The Founder of Our Peace: Christ-Centered Patterns for Easing Worry, Stress, and Fear

by John Hilton III

Over the past few years, Google searches for "anxiety" have increased by 50% and news headlines state that worry, stress, and depression are on the rise. Have you noticed this increase in your life or the lives of those you love? These challenges may be spreading, but they are not new. The scriptures speak of those who were "depressed," "greatly afraid," "worried," and experiencing "great anxiety." The scriptures also tell us that the solution to these struggles is found in Jesus Christ, "the founder of peace" (Mosiah 15:18). Christ wants us to feel peace, hope, and even joy and He alone is the source of true and everlasting peace. Through scriptural insights, personal experiences, modern psychological research, and illustrations, The Founder of Our Peace offers Christ-centered patterns to help us combat these challenges and invite greater peace into our lives today. New understandings of powerful scriptural phrases and stories will deepen your hope in the Savior. You will find strength in Jesus Christ to help you and those you love walk the path of peace.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Lds, Self Help, Church, Christian

192 pages, Hardcover

Published March 24, 2020

Reviews

[Mandi Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very much needed book at a time like this, but I think it’s also one I will go back to often because there are so many good things in it.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook and I am tempted to Go read it too. This is excellent! It is full of inspiring stories and experiences, as well as practical solutions to change our thinking and perspective. We are all looking for peace and he covers lots of ways of finding it! A few stand outs for me:
“The grass is not greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it.”
Ways to simplify: eliminate, delegate or redesign.
Seeing the difference between urgent or important!
“Righteousness is necessary for peace, but it does not guarantee it.”
Is there something else I should be doing? Or is it time for me to stand still (stop carrying the burden of action)?
FENCE LAWS (one of my absolute favorites)!
These just name a few. I highly recommend this one!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book that sat on my shelf for months before I finally decided to commit to finishing it. It has tremendous information backed by scriptures and experiences that can truly help someone find more inner peace. Will I do what the book says. Probably not. Did I learn a lot? Yes. There is just so much that it almost felt overwhelming. But I do recommend it if this is something you want more of.

[Travis Standley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book and it’s ideas timely and it brought me practical advice and some reminders that I needed amid my current mindset - which has been more negative than I have been in the past. The practical steps against worry are simple yet effective. I loved the chapter of fence laws as we always needs to examine why we do what we do and what the Lord really intends. The chapters on fear and trust and obtaining beauty for ashes reminded me that life is a mixed bag of hard times with good interlaced if we choose to see it. Christ is the Great Compensator and all will be joyful and seen in the end. I recommend this book.

[Jamille Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book to get ready for Easter.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very meaningful read for me. Five stars for the insightful, inspiring, well-organized, and sensible information about dealing with worry, stress and fear in faith-filled ways.


Quotes and Ideas I want to remember:
Satan has numerous weapons in his arsenal, including busyness, comparison, contention, cultural pressures, daily difficulties, despair, discouragement, distraction, doubt, fear, regret, sin, unmet expectations, and worry. I picture these as “fiery darts of the adversary” intended to attack our peace. (1 Nephi 15:24)

“Ye” (you and me—nobody can do it for us), “must” (it’s not an option), “build” (this is not a passive activity) a foundation on Christ.

Because Jesus Christ is the founder of peace, the most significant thing we can do to find more peace in our lives is to deepen our relationship with him. “God’s Only Begotten Son has power to soothe our aching souls.” - Jean B. Bingham

When we don’t know how everything is going to turn out, we can trust that Christ does know—so we can be okay with not knowing. He can assist us in solving our problems, or, if that is not his will, he can help us to drink the bitter cup with the same grace he did.

Depending on our situation, we may relate with different aspects of the Savior’s character. We might desire to connect with a Savior who has suffered, knowing that he can deeply empathize with our pain. We might cry out to a loving, forgiving Savior, confident that he will respond with mercy. We might yearn for a Savior who is strong, one who can control every situation and strengthen us to move forward.

His love and compassion for each of us is deep and real. As we come to better understand the human, healing, and divine characteristics of Christ, our peace will deepen. Because of Him, nothing can separate us from God’s love. He is the founder of our peace.

Over and over comes the message: do not worry. Common sense suggests that Christ is not teaching we should be irresponsible in our preparations for the future. But instead of worrying, we can cultivate its antidote: hope. Worry looks into the future, afraid of all the things that might or might not happen. Hope likewise looks ahead, but with confidence that things will work out through Jesus Christ.

. . . When we understand the things we do worry about are not as likely to happen as we think they are, we are in a much better position to confront them. Seeing worries as they really are shrinks their perceived severity and makes them easier to manage.

… We generally (1) overestimate how likely it is that the think we are worried about will happen, (2) overestimate how devastated we will be by future negative events, and (3) underestimate our ability to bounce back should the thing we are worried about actually occur. All these skewed estimations increase our worry.

“For every worry under the sun,
There is a remedy or there is none;
If there be one, hurry and find it,
If there be none, never mind it.”
(Elder LeGrand Richards said this poem was the secret to his long life.)

While owning a home, having children who make moral choices, good health and many other goals are worthy desires we can strive for, we should work to convert our worries about these things into a hope that in a coming day “God shall wipe away all tears . . . ; there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Revelation 21:4). The ultimate antidote to worry is a hope centered in Jesus Christ.

Worry is a distortion that obscures our ability to see things as they really are; hope in Christ is a light that dispels this darkness.

Comparison looks at what is or isn’t and wishes that it were something else. Peace through perspective looks at what is or isn’t and is grateful for both what is and what is not.

Even if a major aspect of life seems to have gone seriously off course, God has blessed us immensely in other ways. Recognizing these blessings is a key to peace.

Savor the moment. We can savor a special time by reflecting on how long we’ve waited to have such a moment and being fully present by blocking out other distractions. We can focus on the sounds, smells, sights, tastes, and feelings that we are experiencing. We can pause to notice small details such as the hue of the sunset or the color of the changing leaves. We can enhance our savoring of the moment by expressing to the people we are with how happy we are to be in this moment with them.

“Obedience to [the two great commandments] provides a way to experience more peace and joy.” - M. Russell Ballard

One of the easiest ways to destroy our peace, and potentially the peace of others, is to violate Christ’s commandment to “judge not.”

Fence laws- using fence laws to make judgments of others takes mental energy we could expend in pursuing peace. … Peace also increases when we choose not to judge. Peace also increases when we choose not to take offense, even if we believe others might be judging us.

“Little things don’t bother us as much [when] we see them for what they really are—opportunities to use our agency to turn to our Heavenly Father and to become as He is.” - Joy D. Jones

“It mattereth not; I am not angry.” (Alma 61:9)

“When you know your life is being directed by God, regardless of the challenges and disappointments that may and will come, you will feel joy and peace.” - President Russell M. Nelson

“Every one of us has been designed with a divine role and mission in mind. . . . If our desires and works are directed toward what our heavenly parents have intended us to be, we will come to feel our part in their plan . . . And nothing will give us more holy peace.” - Patricia T. Holland

“Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father . . . About your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with the actions you are prompted to take.” - President Russell M. Nelson

The Savior showed us an important pattern of taking time to be alone and be still (Mark 1:35). Being still allows us to be more easily touched by the Holy Ghost and fills our hearts with a deep sense of peace. Unfortunately, these moments are increasingly rare in the modern world. An overabundance of possessions, activities, and digital distractions often interferes with our opportunities for stillness.

It’s as though the stuff we used to own was a weight, constantly dragging us down. Letting it go has lightened our load and increased our peace. The same principle is true for cutting back on activities.

When our goal is increased peace, we often need decreased busyness. Although sometimes life forces busyness upon us (urgent situations, health emergencies, and so forth), busyness is often a choice.

The way to maximize peace is to focus on what is “important but not urgent.” We often overlook these activities because they do not feel as pressing as other matters, but they are crucial to our long term peace and success. We need to take time to be still, to achieve our key goals, to attend the temple, or to enjoy a beautiful sunset. We need time for holding hands and lovingly communicating with a spouse, reading to children, and exercising. These same principles apply to our callings—taking time to ponder what God would have us do in our callings is not urgent, but it is important. Having meaningful conversations with those we serve, praying for others—these are important activities that we need to prioritize.

“Take an inventory of how you spend your time and where you devote your energy. That will tell you where your heart is.” - President Russell M. Nelson

“If God speaks in a still, small voice, you and I need to draw close to hear Him.” - Michelle D. Craig

Instead of running at a frenetic and frantic pace, we can “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness. . . . For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:2-3)

Most of us will not have multitudes surround us, asking for our service; however, all of us will encounter unplanned opportunities to reach out to individuals. Sometimes, the greatest peace of conscience comes as we actively seek out opportunities to be the answer to another person’s prayer.

“When you find yourselves a little gloomy, look around you and find somebody that is in a worse plight than yourself; go to him and find out what the trouble is, then try to remove it with the wisdom which the Lord bestows upon you; and the first thing you know, your gloom is gone.” - Lorenzo Snow

“In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help.” - M. Russell Ballard

Trust Matrix
Trust in Self — Trust in God
Do Nothing — Cheerfully do all things in my power

Some of us need to stress less and trust more. Rather than being anxious about the final .5 percent that we can do to get from 99.5 to 100 percent of our best efforts, we may be better off spending more time on our knees expressing trust in the Lord. . . . Shifting from the hyperactivity and anxiety associated with trusting in self to standing still and trusting in God is a change that brings tangible tranquility.

We can balance the tension between cheerfully doing all things that lie in our power and standing still by counseling with the Lord and asking him whether we have done all that we can or if there is more he would have us do. The Holy Ghost will help us discerner what we should do in each of our individual circumstances. If we don’t receive or recognize an answer, we move forward, trusting God will guide our steps.

God’s methods for helping us get to where we need to be may be different from those we would choose on our own. His ways are higher than ours (see Isaiah 55:8-9). We can retain our confidence that as we “search diligently, pray always, and be believing, . . . All things shall work together for [our] good” (Doctrine and Covenants 90:24).

“By faith . . . “ list

As we shift our focus from mortal to eternal expectations, we can look forward with an eye of faith to future joys, knowing that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

At times, we may feel bound, fallen, and powerless to arise. But like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, we can stand up and walk with confidence that God will help us. “When thou walked through the fire, thou shalt not be burned” (Isaiah 43:2).

Today’s bitter cup may become tomorrow’s healing balm. Beauty can come from the ashes of what appear to be unanswered prayers or unanticipated hardship.

For those of us alive today, our hearts are turned to our fathers (our ancestors), and we search after them to perform work for them that they cannot do for themselves. . . . Is it therefore hard to believe the hearts of our fathers (our ancestors) are turned toward us, and they search out after us to perform work we cannot do for ourselves? . . .
Earnestly praying to Heavenly Father for their assistance is a powerful practice that brings peace.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved so many things about this book. One of the top things I loved was the summary at the end of each chapter. The following are some of the ideas that I hope I remember for a long time:

Chapter 3 PEACE THROUGH PERSPECTIVE
Noted psychologist Shawn Achor says that it takes two minutes each day for 21 days to rewire your brain, to work more optimistically and successfully. The secret is to write down three things you are grateful for each day. Three new things each day for 21 days. If you do this, Achor says, your brain begins to retain a pattern of scanning the world, not for the negative, but for the positive first.

Chapter 7 BE STILL
Some tasks that we are doing are not necessary. Need to look at our tasks for the week and see what we could eliminate, delegate or redesign to help feel peace to help focus on what matters most. Steven R. Covey talks about the difference in tasks that are urgent vs important. Things that are important are necessary to accomplish our divinely inspired goals.
The things that are in the important AND urgent quadrant need to be done immediately. But if we find ourselves living in this quadrant then we are always putting out fires, which leads to burn out and stress. If we only do things that are urgent, but not important we will find ourselves busy but at the end of the day we will not achieve the peace that comes from doing the important missions God has for us to do. The way to maximize peace is to focus on what is important but not urgent. We often overlook these activities because they don't feel as pressing as other matters, but they are crucial to our overall peace and success.
Track a week of your time to see where you spend your 168 hours. Use categories and identify where you spend your time. Get an app for this. It will help you know better area where you should focus more time and areas where you can eliminate time spent.

Chapter 8 PEACE OF CONSCIENCE
In the bible story after Christ had taught the people he told his apostles to get on a boat and cross the sea. They did this but the "wind was contrary". They had done what they were asked to do, but with bad results. This may happen to us as well where we are doing what we believe is right but the results are not what we had hoped, we lack peace. There is hope though. When we are obedient, and lack peace, as was the case with the Apostles, Christ was watching over them and came to them, maybe He won't come immediately, but He will come. Feelings of peace of mind may be allusive, but peace of conscience we can have through living a righteous life.

Chapter 9 TRUSTING IN THE LORD
Once we have cheerfully done all things that lie in our power it is time to stand still and wait for God's arm to be revealed. When we continue to focus, after all we can do, on still more, what can be done, or have I don't enough, we are not putting our trust in God. Some of us need to stress less and trust more.
Pray for deliverance. We can both stand till and put our trust in God by praying for deliverance. See how closely related deliver and trust are. "As much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much you shall be delivered out of your trials and troubles and afflictions." The more we trust the more likely it is that God will deliver us.

Chapter 11 IF ONLY DEALING WITH REGRET
It's certainly possible that with respect to one specific choice you could have received a better outcome. But it's unrealistic to assume that your going to make regretful free decisions. Even Joseph Smith had serious regrets. Like when he ended up giving Martin Harris the 116 pages of the manuscript. He thought all was lost. However God knew that this would happen. Put in the context of Joseph's entire life the lost 116 pages were not that big of a deal. All of us do things we regret. This one decision did not define the rest of his life. After he lost the pages Jesus Christ said to Joseph, "thou are't still chosen and are't again called to the work." He encouraged him to continue to be faithful and press forward.

CONCLUSION
On resurrection Sunday two people walking on the road to Emmaus discussing their recent experiences. A stranger came to them and asked what they were talking about. The two men talked about Christ and what he had done and then had been crucified. They then said, "we had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel." They HAD HOPED. In the very moment when they were losing hope, Christ, the stranger, was there to strengthen them, even thought they didn't realize it. The same principle is true for us as well. The Savior wants us to have peace. He has said, " I will never leave thee." He is the founder of your peace.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen once to this book then had to buy a hard copy to mark it up as I read. I loved this book. There were over 40 practical strategies to help one find peace plus numerous examples from the scriptures. I am so greatful for the insight this book has given me.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle book about finding peace through following Jesus Christ.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended! This book was excellent and provides loads of super applicable principles to overcome the anxieties and stresses that plague us in the modern world. A thoughtful and well-informed approach with lots of great scriptural examples alongside contemporary experiences.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This book on finding peace is both insightful and applicable. Whether you deal with chronic anxiety or just want to feel more peace in a world full of distractions and turmoil, Hilton offers us “patterns of peace” to help us come unto Christ and receive of the peace that only He can give. I especially liked the chapters on being still, trusting in the Lord, and beauty instead of ashes. Lots of notes I want to hold onto below.

Chapter 1: Jesus the Founder of our Peace

-There is power in steadiness and repetition
-Christs “covenant of peace”
-Christs humanity brings understanding and divinity brings us strength
-Suffering, healing, and powerful savior
-He uses NRSV Bible
-When we make changes in our lives we typically go through 4 stages: unconsciously unable, consciously unable, consciously able, unconsciously able—eventually able to unconsciously able to find peace through conscious work

Chapter 2: From a World of Worry to Hope in Christ

-Empower by acting on things we can; give things outside our control to Christ
-Hope is centered in Christ … how do we get increase hope? The more me invite the spirit into our lives (prayer, scripture study, temple worship, service, meditate on the blessings from life and atonement of Jesus Christ) the greater will be our hope in Christ
-A poem that LeGrande Richards said was the secret to his long life – “For every worry under the sun, there is a remedy or there is none. If there be one, hurry and find it. If there be none, never mind it.”

Chapter 3: Peace through perspective

-We choose what we see…use your agency to see the good, see blessings, cultivate gratitude
-“You’re going to have a lot of things happen to you that are going to seem hard in the moment, but you’ll laugh about them 10 years later. Why wait 10 years? Laugh about them now. A good sense of humor can help us savor the moment.”
-Serve others to affect our perspective
-Research shows that it only takes two minutes each day to rewire your brain to work more optimistically and successfully: write down three things you’re grateful for at the end of each day for 21 days in a row and your brain will develop a pattern of scanning the world for the positive first

Chapter 4: My yoke is easy

-Researchers found that church members who excessively focus on strict conformity to church codes are less likely to experience God’s grace
-Be sure not to judge others based on your own personal “fence laws”
-Peace increases when we choose not to judge

Chapter 5: Blessed are the peacemakers

-1-It mattereth not and (Pahoran) 2-monitor/challenge our inner monologues (give benefit of the doubt)

Chapter 6: Understanding the Lord’s vision for you

-Take time to ask, ponder, record, and act on promptings

Chapter 7: Be still

-Distractions, busyness, and possessions can affect our peace
-Peace comes from slowing down and more focus on the things of real value (service and relationships)
-Get rid of excess possessions (one in one out rule, digitize, get rid of one bag at a time, gift experiences)
-Cut out activities - we wear busyness as a badge of honor; but research has indicated that busyness interferes with our relationship with God—we need space and stillness for the things of eternal import
-do less - what can be eliminated, delegated, or redesigned?
-Cut our not urgent/not important (digital distractions) to make time for
Not urgent/important - schedule a time to do these things to make sure they happen (time with God, family, planning for your future/mission)
-Nelson - take an inventory of how you spend your time and where you devote your energy—that will tell you where your heart is
-Decide what you will do (meditate) and what you won’t do (social media fasts)
-Value of time —what are we giving it away to? (Years of our life to social media?)
-Story of dad that scheduled an hour each day to just be available for his kids…talk, games, homework, piano, whatever
-Find stillness and ponder on your commute

Chapter 8: Peace of conscience

-Found through repentance and forgiveness through Christ’s atonement
-Must also extend this forgiveness to others (research shows physical health benefits as well)
-Ask God, what would thou have me do…or stop doing?
-Peace found through inspired ministering
-All of us will encounter unplanned opportunities to reach out to individuals as we actively seek out opportunities to be answers to others’ prayers
-Clayton Christensen speaking of a period where we felt unsettled - “I began to fast and pray that God would give me opportunities daily to bless and help people. As I acted upon the promptings I received, it was as if God spoke to me more frequently because He knew I was listening. This period in my life proved to be one of extraordinary spiritual growth. There is a calling far higher than that of Stake President, Bishop, or Relief Society president. It is to be a doer of good, a disciple of Christ, an intermediary through whom God answers others’ prayers.”

Chapter 9: Trusting in the Lord

-The trust matrix: Learning to both fully trust in God and cheerfully do all things in our power
-Where am I on the trust matrix with specific problems in my life?
-D&C 123:17 act within our capacity, then stand still, and pray to see God’s hand and deliverance
-Ask God, is there more I need to do, or is it time to stand still and watch

Chapter 10: Confidence in the midst of fear

-His ways are higher than ours and he can make all things for our good
-Gather and review messages of confidence (fear not, do not fear scripture)
-Record a list of your greatest hits of faith, the miracles you have seen in your life that you want to always remember and help you in the future to not cast away your confidence
-“By faith I saw my brother healed…, by faith I found my key, by faith ….was baptized, by faith my family was able to sell our home…,
-Hebrews 12:1-2 “encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses…”

Chapter 11: If only - Dealing with regret

-Maximizers bs satisfizers- choose to make satisfactory decisions (be happy with good enough) and not the best (maximizers enjoy positive events less and have more regret)
-Remember, Sometimes things that we regret can actually turn out for our good
-When you find yourself thinking about ways things could’ve been better, remind yourself of ways things could’ve been worse

Chapter 12: Finding peace when there is no happy ending

-Key to happiness is low expectations
-Understanding the hard lives of scripture heroes can bring us peace
-Think celestial

Chapter 13: Beauty instead of ashes

-God can bring about beautiful things from disappointment
-Holland – When faced with difficult circumstances, we should “pray without ceasing…ask for angels to help you…our ancestors our among those angels who are minister to us.” We can find great power in praying for our ancestors to help us.
-Turning the hearts of our fathers to the children
-God gives us strength to walk through the fire
-“Today’s bitter cup may become tomorrow healing balm. Beauty can come from the ashes of what appear to be unanswered prayers or unanticipated hardship.”

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard about this book listening to Mary Alice Hatch's podcast--"What Now". MA interviewed John Hilton III about this book, and particularly the chapter "My Yoke Is Easy" about fence laws in our culture. That was such an interesting chapter. I've listened to the podcast several more times and I have also listened to the entire audiobook version twice, as well as purchasing the kindle version and reading it.
We discussed this book for our Relief Society book group. It was great. Everyone really enjoyed the book and said they could have discussed it much longer.
I really can't think of a better book to recommend to someone during this time of our country polarized by a deadly pandemic. Add to that a steep economic downturn, and civil unrest in our major cities. And now toss in the elections, mask-wearing protests, and vitriol all over the news, social media and I'm really in need of some peace.
John Hilton III had so many good ideas for ways to find peace. All of them centered around the founder of our peace, Jesus Christ.
Lots of good stories. Lots of good scriptural accounts. Just lots and lots to mull over and talk about.
There are follow up questions and challenges at the end of each chapter. And a comprehensive list at the end of the book to help you implement these different practices into your life, one at a time.
Also, John Hilton III is going to be our special speaker for our Relief Society retreat this fall about Peace. That is huge--that a famous author would talk to us ladies in Boston! I was jumping up and down when he accepted my invitation to speak to us.

[Natalie Olsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love our current stage of life
Comparison is thief of joy
The grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s green where you water it.
Grateful for what is/was and what is/was not
Choosing perspective over comparison
Monitor inner monologues
We choose what we see. We choose whether we see the positive or the negative.

2 minutes to re-wire your brain:
3 new things you’re grateful for at the end of each day, for 21 days

Blessed are the peacemakers
Judging others does not lead to peace
“It mattereth not”
Peace increases when we choose not to judge
Don’t let our pride get in the way of peace
Teaching doctrine leads to peace
Extra/too many possessions and being too busy can lead to stress
“Get rid of the rubbish” to increase peace
Busyness is often a choice
Eliminate, delegate, redesign
Limit digital distractions
Ponder as you commute

“If God speaks in a still, small voice, you and I need to draw close to hear Him.” -Michelle D. Craig

What will I Not Do
Being more does not necessarily equate with doing more
Peace is the promised fruit of righteous living
Sin destroys our peace
Forgiving others brings peace

“Magical formula” - when we reach out to lift others, we find peace ourselves

Righteousness is necessary for peace, but it does not guarantee it

Trust in the Lord
Pray for deliverance
Stress less - trust more
More time on your knees
“Be not afraid” let the Lord take care of things
Believe in miracles, hope is never lost
Stay confident - Confidence in the midst of fear
Remember past miracles
Cheerfully do all things that lie in your power
Stand still & look to the Lord

A good chapter on dealing with regret, too.

[James Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about how Jesus Christ brings peace to our lives through the tough times we are facing. It is a fantastic book and probably a five-star book for many. I would certainly recommend this book to any who suffer from anxiety, depression or unease. I have always been blessed to be a low stress person who doesn’t worry about things beyond my control. If it is within my control, I do what I can to get the outcome I desire. I did love the section of the book referring to ‘fence laws.’ After reading several books from Terryl and Fiona Givens, I have started to see how much cultural trappings become part of our faith. John Hilton gives a layman explanation on how his happens. Too often we have a difficult time separating the dogma of the gospel from the true doctrine of the gospel. This book is a good one to help us look critically at dogma vs doctrine. Churches are run by men – men with faith and good intentions and possibly even callings from God but men nonetheless. Jesus came down to ease men’s burdens from the yoke of oppression the scribes and pharisees had placed on the people, probably with good intentions, but had removed the spirit or intent of the law the Lawgiver intended. This is a good gook for learning about easing burdens. I highly recommend it.

★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.

If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.

[Nita V · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a digital copy of this book thru a Facebook page. Early in April and the Pandemic, when I had a super hard day, I was in tears when I learned I had won this as the title alone was exactly what I needed!
There are tons of valuable tips in this book and it is a good blending between sharing scriptural knowledge, personal stories and suggestions for practical applications.
One of the pages I especially live has suggestions for a two minute daily mediation about Christ. As a single sister who was unable to have the sacrament for 8 weeks due to the Pandemic and can now have it only once a month, I found the inclusion of this Christ-centered meditation to be a beautiful addition and a gift at this time!
In truth, I read really fast. I do need to go back thru this book and better savor the teachings and treasures.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to me as a gift. It's not typically the kind of book I read. But because I love and respect the giver, I read it. This is book is written for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I suppose some other Christians may find some ideas in the book helpful, but it was mostly written by an LDS author addressing an LDS audience using LDS doctrine, anecdotes, etc.. Overall, there are some good ideas in the book, some of which may be helpful. But then there are some parts of the book that I find problematic. I won't go into all the details here. I would just say that I hope members of the Church who read this book don't get too dogmatic about the ideas in this book. Just keep in mind that this is one member of the Church sharing some of his ideas and experiences striving to find peace in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not one that I would call "deep". However, school starting, coupled with some other things going on in my life, have contributed to me experiencing some anxiety and stress recently. When I started it, I hadn't read the subtitle (on my phone, it just showed "The Founder of our Peace",) so when it started talking about how to overcome worry, stress and fear, it felt like a little Divine intervention for this to come up on my list at just the right time. John Hilton has some practical suggestions for dealing with troubling situations in a variety of circumstances in life.

I definitely recommend this as a read, rather than a listen. I listened to it, and it makes it hard to absorb the ideas -- or refer back to them later -- that he talks about. The next time I go to Deseret Book, I will be buying this book to have as a hard copy.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe the events of the past few months have made me more prone to worry, stress, and fear, but I loved this book and found it incredibly instructive. Hilton has done an excellent job of blending doctrinal principles from the gospel of Jesus Christ with practical ideas and exercises to help the reader implement the principles taught. He draws on experts in psychology, relationships, and productivity, includes scriptures and teachings of modern prophets, and adds insights from his own life and the lives of others. I have already tried some of his suggested patterns for peace and felt their effect in positive ways. I listened to it as an audiobook, but I plan to get a hardcopy so I can mark it up and practice more of his suggestions.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! I have read a lot of church books, gospel books, theology books over the years, this is probably one of the best ones. I wouldn't say it's a page turner, but he hits it on the head with every single subject, it is fabulous. This book, it's like he took every book I thought was good and kind of came to the same conclusions and put it all into one book. He does a great balance of using stories, research, and scripture and spiritual proof for his guidance and examples. I read this book and immediately told my husband he should read it. I'm reading it again immediately with him, because I loved it so much. And as someone in the mental health field, the research he gives is some really basic good research of human tendencies.

[Cathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I've grown to appreciate John Hilton as a guest on a favorite podcast. He's such a smart, articulate guy who's also very down-to-earth. This book was just what I needed, and I loved the stories in it, from the scriptures, Hilton's own life, and the lives of friends (used with their permission, of course). The chapters were laid out well and weren't overwhelming, and I especially liked the summaries at the end. So many challenges were addressed, from practical to spiritual and emotional, and they definitely resonated with me. After just 175 pages (with some very helpful endnotes after that) I came away feeling enlightened and a bit more committed to doing some good things. I'll return to this one!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the format of this book, going through various different categories of mortal difficulty—and just the ins and outs of life—and covering how Christ has peace for all of them. There are patterns for peace at the end of each chapter that we could implement as we desire, as well as personal examples and stories from friends throughout. I like how John shared scripture stories in simple, yet meaningful, ways, and none of his ideas or “patterns for peace” are complicated or make me feel guilty. I think this is a great book for anyone wanting to have a closer relationship with Christ and more of His presence in their lives.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a great book. I often find books like this too wordy or without practical suggestions, but not this book. It was just the right length with easy-to-find bulleted tips to find greater peace in your life (even if you just had time to skim through it). There were some great stories/examples and never once did I feel the author was talking down to me (another complaint of so many other books). I can't believe the author's extensive research of scripture included in the book either. It was great and I'd definitely recommend it. I've already used some of the suggestions to find more peace in my life.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and found it very helpful for me in my current circumstances. I loved the scriptural references, quotes by prophets and apostles, and personal stories used to illustrate patterns of peace. I particularly appreciated the ideas for implementing patterns of peace in our own lives, I've been applying some of the principles and they've really helped me change my mindset and outlook on life. I would highly recommend this book, this is a book that I will be referring back to again and again.

[Tiffany Dominguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple very interesting points:

1. Our connection to our ancestors. Can we ask for comfort from them in our prayers? For them to visit us? Interesting concept.

2. How much is "all we can do"? We can ask God to know when we have done all we can do, and for instructions on what that is.

Great read. I loved the humble tone of the book. He taught in one of my favorite places in the world - the Jerusalem Center. I studied abroad there during university and it was a perspective changing experience.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well organized, relatable, genuine, and applicable. I loved the flow through the chapters from more tangible issues and strategies to some of life’s greatest quandaries when it comes to our efforts to find greater peace. It does not shy away from the elephants in the room, which I loved. This book helped me and I have used it as a reference since completion. Really, my favorite thing about this book is Jesus ❤️

[M.D. House · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of books like this, but I really liked this book. Christ is truly the source of pure, empowering peace, whether we fully understand who he is or not, and John provides a number of useful insights, backed up by research and experiences (including a few of his own). Gratitude, perspective, and selfless service are woven throughout, and while I think I've come a long way, there's a lot more to do. Thanks John!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time rating this book. There were some really good ideas, thoughts, and suggestions that were helpful to me— even felt specifically placed for me at this time in my life. However, there were also a few things I didn’t like and didn’t agree with. And, to be honest, I was bothered that he used the NRSV version of the scriptures. I feel they are simplified in a way that forces a specific interpretation and decreases the ability for personal elucidation.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this uplifting little book by John Hilton III. It contains a lot of good tips for how to "be still" and let Christ lessen your stress and worry. One of my biggest take-aways is going to be to stop being so uptight about "fence laws," those extra commandments we add around gospel principles to keep us safe. I also loved the chapters on dealing with regret and understanding the Lord's vision for your life. I wish I could remember every great suggestion!

4 stars.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book! John Hilton III is one of my favorite Gospel teachers. This is an excellent book that can help us both with our spiritual and mental health. The book is highly readable and interesting, and contains lots of stories and anecdotes from the scriptures, as well as followers of Christ dealing with anxiety and depression in our society today. I enjoyed and learned much from the book and highly recommend it for the Latter-day Saint reader.

[Emily Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

During my year of struggling this is truly among the best books I've read to help me deal with grief and frustration. It relies on a gospel-centered framework that doesn't use useless platitudes or false happiness. There are plenty of thought exercises and practices, and I'm a sucker for the case studies of others, be their challenges in the past or still current. It's well organized, accessible, and is wonderfully deep.