Reach Up for the Light

by James E. Faust

"We live in a world where success seems largely measured by possessions. How the possessions may have been acquired often seems immaterial. Honesty, decency, chastity, and holiness are frequently downgraded as being of lesser worth than possessions. Are our young people enticed to look up or down? . . . What has happened to self-respect and personal integrity? . . . How can Christian belief and morality translate more completely into Christian action?" These are some of the hard issues that Elder James E. Faust of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addresses in Reach Up for the Light. The subjects of Elder Faust's chapters, based on talks delivered in general conferences and other gatherings of the Saints, include â finding the abundant life â the need for balance in our lives â the challenges of economic stress â integrity and self-esteem â a simple, untroubled faith â comfort and hope for families "Many of the standards, values, vows, and obligations that have helped us preserve our spirituality, our honor, our integrity, our worth, and our decency have little by little been assaulted and discarded," Elder Faust observes. "The dignity of self is greatly enhanced by looking upward in the search for holiness. Like the giant trees, we should reach up for the light. The most important source of light we can come to know is the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is the source of inner strength and peace." For all who are searching for answers in a troubled world, Reach Up for the Light provides words of understanding, of counsel, of hope, of peace.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds, Church

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

James Esdras Faust was an American religious leader, lawyer, and politician. Faust was Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1995 until his death in 2007, an LDS Church apostle for 29 years, and a general authority of the church for 35 years.

Reviews

[Travis Standley · Rating 4 out of 5]

President Faust, for me, was always able to share memorable stories and practical principles that leads one to better living through centering life on Jesus Christ. I took great strength from this book-written a couple decades ago-but provided counsel on issues we face here and now regarding, civility and dialogue, family success, following church leadership, and revelation. I'm glad I read this book. What I came across became timely and helpful to me.

[Loralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is based on conference talks and other addresses from Pres. Faust. In his kind, gentle way he addresses subjects such as the Atonement, the need for balance in our lives, the challenges of economic stress, and developing a simple, untroubled faith.

In his chapter on "Finding the Abundant Life" Pres. Faust declares that an abundant life is obtained by "an endless search for knowledge, light, and truth." (p. 24) He goes on to say that our "faith can be strengthened by following(our) intuitive judgment and the purest and noblest feelings of (our) own souls. By looking to a source higher than (ourselves), we can receive answers to our questions from the divine source."

On his chapter on developing self-esteem, he gives six steps. The first step is keeping our free agency. The second step is humility. The third step is honesty. The 4th step is the love of work. The 5th step is the ability to love. The 6th step is the love of God.

I enjoyed studying these chapters over a several week period of time. His messages gave me things to think about, ponder, and apply to my own life.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a beautiful explanation of the atonement of Jesus Christ in the last chapter. President Faust presented a different perspective on the last days of our Savior. If you like food for thought, there is plenty of it here in the "soul searching" department.

[Colleen O'grady · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have to read it before I can comment