What do you think?
Rate this book
Beauty for Ashes: Learning from Christ How to Endure Life's Greatest Pains, Sufferings, and Sorrows
Of the many tests that make up mortality, how we respond to the ones that occur in our human interactions and relationships will largely determine our happiness in the life to come. Daily oppositions are unavoidable and can be a painful test of our determination to rise above hurt or offense. But learning to love our enemies—to do good to those who hate us or despitefully use us—is easier said than done. It takes a change of heart and a reliance on the Savior’s perfect example of love and forgiveness. With incredible insight and warmth, author Scott Livingston guides readers down the path of healing as they learn to transform the “ashes” of negative interactions into something beautiful. Replete with scriptural references, prophetic counsel, and poignant stories, Beauty for Ashes provides readers with incomparable guidance through the journey of Christlike forgiveness.
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
5 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 19, 2021
My favorite thing about this book is that my Grandma gave it to me for Valentine's Day :')
November 27, 2015
A good book to read with great messages about how to be more like the Savior especially when experiencing everyday challenges.
Read
April 8, 2020I've started buying all the books that after I listen to I have a bunch of notes on, this is one of those books.
The word ASHES, for the purposes of this book, refers to the vast variety of obstacles and opposition we face in our day-to-day lives. These may be things as varied as a young child resisting our attempted correction...
Simply put, says Livingston, any situation or interaction that requires us to choose the Christ like response could be labeled a "beauty for ashes" moment. Life seems almost overflowing with such "opportunities." We can respond to these circumstances with either "beauty" or "ashes." The Savior has shown and is still showing us the way.
In Matthew's account of the fateful night in the garden, we're told that the Savior, "began to be sorrowful and very heavy" (Matthew 26:37). He then told His three closest followers to "tarry ye here, and watch with me."
Poignantly, upon returning to the three He had asked to watch and to pray for Him, He instead "findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, Watch, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (v. 40). This same scene was repeated twice. Each time He returned, no doubt hoping for comfort, for companionship, or even for mere acknowledgment of what He was suffering, but He instead found His three loyal but weary Apostles sleeping, "for their eyes were heavy."
In the Joseph Smith account a mere nine words are inserted, that tenderly amplify the significance of this experience. "Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. And after they ad slept he said unto them, Rise, let us be going; behold, he is at hand that doth betray me." Those nine words, " and after they had slept he said unto them," provide an important insight into both the price and the power of a Chrilike life.
Who need the brief respite of sleep more than He? And yet, paradoxically, it was He that sat watching over Peter, Jame sand John as they slept. But his seemingly minor addition of those nine words into the story of that singular event teaches much about giving beauty for ashes.
--We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. Bt we don't experience pain in genralities. We experience it individually. (Cheiko Okazaki, LIGHTEN UP!)
--The concept of grace has a central role in the process of our becoming beauty for ashes in all of our personal exchanges. The grace of God is, as ashes in all of our personal exchanges. The grace of God is, as the Bible Dictionary teaches, an "enabling power," a power that enables "individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and the repentance of their sins, [to] receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means" LDS Bible Dictionary, 669
--You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out, "no one understands. no one know." No human being, perhaps, knows. but the son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did. And because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us his arm of mercy in so many phases of our life. (Bednar 2001)
--1 Nephi 11:16, 26-17 talks about the unusual term CONDESCENSION. The term was chosen to convey precisely the original meaning given by its Latin roots, CON plus DESCENDERE, that is
"to descend with": Christ, as representing "the condescension of God," is the descending of God WITH US into all that we experience, including our sin and estrangement, and this is the heart of Christ's mission, the source of his unique power to achieve AT ONE MENT. (Shakespeare and the At One Ment of Jesus Christ 45-46)
--An analogy: In competitive bicycling, rider will sometimes attempt to "draft" or ride as closely as possible behind another rider, which significantly reduces the wind resistance caused when they race at very high speeds. This same idea can be likened to our efforts to become beauty for ashes.
