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The Tragedy and the Triumph
This new volume is a compilation of inspiring presentations given at BYU’s annual Easter Conference (2018 and 2019), a popular tradition at the university. Well-known speakers discuss such essential concepts as teaching about life in Christ, the role of the Savior in our lives, His life and mission, the power of Christ’s Atonement, and how to help those with doubts. This volume includes talks given by Elder Bruce C. Hafen, Susan E. Tanner, Richard Lyman Bushman, Thomas A. Wayment, Barbara Morgan Gardner, and Anthony R. Sweat.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published March 4, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 20, 2019
The edition I read is a hard copy version published by Deseret Book in 2019. The cover looks like the picture on the Kindle version listed. I had to put in the ISBN number to find the closest listing here on Goodreads.
"Your dad suggested you might like to read this," my mom said earlier this week as she handed me the book. From the title and cover it's clearly about Jesus Christ, so I decided it would be good to read before Easter. Since I felt like I was reading this by assignment, my approach was, "What does Dad think I need to learn from this?"
I'd just finished reading a different book where one of the characters is a good, strong mom of a teenage boy. I'd compared myself to her and found myself lacking. So as I approached this book and read the first few discourses, I couldn't help but notice the emphasis on how parents should teach their children about Jesus Christ. One author quotes young adults who praise their parents for how they taught them. My oldest daughter and my teenage son are atheists. My son is making all kinds of choices I would rather he not make. "I guess Dad thinks I need to do a better job too," I thought. He doesn't know what we've tried to do, how we've tried to teach, and doesn't see how we try to live on a daily basis. He doesn't know the whole story. It was easy to despair.
As I humble myself, I see maybe there are things I can do. I can be a better model of repentance. I can't go back to when my children were small and spend more time teaching specifically about Jesus Christ. My personal testimony about Jesus Christ was much weaker back then. I know so much more now. It often feels too late. My children have agency. As I focus on overcoming my own weaknesses maybe I can help them through example.
But this isn't a parenting book. It's a book about the atonement of Jesus Christ. It speaks clearly about the restoration view of the doctrine of grace. I kept reading and felt uplifted and gained more knowledge about Jesus Christ, about His life, and about His sacrifice.
I'm glad I finished reading this short book the day before Easter. The illustrations are beautiful and are often even more uplifting than the words. This is not a comprehensive book-- I prefer to read directly from scriptures, prophets, and apostles-- but it's a nice book.
"Your dad suggested you might like to read this," my mom said earlier this week as she handed me the book. From the title and cover it's clearly about Jesus Christ, so I decided it would be good to read before Easter. Since I felt like I was reading this by assignment, my approach was, "What does Dad think I need to learn from this?"
I'd just finished reading a different book where one of the characters is a good, strong mom of a teenage boy. I'd compared myself to her and found myself lacking. So as I approached this book and read the first few discourses, I couldn't help but notice the emphasis on how parents should teach their children about Jesus Christ. One author quotes young adults who praise their parents for how they taught them. My oldest daughter and my teenage son are atheists. My son is making all kinds of choices I would rather he not make. "I guess Dad thinks I need to do a better job too," I thought. He doesn't know what we've tried to do, how we've tried to teach, and doesn't see how we try to live on a daily basis. He doesn't know the whole story. It was easy to despair.
As I humble myself, I see maybe there are things I can do. I can be a better model of repentance. I can't go back to when my children were small and spend more time teaching specifically about Jesus Christ. My personal testimony about Jesus Christ was much weaker back then. I know so much more now. It often feels too late. My children have agency. As I focus on overcoming my own weaknesses maybe I can help them through example.
But this isn't a parenting book. It's a book about the atonement of Jesus Christ. It speaks clearly about the restoration view of the doctrine of grace. I kept reading and felt uplifted and gained more knowledge about Jesus Christ, about His life, and about His sacrifice.
I'm glad I finished reading this short book the day before Easter. The illustrations are beautiful and are often even more uplifting than the words. This is not a comprehensive book-- I prefer to read directly from scriptures, prophets, and apostles-- but it's a nice book.
December 3, 2025
I believe this is now one of my all-time favorite books! Each chapter is extremely well written, and lightning, and so worth reading. I especially loved Barbara and Morgan Gardner’s article and Anthony Sweats article at the end. I will refer to this book in every talk I give and discussions I have with others. I would love to give this as a gift to all my good friends and each of my children and grandchildren. It is worth every minute I spent reading it. Thank you to everyone who wrote in this volume.
May 23, 2022
This book of essays from Easter conferences at BYU was easy to read. I enjoyed, learned from, and felt edified by every essay. I especially liked the one by Richard Bushman about the importance of teaching the atonement as it is, without relying the hedge we often put up around the gospel teachings. Thomas Wayment’s essay introduced me to ideas about fear that I’m going to ponder for awhile.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews