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After All We Can Do: Embracing Hope, Grace, and Joy
- GenresReligion
129 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 18, 2025
A Deep and Inspiring Book on Grace and Discipleship
President Uchtdorf is not only a remarkable speaker but also a gifted writer. This book is uplifting, easy to read, and filled with wisdom that draws the reader closer to Christ. Taking the time to study his words is a blessing, and the spiritual insights are well worth the effort.
What I loved most is the clear explanation that “after all we can do” does not mean “because we did everything.” Instead, salvation comes through the grace of Jesus Christ, and our role is to come unto Him with faith, hope, and charity. That truth alone brings great peace and perspective.
The book also emphasizes the two great commandments—to love God and to love our neighbor—as the true measure of discipleship. This “two-question test” is both simple and profound, helping us focus on what truly matters eternally.
Another powerful theme is the call to live discipleship with full consecration, not casually. It’s a reminder that following Christ is a wholehearted commitment, not an occasional effort.
Uchtdorf also beautifully teaches the connection between faith, hope, and charity, showing how growth in discipleship comes gradually—“line upon line”—just like nurturing a seed.
Finally, his focus on service, forgiveness, and joy is deeply moving. He reminds us that true joy comes as we forget ourselves in service, forgive others (and ourselves), and follow the Savior even in the midst of trials.
This book is profound, hopeful, and motivating. It strengthened my testimony of the Savior’s grace and renewed my desire to live His gospel more fully. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of discipleship and the joy of following Christ.
President Uchtdorf is not only a remarkable speaker but also a gifted writer. This book is uplifting, easy to read, and filled with wisdom that draws the reader closer to Christ. Taking the time to study his words is a blessing, and the spiritual insights are well worth the effort.
What I loved most is the clear explanation that “after all we can do” does not mean “because we did everything.” Instead, salvation comes through the grace of Jesus Christ, and our role is to come unto Him with faith, hope, and charity. That truth alone brings great peace and perspective.
The book also emphasizes the two great commandments—to love God and to love our neighbor—as the true measure of discipleship. This “two-question test” is both simple and profound, helping us focus on what truly matters eternally.
Another powerful theme is the call to live discipleship with full consecration, not casually. It’s a reminder that following Christ is a wholehearted commitment, not an occasional effort.
Uchtdorf also beautifully teaches the connection between faith, hope, and charity, showing how growth in discipleship comes gradually—“line upon line”—just like nurturing a seed.
Finally, his focus on service, forgiveness, and joy is deeply moving. He reminds us that true joy comes as we forget ourselves in service, forgive others (and ourselves), and follow the Savior even in the midst of trials.
This book is profound, hopeful, and motivating. It strengthened my testimony of the Savior’s grace and renewed my desire to live His gospel more fully. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of discipleship and the joy of following Christ.
December 2, 2024
Great teachings on Grace and Humility, as well as reminders about the importance of seeking Joy from the true source of Joy.
December 11, 2024
Anything by Elder Uchtdorf is bound to be wonderful. And this little book surely is. I can hear his voice in the words of every page that I read. I loved this book.
February 17, 2025
"After All We Can Do: Embracing Hope, Grace, and Joy" is a book by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When I read it, it was a very new release—it was a Christmas gift in 2024 and had just been published that December. In this book, Elder Uchtdorf explores how individuals can lead lives filled with hope, grace, and joy through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Much of the content expands on themes he has covered in recent General Conference talks. At times, specific chapters felt like rereading those addresses, with additional details woven in to develop his stories further. He draws from personal experiences, scriptural interpretations, and decades of discipleship, emphasizing that God's grace is always sufficient for our needs. He connects this message to the importance of hope during life’s challenges, overcoming apathy, and understanding the phrase "after all we can do" from 2 Nephi 25:23.
However, the book often felt like a rehash or retelling of previous General Conference talks. While he expands on them with more details and profound thoughts, I frequently thought, "I’ve heard this before." I love his speaking, but this book's writing felt like an easy way to repurpose past talks into a published work. I know he and other church leaders are not in this for profit, but if a more typical author wrote this, I would have been frustrated at what feels like a repackaging of previous content. That said, I understand the intent—it helps bring these themes and gospel principles to a wider audience and allows readers to reflect on them more deeply. While this approach wasn’t for me, I don’t hold it against him or the publisher.
Elder Uchtdorf clarifies that we do not receive grace only after we’ve exhausted our efforts. Instead, it is a constant gift from God, available to us even in our imperfections. He teaches that while faith requires action, salvation is not something we earn—it is given through Christ’s grace. The more faith we develop, the more hope we gain; and most importantly, the more we love God, the more naturally we will love and serve our neighbors. When we act in faith, "doing all we can do" becomes less of an obligation and more of an outgrowth of love and discipleship. He reassures us that God's plan is always at work for our ultimate good, inviting all to come unto Christ for healing, inspiration, and peace. Grace is not just for the next life—we are meant to experience joy, happiness, and peace now, and those blessings also come through Christ’s Atonement.
Elder Uchtdorf begins by addressing the common human experience of feeling inadequate or overwhelmed by personal shortcomings. He reassures readers that, despite these feelings, God’s grace is ever-present and powerful enough to uplift and redeem us. He shares personal stories and insights, illustrating how individuals can cultivate hope and find joy even in difficult circumstances. He encourages readers to focus on strengthening their relationship with Jesus Christ, teaching that they will experience a transformation of heart and mind as they do. This transformation leads to a purposeful, resilient, and profound joy-filled life.
Much of the content expands on themes he has covered in recent General Conference talks. At times, specific chapters felt like rereading those addresses, with additional details woven in to develop his stories further. He draws from personal experiences, scriptural interpretations, and decades of discipleship, emphasizing that God's grace is always sufficient for our needs. He connects this message to the importance of hope during life’s challenges, overcoming apathy, and understanding the phrase "after all we can do" from 2 Nephi 25:23.
However, the book often felt like a rehash or retelling of previous General Conference talks. While he expands on them with more details and profound thoughts, I frequently thought, "I’ve heard this before." I love his speaking, but this book's writing felt like an easy way to repurpose past talks into a published work. I know he and other church leaders are not in this for profit, but if a more typical author wrote this, I would have been frustrated at what feels like a repackaging of previous content. That said, I understand the intent—it helps bring these themes and gospel principles to a wider audience and allows readers to reflect on them more deeply. While this approach wasn’t for me, I don’t hold it against him or the publisher.
Elder Uchtdorf clarifies that we do not receive grace only after we’ve exhausted our efforts. Instead, it is a constant gift from God, available to us even in our imperfections. He teaches that while faith requires action, salvation is not something we earn—it is given through Christ’s grace. The more faith we develop, the more hope we gain; and most importantly, the more we love God, the more naturally we will love and serve our neighbors. When we act in faith, "doing all we can do" becomes less of an obligation and more of an outgrowth of love and discipleship. He reassures us that God's plan is always at work for our ultimate good, inviting all to come unto Christ for healing, inspiration, and peace. Grace is not just for the next life—we are meant to experience joy, happiness, and peace now, and those blessings also come through Christ’s Atonement.
Elder Uchtdorf begins by addressing the common human experience of feeling inadequate or overwhelmed by personal shortcomings. He reassures readers that, despite these feelings, God’s grace is ever-present and powerful enough to uplift and redeem us. He shares personal stories and insights, illustrating how individuals can cultivate hope and find joy even in difficult circumstances. He encourages readers to focus on strengthening their relationship with Jesus Christ, teaching that they will experience a transformation of heart and mind as they do. This transformation leads to a purposeful, resilient, and profound joy-filled life.
June 26, 2025
This is delightfully uplifting! Portions of it have been used in his talks, but it felt like greeting old friends rather than repetitious. This is definitely worth the read :)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews