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Reaching for the Savior
Drawing upon her unique life experiences, Sister Reyna Aburto invites readers to join with her in strengthening Christ's Church. Through her relatable style and humble approach, Sister Aburto shares her insights about growing up in Nicaragua, losing her brother in a devastating earthquake, having a spouse struggle with addiction, dealing with divorce and single parenting, joining the Church, and developing a deep conviction of the Savior's love and the transcendent power of His atoning sacrifice. Each chapter addresses a specific way we can reach for the Savior, from studying the Book of Mormon to temple worship to strengthening our wards to ministering and more. Through trials and difficulties, personal darkness, and mental and emotional struggles, we can find small and simple ways of drawing closer to God in Reaching for the Savior.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2021
14 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
April 5, 2021
"Every person we meet, even someone who seems to be happy or is indeed happy, carries some pain in her or his heart. The truth is that we are all healing from something and are all in need of healing."
In this lovely little book, Sister Aburto suggests various ways we might reach for the healing balm of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I particularly enjoyed the chapters in which she shares her personal experiences. She has had her share of difficult circumstances, and she recognizes that part of healing spiritually might mean leaving an abusive situation or getting professional help through doctors or therapists. I appreciate this faith-filled book.
In this lovely little book, Sister Aburto suggests various ways we might reach for the healing balm of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I particularly enjoyed the chapters in which she shares her personal experiences. She has had her share of difficult circumstances, and she recognizes that part of healing spiritually might mean leaving an abusive situation or getting professional help through doctors or therapists. I appreciate this faith-filled book.
May 11, 2021
Reyna Aburto survived a major earthquake which destroyed her family's home and claimed the life of her brother in Nicaragua. She experienced poverty and loss not only in the aftermath of the earthquake, but also in living through a civil war before moving to the United States. After a troubled marriage to a spouse who struggled with addiction, she dealt with divorce, became a single parent and full time provider for her family, and experienced the devastation of a loved one's suicide. In coming to an understanding of Christ's all encompassing loving-kindness and the power of His atoning sacrifice, she found hope and peace. This small book was written primarily for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but anyone who has experienced or is struggling with trials, depression, worries, loneliness, fear, or personal darkness will find peace and comfort as Reyna explains small and simple ways we can all draw closer to God in Reaching for the Savior.
April 10, 2021
I have so much admiration for Reyna I. Aburto. Her life journey of perseverance and compassion is a great example. Her vulnerability to share her experiences is a blessing to me, and so many women!
March 20, 2021
Loved listening to her story. What a sweet humble woman.
November 15, 2021
I loved this book. I love the theme of different ways that we can reach up to the Savior. I loved learning more about Reyna Aburto's life and how her experiences have influenced her.
March 30, 2021
She's so down to earth and each chapter shows it, it's personal and real and has so much good advice and encouragement. I love that it's also part biographical and even though she's been through heavy things and different things than me it's easy to relate to her. A lot of the book feels like talking with your most genuine and wise friend. In conclusion, Sister Aburto is my home girl lol.
February 24, 2021
Simple, sweet, and sincere. Loved listening to the author narrate and hearing her beautiful voice and accent.
Each chapter is how she has learned to reach towards the Savior through various life experiences and spiritual maturity. She has lived through many heartaches such as losing her dear brother during an earthquake nights before Christmas, father's suicide, political violence and instability, divorce due to her first husband's alcohol and drug addictions etc. But she has a spirit of love and optimism despite it all.
What was "gold" for me was the last 1/3 of the book where she really opens up and is more intimate with her struggle to help her daughter and friend's depression, her growing into her general relief society calling, and being a mother life lessons.
Recommend to my friends looking for a spiritual, uplifting read.
Note on my rating system:
5 stars: Opens my mind or eyes to new perspective or understanding, really touches my heart
4 stars: excellent book
3 stars: good or average
2 stars: "meh" probably would not recommend
1 star: DNF, definitely not recommend
Each chapter is how she has learned to reach towards the Savior through various life experiences and spiritual maturity. She has lived through many heartaches such as losing her dear brother during an earthquake nights before Christmas, father's suicide, political violence and instability, divorce due to her first husband's alcohol and drug addictions etc. But she has a spirit of love and optimism despite it all.
What was "gold" for me was the last 1/3 of the book where she really opens up and is more intimate with her struggle to help her daughter and friend's depression, her growing into her general relief society calling, and being a mother life lessons.
Recommend to my friends looking for a spiritual, uplifting read.
Note on my rating system:
5 stars: Opens my mind or eyes to new perspective or understanding, really touches my heart
4 stars: excellent book
3 stars: good or average
2 stars: "meh" probably would not recommend
1 star: DNF, definitely not recommend
March 22, 2021
Reyna Aburto holds a special place in my heart after being my Young Women's president in the 90s. Her story about feeling overwhelmed by YW camp took me back and made me wonder what she was going through while the rest of us were completely unaware of all the things she was trying to manage and accomplish. That was a lesson in itself of being more aware and looking for ways to lighten others' loads.
I loved the vulnerability and humility with which she approached her book. She has gone through so much in her life and the way she has turned to the Lord and built her faith is such an amazing example to me. He stories are raw and real and yet so full of hope and faith.
I loved the vulnerability and humility with which she approached her book. She has gone through so much in her life and the way she has turned to the Lord and built her faith is such an amazing example to me. He stories are raw and real and yet so full of hope and faith.
March 15, 2021
What a powerful testimony. She shares the good and the bad. I appreciate the look at "real life".
March 22, 2021
So so good.
December 28, 2021
Glad I pushed past the first half of the book, as I loved the later parts. The book is at its strongest when Aburto draws from her rich and interesting (and sometimes sad) life experience. I liked reading a book about the Church written by a woman who doesn't fit the "Utah Mormon" mold (divorced, convert, grew up outside the US). I also really appreciated her storm cloud metaphor for depression and its applicability to those who haven't experienced depression.
There's an interesting tension in the book between her acknowledgement that we are imperfect and her quoting President Nelson on "exact obedience" - if I have one quibble with the book it's that I would like her to address that tension.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Sometimes, the natural man and woman in us make us think that when we are given callings in the Church, we have been called to "fix" other people. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have not been called by Him to be "fixers" of others and we have not been called to lecture or to scorn. We have been called to inspire, to life, and to invite others...so they receive the opportunity to be spiritually healed by Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer."
"We were born to replenish the earth with goodness..."
"For some reason, there is a notion in the Church that we all must fit a specific mold and that all of our paths have to be the same. We tend to compare ourselves with others, and many of us feel as outsiders to the Church because we do not fit that imaginary mold. The truth is that each of us is unique by divine design and can bring something to the table. When we take the time to get to know other people, we realize that each of us has our own unique story and that we all have had struggles." (Page 107)
"One day, I realized I will never be done. My lists will never be finished. It is not possible....You do not have to do it all, and you are never done, and you can be okay with that, and you can accept that. Do what you can each day, ask the Lord to fill in the gaps, and then, a new day starts, and you begin again. That is part of the beauty of being disciples of Jesus Christ, that we are never done, that there is always something else to do, and that there is always room for improvement." (Page 113)
"...[P]erfectionism is one of the main causes of anxiety. I always thought that trying to do things perfectly was a good and desirable trait. However, when we take it to the extreme...then it becomes damaging and debilitating. Understanding and knowing with every cell of our body that we will always fall short in everything we do and that we need the grace of Jesus Christ to carry us all along is one of the most empowering and enlightening truths that we can embrace." (page 126)
"Sadly, many members of the Church who suffer from severe depression distance themselves from their fellow Saints because they feel they do not fit some imaginary idea of what they think their life should look like....The truth is that each of us is different and has a different story. When we introduce ourselves to others we say the things that we think they want to hear and we leave things out, because they are too personal or too painful to air publicly. This means that every person we meet, even someone who seems happy or is indeed happy, carries some pain in his or her heart. The truth is that we are all healing from something and are all in need of healing....Together, we can break through the clouds of isolation and stigma so the burden of shame is lifted, and miracles of healing can occur." (Page 135)
Quoting Jean B. Bingham: "Unity is essential to the divine work we are privileged and called to do, but it doesn't just happen. It takes effort and time to really counsel together-to listen to one another, understand others' viewpoints, and share experiences-but the process results in more inspired decisions."
There's an interesting tension in the book between her acknowledgement that we are imperfect and her quoting President Nelson on "exact obedience" - if I have one quibble with the book it's that I would like her to address that tension.
Some of my favorite quotes:
"Sometimes, the natural man and woman in us make us think that when we are given callings in the Church, we have been called to "fix" other people. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have not been called by Him to be "fixers" of others and we have not been called to lecture or to scorn. We have been called to inspire, to life, and to invite others...so they receive the opportunity to be spiritually healed by Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer."
"We were born to replenish the earth with goodness..."
"For some reason, there is a notion in the Church that we all must fit a specific mold and that all of our paths have to be the same. We tend to compare ourselves with others, and many of us feel as outsiders to the Church because we do not fit that imaginary mold. The truth is that each of us is unique by divine design and can bring something to the table. When we take the time to get to know other people, we realize that each of us has our own unique story and that we all have had struggles." (Page 107)
"One day, I realized I will never be done. My lists will never be finished. It is not possible....You do not have to do it all, and you are never done, and you can be okay with that, and you can accept that. Do what you can each day, ask the Lord to fill in the gaps, and then, a new day starts, and you begin again. That is part of the beauty of being disciples of Jesus Christ, that we are never done, that there is always something else to do, and that there is always room for improvement." (Page 113)
"...[P]erfectionism is one of the main causes of anxiety. I always thought that trying to do things perfectly was a good and desirable trait. However, when we take it to the extreme...then it becomes damaging and debilitating. Understanding and knowing with every cell of our body that we will always fall short in everything we do and that we need the grace of Jesus Christ to carry us all along is one of the most empowering and enlightening truths that we can embrace." (page 126)
"Sadly, many members of the Church who suffer from severe depression distance themselves from their fellow Saints because they feel they do not fit some imaginary idea of what they think their life should look like....The truth is that each of us is different and has a different story. When we introduce ourselves to others we say the things that we think they want to hear and we leave things out, because they are too personal or too painful to air publicly. This means that every person we meet, even someone who seems happy or is indeed happy, carries some pain in his or her heart. The truth is that we are all healing from something and are all in need of healing....Together, we can break through the clouds of isolation and stigma so the burden of shame is lifted, and miracles of healing can occur." (Page 135)
Quoting Jean B. Bingham: "Unity is essential to the divine work we are privileged and called to do, but it doesn't just happen. It takes effort and time to really counsel together-to listen to one another, understand others' viewpoints, and share experiences-but the process results in more inspired decisions."
September 27, 2025
This book was recommended to me in a church-related newsletter. I'm glad I read it. I love Sister Aburto, her openness, her vulnerability, her authenticity, and I love how easy it is to relate to her. What an interesting life she has experienced. So many people want to appear perfect, and she doesn't do that. She's humble and sincere. That is refreshing.
I really like what she says about the temple and how she would explain it to loved ones who are interested in going. I'm going to quote what she says here for my own future reference. Then I'll put it under a spoiler alert since it's long and it's sacred to me. It should be emphasized that ultimately the temple teaches us about Jesus Christ and how we can follow Him. All the bullet points are hers.
I really like what she says about the temple and how she would explain it to loved ones who are interested in going. I'm going to quote what she says here for my own future reference. Then I'll put it under a spoiler alert since it's long and it's sacred to me. It should be emphasized that ultimately the temple teaches us about Jesus Christ and how we can follow Him. All the bullet points are hers.
May 23, 2022
You can’t deny Aburto’s testimony of the Savior is rock-solid and she’s lived a full and trying life. These are some quotes I marked with sticky notes!
“You cannot know when, or for what length of time, your personal mission will be focused on service in calls such as mother, leader, or ministering sister. The Lord, out of love, does not leave us the choice of timing, duration, or sequence of our assignments…All of them are preparation for eternal life in loving families—‘the greatest of all the gifts of God.’” - Henry B. Eyring
“In a world of varied talents and fortunes that we can’t always command, I think that makes even more attractive the qualities we *can* command—such qualities as thoughtfulness, patience, a kind word, and true delight in the accomplishment of another. These cost us *nothing*, and they can mean *everything* to the one who receives them.” - Jeffrey R. Holland
“When I look back, I wish we would have done some things differently with our children, but we cannot judge our past mistakes with today’s knowledge; we can only learn from the past and make the determination to be better today than we were yesterday.” - Reyna I. Aburto
“When our children are taught of the Lord, they have great peace, the peace that comes only from him.” - Reyna I. Aburto
“The purpose of ministering is not necessarily for us to do something for that person every month, but instead for us to do whatever it takes so that person knows that we are a true friend, and that we will come when they need our help.” - Reyna I. Aburto
“You cannot know when, or for what length of time, your personal mission will be focused on service in calls such as mother, leader, or ministering sister. The Lord, out of love, does not leave us the choice of timing, duration, or sequence of our assignments…All of them are preparation for eternal life in loving families—‘the greatest of all the gifts of God.’” - Henry B. Eyring
“In a world of varied talents and fortunes that we can’t always command, I think that makes even more attractive the qualities we *can* command—such qualities as thoughtfulness, patience, a kind word, and true delight in the accomplishment of another. These cost us *nothing*, and they can mean *everything* to the one who receives them.” - Jeffrey R. Holland
“When I look back, I wish we would have done some things differently with our children, but we cannot judge our past mistakes with today’s knowledge; we can only learn from the past and make the determination to be better today than we were yesterday.” - Reyna I. Aburto
“When our children are taught of the Lord, they have great peace, the peace that comes only from him.” - Reyna I. Aburto
“The purpose of ministering is not necessarily for us to do something for that person every month, but instead for us to do whatever it takes so that person knows that we are a true friend, and that we will come when they need our help.” - Reyna I. Aburto
June 21, 2021
Since GR doesn't have a cover yet, you should know that it is gorgeous.
I loved this book. Interwoven with her valuable thoughts are pieces of her life story that are just as valuable. She is blunt yet kind. I love her point that the 10 commandments are really just expanded ways that we can fulfill the two commandments (1, To love God and 2, love our neighbor). She also provided a reference for a quote that I had been searching for for almost 11 years(a small tender mercy).
I loved this book. Interwoven with her valuable thoughts are pieces of her life story that are just as valuable. She is blunt yet kind. I love her point that the 10 commandments are really just expanded ways that we can fulfill the two commandments (1, To love God and 2, love our neighbor). She also provided a reference for a quote that I had been searching for for almost 11 years(a small tender mercy).
May 8, 2021
I love the book. Great stories and spiritual guidance.
August 11, 2021
This book is a wonderful mix of interesting personal stories, quotes and scriptures that all tie together in pointing the reader to Jesus Christ. I really appreciated how Sister Aburto gently and lovingly pointed out some aspects of our Church culture that needed changing. The book contained sound doctrine but felt fresh somehow.
June 25, 2021
This is a sweet book about how Sister Aburto has learned to reach for the Savior and find joy in His healing and gospel. Her testimony and honest insights are helpful for all of us. She shows how we can find and have faith in the Savior even through difficult trials. She explains how we can practically reach out to the Savior and reach His help and love.
She teaches that we can reach for the Savior…
* when we exert all our powers and stretch ourselves in simple but significant ways to constantly come unto Him…
* when we trust that His birth, life, and resurrection offered all of us the gift of eternal life…
* by taking His name upon us as we make sacred baptismal covenants and join with his Church…
* when we labor together as women in Zion, interdependently with men, to share the joy of the gospel with others…
* when we keep our covenants in righteousness and draw upon God’s priesthood power…
* when we knit our hearts together in unity and love with all those around us…
* by treasuring His word, feasting upon the sacred book of scripture given for our day, the Book of Mormon…
* by making covenants in His holy house, seeking restoration and healing for us and our ancestors…
* as we nurture and strengthen loving family relationships…
* when we teach the rising generation to cherish the gospel and the blessings of the temple…
* As we minister to others with love and acceptance in our hearts…
* by patiently awaiting the answers and blessings we seek, even amid trials…
* when we turn to Him in times of sorrow and affliction, relying on His light to sustain us in darkness…
* when we emulate His way of loving all of God’s children…
* as He reaches for us in perfect love.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
"All I needed was to have a desire to reach for the Savior, turn my heart to Him, believe in Him, and act on that belief (p. 4)."
"It is significant that [Joseph Smith] not only wanted to know the truth but he also wanted to know what he needed to do. He was willing to find out what God's will was for hi and to act on it (p. 5)."
"In order to draw 'the Savior's power into our lives [we need] to reach up to Him in faith. [And] such reaching requires diligent, focused effort (Russell M. Nelson, p. 6).'"
"Exerting all our powers in simple ways could mean to constantly pray to our Heavenly Father... focus our thoughts on the Savior in a more intentional way... reaching up to Heavenly Father through a diligent, personal study of the scriptures.... the words of the living prophets, seers, and revelators... went into the waters of baptism to make a covenant with God, promising Him that we would obey His commandments (p. 7)."
"As we turn to our Savior, remember Him in all of our thoughts and actions, and strive to follow His commandments, His light can guide us, His love can comfort us, and His power can enable us to do what we cannot do by ourselves (p. 19)."
"People come to the Church from all different circumstances... Each of us can e the means through which others feel the love of God in their life. Through our righteousness, our sincere desire to follow the commandments, and our constant effort to minister to others in simple ways, people can perceive God's image in our countenance, and they can have the desire to follow Him (p. 27)."
"There have always been loving sisters surrounding me and teaching me by example how faithful female disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ serve and love (p. 31)."
"What has Relief Society meant to me? It has meant a never-ending wealth of assistance from heaven and from earth that has helped me begin to prepare for the blessings of eternal life (p. 32)."
"'Let the Holy Ghost guide you (p. 35).'"
"'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (p. 35).'"
"I need to be wise in managing my energy, my sanity, and my spirituality, so I can give the Lord my best offering in helping Him do His work... He changed me, He tutored me, He guided me (p. 36)."
"Relief Society is the women of the Church; it is us, each of us, all of us (p. 36)."
"As Jesus Christ's disciples we need to be active participants in His works (p. 38)."
"Every woman and man received priesthood power as she or he participates in priesthood ordinances and keeps the related covenants (p. 44)."
"'Righteousness is the qualifier for each of us to invite priesthood power into our lives (p. 46).'"
"We are all on this journey together... we need to be unified (p. 49)."
"I could feel the goodness and the love of the people who had donated all those items and of those who handed the down to us. I felt safe and protected. Those items came from different parts of the world and were given by people who were helping us even though they did not know us personally (p. 52)."
"The Holy Ghost gives us a vision that our natural eyes cannot see, because 'revelation is scattered among us' and when we put that revelation together, we can see more (p. 53)."
"The Lord blesses us with revelation at the general level of the Church, and at the personal level of our lives (p. 57)."
"'Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God's children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life (Russell M. Nelson, p. 62).'"
"A big part of the beauty and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ lies in its simplicity, and as we strive to live it and to share its good news in a simple and sincere way, we will be instruments in the hands of the Lord to bring more souls to His fold (p. 62)."
"In the scriptures we find many examples of people who exercised faith in Jesus Christ, and because of that, they and others were blessed immensely (p. 63)."
"The Lord has asked us to go to work (p. 64)."
"If we act in faith and give the Lord our best offering each day, He touches our stones in miraculous ways, He manifests Himself unto us in unexpected ways, and He blesses us immensely (p. 64)."
"Every time we do a small and simple thing to prepare spiritually, we are protecting ourselves against 'the enemy of all righteousness' (p. 69)."
"We are all in need of the healing balm that the Savior offers (p. 74)."
"When it comes to healing, we all need the Savior desperately (p. 76)."
"'Anytime you do anything that helps anyone--on either side of the veil--take a step toward making covenants with God... you are helping to gather Israel (Russell M. Nelson, p. 79).'"
"'You cannot know when, or for what length of time, your personal mission will be focused on service in calls such as mother, leader, or ministering sister. The Lord, out of love, does not leave us the choice of the timing, duration, or sequence of our assignments. Yet you know... that all of these assignments will come, either in this life or in the next, to every daughter of God. And all of them are preparation for eternal life in loving families--'the greatest of all the gifts of God' (Henry B. Eyring, p. 84).'"
"As disciples of Jesus Christ, our highest desire should be to follow His example of love and 'allow [Him] to transform us into the best version of ourselves (p. 84).'"
"There is not a mold; there is not a single pattern. The Holy Ghost does not have a script. Many times, He will just whisper to us... If you are making a sincere effort to follow divine laws and to be respectful of others, the Holy Ghost will guide you and you will know what to do (p. 87)."
"Show genuine interest, and before you know it, you will have made a new friend and you will become a better friend (p. 87)."
"We strived to teach our children of the joy we feel when we make a sincere effort to follow God's commandments (p. 89)."
