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A Better Heart
Throughout all scripture, a theme and message emerges that Jesus is the medicine, He is the Living Water and the Bread of Life, He is the Good Shepherd, and through His love, He will heal our hearts.
In A Better Heart, Tom Christofferson blends scripture stories, personal experiences, quotes, metaphors, and commentary to show that, like a doctor treating patients for diseases of the heart, the Master Physician cares for us and will change our spiritual hearts to work in rhythm with His. As we understand the love Jesus Christ has for us and our love for Him, and as we study and seek His precious gift of charity, we begin the daily process toward a better heart.
In A Better Heart, Tom Christofferson blends scripture stories, personal experiences, quotes, metaphors, and commentary to show that, like a doctor treating patients for diseases of the heart, the Master Physician cares for us and will change our spiritual hearts to work in rhythm with His. As we understand the love Jesus Christ has for us and our love for Him, and as we study and seek His precious gift of charity, we begin the daily process toward a better heart.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published December 1, 2020
7 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Tom Christofferson
3 books7 followersTom Christofferson has spent his career in investment management and asset servicing, living in the United States and Europe. He has served as a director on corporate and nonprofit boards and was a founding board member of Encircle, a group providing resources to support LGBTQ individuals and their families in Provo, Utah. Tom is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and serves as a Gospel Doctrine teacher in his Salt Lake City Ward. Tom can be reached at ThatWeMayBeOne@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 3, 2021
I love to read. And I have so many books I want to get to that I am careful with what I reread.
This is the only time in my life I have finished a book, sat with myself for a few minutes, and then IMMEDIATELY turned to the beginning and started it again.
Tom Christofferson is one of my heroes. I adore him. He is the kind of person we should all be trying to be. This book is his thoughts on a deep, personal study of charity. It is so beautiful, so helpful, so important, I can't recommend it highly enough. Very few books have changed me as this book has changed me. I'm so grateful it exists in the world.
This is the only time in my life I have finished a book, sat with myself for a few minutes, and then IMMEDIATELY turned to the beginning and started it again.
Tom Christofferson is one of my heroes. I adore him. He is the kind of person we should all be trying to be. This book is his thoughts on a deep, personal study of charity. It is so beautiful, so helpful, so important, I can't recommend it highly enough. Very few books have changed me as this book has changed me. I'm so grateful it exists in the world.
February 4, 2021
WOW!?! Ya'll need to read this book... Tom Christofferson is insightful, intelligent, and inspiring. His ability to understand the gospel and explain it in such a way that everyone can understand and all while using a vast vocabulary. He gets it! He gets the gospel and he gets Christ. He has a great relationship with the Savior that is apparent through his writing. I absolutely loved this book!! May we all strive for "A Better Heart". ❤
May 24, 2021
3.5 stars. I appreciated the understanding and perspective Tom Christofferson offered in his book That We May Be One, and looked forward to this newest book on charity. This topic is one of my greatest goals and focuses: to not just come to know, or even do, but to truly become someone who feels and shares Christ’s pure love. Christofferson reminds us that having personal experiences with the Lord’s loving grace betters equips us to truly see and love others. “When we feel known and loved individually by the Lord, our natural reaction is to reach outward, to share that love with those around us.” I love the reminder to “never suppress a generous thought” as well as his discussion on how true charity requires opening our minds and hearts to new ways of thinking and understanding. I’m grateful for the time and insights this book gave me to ponder.
Quotes I want to keep:
-“If you want to be involved in humanitarian service this the way, and I hope this is the thing you will remember from the forum today: you are the gift…you yourself are the gift. It is not the clothing, the hygiene kits, the school desks, or the wells, it is you. What would it look like if each of us were our own well-stocked humanitarian organization? Instead of just giving out tangible goods in foreign locations, what if we had the richness of dispensing healing, friendship, respect, peaceful dialogue, sincere interest, protective listening of children, birthday remembrances, and conversations with strangers. What if that was what your humanitarian organization did? This kind of humanitarian work can be done by anybody and it can be done at anytime, and you don’t need warehouses or fundraising or transportation. You can be perfectly responsive to any need that comes to you wherever you are. Understand that you are the gift, even more than whatever tangible aid you can provide. It is your compassion and empathy, your awareness of individuals and willingness to see them that will help the most. You are the gift because you have received the gift of Christ’s love and are determined to share it.” Sharon Eubank
-“Every expansion of our ability to understand that all are alike unto God is a source of both joy and thanksgiving. We love Him even more as the scales fall from our eyes to see an ever greater clarity that his love is unqualified, that to Him we are all individuals, rather than members of groups or classes of people.”
-“The experiences of our lives teach us to see the world in a particular way, and yet in order to truly be of one heart with those around us, to love our neighbors deeply, especially the ones who see and understand the world differently, we have to be willing to think in new ways, to open our minds and our hearts, and finally our arms."
-Offer our support and affection without the expectation that others' views will change because of our love…but instead have the love be the end goal
-“Studying, searching, pondering and praying to gain revelation because we have prepared room for additional knowledge and understanding of the secrets for which we seek answers will yield treasures in the Lord’s time and way. On the contrary, when we refuse the struggle, when we settle for easy, black and white, in or out answers, do we effectively declare our reservoirs full? Are we telling the Lord we have decided we know all we want to know?”
-“At a certain point I realized it was more important to know Him than to know why.” (Coming to know Jesus is more important than having all the questions answered on our timetable.)
-“We need to work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding.” President Nelson
-“What is gospel teaching if not a means of transmitting Christ’s love more broadly.”
-“Are we active in the gospel, or are we merely busy in the church?” Gerald Causse
- While God loves us all, he may love the obedience of some more than others, which obedience also earns God’s trust
-“He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8
Quotes I want to keep:
-“If you want to be involved in humanitarian service this the way, and I hope this is the thing you will remember from the forum today: you are the gift…you yourself are the gift. It is not the clothing, the hygiene kits, the school desks, or the wells, it is you. What would it look like if each of us were our own well-stocked humanitarian organization? Instead of just giving out tangible goods in foreign locations, what if we had the richness of dispensing healing, friendship, respect, peaceful dialogue, sincere interest, protective listening of children, birthday remembrances, and conversations with strangers. What if that was what your humanitarian organization did? This kind of humanitarian work can be done by anybody and it can be done at anytime, and you don’t need warehouses or fundraising or transportation. You can be perfectly responsive to any need that comes to you wherever you are. Understand that you are the gift, even more than whatever tangible aid you can provide. It is your compassion and empathy, your awareness of individuals and willingness to see them that will help the most. You are the gift because you have received the gift of Christ’s love and are determined to share it.” Sharon Eubank
-“Every expansion of our ability to understand that all are alike unto God is a source of both joy and thanksgiving. We love Him even more as the scales fall from our eyes to see an ever greater clarity that his love is unqualified, that to Him we are all individuals, rather than members of groups or classes of people.”
-“The experiences of our lives teach us to see the world in a particular way, and yet in order to truly be of one heart with those around us, to love our neighbors deeply, especially the ones who see and understand the world differently, we have to be willing to think in new ways, to open our minds and our hearts, and finally our arms."
-Offer our support and affection without the expectation that others' views will change because of our love…but instead have the love be the end goal
-“Studying, searching, pondering and praying to gain revelation because we have prepared room for additional knowledge and understanding of the secrets for which we seek answers will yield treasures in the Lord’s time and way. On the contrary, when we refuse the struggle, when we settle for easy, black and white, in or out answers, do we effectively declare our reservoirs full? Are we telling the Lord we have decided we know all we want to know?”
-“At a certain point I realized it was more important to know Him than to know why.” (Coming to know Jesus is more important than having all the questions answered on our timetable.)
-“We need to work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding.” President Nelson
-“What is gospel teaching if not a means of transmitting Christ’s love more broadly.”
-“Are we active in the gospel, or are we merely busy in the church?” Gerald Causse
- While God loves us all, he may love the obedience of some more than others, which obedience also earns God’s trust
-“He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8
December 27, 2020
I really appreciated this book by Tom Christofferson about how to recognize God's love and learn to love the Lord and others better. Big focus on charity and ministering to others. Lots of real life examples were given and I felt like my spirit and heart were touched.
December 29, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Tom Christofferson has a way with words. He doesn't just share scriptures, he applies them to everyday life. He also shares personal stories and their applications. This is a book I will read again.
March 1, 2021
I love the idea of finding a better way to love. His study on charity, paired with his unique life experience of being a gay member of the LDS church really give new insight in how to have a better heart.
February 12, 2021
I really liked this quote from the book: "I render myself sightless as I create a cocoon of my own cares."
February 27, 2021
Loved this book!
July 31, 2023
I loved reading “A Better Heart” by Tom Christofferson. He uses of scriptures from the New Testament, personal experiences and latter-day stories to teach about Christs love.
There are several chapters on charity. In one, Tom creates a chart, placing side by side Moroni’s and Paul’s thoughts on the topic, discussing what charity is and what charity isn’t.
If you liked Tom’s earlier book, “That We Might Be One” you will love this.
There are several chapters on charity. In one, Tom creates a chart, placing side by side Moroni’s and Paul’s thoughts on the topic, discussing what charity is and what charity isn’t.
If you liked Tom’s earlier book, “That We Might Be One” you will love this.
July 5, 2021
Freaking amazing. I look at loving like Jesus does in a much different light. Awesome book.
June 14, 2021
I always have a “Sunday” book I’m reading and this one was an excellent participant. If a book is insightful enough for you to save quotes on Goodreads from, it’s a great book!
April 12, 2021
I had to split this book up over several weekends and, about 10 minutes after I picked up the book the second time, I thought "This book is classy in hardback form."
But, as I continued to read, unable to put off finishing it for another week, I realized I was wrong. One of the synonyms of classy is stylish. Which, to me, signifies something that changes every so often, fickle, something that doesn't go past the skin. And, when I looked it up, the definition also included the word "sophisticated," which also doesn't seem to fit this book. It's definitely full of wisdom, but it's accessible.
And it goes much deeper than that. It is good, genuine, and rich---like a dessert that you need to savor in order to get the full benefit of the experience.
