Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Temples Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints by Christopher Kimball Bigelow


Temples Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints by Christopher Bigelow
When I received the great news that this most anticipated book was out, and who the author was, I had to purchase a copy from Chris. The book is everything I hoped it would be. This book is exquisite,the pictures absolutely beautiful. I was contacte last Jan of '09 to send some photos we'd taken of some Temples, but they weren't used, but that was ok.
This unique book has a fold out section at the front that shows and tells in detail what the symbols on the exterior of the Salt Lake Temple. It up close and personal the cloudstones, sunstones, all seeing eyes, earthstones, alpha and omega scrolls, handclasps, moonstones, big dipper, battlements, doors, starstones, capstones and terminals and dedication plaque, towers and pinnacles and keystones.
This book talks about the purpose of Latter-day Temples, that they are The House of the Lord, that they provide the basic Ordinances of the deceased. They also provide higher Ordinances for both living and dead and they can draw families together eternally and not just for time. Chris gives an overview of the architecture of the Temples. He describes the two Temples Joseph Smith had built and tells about the early Temple Architects.
It talks about the four nineteenth century Temples, the three spireless Temples, our modern Center-spired Temples, traditional single-spired Temples, smaller single-spired Temples, six-spired slope-roofed Temples, single-spired Classic-Modern Termples and then the era of smaller Temples. Chris tells us about Modern-Day Temples with Unique Designs and that the Temple is a "Class of Its Own."
Each Temple is in chronological order and you can read special tidbits about each, especially by me finding that the Newport Beach California Temple in Orange County where my mom lives, tells that the Temple Spire was shortened from 124 feet to 100 feet and to turn off the Temple's flood lighting by 11:00 pm. Before the Newport Beach City Council gave final approval, they had to shorten the spire's height again to 90 feet.
The Columbia River Washington Temple is my Temple and I'd never seen such a more peaceful and spiritual shot of my Temple It is a night shot.
I've had the opportunity of being inside 14 Temples, which are as follows: Los Angeles Temple (where I was endowed and married to Bob), Salt Lake Temple, Jordan River Temple, Oakland Temple, Seattle Temple, Portland Temple, San Diego Temple, Idaho Falls Temple, Boise Temple, Spokane Temple, Provo Temple, Columbia River Temple, Nauvoo Temple and St. Louis Temple. Bob had been inside the same amount of Temples, but he'd been inside the Manti Temple and not the San Diego Temple. We attended the Capstone, Open House and Dedication of both the Jordan River and Columbia River Temples, were specially chosen by our bishop to represent our ward with 4 other couples the day our Los Angeles Temple celebrated its 25th Anniversary. I took my mom to the San Diego Temple's Open House in '93, and we attended the Open House of the Spokane Temple and attended via satellite, the Palmyra Temple Dedication. I still have those two tickets from both the dedication and Open House.
This book should be in every Latter-Day Saint home's library. It would be a great Missionary tool. I very highly recommend it. It is well worth the price, though I got it at a good discount from Chris.

Forever Friends Rating A very big 5 stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.
Published by: Thunder Bay Press
Published Date: November 2009
ISBN: 978-1-59223-990-0
224pp
I purchased this Temple book from Chris Bigelow, the author.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The Parable Of The Golden Pathway by Jenny Phillips, Illustrated by Dan Burr


The Parable Of The Golden Pathway by Jenny Phillips, Illustrated by Dan Burr

I was sent this special book to review and it didn't disappoint. Jenny Phillips has a way with words and music to tell a simple but most powerful parable for our time.

The story starts off by telling us about the journeys of three siblings: Sarah, Ori, and Tabitha. They are on their way to the Kingdom of the Light Maker. In order to reach the Kingdom of the Light Maker, they need to stay on the Golden Pathway. They are told to always keep their shields out to ward off danger and pitfalls. Along the way, they all face trials, adversity and some have the faith to persevere.

With the struggles and pitfalls the youth of today are facing, it takes the faith of the siblings to reach their final destination. Will all of them keep from the temptations along the way and reach the Kingdom of the Light Maker? Read this quick, and faith building parable.

Forever Friends Rating 5 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.

Published by: Deseret Book & Shadow Mountain Records
Published Date:
ISBN: 978-1-60641-651-8
44pp

Saturday, July 3, 2010

It's In The Bag: A New, Easy, Affordable, and Doable Approach to Food Storage by Michelle & Trent Snow


It's In The Bag: A New, Easy, Affordable, and Doable Approach to Food Storage
by Michelle & Trent Snow


The authors asked if I'd do a review of their book and I said yes and I went through and read about Michelle's new and very smart way of doing food storage. I was going to give this book to my good friend who is our Emergency Preparedness and Canning Specialist in my ward, but I believe I will keep it and have my two caregivers (who are both LDS) to help me prepare a week or two of meals based on this simple and easy way. Since my hubby died last Dec, and since I am living alone now that my daughter and her family are gone, I thought this would be a great way toprepare meals ahead of time for me.

Michelle had been utilizing the old way of food storage by storing mounds of containers of food storage in her basement. This way was very expensive and can cause your food storage to go bad. All you need to do is decide on some recipes you enjoy fixing and go buy some of those bags at Walmart for a dollar and you store a meal in one bag. You put your dry ingredients into a Hefty ziplok bag, you can do the same for pasta or put that in a 2 liter bottle, put in some canned goods and put in your bottled water. You can do pretty much anything you want to make your meal a success. What's even nicer is if you need to go away to visit a relative or go to Girl's Camp, your hubby can prepare any meal he wants and even your kids can choose what they want for dinner. The recipes are set up in categories to make it easier, so this is a combination food storage/cookbook in one. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to cook or that has a very busy schedule and would like the family's input to make it fun and educational and it is more economical in the end.

Forever Friends Rating 5 Stars by Teri
Until Next Time, See You Around The Book Nook.

I received my review copy from Cedar Fort.

Published by Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published Date: May 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59955-385-6
224pp