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Redefining Joy In the Last Days
What is the purpose of our being? How much joy are we supposed to feel in a troubled world? Can our trials make us happier as well as stronger? If joy is the absence of sorrow or disappointment, then how could God be happy (because surely He has reasons for both!)? In this new addition to the popular Time Out Classics series, bestselling author Chris Stewart discusses how to experience a more joyful life. Drawing on unforgettable real-life experiences and rich examples from the scriptures, he offers suggestions for reorienting our lives in order to achieve greater joy and happiness — even in the most challenging times. Redefining Joy looks at some of life’s most difficult questions. But be prepared. The answers may surprise you.
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2009
3 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Chris Stewart
136 books276 followersChris Stewart is a bestselling author and world-record-setting Air Force pilot whose previous military techno-thrillers have been selected by the Book of the Month Club and published in six different countries. He is the author of the highly acclaimed series The Great and Terrible, as well as A Christmas Bell for Anya, which was performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during their 2005 Christmas concert. He has also been a guest editorialist for the Detroit News, commenting on matters of military readiness and national security. He is president of The Shipley Group, a nationally recognized consulting and training company and founder of the Utah Renaissance and Leadership Center.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 5, 2018
So so good! This is a quick read but I really enjoyed it. His messages went straight to my heart and I found myself nodding in agreement! We are so blessed and our Heavenly Father is here for us and is helping us along the way on this very temporary stay here in mortality!
September 21, 2020
Such a wonderful little book. I found myself agreeing with his perspective and the role of the Savior and his infinite atonement in our lives.
June 26, 2017
What a beautiful perspective on life's struggles and joy. The personal experiences were the best part. They affirm hope and faith. They lift and touch. I enjoyed this little book. Great Sabbath read!
November 11, 2021
A different look at the way we perceive Joy in our lives. Uplifting and inspirational look into changing our way of validating Joy and our feelings towards the idea of GOD'S love towards granting joy to each of us.
May 27, 2017
Short book, but left me feeling uplifted. This is the first of this author's books I have read and I find his style enjoyable, so I will be looking for more.
April 24, 2018
A very quick read. I might try to read a chapter a day from this to the family at the dinner table. Really could improve a teenager negative mentality;)
August 23, 2019
Great quick read with inspiration and tools to help you remember to find/feel and have more joy!
December 30, 2019
Great book about learning to be happier in life
August 18, 2020
WOW that was a very powerful book❗️The title says it all. I will not be giving anything away about it. It’s a book that needs to be read by everyone.
March 31, 2022
I have struggled with scriptures that give the message of man being nothing. I appreciated the author’s insight. I enjoyed the quick read.
July 11, 2023
There were some good nuggets of truth but overall this book didn’t really say anything I haven’t heard before.
May 15, 2017
This is a short book you can easily read in one sitting. The focus of this book is how to live happily and have joy despite the challenges and trials we face in life. It had some good reminders of how to find joy and lasting happiness even in a world of chaos and negativity. This book was a quick, uplifting read.
March 4, 2017
I loved this so much!!! Definitely going to buy it. ❤
May 25, 2013
I agree with Chris that you can have joy even while going through hard trials because of the Savior and the atonement. I acknowledge the fact that we each "have our own trials" to pass through and that he can make your burdens lighter if you allow Him to help you. I, however, do not believe that our trials were custom made by God,(See chapter "Notes").Although he knows what we will have to face in mortality, He provides the means by which good can come from such events. We can and do learn many things from our trials such as understanding, faith, conversion, compassion, empathy, repentance. mercy and forgiveness. We are to develop divine nature within ourselves. Without the pain we cannot comprehend the joy He has for us to experience. I do not believe God has a hand in choosing for us to be abused, raped or have loved ones murdered, for example. Agency will not be taken away. We suffer as the result of choices we have made or that others have made. It is a part of mortality, as is sickness and other painful events in our lives. What we do during and after such trials shows our faith in Christ for the enabling power and continually available power through the atonement for healing and peace. That is the beauty of the Atonement, that no matter what comes our way we can be healed. The atonement was an event and is a process. I loved his others books he has written.
December 18, 2009
This is a good book that helps to change your perspective and attitude on what joy is. We all are going to experience trials - that is how we grow. Finding the joy sometimes depends on making our expectations of it a little more realistic. The Savior is always beside us. Mankind has always suffered trials in order to grow. This book puts out suggestions to help make our trials a little easier to get through and teaches compassion toward others. One analogy I enjoyed was when he talked about being in the desert and needing water to survive. He dug a hole and overnight it filled with a few inches of dirty sandy water but it was enough to sustain him. Sometimes life is like that - we have what we need but not always the clear pure bottled water that we want. With the Savior beside us that little bit of sustenance makes us more appreciative of the times we have extra and teaches us how to share it with others.
April 2, 2009
Wow - who would have guessed that one of my favorite LDS authors (Great & Terrible Series, vol 1-6)that I award the coveted FIVE stars would have a new book out entitled "Redefining Joy in the Last Days". Just getting started, but so far it's very enjoyable. I so admire authors who can write different genres so wonderfully!
April 5, 2009
This is a little short book that would be a great gift for anyone at any time. It talks about how to have joy even through hard times. It explains how a scripture in Moses says "Man is nothing" and the footnotes say 'mortality' so "mortality is nothing" compared to the expanse of eternity. It helped me have sanity when my new puppy was driving me crazy!!!
August 25, 2009
This delightful little book was given to me as a thank you for a talk that I gave to the youth, and I just love it. The author, Chris Stewart, talks about finding joy in these last days. The scriptures he uses and his real life experiences are beautiful. He is a bestselling author. There are only 60 pages in this great little book, so it is a quick read.
January 4, 2010
This is a pleasant little quick read, but I think I would have enjoyed it far more hearing it in person. It is clearly a talk or a lecture: it doesn't have many references, it is light on the personal stories, and full of Stewart philosophies (most of which are mainstream LDS). It is full of good, insprirational thoughts, but I would much rather read Sheri Dew.
April 25, 2011
Motivational book that gives hope in how you see your life today. It is a very small read that could be read in one sitting. Chris Stewart puts in a few instances in his life that may relate to you. I do like how he "likens the scriptures" to us with different scenes from the scriptures. I enjoyed reading this book it ended too soon though.
March 2, 2009
Great, simple pick me up book. You can read this book in a half hour, it's a really easy read. If you're looking for some sort of boost, if you're feeling down or depressed this book will help you see things in a different perspective.
April 16, 2009
This book is what I would consider more of a talk or devotional, a short read with a profound message. I enjoyed Chris Stewart's "The Great and the Terrible" series and it was enlightening to hear his personal experiences and testimony of the Savior in this new book.
August 10, 2009
I thought this was a short and sweet book that serves as a good reminder of why we are here. I like Chris Stewart's writing style in this book. It's almost like you can hear him saying what he is writing. I enjoyed reading it.
August 13, 2009
Just okay for me even though I feel like I should have liked it better. A friend gave it to me before I moved so I really wanted to like it. The ideas are good ones but I think it was the author's way of presenting them that I just didn't connect with.
August 19, 2012
Borrowed this from my Bishop and unfortunately I have to give it back. Another good reminder of why we have trials and what we can learn from them. Might have to purchase it myself so I can read it again and again.
April 30, 2009
It is a quick reed It is interesting how he looks at Joy but never look at it like the way he does in the book
May 15, 2009
A great, quick read! Good things to remember. It helps you feel blessed
May 12, 2009
Another great Chris Stewart book. What an amazing LDS author who speaks from, or in this case, writes from, the heart.
May 22, 2009
This was a great little book. Chris Stewart talks about how we can live and have joy in all we do even if the situation isn't the best.
June 9, 2009
short 60 page inspirational
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews