I Hope You Know How Much I Love You: And Other Advice for a Happier Life

by John Bytheway

Recharge your spiritual batteries with this delightful Time Out for Women Classic book by well-known author and speaker, John Bytheway. With humor and insight, John takes us through invaluable lessons he has learned in order to have a happier life. His advice to be content with ourselves and our accomplishments, reduce stress by striving to have the Spirit with us, choose to be delightful, show more appreciation to those we love, and rely on the Savior, among other great ideas, offers hope to us all. As John states, “Hopefully this book will be a battery charge for our lives.”

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion, Lds, Self Help, Inspirational, Church, Adult

55 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2011

About the author

John Bytheway (born October 1962) is an American author and academic, who is well known as a comic motivational speaker for youth within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Salt Lake City, Bytheway attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, receiving a Master's Degree in Religious Education. He also served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Philippines.

Bytheway is a religious studies instructor at BYU, currently focusing on the Book of Mormon. He also serves on the Aaronic Priesthood/Young Women Writing Committee for the LDS Church. Bytheway and his wife Kimberly have six children.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Bytheway is always such a good speaker. His book has some things that really made me think about my life and what I do better.

[Hannah Cluff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! Perfect timing in my life to read this book and I think it will be one I turn to often as I go through my own trials! I hope I can always be delightful even through the dark times in my life 💕

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super short, lovely reminders of how to be truly happy - don't compare, seek contentment, focus on the most important things, keep the Holy Spirit with you, choose to be delightful, show appreciation, hold onto hope, keep an eternal perspective, and trust God.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short book offers excellent advice and thoughts about living a happier life. It was quick to read and fairly amusing, in addition to offering good tips.

[Megan Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read

I thought it was going to be a bit longer, but it was a great, quick read that was perfect for a sabbath afternoon that greatly inspired me.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, little, easy read.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost 4 stars. This didn't impact me much at this point, but a few decades ago it would have been exactly right for that stage of my life.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received from a library in Utah. Glad I did not pay any money for it. I always love his messages but this is really a small pamphlet size. Still love the message just always want more.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little gem of a book. It is really short and contains lots of great wisdom. It is one that will be easy to read again and again when I need a reminder of what I should do to keep my life on track. The message I got from it was to be content with who I am and to strive to always have the Spirit with me.

I liked this poem he included.

Excuse this House
Some homes try to hid the fact that children shelter there.
Ours boasts of it quite openly; the signs are everywhere!
For smears are on the windows, little smudges on the door.
I should apologize, I guess, for the toys strewn on the floor.
But I sat down with the children, and we played and laughed and read;
And if the doorbell doesn't shine, their eyes will shine instead.
For when at times I'm forced to choose the one job or the other,
I want to be a homemaker—but first I'll be a mother.

I also liked this quote by Marjorie Pay Hinckley: "Fifty was my favorite age. It takes about that long to learn to quit competing—to be yourself and settle down to living. It is the age I would like to be through all eternity!"

And this is a quote from the author: "You might also notice that next to her [his wife's] name were lipstick prints. Those speak even louder than words. My wife loves me! She appreciates me! I am the envy of thousands of men, because I have a wife who loves and appreciates me, and she lets me know it with notes signed with lip prints!"

[Cathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Bytheway is a favorite in our home. Our teen-agers love his humor and the way he shares important gospel themes in very relevant ways. My husband and I enjoy him because of the way he's able to speak to our youth without being sensational or condescending. He knows when to be funny (especially in taking himself lightly), but more importantly, he knows when to be serious and talk about what really matters. We've had some great discussions with our kids about things we've learned from his talks.

Well, this book is not written for kids. It's a nice little book (I read it in a waiting room) full of some great nuggets of wisdom for women. It contains scripture, quotes from Sister Hinckley and Sister Holland, and all sorts of other gems. Of course, John Bytheway also shares some personal experiences and insights, and it all comes together for a brief-but-uplifting little read.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must be on a John Bytheway kick. I bought this book for chapter 3 "I think I'll be delightful today". It was good.

This is a small book, written for women, packed with advice and encouragement. Here are my favorite quotes. "We have to practice 'selective neglect'. Sister Hinckley said that you must choose each day that which you will do and that which you will NOT do."

"Sometimes, the answers come in this life. Most of them don't. I have concluded that our Heavenly Father doesn't usually offer explanations."

"Cleaning the house while the children are growing is like shoveling snow in a blizzard."

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Bytheway is a gifted speaker and my family loves him, but his power (and he can be powerful and simultaneously hilarious) is in the presentation. This book is cute, he shares some good ideas about deciding to be delightful and I enjoyed the story he shared about Sis. Holland wanting to rip out someone's pleats =), but most of it is just nice and overly obvious and would be conversation worthy, but not necessarily print merit-able. I shut it thinking, "that was okay".

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book!One of the authors goals was to "recharge your batteries". I loved how he described choosing to be delightful. He also helped us to remember that God has an eternal perspective and we have already been told that Goodness will prevail. So we just need to remember to stay on the right team. This is a short book you can read in less than 30 minutes, but is well worth the minutes spent.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 2013 Mother's Day present to myself.

I nice little book to remind me of ways to choose happiness. I've read most of these little stories before, most likely in "Behind Every Good Man." But they were nice to read again, always needed. And the books is short and quick and easy for me read over and over again. Which I think I'll benefit much from. The best quote for me: "I think I'll be delightful today!"

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was nothing remarkable about this book. But I enjoy John Bytheway because he gives practical and specific suggestions on how to implement principles. I created a few goals for my life based on what I read. I guess that means it probably deserves a higher rating but I still don't feel like it was an impacting book. It just gave me a few ideas.

[Brittany K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always appreciate John BTW's work, but this was a strange compilation for me. I had already heard or read all of these excerpts in his other works, and I was kind of disappointed that this book didn't contain anything new. It seemed like a little gimmick by Deseret Book to make some money (kind of like when they publish conference talks as books).

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, little book you can read in about 30 minutes. It was full of good reminders about being kinder to others and seeking more for the Spirit in our lives to uplift us. There was nothing really new in this book, but great insights on having more joy and contentment. There were also a lot of great quotes by leaders as well as Marjorie Pay Hinckley who I always love to read.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Popular speaker John Bytheway gives some admittedly simple advice on how live a happier life, stating that even if they're simple, they are also "simply true." Advice includes eliminating the tendency to compare and compete, being grateful, and deciding to be delightful. It's a quick read, and like he says, simple, but it's a fun, uplifting read.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Bytheway is a very entertaining author. I love reading his books. It is very easy to read his material, and very easy to relate to the things he is talking about. That being said, I felt as though this book was material he has used before. I was a little dissapointed.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short little book was a very quick read, but it had some great advice in it. It is a book that would be good to read again every so often. John Bytheway gives helpful tips on how to be happier, and they are actually very simple. One thing he mentioned is being kind to people.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring book! I loved all the quotes and stories. Just a very good book. My only complaint is that it should be less expensive. If they would have made it a paperback instead to make it cheaper, I would be happier!

[Ruth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extension of a talk I heard at a Time Out for Women this last fall. REally glad my Mom gave it to me. If you want a great gift for a friend this would be a wonderful one to consider. Its small and can be read in an hour but has so much to think about.

[Renee Crook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick, but inspiring little book. My Relief Society is using this as a "pass-along" book. I read the whole thing in about 30 minutes and it was great. It is a great reminder for the simple things in life and that these specific simple things are "simply true."

[Elizabeth Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully genuine. I love how his answers to solving unhappiness are so simple and yet profound and how he uses so many quotes from Sister Hinkcley. It's short but the perfect solution for perking up dampened spirits.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Bytheway’s I Hope You Know How Much I Love You is a short inspiring book of how we can be happier and more content with our marriages, relationships, and lives in general. A quick pick-me up with great quotes from President and Sister Hinckley and other prominent leaders of the church.

[Ryceejo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm glad I own this little reminder! It will be good to revisit and recharge and remember the things I might forget of how to be happy. Oh, why is it so easy to forget?

One of those quick-reads definitely worth owning.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, quick read. My husband and I both read it in about 30 minutes. A great "pick-me-up!" I love how he adapts simple advice into lessons with deeper meaning:

"'Do your best' became 'Be content'". "'Be nice' became "choose happiness even with things are hard.'"

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this little book packed with great advice. I loved the quotes and his tales left me inspired to be a better person. This is definitely a "keeper".

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book filled with quotes and stories that were uplifting. Great book to give you a boost when your having a hard day.

[Loni Spendlove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun, quick read by John featuring thoughts he has shared at Time Out for Women.