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On Earth As It Is in Heaven
Life here in mortality has a generous number of challenges for every one of us, and frequently we find ourselves longing for some of the peacefulness and safety of heaven. The Savior expressed not only the wish of his own heart but also that of every one of his disciples when he prayed to his Father, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Until we can be safely home in heaven, with God and with each other, surely there is nothing higher for which we could hope than that his will and way and divine influence would be fully felt here on earth. Such a pure and strong society will probably never be possible until Christ's millennial reign as King of kings and Lord of lords-but that is no excuse not to try to make his "kingdom come" sooner wherever that may be possible. And although heavenly circumstances may not come broadly and generally until that second advent, there are profound ways in which they can come to us personally, to our families, and to clusters of believers who live the gospel in their hearts and homes and neighborhoods. Surely the key to any success in time or eternity is through obedience to the Son of God and his teachings, even as he was totally obedient to the will of his Father "in all things." This book, a collection of some of our talks and essays, is devoted to those aspects of life near at hand in which we have the opportunity to make God's will our will and his ways our ways. It is devoted to the ideal of making life here "on earth" as much as possible as it is "in heaven."
221 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1989
23 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey R. Holland
44 books336 followersElder Jeffrey R. Holland was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 23 June 1994. At the time of this call, Elder Holland was serving as a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, to which he had been called on 1 April 1989. A native of St. George, Utah, he has spent most of his professional life in Church education. He received his bachelor and master degrees from Brigham Young University and a master degree and Ph.D. from Yale University.
From 1980 until his call as a General Authority in 1989, Elder Holland served as president of Brigham Young University. He is a former Church commissioner of education and dean of the College of Religious Education at BYU.
Elder Holland is the author of several books, one of which he co-authored with his wife, Patricia. They were married in 1963 and are the parents of three children and the grandparents of 12 grandchildren.
From 1980 until his call as a General Authority in 1989, Elder Holland served as president of Brigham Young University. He is a former Church commissioner of education and dean of the College of Religious Education at BYU.
Elder Holland is the author of several books, one of which he co-authored with his wife, Patricia. They were married in 1963 and are the parents of three children and the grandparents of 12 grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 5, 2019
Good series of talks and speeches by incredible writers. Patricia Holland actually reminds me of C.S.Lewis in her approach to words and the way she expects readers to stretch themselves to a higher understanding. Jeffrey Holland is just himself, stern when he needs to be, gentle, loving, and well written at all times. I circled some favorite talks in the table of contents so I can just dip in later on when I need my sense of direction corrected. Because that is what true followers of Christ do- they point in the right direction, and help you find your way.
June 29, 2009
I bought this book for the section, "Of Souls, Symbols and Sacraments," Elder Holland's remarkable BYU talk on chastity. It is definitive. EVERYONE should read it. FINALLY, someone addresses the WHY instead of just the what. I so wish I had heard of this as a teenager and certainly before marriage and children. Just puts everything into the beautiful, meaningful context for which it is intended. It will definitely be required reading for my older teens.
The rest of the book is also edifying and inspiring. I found Elder Holland's wife, Pat, to be so wonderful. She's REAL and easy to relate to, yet she's the spiritually gigantic wife of an apostle! Her chapters are ones to read over and over again throughout motherhood.
The rest of the book is also edifying and inspiring. I found Elder Holland's wife, Pat, to be so wonderful. She's REAL and easy to relate to, yet she's the spiritually gigantic wife of an apostle! Her chapters are ones to read over and over again throughout motherhood.
January 6, 2009
My RS Pres. gave me this for a wedding gift. I love it. It is still is one of the few things I have of wedding gifts. Glasses break over the years, you eventually have to buy a new toaster. But Books, you can keep and go back anad re-read. I have read this book four times since we have been married and I learn something new, that I didn't pick up on the last time I had read it. It is a book about keeping your home a Heaven, Loving your spouse, learning to roll with the changes that life brings and to hold tight to what you know is right.
January 19, 2015
I love Elder Holland's writing; it always seems like he has the perfect words of encouragement, gentle correction, and love. However, I'm quitting this one half-way through. I am certain Patricia Holland is a delightful lady, but I never seem to connect with her analogies or instruction. Somehow her writing tends to leave me feeling inadequate and discouraged, and the first half of the book is mostly her writing. :/
September 1, 2008
Awesome book with really good lessons.
November 16, 2014
I love everything he tells in this book. It was published in 1989 but the truth never grows old and never changes.
December 23, 2014
This is a sweet book, mostly taken from old BYU devotional and fireside talks given by Elder and Sister Holland. I love their counsel and their words and was particularly touched by Sister Holland’s words and example. I love the title and focus of the book on making our lives here on earth as they would be in heaven. Life is precious and beautiful, especially life as God would have us live. I love Sister Holland’s reminder to fill the measure of our creation, knowing our purpose and following God’s will in our lives. We each have a unique role and mission and that’s what we’re here to accomplish, with His help. Our Father loves us, He has given us many gifts and blessings. As we are loyal to Him and His will for us we will be happy.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
“Every element of creation has its own purpose and performance, its own divine role and mission. If our desires and works are directed toward what our heavenly parents have intended us to be, we will come to feel our part in their plan. We will recognize the ‘full measure of our creation,’ and nothing will give us more ultimate peace (p. 3).”
“‘What can I be? I can’t be a piano player or an artist or a ballet girl. What can I be?’ He came up to me and whispered, ‘You can be my sister.’ In an important moment, those five simple words changed the perspective and comforted the heart of a very anxious child. Life became better right on the spot....All of us face those questions about our role, our purpose, our course in life—and we face them long after we are children (p. 3).”
“I have learned that the very delays and denials we worry about most, the very differences from each other that trouble our self-esteem, are the differences and delays that are the very best for our happiness and fulfillment....The Lord uses us because of our unique personalities and differences rather than in spite of them. He needs every one of us, with all our blemishes and weaknesses and limitations....How will we fill the measure of our creation? By thrusting in a sickle and reaping with all our strength – and by rejoicing in our uniqueness and our differences (p. 6).”
“Each of us has a purpose. And for each of us, that purpose is different; it is distinct; it is divine. God lives and loves us as we are and as we are yet to become. He will help us fill the measure of our creation (p. 7).”
“When we feel the desire to murmur, when we ask for more means, or more time, or more psychology, or more energy, or even if we wish we just didn’t have to do it alone, let’s pause and ask one more time, ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord (p. 16)?’”
“It helps us to always remember that these are God’s children as well as our own, and that when we need help, we can reach through the veil to get it (p. 20).”
“‘Parenting has almost nothing to do with training. It has everything to do with heart (p. 21).’”
“Love is an innate characteristic. It is already there. But too often it becomes clouded over with fear, which, through life’s experiences, we’ve conjured up ourselves (p. 26).”
“A good relationship is not one in which perfection reigns; rather, it is one in which a healthy perspective simply overlooks the faults of others (p. 29).”
“It is my personal witness that if, instead of seeing life through the vainly colored lens of getting, we would practice changing our focus to unrestricted giving, we would forget about fear and conflict and begin to know real and lasting peace (p. 30).”
“Find a quiet place and kneel comfortably and calmly in the center of the room. For a few moments say nothing, just think of him. Just kneel there and feel the closeness of his presence, his warmth, his peace. With humility, express your gratitude for every blessing, every good thing you enjoy. Share with him your problems and fears. Talk to him about each one and pause long enough to receive his counsel. I promise that you will learn his shoulders are broad enough for your burdens (p. 37).”
“‘Confidence is a gift from God to enable us to serve others (p. 46).’”
“It seems clear that our greatest task is to live worthily enough to know step by step what the Lord’s will is regarding us, remembering that occasionally what we may want to do today because of the trends and vanities of the world may not be what we covenanted to do long ago. Finally we must, like Mary, say, ‘Be it unto me according to they word (p. 49).’”
“As President David O. McKay often quoted, ‘Whate’er thou art, act well thy part.’ Of course, to do this we must live close to the Spirit through prayer, study, and righteous living in order to avoid the distractions and more selfish goals that might frustrate the Lord’s design for us and cause us to forsake it (p. 51).”
“This world, work in it as we must, is not our home. Our hearts must not be set too much upon things here. We must not seek the praise of humans more than the praise of God. That is, we must not if we believe the kingdom of God, as we now know it in the institutional Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is rolling forward under God’s hand so that the kingdom of heaven may come. Nothing must divert us from that belief and that mission, to fully realize the triumphant return of the Prince of Peace (p. 56).”
“The issue...is accepting that we are worth the time and effort it takes to achieve the full measure of our creation, and believing that it is not selfish, wrong, or evil. It is, in fact, essential to our spiritual development (p. 66).”
“Our Father in heaven needs us as we are, as we are growing to become. He has intentionally made us different from one another so that even with our imperfections we can fulfill his purposes. My greatest misery comes when I feel I have to fit what others are doing, or what I think others expect of me. I am most happy when I am comfortable being me and trying to do what my Father in heaven and I expect me to be (p. 68).”
“Self-knowledge is not selfish; it is a priority spiritual journey....In no other structure – in no other setting – can we receive more illuminating light shining on our self-realization than in the temple. As we go there often, the Lord will teach us that we have been created that we might have joy, and joy comes as we embrace the true measure of our creation (p. 70).”
“‘Mother, it’s that time again. Take daddy and go away together.’ The children recognize that our time together is one of the most restoring, redeeming things we can do for them as well as for ourselves (p. 73).”
“Our best quality moments with our children often come not when we’re prepared and trying to have them, but as surprising, fleeting episodes that we couldn’t have anticipated. If we are lucky, we are there to catch those moments (p. 75).”
“‘You don’t have to worry over so many things. The one thing that is needful – the only thing that is truly needful – is to keep your eyes toward the sun – my Son.’ Suddenly I had true peace. I knew that my life had always been in his hands, from the very beginning! The sea lying peacefully before my eyes had been tempest-tossed and dangerous – many, many times. All I needed to do was to renew my faith and get a firm grasp of his hand, and together we could walk on the water (p. 82).”
“If I were Satan and wanted to destroy a society, I think I would stage a full-blown blitz on women. I would keep them so distraught and distracted that they would never find the calming strength and serenity for which their gender has always been known (p. 85).”
“Eve was given the identity of ‘the mother of all living’ – years, decades, perhaps centuries before she ever bore a child. It would appear that her motherhood preceded her maternity, just as surely as the perfection of the Garden preceded the struggles of mortality. I believe mother is one of those very carefully chosen words, one of those rich words, with meaning after meaning after meaning. We must not, at all costs, let that word divide us. I believe with all my heart that it is first and foremost a statement about our nature, not ahead count of our children (p. 94).”
“‘Life ought to be enjoyed at every stage of our experience and should not be hurried and wrenched and truncated and torn to fit an unnatural schedule we have predetermined but that may not be the Lord’s personal plan for us at all.’
‘Don’t wait to live....Don’t wait for life to gallop in and sweep you off your feet. It is a quieter, more pedestrian visitor than that. In a church that understands more about time and its relationship to eternity than any other, we of all people ought to savor every moment, ought to enjoy the time of preparation before marriage, filling it full of all the truly good things of life (p. 102).’”
“You can’t be a good wife or a good husband or a good roommate or a good Christian just when you ‘feel well.’…. Of course some days are going to be more difficult than others, but if you leave the escape hatch in the airplane open because you think even before takeoff you might want to bail out in midflight, then I can promise you it’s going to be a pretty chilly trip less than fifteen minutes after the plane leaves the ground. Close the door, strap on those seat belts, and give it full throttle. That’s the only way to make a marriage fly (p. 109).’”
“‘Do you think we can do it? Do you think we can compete with all these people in all these buildings who know so much more than we do and are so able? Do you think we’ve made a mistake? Do you think we should withdraw and go home?’....She – who must have been terrified herself, especially now, linked to me for life – set aside her own doubts, slammed shut the hatch on the airplane, and grabbed me by the safety belt. ‘Of course we can do it. Of course we’re not going home.’....She gently reminded me that surely others were feeling the same thing, that what we had in our hearts was enough to get us through, that our Father in heaven would be helping (p. 111).”
“As Jesus walked and talked with the ordinary people of Galilee and Judea, there was nothing ordinary about his impact upon them. Although he taught them with a common touch, he elevated their lives in such remarkable ways that his must properly be called an uncommon touch. While on earth, he urged the grasp of very heavenly things (p. 115).”
“What he and they could do was start now, where they stood, with what they had, common as it was. And through the miraculous touch of the Master’s hand, they could be led to uncommonly exalted moments. Wherever we are, we too can be on the way to heavenly things if we seek and accept the Savior’s patient, ennobling uncommon touch (p. 123).”
“Obedience is the first law of heaven. And, in case we haven’t noticed, some of these commandments are not easy....Let me use an example....of Nephi’s obligation to slay Laban in order to preserve a record, save a people, and ultimately lead to the restoration of the gospel in the dispensation of the fullness of times. How much is hanging in the balance as Nephi stands over the drunken and adversarial Laban I cannot say, but it is a great deal indeed. The dramatic irony here is that we know what a pivotal moment this is, but Nephi may not. And regardless of how much is at stake, how can he do this thing?....A bitter test? A desire to shrink? Sound familiar? We don’t know why those plates could not have been obtained some other way....For that matter, why didn’t Nephi just leave this story out of the book altogether?....At the very least he might have buried the account somewhere in the Isaiah chapters, thus guaranteeing that it would have gone undiscovered up to this very day. But there it is, squarely in the beginning of the book, page eight, where even the most a casual reader will see it – and must deal with it. It is not intended that either Nephi or we be spared the struggle of this account. I believe that story was placed in the very opening verses of a 531-page book and then told in painfully specific detail in order to focus every reader of that record on the absolutely fundamental gospel issue of obedience and submission to the communicated will of the Lord. If Nephi cannot yield to this terribly painful command, if he cannot bring himself to obey, then it is entirely probable that he can never succeed or survive in the tasks that like just ahead (p. 128).”
“We believe we are ‘on’ in Act II, but we know almost nothing of how Act I went or how Act III will be. We are not even sure we k now who the major and who the minor characters are. The author knows. The audience—to the extent there is an audience of angels filling the loge and the stalls—has an inkling. But we – never seeing the play from the outside, and meeting only the tiny minority of characters who are on stage in the same scenes as we, and largely ignorant of the future and very imperfectly informed about the past – cannot tell at what moment Christ will come and confront us. We will face him one day – of that we may be sure; but we waste our time in guessing when that will be. That this human drama has a meaning we may be sure, but most of it we cannot yet fully see. When it is over, we will be told much more than we now know. We are led to expect that the Author will have something to say to each of us on the part that each of us has played. Playing it well, then, is what matters most. To be able to say at the final curtain, ‘I have suffered the will of the Father in all things,’ is our only avenue to an ovation in the end….To obey God’s will ‘in all things’ and to the very end is the only certain path open to believers. It is the only way to see his kingdom come and to make life ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ (p. 137).”
“‘I’m a killer of Mormons, boy. Are you a Mormon?’ Without a moment of hesitation and looking the heathen directly in the eye, Joseph F. boldly answered, ‘Yes, siree; died in the wool; true blue, through and through.’ The answer was given so boldly and without any sign of fear that it completely disarmed this belligerent man. He his bewilderment he put down his pistol, grasped the young missionary by the hand, and said, ‘Well, you are the pleasantest man I ever met! Shake, young fellow, I am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions.'....
“Of course, it is not enough to be loyal to just any cause. What carried nineteen-year-old Joseph F. Smith so courageously was his answer to the question, ‘For what do I live?’ It was for gospel truth that he stood up to be counted and that he was willing to die (p. 144).”
“From time to time we all ought to look deeply into our souls and habits and inclinations and measure our loyalties against the divine standard of our Savior, Jesus Christ. How prepared are we for the difficult things we may yet face (p. 147)?”
“God wants us to be stronger than we are – more fixed in our purpose, more certain of our commitments, eventually needing less coddling from him, showing more willingness to shoulder some of the burden of his heavy load. In short, he wants us to be more like him (p. 162).”
“Fathers, if you wish your children to be taught in the principles of the gospel, if you wish them to love the truth and understand it, if you wish them to be obedient to and united with you, love them! and prove them that you do love them by your every word and act to[ward] them (p. 168).”
“Because of our traditions, we’ve kept our balance for many, many years….Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do (p. 172).”
“I submit to you that no power, priesthood or otherwise, is given by God so universally to so many with virtually no control over its use except self-control. And I submit that we will never be more like God at any other time in this life than when we are expressing that particular power. Of all the titles he has chosen for himself, Father is the one he declares, and creation is his watchword – especially human creation, creation in his image. His glory isn’t a mountain, as stunning as mountains are. It isn’t in sea or sky or snow or sunrise, as beautiful as they all are. It isn’t in art or technology, be that a concerto or computer. No, his glory – and his grief – is in his children. We – you and I – are his prized possessions, and we are the earthly evidence, however inadequate, of what he truly is. Human life is the greatest of God’s powers, the most mysterious and magnificent chemistry of it all, and you and I have been given it, but under the most serious and sacred of restrictions (p. 195).”
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
“Every element of creation has its own purpose and performance, its own divine role and mission. If our desires and works are directed toward what our heavenly parents have intended us to be, we will come to feel our part in their plan. We will recognize the ‘full measure of our creation,’ and nothing will give us more ultimate peace (p. 3).”
“‘What can I be? I can’t be a piano player or an artist or a ballet girl. What can I be?’ He came up to me and whispered, ‘You can be my sister.’ In an important moment, those five simple words changed the perspective and comforted the heart of a very anxious child. Life became better right on the spot....All of us face those questions about our role, our purpose, our course in life—and we face them long after we are children (p. 3).”
“I have learned that the very delays and denials we worry about most, the very differences from each other that trouble our self-esteem, are the differences and delays that are the very best for our happiness and fulfillment....The Lord uses us because of our unique personalities and differences rather than in spite of them. He needs every one of us, with all our blemishes and weaknesses and limitations....How will we fill the measure of our creation? By thrusting in a sickle and reaping with all our strength – and by rejoicing in our uniqueness and our differences (p. 6).”
“Each of us has a purpose. And for each of us, that purpose is different; it is distinct; it is divine. God lives and loves us as we are and as we are yet to become. He will help us fill the measure of our creation (p. 7).”
“When we feel the desire to murmur, when we ask for more means, or more time, or more psychology, or more energy, or even if we wish we just didn’t have to do it alone, let’s pause and ask one more time, ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord (p. 16)?’”
“It helps us to always remember that these are God’s children as well as our own, and that when we need help, we can reach through the veil to get it (p. 20).”
“‘Parenting has almost nothing to do with training. It has everything to do with heart (p. 21).’”
“Love is an innate characteristic. It is already there. But too often it becomes clouded over with fear, which, through life’s experiences, we’ve conjured up ourselves (p. 26).”
“A good relationship is not one in which perfection reigns; rather, it is one in which a healthy perspective simply overlooks the faults of others (p. 29).”
“It is my personal witness that if, instead of seeing life through the vainly colored lens of getting, we would practice changing our focus to unrestricted giving, we would forget about fear and conflict and begin to know real and lasting peace (p. 30).”
“Find a quiet place and kneel comfortably and calmly in the center of the room. For a few moments say nothing, just think of him. Just kneel there and feel the closeness of his presence, his warmth, his peace. With humility, express your gratitude for every blessing, every good thing you enjoy. Share with him your problems and fears. Talk to him about each one and pause long enough to receive his counsel. I promise that you will learn his shoulders are broad enough for your burdens (p. 37).”
“‘Confidence is a gift from God to enable us to serve others (p. 46).’”
“It seems clear that our greatest task is to live worthily enough to know step by step what the Lord’s will is regarding us, remembering that occasionally what we may want to do today because of the trends and vanities of the world may not be what we covenanted to do long ago. Finally we must, like Mary, say, ‘Be it unto me according to they word (p. 49).’”
“As President David O. McKay often quoted, ‘Whate’er thou art, act well thy part.’ Of course, to do this we must live close to the Spirit through prayer, study, and righteous living in order to avoid the distractions and more selfish goals that might frustrate the Lord’s design for us and cause us to forsake it (p. 51).”
“This world, work in it as we must, is not our home. Our hearts must not be set too much upon things here. We must not seek the praise of humans more than the praise of God. That is, we must not if we believe the kingdom of God, as we now know it in the institutional Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is rolling forward under God’s hand so that the kingdom of heaven may come. Nothing must divert us from that belief and that mission, to fully realize the triumphant return of the Prince of Peace (p. 56).”
“The issue...is accepting that we are worth the time and effort it takes to achieve the full measure of our creation, and believing that it is not selfish, wrong, or evil. It is, in fact, essential to our spiritual development (p. 66).”
“Our Father in heaven needs us as we are, as we are growing to become. He has intentionally made us different from one another so that even with our imperfections we can fulfill his purposes. My greatest misery comes when I feel I have to fit what others are doing, or what I think others expect of me. I am most happy when I am comfortable being me and trying to do what my Father in heaven and I expect me to be (p. 68).”
“Self-knowledge is not selfish; it is a priority spiritual journey....In no other structure – in no other setting – can we receive more illuminating light shining on our self-realization than in the temple. As we go there often, the Lord will teach us that we have been created that we might have joy, and joy comes as we embrace the true measure of our creation (p. 70).”
“‘Mother, it’s that time again. Take daddy and go away together.’ The children recognize that our time together is one of the most restoring, redeeming things we can do for them as well as for ourselves (p. 73).”
“Our best quality moments with our children often come not when we’re prepared and trying to have them, but as surprising, fleeting episodes that we couldn’t have anticipated. If we are lucky, we are there to catch those moments (p. 75).”
“‘You don’t have to worry over so many things. The one thing that is needful – the only thing that is truly needful – is to keep your eyes toward the sun – my Son.’ Suddenly I had true peace. I knew that my life had always been in his hands, from the very beginning! The sea lying peacefully before my eyes had been tempest-tossed and dangerous – many, many times. All I needed to do was to renew my faith and get a firm grasp of his hand, and together we could walk on the water (p. 82).”
“If I were Satan and wanted to destroy a society, I think I would stage a full-blown blitz on women. I would keep them so distraught and distracted that they would never find the calming strength and serenity for which their gender has always been known (p. 85).”
“Eve was given the identity of ‘the mother of all living’ – years, decades, perhaps centuries before she ever bore a child. It would appear that her motherhood preceded her maternity, just as surely as the perfection of the Garden preceded the struggles of mortality. I believe mother is one of those very carefully chosen words, one of those rich words, with meaning after meaning after meaning. We must not, at all costs, let that word divide us. I believe with all my heart that it is first and foremost a statement about our nature, not ahead count of our children (p. 94).”
“‘Life ought to be enjoyed at every stage of our experience and should not be hurried and wrenched and truncated and torn to fit an unnatural schedule we have predetermined but that may not be the Lord’s personal plan for us at all.’
‘Don’t wait to live....Don’t wait for life to gallop in and sweep you off your feet. It is a quieter, more pedestrian visitor than that. In a church that understands more about time and its relationship to eternity than any other, we of all people ought to savor every moment, ought to enjoy the time of preparation before marriage, filling it full of all the truly good things of life (p. 102).’”
“You can’t be a good wife or a good husband or a good roommate or a good Christian just when you ‘feel well.’…. Of course some days are going to be more difficult than others, but if you leave the escape hatch in the airplane open because you think even before takeoff you might want to bail out in midflight, then I can promise you it’s going to be a pretty chilly trip less than fifteen minutes after the plane leaves the ground. Close the door, strap on those seat belts, and give it full throttle. That’s the only way to make a marriage fly (p. 109).’”
“‘Do you think we can do it? Do you think we can compete with all these people in all these buildings who know so much more than we do and are so able? Do you think we’ve made a mistake? Do you think we should withdraw and go home?’....She – who must have been terrified herself, especially now, linked to me for life – set aside her own doubts, slammed shut the hatch on the airplane, and grabbed me by the safety belt. ‘Of course we can do it. Of course we’re not going home.’....She gently reminded me that surely others were feeling the same thing, that what we had in our hearts was enough to get us through, that our Father in heaven would be helping (p. 111).”
“As Jesus walked and talked with the ordinary people of Galilee and Judea, there was nothing ordinary about his impact upon them. Although he taught them with a common touch, he elevated their lives in such remarkable ways that his must properly be called an uncommon touch. While on earth, he urged the grasp of very heavenly things (p. 115).”
“What he and they could do was start now, where they stood, with what they had, common as it was. And through the miraculous touch of the Master’s hand, they could be led to uncommonly exalted moments. Wherever we are, we too can be on the way to heavenly things if we seek and accept the Savior’s patient, ennobling uncommon touch (p. 123).”
“Obedience is the first law of heaven. And, in case we haven’t noticed, some of these commandments are not easy....Let me use an example....of Nephi’s obligation to slay Laban in order to preserve a record, save a people, and ultimately lead to the restoration of the gospel in the dispensation of the fullness of times. How much is hanging in the balance as Nephi stands over the drunken and adversarial Laban I cannot say, but it is a great deal indeed. The dramatic irony here is that we know what a pivotal moment this is, but Nephi may not. And regardless of how much is at stake, how can he do this thing?....A bitter test? A desire to shrink? Sound familiar? We don’t know why those plates could not have been obtained some other way....For that matter, why didn’t Nephi just leave this story out of the book altogether?....At the very least he might have buried the account somewhere in the Isaiah chapters, thus guaranteeing that it would have gone undiscovered up to this very day. But there it is, squarely in the beginning of the book, page eight, where even the most a casual reader will see it – and must deal with it. It is not intended that either Nephi or we be spared the struggle of this account. I believe that story was placed in the very opening verses of a 531-page book and then told in painfully specific detail in order to focus every reader of that record on the absolutely fundamental gospel issue of obedience and submission to the communicated will of the Lord. If Nephi cannot yield to this terribly painful command, if he cannot bring himself to obey, then it is entirely probable that he can never succeed or survive in the tasks that like just ahead (p. 128).”
“We believe we are ‘on’ in Act II, but we know almost nothing of how Act I went or how Act III will be. We are not even sure we k now who the major and who the minor characters are. The author knows. The audience—to the extent there is an audience of angels filling the loge and the stalls—has an inkling. But we – never seeing the play from the outside, and meeting only the tiny minority of characters who are on stage in the same scenes as we, and largely ignorant of the future and very imperfectly informed about the past – cannot tell at what moment Christ will come and confront us. We will face him one day – of that we may be sure; but we waste our time in guessing when that will be. That this human drama has a meaning we may be sure, but most of it we cannot yet fully see. When it is over, we will be told much more than we now know. We are led to expect that the Author will have something to say to each of us on the part that each of us has played. Playing it well, then, is what matters most. To be able to say at the final curtain, ‘I have suffered the will of the Father in all things,’ is our only avenue to an ovation in the end….To obey God’s will ‘in all things’ and to the very end is the only certain path open to believers. It is the only way to see his kingdom come and to make life ‘on earth as it is in heaven’ (p. 137).”
“‘I’m a killer of Mormons, boy. Are you a Mormon?’ Without a moment of hesitation and looking the heathen directly in the eye, Joseph F. boldly answered, ‘Yes, siree; died in the wool; true blue, through and through.’ The answer was given so boldly and without any sign of fear that it completely disarmed this belligerent man. He his bewilderment he put down his pistol, grasped the young missionary by the hand, and said, ‘Well, you are the pleasantest man I ever met! Shake, young fellow, I am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions.'....
“Of course, it is not enough to be loyal to just any cause. What carried nineteen-year-old Joseph F. Smith so courageously was his answer to the question, ‘For what do I live?’ It was for gospel truth that he stood up to be counted and that he was willing to die (p. 144).”
“From time to time we all ought to look deeply into our souls and habits and inclinations and measure our loyalties against the divine standard of our Savior, Jesus Christ. How prepared are we for the difficult things we may yet face (p. 147)?”
“God wants us to be stronger than we are – more fixed in our purpose, more certain of our commitments, eventually needing less coddling from him, showing more willingness to shoulder some of the burden of his heavy load. In short, he wants us to be more like him (p. 162).”
“Fathers, if you wish your children to be taught in the principles of the gospel, if you wish them to love the truth and understand it, if you wish them to be obedient to and united with you, love them! and prove them that you do love them by your every word and act to[ward] them (p. 168).”
“Because of our traditions, we’ve kept our balance for many, many years….Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do (p. 172).”
“I submit to you that no power, priesthood or otherwise, is given by God so universally to so many with virtually no control over its use except self-control. And I submit that we will never be more like God at any other time in this life than when we are expressing that particular power. Of all the titles he has chosen for himself, Father is the one he declares, and creation is his watchword – especially human creation, creation in his image. His glory isn’t a mountain, as stunning as mountains are. It isn’t in sea or sky or snow or sunrise, as beautiful as they all are. It isn’t in art or technology, be that a concerto or computer. No, his glory – and his grief – is in his children. We – you and I – are his prized possessions, and we are the earthly evidence, however inadequate, of what he truly is. Human life is the greatest of God’s powers, the most mysterious and magnificent chemistry of it all, and you and I have been given it, but under the most serious and sacred of restrictions (p. 195).”
June 30, 2020
A refreshing spiritual reminder and uplift -- In the first 8 chapters, written by Sister Patricia T. Holland, Chapter 1 strongly reassures us that, if we unselfishly love others, our Heavenly Father loves us and effectively uses us providing joy as we are; Chapter 3 includes a beautiful success story of a growing parent / teenage child relationship which brought teats to my eyes; Chapter 5 and especially Chapter 7 each include true stories of direct answers that developed for a 9-year-old and then cemented for a 12-year-old Sister Holland unshakable faith (knowledge) in the efficacy of prayer. Chapter 9 is a well-rehearsed dual presentation by Elder & Sister Holland. The last eight chapters are heavy, in-depth sermons by Elder Holland, and each is deserving of in-depth study. I appreciated reading again for my third or fourth time over many years "Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments," which is Chapter 16 -- three very significant and sacred reasons for developing the God-given gift of personal agency to control the fire of sexual attraction and live the eternal law of chastity.
February 16, 2024
Wow! What a great read!
Jeffrey and Pat Holland hit one out of the park with this one. Pat had great and timeless wisdom for the women. But it is very informative for men to read the words of Pat Holland as well. Pat wrote her part separately from Jeff's. She laid her soul bare. She has great wisdom.
Jeffrey Holland is always great to read. He is a spiritual son of God. He spoke of many subjects but did a superior job on explaining
the whys of the divine law of chastity. It takes great courage to speak with such humility about the law of chastity.
Jeffrey and Pat Holland hit one out of the park with this one. Pat had great and timeless wisdom for the women. But it is very informative for men to read the words of Pat Holland as well. Pat wrote her part separately from Jeff's. She laid her soul bare. She has great wisdom.
Jeffrey Holland is always great to read. He is a spiritual son of God. He spoke of many subjects but did a superior job on explaining
the whys of the divine law of chastity. It takes great courage to speak with such humility about the law of chastity.
September 30, 2017
Great book!
Sister Holland gives the impression that she is shy and quiet, but she did a great job in her writing! Elder
holland also did wonderful. I wish everyone who is contemplating divorce would read t
He middle part of this book, too. It is a humorous conversation as Elder and Sister Holland jointly discuss their differences. Forgiveness and patience and understanding are much needed in each of our lives.
Sister Holland gives the impression that she is shy and quiet, but she did a great job in her writing! Elder
holland also did wonderful. I wish everyone who is contemplating divorce would read t
He middle part of this book, too. It is a humorous conversation as Elder and Sister Holland jointly discuss their differences. Forgiveness and patience and understanding are much needed in each of our lives.
April 19, 2020
It was good, but definitely a product of its time. I liked many of the things that Sister Holland had to say. Elder Holland's characteristic verve for storytelling is there, but I think it's improved since the 80's.
I'm realizing I'm not one for sermons in book form; they have good messages, but they don't seem to flow well--at least to me.
I'm realizing I'm not one for sermons in book form; they have good messages, but they don't seem to flow well--at least to me.
June 1, 2021
Wonderful book. So many insights from both Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife, Patricia. Many personal experiences that shaped their lives and the lives of their three children, and how these experiences have deepened their faith in Jesus Christ and positives steps we can all take to strengthen our own testimonies of our Savior.
March 14, 2019
A beautifully informative book written by a truly wise, kind and good couple.
June 24, 2020
I love the compilation of talks by the Hollands! Some of these talks have changed my life in more ways than one.
September 19, 2020
Good council and wonderful stories.
April 4, 2022
It was ok. While I liked some of the chapters from Sister Holland, not all of her stuff connected with me. Not saying I didn’t like her words at all. Elder Hollands chapters were wonderful.
July 6, 2022
adorei! incrivel! obrigada
September 11, 2023
Amazing talks in this book. The first half of the book are talks by Sister Holland and they are incredible. Every wife and mother should at least read the first half.
August 30, 2024
On Earth as it is in Heaven was a wonderful collection of talks from both President Holland and his wife on a wide variety of topics, all essential elements of Earthly life.
January 6, 2025
La historia del exmisionero del final así como de cómo se conocieron y se casaron es joya completa.
October 27, 2025
Some really great messages.
February 6, 2017
Some really amazing stuff, especially by sister Holland.
March 30, 2018
read e book in English at read.deseretbook.com
Portuguese Christmas gift book from SP Temple Presidency to all "oficiantes do templo" :)
Who doesn't love Elder Holland? This book is like one long conference talk by him, but with the added bonus of chapters submitted by his wife Pat. She is every bit as eloquent and talented, (in different ways) as her husband and I was blessed to become better acquainted with her. Pat describes herself and her feelings and characteristics about, and her relationship with her husband in uncanny similarities to myself and my husband.
This title is in my deseretbookshelf APP and I have bookmarked several pages/chapters that were especially meaningful to me. This is definitely one that I would enjoy re-reading, especially the bookmarks.
favorite chapters:
Filling the Measure of our Creation
The Comfort Wherewith We Are Comforted
The Many Faces of Eve
With Your Face to the Son
Some Things We Have Learned Together
Within the Clasp of Your Arms
Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments-
-the best talk I have ever read about the law of chastity
I Stand All Amazed
Portuguese Christmas gift book from SP Temple Presidency to all "oficiantes do templo" :)
Who doesn't love Elder Holland? This book is like one long conference talk by him, but with the added bonus of chapters submitted by his wife Pat. She is every bit as eloquent and talented, (in different ways) as her husband and I was blessed to become better acquainted with her. Pat describes herself and her feelings and characteristics about, and her relationship with her husband in uncanny similarities to myself and my husband.
This title is in my deseretbookshelf APP and I have bookmarked several pages/chapters that were especially meaningful to me. This is definitely one that I would enjoy re-reading, especially the bookmarks.
favorite chapters:
Filling the Measure of our Creation
The Comfort Wherewith We Are Comforted
The Many Faces of Eve
With Your Face to the Son
Some Things We Have Learned Together
Within the Clasp of Your Arms
Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments-
-the best talk I have ever read about the law of chastity
I Stand All Amazed
April 24, 2015
I picked this book up in a second hand book store in Utah a couple of years ago.This book really helps you better understand your Temple covenants and what the Temple is all about. Elder Holland and his dear wife dig deep into a number of subjects and always bring personal stories into the picture, making the message all more compelling.
This is a great read for all Latter-day Saints and if you want to understand more about the Temple, this book is the best I have read so far in explaining the deeper meaning of all that goes on.
I found the book very practical, full of great advice from relationships, to prayer, to parenting and I really loved the bit about us living up to the measure of our own creation. We have all been given talents from God, we need to find out what they are and use them. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others and figure out what plan Heavenly father has for us and get on with it. This book helps you do that.
I highly recommend it!
This is a great read for all Latter-day Saints and if you want to understand more about the Temple, this book is the best I have read so far in explaining the deeper meaning of all that goes on.
I found the book very practical, full of great advice from relationships, to prayer, to parenting and I really loved the bit about us living up to the measure of our own creation. We have all been given talents from God, we need to find out what they are and use them. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others and figure out what plan Heavenly father has for us and get on with it. This book helps you do that.
I highly recommend it!
August 11, 2015
I was a student at BYU during the early years of Elder Holland's presidency there. I particularly related to those chapters in which he deals with the complexities of life and the need to find balance.
This is a nicely organized book. It is comprised of speeches the husband-and-wife team have given over the years, some jointly, other separately. It is edited such that you get a somewhat conversational feel minus interruptions and tangients.
The unfortunate choice of a narrator for the audio edition I read did little to tarnish the shine of what is by every measure a thoughtful and thought-provoking book.
This is a nicely organized book. It is comprised of speeches the husband-and-wife team have given over the years, some jointly, other separately. It is edited such that you get a somewhat conversational feel minus interruptions and tangients.
The unfortunate choice of a narrator for the audio edition I read did little to tarnish the shine of what is by every measure a thoughtful and thought-provoking book.
February 2, 2017
I was at BYU when Elder Holland was president. As a brand new freshman, I was sitting in the Cougareat with my roommates when Pres. Holland stopped at our table to welcome us and ask how we were doing. One roommate kept saying she didn't believe he was really the President until he got his ID out to prove it to her. He was very friendly and real.
Reading these talks/essays thirty years later, I am struck by how applicable they still are. I marked up my copy and sent it on to my own daughter, who is a newlywed, newly graduated BYU-I student. Hopefully she will find it as useful as I did!
Reading these talks/essays thirty years later, I am struck by how applicable they still are. I marked up my copy and sent it on to my own daughter, who is a newlywed, newly graduated BYU-I student. Hopefully she will find it as useful as I did!
January 21, 2015
I just eat up anything written by Patricia Holland, she inspires me immensely. This was a book that both she and her husband wrote together. Each chapter is on a different topic. I absolutely LOVED all of it and would highly recommend it. It covered everything from marriage, parenting, sex, testimony, education....I could go on and on. I had to order it special because its not being printed anymore.
December 28, 2015
I heard most of these as BYU speeches. I love Pat Holland's talks and find it interesting, as I look at her talks and his, to see the softening or maybe molding that has taken place over the years. As he became a general authority he became more closed about his private life but here, as they both speak and try to convey their love for the students, you get a more personal touch. You see the influence that they have had on each other and the way that continues today.
June 29, 2007
A compilation of talks by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. The combination of the subject matter was really powerful to me, and each time I picked up this book I read something in plain English that spoke to my need for spiritual knowledge. I especially liked "Lift Up Your Eyes."
May 30, 2008
Great book written with his wife. Written at a time when he had more leeway in what he could write about so it was more autobiographical. He lamented that he was too much in a hurry when he was younger.
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