The Peacegiver: Preface

"Nothing is more important
than understanding not just that the Lord's
atonement is the answer to our daily, painful predicaments,
but how it is the answer."

I was expecting something more along the lines of a book that would delve into some deep gospel principle. Instead, the book is written as a 'husband and wife whose marriage is in trouble.' The author tells us that the intentions of the book are to explore how the atonement of Christ can bring us peace into our lives. I'm interested to see how the story unfolds and how the author will share gospel principles with us through a fictional story or a husband and wife.

Skeptical, Weary, Intrigued

Feel free to read along with me and leave comments. It would be great to discuss with you.

They Can Take The Time

Last weekend I watched Twilight while I took some time to rest from being sick. I recently started Twilight, the book, again as well.

I have such a hard time with reading books that have movies based on them. Luckily this time I read the book before the first movie came out, I am trying to finish the others before the movies of them come out as well. THE BOOKS are so much better than the movies. In the book, the first 30 pages could take up half the movie. These are critical pages as well because they help to set the tone of the characters, giving them personality and catching our attention. In the movie they have to try and show us who the individuals are, their traits, habits - everything - just in the first few minutes. The books are always so much more descriptive, they can take as much time as they need so that the characters can be explained in full and so that we, as the reader, can bond with them.

Just in the little bit of the book that I have read so far, I seem to understand so much more about the characters. My mom, who has not read the books, said that the movie was pretty good. When I asked her if she picked up on this or that - she said that she did not get certain things from the movie. Hence, why books can be so much better, they give you the whole story, all the behind the scenes stuff.

Like I said, I have only gotten so far into the book, but am excited to finish reading it. I just hope that when I get to Eclipse I can keep going with it until it picks up and grabs my attention.

A Second Try

I am reading the Twilight saga again. When the books first came out I was not too on top of it, but I finally gave in last summer. It took some getting into but then once I got into it....I had to finish. As a matter of fact I even took it on our anniversary trip because I did not think I could wait a week. New Moon was great and I fell in love with Jacob. Eclipse, however, lost me after getting only about ten pages into it. Well I still have not finished them.

A sister-in-law and my husbands mother are really into the series. They took me to see the midnight showing of Twilight and are already planning on the next two movies and have tickets for New Moon*. They have invited me to come along again so I thought I would take another try at reading the whole series again. I just need to get past the first part of the third book. From what others have told me Eclipse was their least favorite out of the whole series.

I have heard some buzz about a book called Midnight Sun. This was "...chapter one, "First Sight," from Edward's point of view..." But as can happen, someone who was not supposed to get a hold of the manuscript before it was released, did, and now Stephenie Meyer says she won't finish it. If you want to read the unfinished version it can get it from her website. Since I am starting over in the saga I won't get to Midnight Sun for some time. My real hope is that by the time I get done with the books she will have changed her mind and decided to finish the book. With a little more time for the stress of the movies to pass she might find that she will still want to finish it and that so many people would rather wait for the full story then to get a hold of the 'lifted' manuscript and ruin the suspense, so I do not want to spoil it for myself.

*TWILIGHT talent and filmmakers will be making surprise appearances at the "TWILIGHT at MIDNIGHT" release parties in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas and Salt Lake City.

Hurry up........and Wait

I just finished Mary, Martha & Me. The last chapter was about understanding that we need to wait on the timing of the Lord. We can't force him into doing stuff because we think we are ready or we do not want to wait.

"For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him...."
-2 Nephi 6:13

One instance that is mentioned is Mary and her brother Lazarus. I love this story. My niece used to always ask me tell her Jesus stories. One time I told her this story and later she repeated the story to be about a brother and sister who loved each other. With a quick review of the history of the time it becomes clear why Jesus waited to come to Lazarus. Olsen states that "...these believers were required to wait to finally understand what Jesus meant."

This was a great way to end the book. Understanding that when we put God first and find the 'needful thing.' He will not ask us to do anything save He will provide the way, the Savior will make us equal to the tasks that are before us. This life will be worth it but we can not push the Lord into what we want. Be patient and wait for his perfect timing so I can have the life that he has planned for me.

"Mary and Martha have both chosen 'that good part' (Luke 10:42)-that is, they put Christ first in their lives while being true to their God-given gifts." (122) We do not need to become the perfect this or that. Be true to who you are and the gifts God gave us.