As we draw closer to the Savior, He provides shelter from the turbulence of the world and leads us along the pathway of discipleship toward the finish line. He has experienced the course we're on from beginning to end. equally important, as we stay close to Him throughout the race we actually will become more and more like Him. We'll see as He sees, think as He things, and choose s He would choose.
--Newspaper columnist Sydney Harris shared the following experience he had with a Quaker friend in Chicago as they were buy a newspaper at a local newsstand:
The Quaker bout a paper, then thanked the vendor politely. The vendor didn't so much as acknowledge his thanks.
"Sullen fellow, isn't he? Harris remarked.
"I've been buying my papers from him for years, and he never responds," the Quaker quietly replied.
"Why, then, do you continue to be polite to him?" Harris asked.
The Quaker's answer was revealing. "why should I let him determine how I act?"
--Far too often I am guilty of allowing the way I am treated by others determine how I treat them. Do you sometimes allow how you were treated by someone to influence how you feel about that person? Do you get stuck in giving ashes for ashes, even when your heart yearns to do otherwise?
--In THE SAVIOR'S DESCRIPTION OF the world during the thousand year Millennium, He teaches us that this remarkable time will include the end of enmity. What is enmity? The state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
Satan and his followers have been "actively hostile" against the Savior and His followers. The war they are waging is intended to encourage us to mimic their hostility.
--In President Ezra Taft Benson's BEWARE OF PRIDE, he included enmity as a central component of this universal sin:
Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core is still missing.
The central feature of pride is enmity--enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. enmity means "hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition." It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us."
--Alma 24:25 When the Lamanites realized that their violence was not being met with violence but rather with abject humility..."and it came to pass that (the Lamanites) threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, FOR THEY WERE STUNG FOR THE MURDERS WHICH THEY HAD COMMITTED; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them."
Clearly this story was included in the pages of the Book of Mormon as a lesson to latter-day readers. When we are committed to being "even as He is," regardless of what such commitment might cost us, the power of that act cannot be restained from influencing those around us, even those who might have once been called our "enemies." As the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies reminds us, laying down our "weapons of war," even to the extent of burying them deep in the earth, does not mean that others will instantly cease their hostilities against us.
--From Helaman 5:12: "And now , my sons, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless we, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
They had indeed felt the devil's "Mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind." They had personally experience "his mighty storm" as they cease to call upon God for deliverance, instead relying on "the arm of flesh" to help them through the torrent. Prayer is the rudder used by the Lord to help us successfully navigate our various relationship challenges.
Elder Packer emphasized the importance of nurturing our personal relationship with God in a talk he gave at BYU, he spoke of how many bishops in the Church kept so-called "emotional welfare" forms on their desk to hand out to members coming to them in distress...
"I have been concerned that we may be on the verge of doing to ourselves emotionally (and therefore spiritually) what we have been working so hard for generations to avoid materially. If we lose our emotional and spiritual self-reliance, we can be weakened quite as much, perhaps even more, than when we become dependent materially. On the one hand, we counsel bishops to avoid abuses in the Church welfare program. On the other hand, we seem to dole out counsel and advice without the slightest thought that the member should solve the problem himself or turn to his family...If we are not careful, we can lose power of individual revelation.
He went on to suggest a cure for such spiritual dependence:
"When you have a problem, work it out in your own mind first. Ponder on it and analyze it and meditate on it. Pray about it. i've come to learn that major decisions can't be forced. You must look ahead and have vision. What was it the prophet said in the Old Testament? "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18)...
I have learned that the best time to wrestle with major problems is early in the morning. Your mind is fresh and alert. The backboard of your mind has been erased by a good night's rest. The accumulated distractions of the day are not in your way. your body has been rested also. That's the time to think something through very carefully and to receive personal revelation..."
--As we read about the life of the Savior; we are continually reminded that His every choice, every thought, and every action were other-centered. nowhere is this more true than was shown in the last week of His life. During the Last Supper, two scenes in particular personify the Savior's ever-constant kindness and concern for others--even those who would do Him harm. The Savior washing the feet of His disciples..He included Judas in this sacred ordinance is almost beyond comprehension. The Savior knew fully concerning His Apostle's betrayal. And yet He tried--even up to the moment when Judas left the presence of the Light of the World to commit the darkest of deeds--to provide a way for this man whom He loved to choose another way.
--We don't need to wait until our life's circumstances are "just right" before we extend our hand to touch His healing robes.
--Loving and doing good to our enemies is possible only if our hearts are changed.
Jesus Christ changes hearts. It is what He died for. And it is what He lives for today. Invite Him into your heart; invite Him to heal all of your heartaches.
The word ASHES, for the purposes of this book, refers to the vast variety of obstacles and opposition we face in our day-to-day lives. These may be things as varied as a young child resisting our attempted correction...
Simply put, says Livingston, any situation or interaction that requires us to choose the Christ like response could be labeled a "beauty for ashes" moment. Life seems almost overflowing with such "opportunities." We can respond to these circumstances with either "beauty" or "ashes." The Savior has shown and is still showing us the way.
In Matthew's account of the fateful night in the garden, we're told that the Savior, "began to be sorrowful and very heavy" (Matthew 26:37). He then told His three closest followers to "tarry ye here, and watch with me."
Poignantly, upon returning to the three He had asked to watch and to pray for Him, He instead "findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, Watch, could ye not watch with me one hour?" (v. 40). This same scene was repeated twice. Each time He returned, no doubt hoping for comfort, for companionship, or even for mere acknowledgment of what He was suffering, but He instead found His three loyal but weary Apostles sleeping, "for their eyes were heavy."
In the Joseph Smith account a mere nine words are inserted, that tenderly amplify the significance of this experience. "Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. And after they ad slept he said unto them, Rise, let us be going; behold, he is at hand that doth betray me." Those nine words, " and after they had slept he said unto them," provide an important insight into both the price and the power of a Chrilike life.
Who need the brief respite of sleep more than He? And yet, paradoxically, it was He that sat watching over Peter, Jame sand John as they slept. But his seemingly minor addition of those nine words into the story of that singular event teaches much about giving beauty for ashes.
--We talk in great generalities about the sins of all humankind, about the suffering of the entire human family. Bt we don't experience pain in genralities. We experience it individually. (Cheiko Okazaki, LIGHTEN UP!)
--The concept of grace has a central role in the process of our becoming beauty for ashes in all of our personal exchanges. The grace of God is, as ashes in all of our personal exchanges. The grace of God is, as the Bible Dictionary teaches, an "enabling power," a power that enables "individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and the repentance of their sins, [to] receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means" LDS Bible Dictionary, 669
--You and I in a moment of weakness may cry out, "no one understands. no one know." No human being, perhaps, knows. but the son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He felt and bore our burdens before we ever did. And because He paid the ultimate price and bore that burden, He has perfect empathy and can extend to us his arm of mercy in so many phases of our life. (Bednar 2001)
--1 Nephi 11:16, 26-17 talks about the unusual term CONDESCENSION. The term was chosen to convey precisely the original meaning given by its Latin roots, CON plus DESCENDERE, that is
"to descend with": Christ, as representing "the condescension of God," is the descending of God WITH US into all that we experience, including our sin and estrangement, and this is the heart of Christ's mission, the source of his unique power to achieve AT ONE MENT. (Shakespeare and the At One Ment of Jesus Christ 45-46)
--An analogy: In competitive bicycling, rider will sometimes attempt to "draft" or ride as closely as possible behind another rider, which significantly reduces the wind resistance caused when they race at very high speeds. This same idea can be likened to our efforts to become beauty for ashes.
As we draw closer to the Savior, He provides shelter from the turbulence of the world and leads us along the pathway of discipleship toward the finish line. He has experienced the course we're on from beginning to end. equally important, as we stay close to Him throughout the race we actually will become more and more like Him. We'll see as He sees, think as He things, and choose s He would choose.
--Newspaper columnist Sydney Harris shared the following experience he had with a Quaker friend in Chicago as they were buy a newspaper at a local newsstand:
The Quaker bout a paper, then thanked the vendor politely. The vendor didn't so much as acknowledge his thanks.
"Sullen fellow, isn't he? Harris remarked.
"I've been buying my papers from him for years, and he never responds," the Quaker quietly replied.
"Why, then, do you continue to be polite to him?" Harris asked.
The Quaker's answer was revealing. "why should I let him determine how I act?"
--Far too often I am guilty of allowing the way I am treated by others determine how I treat them. Do you sometimes allow how you were treated by someone to influence how you feel about that person? Do you get stuck in giving ashes for ashes, even when your heart yearns to do otherwise?
--In THE SAVIOR'S DESCRIPTION OF the world during the thousand year Millennium, He teaches us that this remarkable time will include the end of enmity. What is enmity? The state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.
Satan and his followers have been "actively hostile" against the Savior and His followers. The war they are waging is intended to encourage us to mimic their hostility.
--In President Ezra Taft Benson's BEWARE OF PRIDE, he included enmity as a central component of this universal sin:
Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core is still missing.
The central feature of pride is enmity--enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. enmity means "hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition." It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us."
--Alma 24:25 When the Lamanites realized that their violence was not being met with violence but rather with abject humility..."and it came to pass that (the Lamanites) threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, FOR THEY WERE STUNG FOR THE MURDERS WHICH THEY HAD COMMITTED; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them."
Clearly this story was included in the pages of the Book of Mormon as a lesson to latter-day readers. When we are committed to being "even as He is," regardless of what such commitment might cost us, the power of that act cannot be restained from influencing those around us, even those who might have once been called our "enemies." As the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies reminds us, laying down our "weapons of war," even to the extent of burying them deep in the earth, does not mean that others will instantly cease their hostilities against us.
--From Helaman 5:12: "And now , my sons, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless we, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
They had indeed felt the devil's "Mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirlwind." They had personally experience "his mighty storm" as they cease to call upon God for deliverance, instead relying on "the arm of flesh" to help them through the torrent. Prayer is the rudder used by the Lord to help us successfully navigate our various relationship challenges.
Elder Packer emphasized the importance of nurturing our personal relationship with God in a talk he gave at BYU, he spoke of how many bishops in the Church kept so-called "emotional welfare" forms on their desk to hand out to members coming to them in distress...
"I have been concerned that we may be on the verge of doing to ourselves emotionally (and therefore spiritually) what we have been working so hard for generations to avoid materially. If we lose our emotional and spiritual self-reliance, we can be weakened quite as much, perhaps even more, than when we become dependent materially. On the one hand, we counsel bishops to avoid abuses in the Church welfare program. On the other hand, we seem to dole out counsel and advice without the slightest thought that the member should solve the problem himself or turn to his family...If we are not careful, we can lose power of individual revelation.
He went on to suggest a cure for such spiritual dependence:
"When you have a problem, work it out in your own mind first. Ponder on it and analyze it and meditate on it. Pray about it. i've come to learn that major decisions can't be forced. You must look ahead and have vision. What was it the prophet said in the Old Testament? "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18)...
I have learned that the best time to wrestle with major problems is early in the morning. Your mind is fresh and alert. The backboard of your mind has been erased by a good night's rest. The accumulated distractions of the day are not in your way. your body has been rested also. That's the time to think something through very carefully and to receive personal revelation..."
--As we read about the life of the Savior; we are continually reminded that His every choice, every thought, and every action were other-centered. nowhere is this more true than was shown in the last week of His life. During the Last Supper, two scenes in particular personify the Savior's ever-constant kindness and concern for others--even those who would do Him harm. The Savior washing the feet of His disciples..He included Judas in this sacred ordinance is almost beyond comprehension. The Savior knew fully concerning His Apostle's betrayal. And yet He tried--even up to the moment when Judas left the presence of the Light of the World to commit the darkest of deeds--to provide a way for this man whom He loved to choose another way.
--We don't need to wait until our life's circumstances are "just right" before we extend our hand to touch His healing robes.
--Loving and doing good to our enemies is possible only if our hearts are changed.
Jesus Christ changes hearts. It is what He died for. And it is what He lives for today. Invite Him into your heart; invite Him to heal all of your heartaches.
November 6, 2015
This book was so inspiring and uplifting and gave so much hope. Very well written.
January 13, 2016
I want to learn to get beauty from ashes!
April 2, 2016
One of the best books on dealing with life's hardships I have ever read.
July 16, 2019
It was a good read. A lot of C. Terry Warner in this book, who I LOVE! C. Terry Warner's books all discuss the principles of the Atonement and forgiveness the way Christ would want it done. I feel Beauty for Ashes regurgitates this information in a way that is more easily read than Bonds That Make Us Free, but I feel BTMUF goes way more in depth. Beauty for Ashes also has differnet applications it can be used for outside of forgiveness and reconciling strained relationships.
Overall, a good read with great principles.
Overall, a good read with great principles.
October 12, 2023
The withholding of love is the negation of the spirit of Christ. The proof that we never knew Him.
Negation = denial of
Forgive, and rid ourselves of the burden
Choose to not take offense
Even if/when clearly justified in doing so.
“The true measure of greatness is how Christlike we are.” —The way, the truth, the life
Negation = denial of
Forgive, and rid ourselves of the burden
Choose to not take offense
Even if/when clearly justified in doing so.
“The true measure of greatness is how Christlike we are.” —The way, the truth, the life
February 3, 2018
In this non fiction book the author helps us to understand how following the example of the Savior we can learn to offer something beautiful to the "ashes" or negative things that happen to all of us. It is a very inspiring book.
May 13, 2019
This is one I didn't think I needed because I don't think of my self as having particularly difficult trials but it wasn't about how to survive. It was about how to become the beauty for ashes in all circumstances.
April 21, 2016
"To give...beauty for ashes. Isn't that the great test of our individual discipleship? Not only to give something beautiful when offered "ashes," but ultimately to become the Christlike response to the harsh, hurtful, and unfair things that are so much a part of mortal life. As the prophet Mormon put it in his exhortation to develop charity, we must acquire the pure love of Christ so 'that when [the Savior] shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is' (Moroni 7:48,; emphasis added)."
This book is mainly about the power of forgiveness to heal us and others. It's absolutely beautiful and inspiring. It takes the simple idea of creating beauty out of ashes, and helps us understand how to truly heal from hurts, trials and other unexplained hardships of life. Everyone should read this. Masterfully done.
This book is mainly about the power of forgiveness to heal us and others. It's absolutely beautiful and inspiring. It takes the simple idea of creating beauty out of ashes, and helps us understand how to truly heal from hurts, trials and other unexplained hardships of life. Everyone should read this. Masterfully done.
March 28, 2016
This is quality LDS non-fiction: It is well-researched with good extrapolation of insights, and it is doctrinally on point. It was an easy read and helped me understand the Atonement of Jesus Christ in new ways--specifically how to better apply Christ's power in my relationships and in overcoming ongoing weaknesses such as anger or frustration with others. The examples are powerful and real, not forced or overly sentimental. While the principles seem to be pointed toward great offenses and deep suffering, I found the ideas could easily adapt to any level of personal struggle with overcoming negative feelings. I recommend it as an excellent piece in one's study of the Atonement. My copy is marked up and annotated, and I anticipate returning to it for ongoing reminders and insight.
January 16, 2017
I really needed this book. I'm glad I have it on CD. I'm sure I will listen to this again.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews