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Faith Rewarded: A Personal Account of Prophetic Promises to the East German Saints
Remarkable account of the effect of a communist government's effect on its people and religious freedom. Taken from President Monson's personal journal accounts over a 40 year span, Faith Rewarded is a great testimony of faith for the oppressed people of East Germany and those behind the iron curtain.
182 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
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252 people want to read
About the author
Thomas S. Monson
53 books170 followersThomas S. Monson served as the 16th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the "Mormon Church" or "LDS Church") from 2008 to his death in 2018. Before his time as President, he had served as a Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church since 1985. He was ordained an Apostle and called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1963 at the unusually young age of 36.
Monson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. After serving in the US Navy and earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah, he married Frances Johnson and they had three children. Monson worked in the local news publishing industry until church service became a full-time occupation.
Monson was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. After serving in the US Navy and earning a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah, he married Frances Johnson and they had three children. Monson worked in the local news publishing industry until church service became a full-time occupation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
November 29, 2008
I felt the same way after reading this book, as I did after reading F. Enzio Busche's book, "Yearning for the Living God." Renewed with the desire to exhibit the same faith as the German saints.
Faith Rewarded is a collection of journal entries from Thomas S. Monson's journal concerning his experiences in East Germany. It begins July 12,1968 and the last entry is Aug.27,1995. Incredible experiences and the strong faith of the people are shared.
The text of the absolutely beautiful rededicatory prayer given by Elder Monson in 1975 is shared in entirety.
I was very moved by this book. One of my favorite quotes from Elder Monson is found in his May 1,1993 entry, "I have learned from my experience that man's extremity is but God's opportunity."
Faith Rewarded is a collection of journal entries from Thomas S. Monson's journal concerning his experiences in East Germany. It begins July 12,1968 and the last entry is Aug.27,1995. Incredible experiences and the strong faith of the people are shared.
The text of the absolutely beautiful rededicatory prayer given by Elder Monson in 1975 is shared in entirety.
I was very moved by this book. One of my favorite quotes from Elder Monson is found in his May 1,1993 entry, "I have learned from my experience that man's extremity is but God's opportunity."
February 10, 2021
Personal revelations from an extraordinary man. Thomas S. Monson, an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, writes with the same wisdom, compassion and humor with which he speaks.
This book is well worth the read, regardless of your religious affiliation.
This book is well worth the read, regardless of your religious affiliation.
July 24, 2014
The topic of this book is very interesting and it was great to have it told through the perceptions of President Monson, who worked closely with the East German Saints as well as the DDR government during the Cold War.
The style follows that of A Labor of Love: The 1946 European Mission of Ezra Taft Benson by Ezra Taft Benson: it is a compilation of journal entries from President Monson's personal record. Unfortunately, this format doesn't work as well here as it did for President Benson's book. I think there are two major differences.
First, President Monson's story spans 27 years, and being an emissary to East Germany was only one of many responsibilities as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve during that time. The result is that you get sporadic entries here and there and then long gaps in the timeline. The story comes across as a bit patchy. Some entries are a bit out of the blue, too. It's almost as if his secretary went through and pulled any passage that mentioned Germany in any way, even if it's something like, "Today in our meeting we talked about the condition of the Saints in East Germany. Had lunch with Frances."
President Benson's book, on the other hand, only covers the course of one year. He was an apostle during his assignment too, but during 1946, handling the welfare efforts in post-war Europe was his only duty. Thus almost every journal entry from that year deals with the subject at hand, and the narrative flows pretty naturally from his personal writings.
Second, President Monson’s book is composed solely from his journals, while President Benson’s also includes personal correspondence—mostly (if not entirely) between him and his wife Flora. Again, having more writing that covers a shorter period of time really helps to flesh out a narrative and give continuity to the book as a whole. President Monson never had any extended stays in East Germany that would have necessitated mailed correspondence between him and his wife, but I would think there would be letters between him and church leaders in the DDR, or members even, that would be helpful in establishing more of what was happening, how people felt, what members wanted, what the Church wanted, etc. Maybe such letters couldn’t be included because it’s considered official correspondence? I don’t know. It just felt like the book needed a bit more.
The result of this is not just a “patchy” narrative, but also a lack of elaboration on some key events that I would have really liked to have more detail on. The meeting in which a DDR government representative suggested to President Monson that the Church build a temple in East Germany, for example. Or the events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening of the borders between East Germany and the surrounding countries.
It seems to me that this book would have been better composed as a narrative history rather than an epistolary. I almost decided to give the book a three-star rating based on that alone. Also—so much passive voice (love you, President Monson!). But the fact remains that the account is real, personal, and very well told in the parts where the story does come together. I teared up in more than one place, and felt moved many times. What a remarkable set of experiences, and an amazing example (or rather, collective set of examples) of great and persevering faith. Therefore, four stars (rounded up from 3.75).
I definitely recommend the book for anyone interested in Latter-day Saint history and/or the Cold War.
The style follows that of A Labor of Love: The 1946 European Mission of Ezra Taft Benson by Ezra Taft Benson: it is a compilation of journal entries from President Monson's personal record. Unfortunately, this format doesn't work as well here as it did for President Benson's book. I think there are two major differences.
First, President Monson's story spans 27 years, and being an emissary to East Germany was only one of many responsibilities as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve during that time. The result is that you get sporadic entries here and there and then long gaps in the timeline. The story comes across as a bit patchy. Some entries are a bit out of the blue, too. It's almost as if his secretary went through and pulled any passage that mentioned Germany in any way, even if it's something like, "Today in our meeting we talked about the condition of the Saints in East Germany. Had lunch with Frances."
President Benson's book, on the other hand, only covers the course of one year. He was an apostle during his assignment too, but during 1946, handling the welfare efforts in post-war Europe was his only duty. Thus almost every journal entry from that year deals with the subject at hand, and the narrative flows pretty naturally from his personal writings.
Second, President Monson’s book is composed solely from his journals, while President Benson’s also includes personal correspondence—mostly (if not entirely) between him and his wife Flora. Again, having more writing that covers a shorter period of time really helps to flesh out a narrative and give continuity to the book as a whole. President Monson never had any extended stays in East Germany that would have necessitated mailed correspondence between him and his wife, but I would think there would be letters between him and church leaders in the DDR, or members even, that would be helpful in establishing more of what was happening, how people felt, what members wanted, what the Church wanted, etc. Maybe such letters couldn’t be included because it’s considered official correspondence? I don’t know. It just felt like the book needed a bit more.
The result of this is not just a “patchy” narrative, but also a lack of elaboration on some key events that I would have really liked to have more detail on. The meeting in which a DDR government representative suggested to President Monson that the Church build a temple in East Germany, for example. Or the events surrounding the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening of the borders between East Germany and the surrounding countries.
It seems to me that this book would have been better composed as a narrative history rather than an epistolary. I almost decided to give the book a three-star rating based on that alone. Also—so much passive voice (love you, President Monson!). But the fact remains that the account is real, personal, and very well told in the parts where the story does come together. I teared up in more than one place, and felt moved many times. What a remarkable set of experiences, and an amazing example (or rather, collective set of examples) of great and persevering faith. Therefore, four stars (rounded up from 3.75).
I definitely recommend the book for anyone interested in Latter-day Saint history and/or the Cold War.
November 12, 2014
I originally purchased this book when I was a college student, and have read it many times over the years. I just finished reading it again, and it is striking to me how different things have stood out to me every time I have read it. But one thing has remained the same: this is an excellent, inspiring book that will bolster the faith of anyone who reads it.
Faith Rewarded is a compilation of journal accounts by Thomas S. Monson, and focuses on his ministry and prophetic promises to the East German members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Photos are scattered throughout the book of people and places he describes.
In 1968, President Monson was assigned to supervise the Eastern European missions of the Church. His journal describes the fear that was felt in entering these lands, controlled by Communist governments, and the conditions that existed at the time. President Monson promised the Saints in East Germany that they would, in time, be able to receive all the blessings of the gospel, which seemed impossible then. But, as we see, through many years and subsequent journal entries, the Lord honors and rewards those who have and live with great faith. The East German Saints, and President Monson himself, are living testimonies that, no matter how dire our circumstances, the Lord always keeps his promises to the faithful!
Faith Rewarded is a compilation of journal accounts by Thomas S. Monson, and focuses on his ministry and prophetic promises to the East German members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Photos are scattered throughout the book of people and places he describes.
In 1968, President Monson was assigned to supervise the Eastern European missions of the Church. His journal describes the fear that was felt in entering these lands, controlled by Communist governments, and the conditions that existed at the time. President Monson promised the Saints in East Germany that they would, in time, be able to receive all the blessings of the gospel, which seemed impossible then. But, as we see, through many years and subsequent journal entries, the Lord honors and rewards those who have and live with great faith. The East German Saints, and President Monson himself, are living testimonies that, no matter how dire our circumstances, the Lord always keeps his promises to the faithful!
September 10, 2012
Wow.........what an amazing read, and so very inspiring. In 1968 Thomas S. Monson was assigned to work with the European missions of the L.D.S. church. This included many trips into East Germany, which was behind the Iron Curtain - communist ruled. He describes the struggles of the Latter-Day Saints, the miracles that occurred because of the strength and faith of these incredible Saints. I cannot possibly do justice to this book with my limited writing abilities. I cried during this book - for the struggles of the East German and because of their strength and endurance; I laughed because of the humorous anecdotes Pres. Monson included; my eyes were filled with tears so many times as I realized all the blessings the Gospel brings me every day of my life. I hope everyone gets a chance to read this. It's a more complete account of Thomas S. Monson's experiences in East Germany than is available in his biography.
April 13, 2009
This is an interesting, first-hand account of the history of the church in East Germany. President Monson chronicles the church's growth from the promises given in the dedication and rededication of that land to the fulfillment of those promises over two decades later.
This book is simply President Monson's journal entries that have to do with the people and places of the German Democratic Republic. That has it's advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that it is immediate. President Monson wrote these entries on the day they happened. A disadvantage is that it can sometimes feel boring and repetitive. Also, a journal isn't designed for great literary quality. I do find the first-hand account of East Germany under communism very interesting.
This book is simply President Monson's journal entries that have to do with the people and places of the German Democratic Republic. That has it's advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that it is immediate. President Monson wrote these entries on the day they happened. A disadvantage is that it can sometimes feel boring and repetitive. Also, a journal isn't designed for great literary quality. I do find the first-hand account of East Germany under communism very interesting.
October 17, 2014
I really loved this book. I liked the description of the same events better in his biography, but I liked this book (which contains exerpts from his journals) for several specific reasons. First, it shows what an incredible journaler President Monson is. Wow. Second, because each entry is dated there is a much better sense of the timeline of events. Third because it is interesting to read what happened in his own words. The arc of events really is so inspiring to me--that he would promise the East German people that they would enjoy all of the blessings of the faithful, that that promise made him a little anxious, and that eventually it was completely fulfilled--even before the Berlin Wall came down.
October 25, 2010
Pretty amazing all the things that happened for the church in East Germany. I really had no idea. Although I didn't really know all the political things happening at that time in the world I specifically remember the Berlin wall coming down when I was in 7th grade. I remember talking about in our World Geography class with Mr. Brown and thinking to myself this is a really big deal even though I didn't really understand it. I was amazed at how receptive the government was to the church. Just shows you that God's plan will go forward! Another book along this same lines is Saint Behind Enemy Lines which I also really like.
June 6, 2010
A tremendous story about the German Saints behind the Berlin Wall and how Thomas S. Monson, an Elder, risked his life regularly to cross check point charlie to visit with them, encourage them, and teach what he could of the Lord's message. The faith of the Saints behind the iron wall was tremendous and inspirational to read about and something I use sometimes in my own life to remind me when things get tough. These Saints were rewarded by the building of the Freiburg Germany Temple and not long after the wall came down. Today this magnicient man has been called to serve as our Propeht, Seer and Revelator in the Church's First Presidency
January 8, 2012
So fascinating to see the Lord's hand in doing the impossible; the growth of the church in East Germany during the communist era until after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Some marvelous, moving reading through the eyes of President Monson's personal journal. This was especially meaningful to me as so many of the church members we've grown to love as we're serving here in Kyiv Ukraine Temple, are members who sacrificed so much to get to the Freiberg Temple, the temple built through miraculous events described in this book.
December 24, 2014
What an enjoyable book! This is just a compilation of President Monson's journal entries related to East Germany over the course of 20+ years. His entries tell the amazing story of how the communist leaders of East Germany agreed to let the church build church buildings and a temple, let missionaries be called from their country and let missionaries come in to their country, and other amazing things to help the remarkably faithful saints in their country. It is amazing to see the hand of the Lord in everything. So glad President Monson is an avid journal writer!
February 9, 2010
This book should have five or six stars for content--though a good many of the great experiences in it have been published in talks and news articles. I found amazing and important things were not. For many it would be tedious reading as it is excerpts from President Monson's journal covering 25 years without any commentary to go along with it. I think President Monson chose not to comment because there are some remarkable things here he didn't want headlined.
January 2, 2013
Remarkable account of the effect of a communist government's effect on its people and religious freedom. Taken from President Monson's personal journal accounts over a 40 year span, Faith Rewarded is a great testimony of faith for the oppressed people of East Germany. A must read for Latter-day Saints and would be a great read for anyone interested in Cold War history, as it gives a historical cause and effect of communism.
September 14, 2016
Culled from President Monson's journals this is his record of his multiple trips behind the Iron Curtain to be the contact point with East German Latter Day Saints from 1961 thru the reunification of Germany and into 1995.
Why I started this book: Love Germany history and I was eager to read President Monson's perspective.
Why I finished it: A little repetitive but overall it was fascinating. I only wish that my electronic edition included the pictures... and not just the captions.
Why I started this book: Love Germany history and I was eager to read President Monson's perspective.
Why I finished it: A little repetitive but overall it was fascinating. I only wish that my electronic edition included the pictures... and not just the captions.
February 3, 2009
A story about the process of the temple being allowed in East Germany and about the process of supporting the church behind the Iron Curtain. Interesting story about a deacon who decided to care for the grave of a missionary who died in Germany in 1895 and although he would never expected that he would be able to serve a mission, he was one of the first 10 missionaries from East Germany.
June 17, 2009
Excellent account of one man's journey and his influence on the people of Germany and their influence on him. Thomas S. Monson is a wonderful story teller. This book is no exception, it has great stories. It is amazing to me that this was published just using his journal entries. What an inspiration to be a better journal writer.
July 21, 2009
Excerpts from 30 years of President Monson's journal - all relating to East Germany - from the days of Checkpoint Charlie through the reunification. I loved reading of the miracles that happened for the faithful people caught in a horrible situation. Highly recommended, especially if you have an interest in the former Eastern Bloc's countries.
May 5, 2018
Thomas Monson's journal entries from 1968 until 1995 comprise this simple yet fascinating book. Of course, I may be a bit partial to anything German with a son on a mission there! It was amazing to see how the events, the people, and the various "coincidences" and circumstances-- all work together to bring the Gospel to the people behind the Iron Curtain. Fascinating!
August 24, 2012
When I read Thomas Monson's biography, I was interested in the part about his ministry behind the iron curtain in East Germany. This book is all excerpts from his journal regarding that ministry from 1968-1995. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because there isn't much more detail in this book than there is in his biography. It is still an inspiring story, however.
September 23, 2008
This are simple accounts taken from President Monson's journal that talk about his experience of over 20 years in working with the East German saints. It is inspirational to read about many small and large miracles that occurred as the Church developed there behind the iron curtain.
October 5, 2008
It was great to read actual journal entries of a modern-day prophet. I was inspired to write in my journal more and I love the work of spreading the gospel. I'm thankful for the faith and example of others, as it definitely strengthens my faith and resolve to do right no matter the circumstances.
February 11, 2009
This is an excellent book. President Monson put this book together from his journal entries. The book is a very interesting read because of how well he writes and the many personal stories that he shares.
August 19, 2023
I loved this book. The book contained exerpts from President Monson's personal journal and some letters written to East German Saints, and letters to him. There were many miracles that happened in Germany prior to and since November 9, 1989.
September 18, 2009
This goes along with some other books about WW II that I have or am currently reading. I loved the simple telling of miracles. To be remembered: Miracles seem like every day occurrences unless you are on the lookout for them.
December 6, 2009
Uplifting stories of courage and the fulfillment of God's promises to the Saints in East Germany during communist occupation. I wept with joy often while reading this book. But mostly I felt humbled at the ease at which we are permitted to worship and how often it is taken for granted.
May 4, 2010
Not your "traditional" book; primarily excerpts from Pres. Monson's journal, specific to his dealings with the German Saints. An interesting read to be sure, parts of it really bring in the Spirit. It really provided a nice understanding of all that has gone on in that country for 40+ years.
February 1, 2011
I enjoyed reading excerpts from President Monson's journal about his work with the East German saints. So amazing how the prophetic promises he made all came to pass. When they were spoken, it seemed impossible that they would ever come to pass but they did - beautifully.
March 2, 2011
I really enjoyed the personal perspective of Pres. Monson's dealings with the saints in East Germany. Much was gleaned of the people, of the country, of communism, of faith and of the workings of God among His children.
March 9, 2011
I really liked this book and was deeply touched by the accounts provided by Monson in his journal of working with LDS members behind the iron curtain. It gave me a deeper appreciation of my country and the freedom to worship freely.
Want to read
April 14, 2012Very good book! I've always had an interest in President Monson and his work in the Church. This book tells many inspiring stories about the members of the LDS Church in East Germany during the Cold War. It's very inspiring!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews