The Mourning Dove was one of my favorite books of 2020. It’s the first book I made Beth read. I read it in 2 days which isn’t much to brag about at only 84 pages.
The inside cover reads:
“A tender story of growing up, exploring life, exploring life, and discovering the boundaries and the defining moments of love.”
The back cover reads:
“The Mourning Dove is heart touching. It penetrates your soul and makes you glad to be alive.”
-Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul
This story is so good, so uplifting, so all the good things. I will put it at the top of books I would recommend to someone. It’s especially easy to recommend because it’s such a quick and easy read. I know people are increasingly busy and it’s hard to find time to sit down and read a long book. This book is short and sweet. You will finish it feeling like you’ve grown immensely after spending time with Pop, the main character’s grandpa.
After finishing the book, I wanted to write a screenplay. This book would make such a good movie. The message in it is simple. The story of a young boy learning adult lessons is timeless.
I had no idea Larry Barkdull wrote another book I loved titled Zion: Seeking the City of Enoch. Mr. Barkdull has an easy-going writing style that I enjoy because it’s not so difficult to follow. His stories flow and are combined with good messages. I’ve walked away from both his books feeling like I’ve learned something about life and myself.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. It can be found online for like a dollar. Buy it. You won’t regret it.
Sadly, while looking up information about this book I learned that Larry Barkdull passed away in 2016. I’d like to share this from his obituary:
Many will remember him as their gospel doctrine teacher, home teacher and friend, as he tended to the needs of those he loved. Larry also served weekly in the temple as an ordinance worker, a calling he cherished. Above all else, Larry’s greatest joy was his family. The only title he wished to follow his name was D.A.D. He left his family a legacy of great faith and leaves a hole that can never be filled. Words cannot express the least of what we feel. We love you. Our hearts are broken, but we know we will be together again.”
I don’t know how you can read that without a tear coming to your eye. Mr. Barkdull was clearly an inspired and important individual sent for an important purpose in God’s plan. I’m grateful I got to see a glimpse into his soul through his writing.
I don’t recommend books to people often. This book I recommended directly to a cousin. This was a great book. I wonder if I say that about every book I read…
At Peace in the Light is a true story of a man who has died twice. Both times he was struck by lightning. Both times he returned to his body.
I guess not everyone would believe this to be a true story. I love near death experiences. I am all in on belief in near death experiences. They often support what I believe to be true of the afterlife.
I often joke that being struck by lighting would be the way to go. I say that’s a clear indication that God needs you back pronto. Dannion’s story made me rethink this slightly. His return to his body was an excruciating experience. His body was destroyed both times, inside and out, by the lightning strike.
Two very interesting points from this book.
Dannion’s near death experience gave him special abilities.
Dannion became famous as a psychic. It seems whatever happened to him left him with some ability to speak or understand the souls of individuals around him. It’s fascinating to read his description of his “powers” for lack of a better word.
Dannion’s near death experience led him into an interesting career change.
After Dannion was struck by lightning he received clear instruction on what he was supposed to do. His purpose was to setup a center to help people spiritually transition into death. Dannion describes a major issue with our society being the fear of death. It was his new purpose in life to help people transition into their next life.
It’s partly for this reason that Dannion transitioned into hospice care. To hear Dannion describe the rewarding experience of caring for the dying made me reconsider somewhat what is important in life. Near death experience books often help me re-orient my priorities.
We live this life to die. Ultimately, the most important moment of this life will be how we die.
I have a new appreciation for the sanctity and importance of hospice care. The cousin I recommended this book to works in this field.
I have had one experience with “assisting” someone (for lack of a better word) who was near death. A friend’s mother-in law was nearing the end. She had battled with cancer and it was time. This friend is not a member of my faith, but, in his words, “we don’t really know our priest. We know you.” So, he asked me to come give her a priesthood blessing.
It was a unique, uplifting, powerful experience I will never forget. This lady I didn’t know, had never met, was so frail. You never know what a person is thinking in these last moments. It’s hard to understand the pain, fear, acceptance, peace; whatever emotions and feelings they are experiencing. It was an honor to get to lay my hands on her head and let her know her Father wanted her home, and soon the pain would be gone. Soon she would be happier than she could imagine. Though she would miss her children here, and they would miss her, it was time for her to progress into the next part of her journey.
This was one experience I had with a person moving on. It has impacted me ever since. It was something I’ll never forget. Imagine having thousands of these important experiences.
For anyone that hasn’t read a near death experience book, At Peace in the Light may not be the best place to start. It kind of jumps into the topic. I still recommend it. It may leave you asking for more.
I recently finished a book that was so packed with wisdom I couldn’t come close to taking it all in. Every page provided a new insight. Every thought was provoking. It is amazing to walk through the minds of men and women so in touch with the spirit or some form of knowledge I don’t yet have. It’s my favorite part of reading. From reading his words and thoughts I could feel his closeness to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and therefore come closer to them myself.
The name of the book was The glory of the sun which refers to 1 Corinthians 15:41:
“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.”
“These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.”
Sterling W. Sill, author of this book, was a general authority in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was asked to share a series of gospel messages each week for a year over the radio. The series was called “Sunday Evening from Temple Square.” Those 52 addresses were put into this book. It’s amazing to see that so many unique and powerful messages can come from one individual.
Sterling W. Sill
Every message was so good, I could randomly turn to a page and share an important thought. There was one in particular I found pertinent to our current moment in history.
Elder Sill shared his messages at the height of the cold war so there is an emphasis of freedom and liberty throughout.
In one of his addresses titled “Five grains of Corn” Elder Sill reviewed the custom of Thanksgiving. Elder Sill pointed out that Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. It is a day we give thanks to our ancestors who bravely came here and suffered through much hunger, affliction, and death. He reminded me that during Thanksgiving we give “deep gratitude.. for the rich productivity of American soil.”
I believe it is important for us to remember the blessed nation we are fortunate to live in. The United States of America is a chosen land. One thought Elder Sill presented was the idea that we live more lavishly and comfortably today than any king in history. He pointed out that if we had to live as King Solomon, even in all the glory of his palace and kingdom, it would be a great hardship to us.
What a thought! The average person in America lives with more comfort than any historical king! How blessed we are and how often we take for granted this great nation we live in. It truly is a promised land.
What has always separated America from any other nation is our freedom – the freedom that gives us the ability to worship our God however we please. If you look at the short history of the United States it becomes quickly apparent what separates us. It is the freedom we enjoy, particularly religious freedom. It saddens me that as a nation we are turning from the God who has so blessed us. It is part of the agency God has given us, the freedom this nation is founded on, that currently allows so many to turn from God.
This paragraph from the book rings so familiar to our current landscape that I will quote it in whole. Elder Sill says:
“In the United States we have just gone through a great political election to decide who would represent us in the governing councils of our country for the next four years. We have been sharply divided on issues and people. We have settled the matter by an appeal to the ballot box. No blood was shed, no life was in danger, no one had any thought of trying to liquidate his opponent. No one even pounded with his shoe or threatened to throw it at anyone. Now all Americans will settle down and give full support to the government that they, under God, have created. Now we will all unite in building a greater America and help to carry out our divine mission to promote freedom, justice, and happiness in the world.”
Election day is tomorrow. It is my sincere prayer that we as a nation can unite and support whoever wins this election. It is my prayer that there is no bloodshed, danger, threats, or pounding of feat.
The final and important point Elder Sill gives in this message is about our faith in God that I have already mentioned. Specifically, the devotion to His Son, Jesus Christ.
The Mayflower Compact, written by those coming to settle a new America reads, “We whose names are underwritten have undertaken for the glory of God to establish in Virginia the first colony for the advancement of the Christian faith.”
The New England Federation Compact Agreement reads similarly, “We all have come into these parts of America with one and the same end, namely to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
I hope we can remember our Thanksgiving for this promised land. I hope we can remember the freedoms and liberties we enjoy, and how great it is to be a part of the democratic process. Finally, I hope we can remember who it is our ancestors came to America to serve, who’s kingdom they wished to establish.
“America was established as a kind of laboratory or experiment station to show what would happen to any people who cared and dared to follow Jesus Christ.” – Elder Sill.
How blessed our ancestors were and how blessed we’ve been as we’ve looked to Jesus Christ. I hope that can continue.
No Coincidences 