Religious Life

I am not famous. I will never be rich. I will most likely never stand and speak before thousands of people. But, I have a story to tell. You could say this is an adventure. Once you begin listening to this you will see how God took an ordinary man from a little hollow in Johnson City, TN through many different trials; ranging from thoughts of suicide, drinking, and going from one bad marriage to another. During all this, the Lord was directing me (most of the time without me realizing it).

Joseph F. Smith was born in 1838 to Hyrum Smith and Mary Fielding Smith. Six years later both his father and his uncle, Joseph Smith Jr., the founding prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, were murdered in Carthage, Illinois. The trauma of that event remained with Joseph F. for the rest of his life, affecting his personal behavior and public tenure in the highest tiers of the LDS Church, including the post of president from 1901 until his death in 1918.

The purpose of this autobiography is to record the frequent times of God Moments In my life and what He called me to do and what I did, as well as other memories of my life, which all seem to me as God moments, now that I look back and remember after reading this autobiography over many times, I realized that God has never missed a moment being at my side. Maybe it was also my Guardian Angel, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Trinity of God, my Family, or my relatives who have prayed for me and made me who I am today and over the years.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want, He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads Me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

St. Malachy of Armagh lived in an age of turmoil, yet his life radiated holiness, reform, and unwavering devotion. Composed by his cherished friend, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, this compelling biography chronicles Malachy's extraordinary journey from his humble beginnings in Ireland to his apostolic labors, miracles, and untimely death at Clairvaux.

Using the torch of logic, Dr. Zaidi guides us into what life after death is. His insight is original, logical, and a breath of fresh air, free of old religious ideas and concepts. Dr. Zaidi's logical approach to spirituality is a true milestone discovery. He uses logic to elaborate: "What is your likely fate after death? You can easily change this fate during this lifetime, simply with wisdom provided in the book. Then you will be stress free in this life and in life after death."

In 1963 America's most famous atheist, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, won the landmark lawsuit filed on behalf of her son, William, that effectively banned prayer in public schools. Bill shares in vivid detail his upbringing - the raging battles, his activity in his mother's atheistic empire, his dependence on drugs, and his years as a fugitive. Nearly two decades after the court's decision, Bill came to the end of his personal strength. In desperation he called out to God, and God answered.

Elder James E. Talmage’s teachings have influenced how members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints interpret scriptures for over 100 years. Members of the Church are familiar with his intellectual writing style and his reputation as a “stern and always serious-minded man.” For just as long, however, his personal side as a father and loving husband have been overlooked. These less-familiar aspects of his life provide perspective into how he endured the refining process that every disciple of Christ must undergo.

The following is a compilation of lessons from the life of Merlin R. Lybbert.

What was it like to live during the time of Jesus? Where did people live? Who did they marry? What was family life like? And how did people survive? These are just some of the questions that Scott Korb answers in this engaging new book, which explores what everyday life entailed two thousand years ago in first-century Palestine, that tumultuous era when the Roman Empire was at its zenith and a new religion---Christianity---was born.

In this deeply moving memoir, Dr. Bhaskar Bora recounts his life-changing journey through a spinal cord injury and a battle with cancer. I Died Standing Still is a raw and powerful story of resilience, courage, and transformation. More than a personal narrative, it is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to rise from adversity and find meaning, creativity, and hope in the darkest times.

The world needs saints to show it the way to true humanity. The church needs saints to show it how to live out its calling. The witness of the lives of the saints is a powerful testimony to the reality of God’s plan and the possibility for truly following it in one’s life. So often, we do not see this witness. We see hypocrisy and mediocrity among Christians. That is why we must look to the saints - the ones who really followed the words of Christ and let them be carried out fully in their lives. The saints also give us a reason to hope.

Layered with physical, emotional, and relational tension, Through Blurred Vision brings forth the life of a young man that was given a diagnosis that appears in 0.0001% of births. As a result, Kurt Pangborn’s life was encompassed in darkness. Yet despite the daunting realty of this diagnosis’ limitations, Pangborn sought the true light of life in his darkness, and found a message that extends past human reason. Kurt Pangborn’s Through Blurred Vision inspires listeners to turn their pain into praise and apply the “Three P’s” of higher living.

With the discovery of her birth father, 12-year-old River has definite thoughts about how her life should turn out - and that certainly does not include any of the challenges that keep popping up! It's not easy to decide if she should live with Gram, who has been her family for the past 10 years, or with her father, who she's over-the-moon to have just met but knows little about. When River gets diagnosed with scoliosis, she fears it will impact her hopes and dreams. River decides to ask God for help.

Van Harden is known nationally for his creative broadcasting career and inventions. Through his 27 year leadership as Program Director of 50 thousand watt WHO radio in Des Moines, the station has been awarded 13 national Marconi Awards, the radio equivalent of the Emmy, five of which he has received personally for his own morning radio program, which he has hosted for those entire 27 years. He has also owned a radio station and hosted a TV show, but more important to Van has been his 30 years as an adult Bible teacher.

What do you do when your religious beliefs differ from your spouse, parent, child, sibling, or friend? For many Mormons, these differences can be heartbreaking. This book explores how truth, beauty, and goodness can save our relationships even when we disagree with those we love.

The sacred meal that is part of our faith does more than connect us to the holy, it connects us to each other. "I think Jesus wanted his disciples and everyone who came after him to remember what they had together. What they made together. What it meant to be together. How the things he did...

How do I live a truly good life? That, in many respects, is the question we all must ask ourselves and answer. As always, even in our post-Christian society, Christ is the answer, and we discover him in the New Testament. Drawing heavily from Pope Saint John Paul II’s encyclical Veritatis Splendor and other trusted sources, the author Václav Rajlich identifies four pillars of ethical reasoning: prohibited acts, prescriptions, priorities, and providence/grace (the 4Ps) to show how listeners can practically use these teachings to live a good life.

A Restored Life is Kyle Walker’s latest book of inspiration and healing over type-two diabetes. It is a story of success over Lyme disease, despite repeated misdiagnoses. Kyle shares his stories of struggle and of success, those of faith, poetry, his dogs, and of course family, those that helped get him through.

Empowered by the Brand New Congress initiative in 2018, evangelical pastor and progressive Republican Robb Ryerse embarked on a long-shot, grassroots congressional campaign. After he ultimately lost his race, Ryerse worked with the Vote Common Good campaign, traveling across the United States to help turn Congress blue. Throughout his political journey, Ryerse gained new insights on the relationship between religion and politics in America today, the dynamics of our deep partisan divide, and the power of faithful people working for the common good.