. A friend down here in Phoenix had it so she made me borrow it. (she actually had 2 copies so she could loan the one out without fear...) Anyway I ADORED it. You can read it many many times and still get something new out of it. I got a copy for myself and bought one for my mother-in-law for Christmas. I seriously recommend this book to any More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 06, 2011

Kendel rated it:

This. Book. Is. LIFE-CHANGING. He really brings the Atonement into real, practical focus. This is THE best church book I have EVER read that was not written by a general authority. Some favorite quotes:

“. . . normally we think of the atonement as something that Christ has done for us—for ourselves. But Abigail invites us to look . . . from the equally true perspective that he has atoned for the sins of others.”
(James L. Ferrell, The Peacegiver, pg. 53)

“Although the Lor More...

2 comments like

reviews