Learn how to work through life’s trials with advice from popular youth speakers who have endured a few challenges of their own. This encouraging book will help you see trials as essential stepping-stones to becoming the person you’re destined to be.
We live in a world where people have problems. The news reports in the last few days confirm that TRUTH. Life and the world are in turmoil. It's great to have a compilation of stories written to youth that teach about hope and the lessons learned in trials.
This is a short book of 128 pages that packs a powerful message. We all need to be reminded that there is hope at the end of trials. I loved Hank Smith's opening message of Joseph who was sold into Egypt. It is my favorite Old Testament story. He shares it with clarity and brings it home to apply it to our day. Of course, my family loves everything Hank Smith. He made a positive impact on my son when he was his Seminary Teacher.
The next two stories talk about life and how experiences in Chile influenced them for the better. I immediately thought of my son, I mentioned him in the above paragraph, who served a mission in Chile. (Maybe I need to get him a copy of the book for Christmas?) I guess my point in mentioning all of this is that I can apply the stories in my life. I can think of my children and the things they are going through. I can gain strength from this book. Most of all, I need to look up and remember Him who will always be there for me and those I love.
I loved the variety of stories and the different voices of the people who wrote them. They have their unique take on experiences and how to apply them to life. Such a great book! I'm thinking that I may need to buy four copies for my four children for Christmas.
All of us human beings get down from time to time. The fact is life can be really hard and discouraging sometimes. Throw in adolescence and confusion often reigns supreme. That is where books like this one come into play. This compilation of stories and advice from those who've been there makes for an encouraging read as well as a strong reminder that bad times won't last and there is a way to pull it together and make it through. Trials related to loneliness, physical pain, football, and mistakes all come up in these stories. Stories of hope and faith, of ordinary individuals, and scriptural heroes, all of whom have had to learn to rely on God to help them conquer their tough times. I thought the two versions of the Joseph of Egypt story were interesting. Same story but very different retellings. But the lessons learned are still very powerful and important. I found the book to be very interesting because I love stories about people like me who face tough times with inward and outward struggles but who never give up and with God's help find what they need to truly be able to say, "I've got this!"
WOW! You have got to read this book! Each author shares stories of when times were the toughest for them and show that by trusting in the Lord a way was provided to get them through those most hardest of times-- Whether life has you down right now or not this book is packed full of inspiration! LOVED EVERY WORD OF THIS BOOK! A MUST-READ FOR SURE!
This book is geared toward teens, so I read it with my children. We all loved it! It's filled with great advice from inspirational speakers--Hank Smith, Whitney Wilcox Laycock, Dallas Lloyd, Zandra Vranes, Tamu Smith, Chad Hymas and Al Carraway.
I was familiar with some of them while others were new to me but they are each fantastic! I enjoyed the lessons taught by Whitney Wilcox Laycock as she talks about the challenges of living in another country (and then the challenges of moving back). Zandra Vranes was highly entertaining as she tells the story of Joseph in Egypt in a way I've never heard before. I only knew a little bit about Chad Hymas and he gives excellent advice on how to be happy in the face of adversity.
Whether you are a teen or an adult, there is something in this book for everyone! I will definitely read it again and again!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way
Life is not always easy. It can be rough and tough and get you down. But these experiences make us better people and bring us closer to God. Compiler Elise Hahl has brought together authors Al Carraway, Chad Hymas, Whitney Wilcox Laycock, Dallas Lloyd, Hank Smith, Tamu Smith, and Zandra Vranes to share stories of some of their personal struggles in life. These stories will not only touch the heart of teen readers, but inspire them to work hard and be tough, even when life seems hard and is getting them down. I would recommend this enjoyable collection of stories to teen readers that need a boost and a bit of inspiration.
Genre: non-fiction, inspirational, LDS Publisher: Cedar Fort Publication date: October 11, 2016 Number of pages: 128 Category: 7th grade + Content Rating: G Book Rating: 5 stars
A print review copy of this novel was provided by Cedar Fort. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
You’ve Got This was inspiring and well written by seven different authors. I read this book pretty quick and thought it wasn’t just for teens but anyone who has challenges (which pretty much is everyone). I loved this book! I didn’t really have a favorite author because each one spoke to me in a different way. But, I was inspired the most from Al Carraway. I plan on reading her book, More Than the Tattooed Mormon. She was a brilliant writer. She offered some suggestions which helped her during tough times. They included:
1- Reading the Scriptures Read everyday, don’t limit yourself on how much to read, it’s okay to read more than once a day, keep a Book of Mormon everywhere.
2-Church-How is your church experience? Are you going to church regularly? Where are your thoughts? Are you focused?
3-Repentance-Repentance is not punishment or condemnation; it’s optimistic and completely positive!
4-Faith-Here’s my key to finding strength during the thick of hard times: First: Am I doing the simple things of the gospel? Second: So be it.
I know these are simple concepts that we learn in Primary but I believe we need to re learn throughout our lives.
Another wonderful author was Chad Hymas who had a life changing experience leaving him a quadriplegic. He inspired many when he wanted to get into the Guinness World Records. He decided to do a five hundred mile marathon and his story was motivating. He came up with ten suggestions to help one have a great attitude and a bright future. They are: Smile, Surround your self with great people, Teach, Be understanding, Delegate appropriately, Serve, Find something you love to do, Make the best of your situation, Read positive and inspiring books and Be thankful.
This book focused on ways to look up when life has you down and I’m sure anyone would enjoy reading it. You’ve Got This was definitely a book for me.
I was interested in this book because I have 5 kids and my oldest daughter is now a teenager. I love to have resources on hand where someone else besides Mom or Dad can share insight on life. Sometimes hearing it from someone else can make all the difference. Each of the authors contributing to this book provide fresh insight on the challenges that we all face in life. You'll read about the story of Joseph from the Bible and get a couple different perspectives on that. Hank Smith provided a detailed viewpoint of how Joseph might have felt and how his life would have been vastly changed had he not chosen to forgive and continue looking up. I loved that perspective! This book is a great read for teens and adults because the vignettes are short and easy to read in about five minutes. The lessons contained within aren't overly preachy--it's just great people sharing their own life experiences. Because we recently made a huge move the second chapter by Whitney Wilcox Laycock really resonated with me and my daughter. It was fantastic to read someone experiencing the very same feelings some of my kids have experienced from the move. Her story was inspiring and I loved the way she shared her simple testimony. This book would be excellent as a stocking stuffer for your teen or a pick-me-up when they are going through a rough patch. I encourage you to read it too! This book was written by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and I love how each author shares insight into the tough struggles that teens will face as part of growing up and how they really can say, "I've got this!" and be happy. I received a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is amazing! I loved each one of the chapters in this book. It's written for teenagers, so it's really a quick read, I read the whole thing in less than an afternoon, but it's packed with great advice and spiritual lessons that teens need in this crazy world!
This book is broken up into chapters by author. I loved each and every one of the authors and was amazed by the challenges that some of them have gone through. And the lessons they have learned are something that we can all learn from. I loved that directly after Whitney Wilcox Laycock's chapter there's one written by her dad, Brad Wilcox, that gives a little more definition to her chapter.
This is a great book to have your teen read, but I can tell you right now that adults can learn from it as well, and that's a great thing!
I read this book in one short sitting. I'm excited to pass it along to my teenagers. There are quite of a few of their favorite speakers in this book.
From Hank Smith's gripping retelling of Joseph (I cried) to the humor of Zandra Vranes (I snorted), there is a great collection of stories and wisdom on to look up when life has you down. The stories are short enough to read quickly but written well enough to move the reader.
This is a compilation of a few stories and testimonies of how people kept going and found happiness in adversity through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are a few quotes I liked:
"Joseph accepted his situation. He wasn't going to get his old life back. Nobody was coming to save him and take him home. If he was going to make something out of this tragedy, it was entirely up to him (p. 4)."
"God had a much bigger plan in mind for Joseph, but Joseph didn't know that (p. 6)."
"For two more years Joseph sat in prison, forgotten. But God hadn't forgotten Joseph. Through all of the ups and downs of Joseph's life, God had been moving him into a specific location. But it wasn't just geography that mattered. Not only did Joseph need to be in the right place at the right time, but he had to be the right kind of person when he go there. Joseph's trials were shaping him for the future.... Joseph needed to be in Egypt, but he also needed to be wise (p. 7)."
"Joseph showed us that our trials can be gateways to future happiness and prosperity (p. 9)."
"He uses our trials to change and prepare us to be successful in future opportunities (p. 15)."
"Joseph's brothers and Potiphar's wife can teach us about the damaging effects that come from allowing the natural man or woman to control our decisions. We often don't need the Lord to send us trials because we do too good of a job creating our own. The mortal life has enough trials built into it; we shouldn't make decisions that we know will add trouble (Hank Smith, p. 16)."
"This example of sincere friendship and fellowship is not uncommon in the Church. Sometimes we are the ones welcoming others and sometimes we are the ones being welcomed (p. 34)."
"'Home is more than four walls and a roof, or even what country you are living in, or where you came from. Home is the experiences you have and the people who make you who you are.'... we are all products of many different homes--including a heavenly home from which we have all moved away and to which we can all hope to return (Brad Wilcox, p. 35)."
"Heavenly Father simply wanted me to try, and...to keep trying was a key factor in my success. For Him and through Him, I could hold on to the rope and 'never give up (Dallas Lloyd, p. 46).'"
"The more I prayed, the closer I felt to the Savior. As I drew closer to the Savior, I understood just how much God loved me. I realized God loves me for who I am, not in spite of who I am. He sent me a Savior (p. 73)."
"When we recognize God pouring grace into our lives, it's difficult to remain sad and gloomy, or at least it is for me. I could not contain my joy (Tamu Smith, p. 74)!"
"Elder Maxwell asks me, 'What if you could be a better husband and father without the use of your limbs?'.... 'I can't be a husband because I can't even hold my wife's hand. I can't be a farmer. I can't be a hunting guide because I can't ride a horse. I can't be a dad. I can't pitch to my kids or shoot baskets with them.' I list several more things that I can't do before Elder Maxwell stops me. 'You're starting all your sentences with the word 'I,' he says. 'The Savior was never focused on himself. And your life isn't about you. Instead of using 'I' so much, use 'you,' 'yours,' and 'us.' This will be the greatest benefit to people outside this hospital.... You'll need to change some things about yourself..... You're probably going to have to learn to eat differently, court your wife differently, play basketball in a wheelchair, and even read your scriptures differently. How will you dress? You'll need to tie your shoes with your teeth.' Then he has me try it, but I protest. 'It feels awkward.' 'Disciples of Christ get awkward quick (p. 83).'"
"I realize that my life is not determined by what happens to me, but by how I respond to what happens. It is not about what life brings to me, but rather what I bring to life (p. 84)."
"I have come up with ten suggestions that will help you have a great attitude and a bright future. 1. Smile.... 2. Surround yourself with great people.... 3. Teach.... 4. Be understanding.... 5. Delegate appropriately.... 6. Serve.... 7. Find something you love to do.... 8. Make the best of your situation.... 9. Read positive and inspiring books.... 10. Be thankful (p. 94)."
"Smile and be grateful, because life is beautiful (Chad Hymas, p. 97)."
"All I had was God. But in every situation, He is all you really need. When you know that God is real, and that lasting happiness comes only from the gospel, the only logical thing to do is to keep going with Him and asking for His help, instead of blaming Him or becoming angry. Once we make the decision to turn to God no matter what, our load becomes lighter (p. 102)."
"How can we expect answers when we aren't turning to God? How can He answer us when we don't speak to Him? When we don't ask Him? When we don't read His words and counsel in the scriptures? How can we expect anyone to help us when we aren't doing anything to receive that help (p. 103)?"
"I had never said a prayer in my life.... I had no idea how to pray, and it was incredibly awkward for me.... But the more I did it, the more comfortable it became. And I learned firsthand that every single prayer is heard when it's done with real intent. It was through my awkward prayers that I was able to know and feel that there really is a God. I could see solutions, opportunities, and blessings in my everyday life that showed me that not only is He there, but that He cares (p. 105)."
"I also learned, repeatedly, that specific prayers receive specific answers. Regardless of how you feel--confused, hurt, mad, alone--tell Him everything. Honest prayers are crucial. They're crucial for conversation. They're crucial for receiving answers. They're crucial for receiving comfort and strength. They're crucial to build up a real and lasting relationship with God that will help you through absolutely anything life brings your way.... A trick I've learned, is asking God for help with my prayers (p. 106)."
"It is important to note that Satan most often gets to us by our thoughts. He is the one that tells us that we can't pray, that we are not worthy to talk to God, or that God is not listening. He is the one that tells us we don't have time to read, or that Church is too long or not important. Do not listen. Do not let Satan win (p. 108)."
"I can't count how many times I've finished the Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants. And I don't say that to brag, I write that because I seriously rely on them so much. Those books are my life (p. 109)."
"Read everyday.... It's okay to read more than once a day.... Keep a Book of Mormon everywhere (p. 111)."
"My second time back was much different. This time I didn't worry about fitting in or what people might be thinking about me. I went for answers. I went to test promises that were made to me, not just by the elders, but by God.... And because I went for me, I was focused and I was filled with the Spirit. And because I went with faith that those promises would be fulfilled, they were (p. 112)."
"We can become who we were meant to be all along--the person God wants you to be. And isn't that the greatest gift to be given (p. 113)?"
"Sometimes He doesn't give us all the answers and allows us to walk blindfolded, holding His hand. But the blessings He gives us in return are always greater than what we knew was even available to us (p. 117)."
"The gospel is not our last option; it is our only option. It's how and why we're here. Giving up is not an option, and it never can be.... the gospel is real. He is real. His promises are real. And this happiness is real. And our forever depends upon how we choose to act today (Al Carraway, p. 119)."
This book really helped me to open up my eyes and to view difficult situations in a new and different perspective. The book was compiled of different difficult situations that each of the “authors” have gone through in their lives and how they made the best out of a bad situation. Every hard situation that they, the authors, went through was eventually made easier through the love and grace of God.
This book gives you hope and faith for the tough times of your life. The connection to God and Jesus Christ was a huge strength of the book because it showed that the Father should be in the center of all of our lives. The main point that I got from the book that has already helped me immensely in my life is that when you turn to God in your toughest times, he will always be with you. My favorite chapter from the book was "Come what May" about Chad Hymas and the struggle he went through in his life. This, in my opinion, was one of the strongest chapters because it taught me this lesson about my life, “It is not about what life brings to me, but rather what I bring to life” (84). I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in reading this book to do so now, rather than waiting until you are in the midst of your hard trials, and you will not regret it.
I love the unique perspectives of these amazing LDS speakers! They look at trials in a unique way and each teach an important lesson of relying on the Lord during trials and eventually receiving the promised blessings of the Lord.