"There is so much we can learn from a child's heart. Their joy in simplicity, their desire to give their all and to live every moment at their fullest, are things that we adults need to feel more often (p. 90)."
"It takes effort and time to really counsel together--to listen to one another, understand others' viewpoints, and share experiences (p. 90)."
"God has a plan... we are part of that plan (p. 93)."
"When our children are taught of the Lord, they have great peace, the peace that comes only from Him (p. 94)."
"'Let us not underestimate the capacity and potential power of today's children to perpetuate righteousness. No group of people in the Church is as receptive to truth, both in efficiency of learning and with the greatest degree of retention (Michaelene Grassli, p. 96).'"
"When we take the time to get to know other people, we realize that each of us has our own unique story and that we all have had struggles (p. 107)."
"We can sometimes be hard on each other as women; we might start judging, comparing, and competing, rather than having compassion and charity. But we can change that culture in the Church, and we must (p. 108)."
"Ministering isn't so much what you do, but what you feel, and how that person feels (p. 108)."
"'Ministering is part of our own process of repentance as we turn our hearts to God and His children (Russell M. Nelson, p. 110).'"
"We should not underestimate the influence that we may have on our friends whenever we share our testimony with them and whenever we try to strengthen them in the Lord (p. 112)."
"Do what you can each day, ask the Lord to fill in the gaps, and then, a new day starts, and you begin again. That is part of the beauty of being disciples of Jesus Christ, that we are never done, that there is always something else to do, and that there is always room for improvement (p. 113)."
"Let us cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another, and gain instruction, so we can strengthen each other in the Lord, and so we can sit down in heaven together, where the Lord will lead us unto living fountains of waters and He will wipe away all tears from our eyes (p. 114)."
"If we are patient, if we put our trust on our Savior, if we wait on His timing, and we try to follow His commandments, answers will come one day, and we will finally have that peace that we are looking for (p. 119)."
"Even those who are without hope, who live in despair, who have betrayed trust, surrendered their integrity, or turned away from God can be rebuilt (p. 120)."
"Part of our mortal existence is to go through trials, big and small, at different times of our life, but Heavenly Father will 'consecrate [our] afflictions for [our] gain' (p. 121)."
"I know that we can all be healed by the soothing balm that our Master Healer, Jesus Christ, offers us in His infinite and perfect love (p. 121)."
"I do not know anything about depression; I need to learn about it so I can help my daughter. That simple prompting was the answer I was longing for (p. 125)."
"Perfectionism is one of the main causes of depression and anxiety (p. 126)."
"Little did I know at that time that the journey she and I went through together was going to be part of the preparation I had been given by my Father in Heaven to fulfill my calling (p. 126)."
"Faith is a powerful source of healing, especially if it is centered in Jesus Christ and in His ability to heal us (p. 129)."
"Our Father in Heaven designed our mortal experience to be one in which we would need to rely not only on the Savior but also upon one another to successfully complete our journey back to our heavenly home (p. 132)."
“There is no magic solution, no simple balm to provide healing, nor is there an easy path to the complete remedy. The cure requires profound faith in Jesus Christ and in His infinite capacity to heal (p. 134).”
“I could not tell people to be open about their struggles if I was not willing to do the same (p. 134).”
“Part of the healing process is to be able to talk about our pain, to let others cry with us, and to allow the Savior to work His miracles on us. I have certainly witnessed the healing that He can give on both sides of the veil (p. 134).”
“We are all healing from something and area all in need of healing (p. 135).”
“We are all making our best effort to follow God’s commandments. ‘Let us not therefore judge one another any more’ (p. 136).”
“We do not have to become sole fixers of ourselves or others. We do not have to do everything ourselves (p. 136).”
“Turn to Heavenly Father… You are His child and… He loves you (p. 136).”
“Your struggles do not define you, but they can refine you (p. 137).”
“‘Be someone who joins in the work of Christ in lifting burdens (p. 137).’”
“When I feel alone in my struggle, I am reminded that He has already experienced exactly what I am going through on my behalf (p. 138).”
“‘Thru cloud and sunshine’ the Lord will abide with us (p. 139).”
“Love is the greatest motivator. It is a powerful source of purpose, strength, and endurance as we go through our mortal experience. Because of our love for God and His love for us, He can enable us with His power to do things that we did not know we had the capacity to do (p. 142).”
“‘Come unto the Father in my name, an din due time receive of his fulness. For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father’ (p. 143).”
“How do I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind? How do I love others as myself and as Jesus Christ loves me (p. 144)?”
“Our relationship with God and our righteous relationships with others are all divine, and they can help us become what we came to this earth to become (p. 144).”
“‘We may never understand nor comprehend in mortality how [Jesus Christ] accomplished what He did, but we must not fail to understand why He did what He did. Everything He did was prompted by His unselfish, infinite love for us (Ezra Taft Benson, p. 145).’”
“To develop love for someone, we need to have the desire to get to know them and we need to spend time with them, preferably face-to-face (p. 146).”
“‘Though it may not be reciprocated… love is never wasted (Neal A. Maxwell, p. 146).’”
“Turn outward instead of inward. Turn to others so you can know them with their weaknesses and strengths and realize that you and they are not alone in your pains, in your struggles, and in your desires and efforts to get closer to God. We become stronger and we grown when we help others, and when we accept the help of others (p. 147).”
“Give relationships enough time to grow and to give fruit (p. 147).”
“Pray for that love and be patient (p. 147).”
“Cultivating relationships is a decision (p. 148).”
“I can say with certainty that God’s hand has always been guiding me when I have had the humility to acknowledge that I need His divine help at all times (p. 150).”
She teaches that we can reach for the Savior…
* when we exert all our powers and stretch ourselves in simple but significant ways to constantly come unto Him…
* when we trust that His birth, life, and resurrection offered all of us the gift of eternal life…
* by taking His name upon us as we make sacred baptismal covenants and join with his Church…
* when we labor together as women in Zion, interdependently with men, to share the joy of the gospel with others…
* when we keep our covenants in righteousness and draw upon God’s priesthood power…
* when we knit our hearts together in unity and love with all those around us…
* by treasuring His word, feasting upon the sacred book of scripture given for our day, the Book of Mormon…
* by making covenants in His holy house, seeking restoration and healing for us and our ancestors…
* as we nurture and strengthen loving family relationships…
* when we teach the rising generation to cherish the gospel and the blessings of the temple…
* As we minister to others with love and acceptance in our hearts…
* by patiently awaiting the answers and blessings we seek, even amid trials…
* when we turn to Him in times of sorrow and affliction, relying on His light to sustain us in darkness…
* when we emulate His way of loving all of God’s children…
* as He reaches for us in perfect love.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
"All I needed was to have a desire to reach for the Savior, turn my heart to Him, believe in Him, and act on that belief (p. 4)."
"It is significant that [Joseph Smith] not only wanted to know the truth but he also wanted to know what he needed to do. He was willing to find out what God's will was for hi and to act on it (p. 5)."
"In order to draw 'the Savior's power into our lives [we need] to reach up to Him in faith. [And] such reaching requires diligent, focused effort (Russell M. Nelson, p. 6).'"
"Exerting all our powers in simple ways could mean to constantly pray to our Heavenly Father... focus our thoughts on the Savior in a more intentional way... reaching up to Heavenly Father through a diligent, personal study of the scriptures.... the words of the living prophets, seers, and revelators... went into the waters of baptism to make a covenant with God, promising Him that we would obey His commandments (p. 7)."
"As we turn to our Savior, remember Him in all of our thoughts and actions, and strive to follow His commandments, His light can guide us, His love can comfort us, and His power can enable us to do what we cannot do by ourselves (p. 19)."
"People come to the Church from all different circumstances... Each of us can e the means through which others feel the love of God in their life. Through our righteousness, our sincere desire to follow the commandments, and our constant effort to minister to others in simple ways, people can perceive God's image in our countenance, and they can have the desire to follow Him (p. 27)."
"There have always been loving sisters surrounding me and teaching me by example how faithful female disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ serve and love (p. 31)."
"What has Relief Society meant to me? It has meant a never-ending wealth of assistance from heaven and from earth that has helped me begin to prepare for the blessings of eternal life (p. 32)."
"'Let the Holy Ghost guide you (p. 35).'"
"'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (p. 35).'"
"I need to be wise in managing my energy, my sanity, and my spirituality, so I can give the Lord my best offering in helping Him do His work... He changed me, He tutored me, He guided me (p. 36)."
"Relief Society is the women of the Church; it is us, each of us, all of us (p. 36)."
"As Jesus Christ's disciples we need to be active participants in His works (p. 38)."
"Every woman and man received priesthood power as she or he participates in priesthood ordinances and keeps the related covenants (p. 44)."
"'Righteousness is the qualifier for each of us to invite priesthood power into our lives (p. 46).'"
"We are all on this journey together... we need to be unified (p. 49)."
"I could feel the goodness and the love of the people who had donated all those items and of those who handed the down to us. I felt safe and protected. Those items came from different parts of the world and were given by people who were helping us even though they did not know us personally (p. 52)."
"The Holy Ghost gives us a vision that our natural eyes cannot see, because 'revelation is scattered among us' and when we put that revelation together, we can see more (p. 53)."
"The Lord blesses us with revelation at the general level of the Church, and at the personal level of our lives (p. 57)."
"'Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God's children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life (Russell M. Nelson, p. 62).'"
"A big part of the beauty and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ lies in its simplicity, and as we strive to live it and to share its good news in a simple and sincere way, we will be instruments in the hands of the Lord to bring more souls to His fold (p. 62)."
"In the scriptures we find many examples of people who exercised faith in Jesus Christ, and because of that, they and others were blessed immensely (p. 63)."
"The Lord has asked us to go to work (p. 64)."
"If we act in faith and give the Lord our best offering each day, He touches our stones in miraculous ways, He manifests Himself unto us in unexpected ways, and He blesses us immensely (p. 64)."
"Every time we do a small and simple thing to prepare spiritually, we are protecting ourselves against 'the enemy of all righteousness' (p. 69)."
"We are all in need of the healing balm that the Savior offers (p. 74)."
"When it comes to healing, we all need the Savior desperately (p. 76)."
"'Anytime you do anything that helps anyone--on either side of the veil--take a step toward making covenants with God... you are helping to gather Israel (Russell M. Nelson, p. 79).'"
"'You cannot know when, or for what length of time, your personal mission will be focused on service in calls such as mother, leader, or ministering sister. The Lord, out of love, does not leave us the choice of the timing, duration, or sequence of our assignments. Yet you know... that all of these assignments will come, either in this life or in the next, to every daughter of God. And all of them are preparation for eternal life in loving families--'the greatest of all the gifts of God' (Henry B. Eyring, p. 84).'"
"As disciples of Jesus Christ, our highest desire should be to follow His example of love and 'allow [Him] to transform us into the best version of ourselves (p. 84).'"
"There is not a mold; there is not a single pattern. The Holy Ghost does not have a script. Many times, He will just whisper to us... If you are making a sincere effort to follow divine laws and to be respectful of others, the Holy Ghost will guide you and you will know what to do (p. 87)."
"Show genuine interest, and before you know it, you will have made a new friend and you will become a better friend (p. 87)."
"We strived to teach our children of the joy we feel when we make a sincere effort to follow God's commandments (p. 89)."
"There is so much we can learn from a child's heart. Their joy in simplicity, their desire to give their all and to live every moment at their fullest, are things that we adults need to feel more often (p. 90)."
"It takes effort and time to really counsel together--to listen to one another, understand others' viewpoints, and share experiences (p. 90)."
"God has a plan... we are part of that plan (p. 93)."
"When our children are taught of the Lord, they have great peace, the peace that comes only from Him (p. 94)."
"'Let us not underestimate the capacity and potential power of today's children to perpetuate righteousness. No group of people in the Church is as receptive to truth, both in efficiency of learning and with the greatest degree of retention (Michaelene Grassli, p. 96).'"
"When we take the time to get to know other people, we realize that each of us has our own unique story and that we all have had struggles (p. 107)."
"We can sometimes be hard on each other as women; we might start judging, comparing, and competing, rather than having compassion and charity. But we can change that culture in the Church, and we must (p. 108)."
"Ministering isn't so much what you do, but what you feel, and how that person feels (p. 108)."
"'Ministering is part of our own process of repentance as we turn our hearts to God and His children (Russell M. Nelson, p. 110).'"
"We should not underestimate the influence that we may have on our friends whenever we share our testimony with them and whenever we try to strengthen them in the Lord (p. 112)."
"Do what you can each day, ask the Lord to fill in the gaps, and then, a new day starts, and you begin again. That is part of the beauty of being disciples of Jesus Christ, that we are never done, that there is always something else to do, and that there is always room for improvement (p. 113)."
"Let us cherish one another, watch over one another, comfort one another, and gain instruction, so we can strengthen each other in the Lord, and so we can sit down in heaven together, where the Lord will lead us unto living fountains of waters and He will wipe away all tears from our eyes (p. 114)."
"If we are patient, if we put our trust on our Savior, if we wait on His timing, and we try to follow His commandments, answers will come one day, and we will finally have that peace that we are looking for (p. 119)."
"Even those who are without hope, who live in despair, who have betrayed trust, surrendered their integrity, or turned away from God can be rebuilt (p. 120)."
"Part of our mortal existence is to go through trials, big and small, at different times of our life, but Heavenly Father will 'consecrate [our] afflictions for [our] gain' (p. 121)."
"I know that we can all be healed by the soothing balm that our Master Healer, Jesus Christ, offers us in His infinite and perfect love (p. 121)."
"I do not know anything about depression; I need to learn about it so I can help my daughter. That simple prompting was the answer I was longing for (p. 125)."
"Perfectionism is one of the main causes of depression and anxiety (p. 126)."
"Little did I know at that time that the journey she and I went through together was going to be part of the preparation I had been given by my Father in Heaven to fulfill my calling (p. 126)."
"Faith is a powerful source of healing, especially if it is centered in Jesus Christ and in His ability to heal us (p. 129)."
"Our Father in Heaven designed our mortal experience to be one in which we would need to rely not only on the Savior but also upon one another to successfully complete our journey back to our heavenly home (p. 132)."
“There is no magic solution, no simple balm to provide healing, nor is there an easy path to the complete remedy. The cure requires profound faith in Jesus Christ and in His infinite capacity to heal (p. 134).”
“I could not tell people to be open about their struggles if I was not willing to do the same (p. 134).”
“Part of the healing process is to be able to talk about our pain, to let others cry with us, and to allow the Savior to work His miracles on us. I have certainly witnessed the healing that He can give on both sides of the veil (p. 134).”
“We are all healing from something and area all in need of healing (p. 135).”
“We are all making our best effort to follow God’s commandments. ‘Let us not therefore judge one another any more’ (p. 136).”
“We do not have to become sole fixers of ourselves or others. We do not have to do everything ourselves (p. 136).”
“Turn to Heavenly Father… You are His child and… He loves you (p. 136).”
“Your struggles do not define you, but they can refine you (p. 137).”
“‘Be someone who joins in the work of Christ in lifting burdens (p. 137).’”
“When I feel alone in my struggle, I am reminded that He has already experienced exactly what I am going through on my behalf (p. 138).”
“‘Thru cloud and sunshine’ the Lord will abide with us (p. 139).”
“Love is the greatest motivator. It is a powerful source of purpose, strength, and endurance as we go through our mortal experience. Because of our love for God and His love for us, He can enable us with His power to do things that we did not know we had the capacity to do (p. 142).”
“‘Come unto the Father in my name, an din due time receive of his fulness. For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father’ (p. 143).”
“How do I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and mind? How do I love others as myself and as Jesus Christ loves me (p. 144)?”
“Our relationship with God and our righteous relationships with others are all divine, and they can help us become what we came to this earth to become (p. 144).”
“‘We may never understand nor comprehend in mortality how [Jesus Christ] accomplished what He did, but we must not fail to understand why He did what He did. Everything He did was prompted by His unselfish, infinite love for us (Ezra Taft Benson, p. 145).’”
“To develop love for someone, we need to have the desire to get to know them and we need to spend time with them, preferably face-to-face (p. 146).”
“‘Though it may not be reciprocated… love is never wasted (Neal A. Maxwell, p. 146).’”
“Turn outward instead of inward. Turn to others so you can know them with their weaknesses and strengths and realize that you and they are not alone in your pains, in your struggles, and in your desires and efforts to get closer to God. We become stronger and we grown when we help others, and when we accept the help of others (p. 147).”
“Give relationships enough time to grow and to give fruit (p. 147).”
“Pray for that love and be patient (p. 147).”
“Cultivating relationships is a decision (p. 148).”
“I can say with certainty that God’s hand has always been guiding me when I have had the humility to acknowledge that I need His divine help at all times (p. 150).”
May 2, 2021
An inspiring look at the way Jesus Christ can succor someone looking for comfort and peace. After leaving an unhappy marriage Sister Aburto opened her heart to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint, here she found the comfort and support she was looking for. I admire her courage in looking for a way to improve her life and her son’s.
April 24, 2021
I enjoyed the simple humility and honesty evident throughout this book. It’s not profound in that there are no new epiphanies, but it has an underlying strength in its vulnerability and truth. I love her perspective and her testimony that shines through her words.
April 26, 2021
I look up to this sister now more than I ever had! Her knowledge and insight on mental health brought me peace and comfort that I’ll never forget!
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June 5, 2022I listened to this book across the span of two or three months. I enjoyed learning more about Sister Aburto. She has some pretty amazing life stories. Some of her insights were exactly what I needed.
April 15, 2021
The further into the book I read, the more I liked it, then loved it. Sister Aburto has great insights into getting to know the Savior.
One of my favorite chapters spoke on teaching our children and grandchildren about the Temple.
Another spoke about mental illness and the importance of learning as much about it as we can so that we can understand those who live with it.
As I got to the end of the book I was amazed at her advice on learning to love.
"We are all learning to love; we are all learning to love better; we are all learning to love our Heavenly Father and our Savior with all our heart, soul, and might; and we are all learning to love others in a holier way." quote from p. 148
I highly recommend this book.
One of my favorite chapters spoke on teaching our children and grandchildren about the Temple.
Another spoke about mental illness and the importance of learning as much about it as we can so that we can understand those who live with it.
As I got to the end of the book I was amazed at her advice on learning to love.
"We are all learning to love; we are all learning to love better; we are all learning to love our Heavenly Father and our Savior with all our heart, soul, and might; and we are all learning to love others in a holier way." quote from p. 148
I highly recommend this book.
April 17, 2021
From a woman who has survived a destructive earthquake, a civil war, moving to a new country, the death of a brother, a divorce and someone close to her committing suicide comes a wonderfully inspiring book about the healing power Jesus Christ can have in you life and how to better reach out to him and feel peace.
March 24, 2021
A beautiful and inspiring book of lessons and insights from the life and testimony of Reyna Aburto, a counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the largest women's organization in the world). Her unique life make for a wonderful canvas for the lessons she teaches in her book, and the audio version is narrated by her, with her gorgeous accent. I loved listening to it, as it felt like she was telling me her story and teaching me one on one.
March 23, 2021
Sister Aburto from the General Relief Society Presidency uses experiences from her own life to discuss how we can reach for the Savior, Jesus Christ in our daily lives. This book talks about faith, clinical depression, facing trials, love, divorce, loss, joy - so many emotions and experiences in life. This is a beautiful book that reminds us where our focus should be and who we can always rely on.
March 24, 2021
This book was well written and beautifully created. I loved listening to her peaceful beautiful voice while she was sharing her life experiences and wisdom. I felt uplifted and inspired by her words. It was difficult to put this book down. So many things to ponder
February 24, 2021
The word I would use to describe this book is sweet. Reyna is a sweet soul with a very sweet testimony. I loved listening to her voice in this and how she has allowed faith to triumph through her trials. This was a light and quick read but a powerful one. I’m so grateful for strong women like Reyna who are changing the world by bringing awareness for hard topics (depression, divorce, drug/alcohol abuse), faith through hard circumstances and purity to the forefront.
March 13, 2021
If you are looking for an inspirational read, then look no further. Sister Aburto shares stories from her own life where in the end everything worked out in the end after she reached for the Savior. She has some great insights about almost every topic Saints deal with. I especially loved the ones dealing with being single and trying to date since that is my life right now. I highly recommend this book.
March 20, 2021
This was a short but very uplifting book to read. I appreciate Sister Arbuto being so candid about her life and the ups and downs she has faced. It helped me to keep life in perspective and to look for the blessings that surround me. In the difficult past year many people have had much to cope with but Sister Arbuto reminded me over and over again to reach for the Savior in my personal life, my family life, my community of friends. I highly recommend it. It is a quick read.
March 16, 2021
A beautiful book written with simplicity and clarity. I love Sister Aburto's testimony and story of her conversion. She shares stories of growing up in Nicaragua, loosing a brother, her father's suicide, and struggles with depression.
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