Christofferson wrestles with the hard questions and, sometimes, the harder or, depending on how you look at it, easier answers. He makes it seem simultaneously a relief and concern as he walks you through the reasons that charity should be our focus. Do we need to worry about a long list of do's and don'ts, how to's and how not's as we encounter surprises and, in some cases, each other as we move along life's path? No. But, lest we think that makes it easier, we must be genuine about it. It has to be internalized and that can be much harder.
Particularly haunting (in a good way) was his quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His stories, metaphors, and weaving together of quotes were also memorable. I was also impressed at the wide range of quotations. There were the usual brilliant minds but also James, Whittier, and Austen. My one quibble? (And it is a tiny one) I wanted a list of all the books he quotes at the end. But that's me.
But, as I continued to read, unable to put off finishing it for another week, I realized I was wrong. One of the synonyms of classy is stylish. Which, to me, signifies something that changes every so often, fickle, something that doesn't go past the skin. And, when I looked it up, the definition also included the word "sophisticated," which also doesn't seem to fit this book. It's definitely full of wisdom, but it's accessible.
And it goes much deeper than that. It is good, genuine, and rich---like a dessert that you need to savor in order to get the full benefit of the experience.
Christofferson wrestles with the hard questions and, sometimes, the harder or, depending on how you look at it, easier answers. He makes it seem simultaneously a relief and concern as he walks you through the reasons that charity should be our focus. Do we need to worry about a long list of do's and don'ts, how to's and how not's as we encounter surprises and, in some cases, each other as we move along life's path? No. But, lest we think that makes it easier, we must be genuine about it. It has to be internalized and that can be much harder.
Particularly haunting (in a good way) was his quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His stories, metaphors, and weaving together of quotes were also memorable. I was also impressed at the wide range of quotations. There were the usual brilliant minds but also James, Whittier, and Austen. My one quibble? (And it is a tiny one) I wanted a list of all the books he quotes at the end. But that's me.
April 5, 2021
Wisdom and eloquence. Brother Christofferson is a master scholar and teacher. His candid humility is both endearingly and reflecting; I have a renewed hope and energy to become like the Savior through loving my neighbor.
March 30, 2021
I have a better understanding now of what it means to show charity to others. Tom shares experiences from his own life and from the lives of those he knows. I would recommend reading the book over listening, because you are going to want to reference back to this book often. This book definitely left me wanting to be better at showing my love to all those around me, and not just those I’m comfortable with.
September 2, 2025
A beautiful exploration of the gift of charity and its power to change individuals’ hearts and society at large. I really connect with the author’s perspective and story. Having spoken in church recently about some of these topics, I wish I’d read this book earlier because the author provides many poignant comments. I felt multiple times the truth of what he wrote as I’ve received similar messages from the scriptures and spirit myself.
July 4, 2021
Insightful & thoughtful. I usually don't reach for this genre (Christian non fiction) bc in the past I've found the writing to be cringe-y. Maybe it's me... BUT this book is different in a good way.
The author feels authentic and ACTUALLY has some original thoughts and ideas. I read this for book club & it led to a good discussion, too.
The author feels authentic and ACTUALLY has some original thoughts and ideas. I read this for book club & it led to a good discussion, too.
December 17, 2023
I really appreciated Christofferson’s last book, so was excited to read this. It’s a lovely deep dive in charity. There are many important messages, but I’m struck by the theme that each of us possess the ability to choose righteousness and the Savior possess the universal ability to change us.
Hard copy
Hard copy
June 10, 2021
Excellent book about learning to love more like Jesus and care more about others regardless of how they believe, their differences, or any other thing that divides us into thinking we can't love like Jesus did and care for others.
October 15, 2025
"I really appreciate Tom's courage to share his life experiences with the general church membership. He has clearly been blessed with a gift for language and has developed that over the years. Listening to this book will enrich your life!" --Customer Review
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February 10, 2021So inspiring
April 16, 2021
It's cool to see things (print) that I've heard and thought about before, some from the author himself.
May 13, 2021
This book is a study of kindness and inclusion. Well written and sensitively crafted. There are so many spiritual and emotional examples included that make this book so impactful.
May 16, 2021
This was beautiful. Very meaningful to me. No surprise--this is my second book of Brother Christofferson's and I have loved them both.
June 4, 2021
It just didn't grab me. Not one I would recommend
November 23, 2021
I love his thoughts on charity and how we gain it. He’s someone I really look up to, so his thoughts hold great weight for me.
December 2, 2021
An inspired work! I loved the analogies and perspective. A book that should be reread.
September 24, 2023
4.5 stars
January 30, 2021
3.5 Book had some great insights into Love (my word for the year). I am excited to read books on this topic over this year. Many good notes on different ways to show and fell love. Thought provoking (part of my 2021 study on Love)
June 7, 2021
An excellent Christ-centered discourse on charity and how to change your heart. Christofferson is very smart and a really good writer. It’s a good mix of personal anecdotes, stories, scripture passages, and words from modern prophets and apostles. I wrote down so many good quotes and ideas. Probably the one I have applied the most to my life already is the idea that if you will thank the Lord for what you have already received, you will be able to progress further.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews