Grace To Become

by Emily Belle Freeman

God's plan for each of His children includes progress, increase, and transformation. At the center of that plan is Jesus Christ, who offers enabling grace through His Atonement. This enabling strength includes saving grace, which helps us overcome, but also exalting grace, which helps us to become.

In her signature meditative, soul-expanding style, Emily Belle Freeman explores how each of us can receive the power of Christ's exalting grace as she draws out connections and parallels in the story of Abraham and the covenants that lead us to eternal life. A companion to Grace Where You Are, this book will help you better understand the relationship between faith and works as you seek transformation in your own life. Discover how both our incremental progression and our ultimate exaltation are made possible through grace.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Lds, Audiobook, Inspirational, Spirituality, Church

144 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Emily Freeman and Simon Dewey collaborated on the bestselling book The Ten Virgins. For nearly 20 years, Emily has addressed groups of women as a writer, songwriter, and motivational speaker. Her deep love of the scriptures comes from a strong desire to find their application in modern-day life. Emily and her husband, Greg, are the parents of four children and live in Lehi, Utah.

Reviews

[Cali · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admire Emily Belle Freeman. I am most familar with her through her podcast (Don't Miss This) and I've watched her on social media a bit. I like that she knows, loves and studies the scriptures, she makes an effort for interfaith dialogue and connection, she is an ally to LGBTQ+, she is an includer. I asked for this book for my birthday. I honestly didn't love the book and probably wouldn't recommend it, but I am intrigued by grace and I'm happy to support Emily Belle Freeman. I need grace. I want to study more about grace (I'll be using the footnoates in the book). I would have named one of my daughter's grace except Grace Ence does not sound that good.

One example that I've seen of grace in my own life was when Josh was first called to the bishopric. We had little kids and Sacrament meeting could be a struggle with 2 adults there! However, I feel that I was blessed with grace, with a capacity beyond my own, to not get stressed during Sacrament meeting. My kids could be loud, annoying each other, crawling under the pews, etc and I was just fine. I want to notice more moments of grace and God's healing and helping and increasing my capacity.

[alisonwonderland (Alison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scripturally based, this second book about grace by Emily Belle Freeman was a meaningful reading and study experience for me.

The artwork by Eva Koleva Timothy is gorgeous!

Alison's Summer Reading 22/33

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I love Emily’s contemplative nature and I want to be her walking buddy so we can talk about spiritual things together. Until then, I will keep reading her books. I love her explanation of saving grace (to help us overcome) and exalting grace (to help us become). “One is felt in the moments we allow him to enter our story, the other is felt in the moments we allow him to finish our story.” This elevating and transforming grace is the focus of this book, and she helps us understand how we access it through ordinances and covenants, as it is administered through the Holy Ghost. Through personal experiences and scriptural insights, Emily helped inspire me to do my part to strengthen my relationship with Christ and seek more of his enabling grace.

Notes and Quotes:

Chapter 2
-“It is well” scripture story; no matter the outcome “it is well” because of our faith in his grace
-More than just saving grace, but exalting grace—“an ascension, God finishing our story, lifting, transforming, elevating a soul”

-Two types of grace (from Christs atonement)
1-The grace that heals wounds, it meets you where you are, as you are, the balm of broken things, the mending of a heart, to help us OVERCOME
2-The grace that elevates souls, lifts, increases capacity, transforms us, enables increase and progression, to help us BECOME

-“One is felt in the moments we allow him to enter our story, the other is felt in the moments we allow him to finish our story.”

-Saving grace - through our belief and faith in Christ; the enabling strength to overcome
-Exalting grace - also through faith, but is administered through the Holy Ghost as we participate in sacred ordinances and covenants; the enabling strength to become
-Ordinances and covenants enable the becoming and exalting; it’s all about relationship

Chapter 3
-“Unknowing can open a vault for capturing Gods wisdom if you allow it to be so.”
-Grace through covenants in Bible - Abraham

Chapter 4
-“Jesus is my oldest friend.” Missionary farewell talk - in my hardest times and best times, Jesus was there
-Jacob “I am with thee”; “Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not” - He is with us, even when we don’t see Him
-God promises, provides, and prevails
-God is with Jacob and helps him become, this is his story, this is our story

Chapter 7
-Rhythms of ritual that give us rest in Christ
-“Perhaps becoming is supposed to leave a mark on us.”
-“Wasted and worn out”—that’s how I want to return home
-The story of Naaman (the collective encounters make us whole); “It seems we do not become fully transformed with one encounter. Could it be the sum of every encounter that in time renders us whole. Is it the process that enables us to return to where He is as He is. Learning Jesus—does it come through rhythms of grace? Perhaps every encounter with His yoke leaves the mark of grace.”

Chapter 9
-He showed up because of my want and offered his enabling grace

-“Falling short is not only natural, but essential to our journey in mortality. I believe it is our falling short that causes us to yearn for a relationship with Jesus Christ. In my own experience, it is my weakness that prompts me to reach out to Him and plead for His grace. Those weak moments are what activated the full power of Jesus Christ in my life.”

Chapter 10
-Ephesians 3:16-20- “strengthened with might by His spirit”
-The role the Spirit might play in helping us receive the Saviors grace
-“The Holy Ghost is the messenger of grace.” -Elder Christofferson
-Conduits whereby the creator conveyeth grace—rhythms of grace; The knowledge makes me want to spend more time in those activities that become a conduit of both the spirit and grace.

-“If the Holy Ghost is truly the messenger of grace, I find myself wanting to improve my relationship with him--to give up what might come between, hear the word, search the scriptures, read good books, receive the sacraments, pray, confer. For these be, as so many conduits whereby the creator conveyeth grace into the soul of the creature.”
- “The gift of the Holy Ghost...quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form, and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.”-Elder Parely P. Pratt

Chapter 11
-God saw the goodness in each step of the progression of the creation
-We learn that God is just as interested in the day to day progression as in the finished product
-Step by step, grace for grace, exaltation is all about progression, and each step, no matter how small, is good; he will bless and encourage along the way
-Exaltation-not because of who we are, but because of who He is; as we repent, mistakes become part of our progression
-He will remind me of my goodness along the way

Chapter 12
-Christ comes with courage, kindness, and comfort, he comes with understanding, he knows how to care for you
-Jesus is not afraid of broken—it’s our brokenness that draws Him to us and us to Him

[Ashley Furness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Emily writes and shares her heart in her work and I’m a big fan of her books. But this book really made me think deeper. I loved it and I’m sure I’ll revisit it again and again.

[Julie Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved each of Emily Freeman's books on grace SO much! She explains things in a new light really clearly and it just feels true.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book originally caught my attention because I LOVE the artwork of Eva Koleva Timothy. I didn't buy it at the time --I just put it on the back burner of my mind. Then after sharing some of Timothy's artwork on FB, my sister-in-law who seldom comments on anything I post, commented about this artwork, "Gorgeous!". I decided then I wanted to buy the book for her. In spite of the fact that I had many treasured experiences around this book, I didn't actually buy it until a short time ago because I was waiting for Deseret Book discount. FINALLY the discount happened and I ordered the book. I picked it up today. I knew that I wanted to read it before sending it onto my sister-in-law. It is absolutely beautiful, uplifting, and inspiring. I may need to eventually buy a copy for myself.

[Hanna Flanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace-the enabling strength beyond our own. God’s strength and help. The Holy Ghost, temple covenants, Jesus meets us where we are, the 10 lepers, faith requires action, grace increases my capacity, our falling short causes us to yearn for a relationship with Jesus Christ. I loved all the insights and themes of this book. Emily Belle Freeman is so wise. She has always turned to God thru all her life experiences. I want to learn to do the same.

[Happy Reading Watching · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cover 😁
It was a really good short listen at work.
I enjoyed the teachings and messages ♡

[Melynne (mels_booknook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! Loved the stories and examples of Grace.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and poignant thoughts.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb and beautiful, this book filled me with love, light, and grace. Sister Freeman teaches with power and beauty as she reaches to God, and He reached to me. I loved this book so much, and I learned so much about grace, about Jesus, and how His grace works in my life.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything Emily Freeman writes is beautiful. I have written down so many quotes from this book. Her books on Christ's Grace have been incredibly healing for me.

[Jolee B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not love her writing style - it’s very choppy and seems like she’s trying too hard. But I do appreciate her knowledge. So I tried to look past the writing and enjoy the message.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent discourse on different facets and ways to look at grace. Definitely a way to better understand.

[Renée | apuzzledbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘He was there. Constant. Steady. Sure. The one who kept me from falling. An ever-present help in times of trouble. The giver of grace. Jesus.’

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book that helps explain God’s love and grace, as well as life’s purpose of progression, growth, and exaltation. We can turn to Him to bless us. Great quotes:

“She doesn’t even notice the mess because of how focused she is on me. That is her way. It is one of the things I love most about her (p. 2).”

“It’s not the yellow dress, or the reaching. It isn’t how far she had to carry the old wooden ladder, or how many rungs she climbed. It’s the fact that the grace spilling out of heaven would have reached her regardless. Unmerited. Undeserved. Unscheduled. And yet, she couldn’t wait (p. 3).”

“No matter the outcome, because of her faith in His grace, all would be well (p. 8).”

“I cried several times each day, and every night I would fall into bed with a prayer of exhaustion, pleading for His grace. Healing. Deliverance. Rescue. Every night, without fail, He would send the grace of His Son to heal me and strengthen me. To give me rest. Grace to overcome the pain. But that saving grace in and of itself was not all that was needed for my journey. It was a balm that quieted me, but I needed something more (p. 9).”

“Most often God doesn’t take the broken out of mortality. He allows mortality to do its work in us, to grow us, to stretch us. That is why we are here, for growing. Unwilling to leave us in this place alone, our God sent His Son down to a starlit stable filled with that sweat and dust. He came to meet us where we are, as we are (p. 11).”

“It was a slow afternoon. The kind where you can lean into deep conversation; the type of talking that heals a soul. She asked about Jesus, and belief, and grace. Why live a covenant life when most of the world tells you belief in Christ is sufficient (p. 12)?”

“Saving grace is received through belief in Christ and His atoning sacrifice. Exalting grace is also received through belief in Christ and His atoning sacrifice, but is administered by the Holy Ghost as we participate in sacred ordinances and covenants (p. 13).”

“Saving grace is the enabling strength to overcome.
Exalting grace is the enabling strength to become (p. 13).”

“It is a beautiful truth sprinkled throughout all of scripture. You will discover it in every book of the standard works. Jesus came down to lift us up (see 3 Nephi 27:14-15, 19; p. 14).”

“It’s all about relationship… I enter into those ordinances and covenants not out of obligation or expectation, but because of deep longing for what I hope to receive and become through Him. In the end, my goal is not to just become the best mother or friend or sister or spouse I can be in this life, but to actually become like Him. Like He is. I long for His grace to help me through mortality, to transform me into the best version of myself I can be while I am here. When all is said and done, my highest goal is to become like Him so I can return back to the Father’s presence (p. 16).”

“As we move along the covenant path from salvation to exaltation, Christ enables our progress through grace. His saving grace rescues us, heals us, delivers us, and helps us overcome death, sin, and the weakness of mortality. His exalting grace enables progression and increase, transformation, the ability to become as He is and eventually receive the Father’s fullness (p. 17).”

“Unknowing can open a vault for capturing God’s wisdom if you allow it to be so. My friend is patient with me. She is comfortable with the unknowing. I have stumped her with my own questions a few times as well… The next morning, I turn to the story of God’s people found in the book of Genesis. I want to discover the reason for choosing to live a covenant life, the reason I belong to a faith that teaches about exaltation… Jehovah appeared to Abraham saying, ‘I am thy shield, and they exceeding great reward’ (Genesis 15:1). It was a promise of protection, but also increase—I am your saving and your exaltation (p. 20).”

“Sometimes the only way to move forward is through grace (p. 21).”

“Have you watched the sun go down on your promise and felt the weight of darkness settle in (p. 22)?”

“The Lord promised Abraham that he would uphold both sides of the covenant, even if it meant the shedding of His own blood. From the beginning He was willing to offer His life for Abraham’s… Abraham’s posterity was ensured salvation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ… His posterity was promised a path that would exalt them if they chose to enter into the covenant relationship. It was the promise of priesthood ordinances that would lead to exaltation and eternal increase (p. 23).”

“Every so often in a life, a sudden insight into an essential truth will come from an ordinary experience. An epiphany. Our feet may be firmly planted in the dirt we have lighted upon, darkness may surround, but for a time we are given a glimpse of who we are and the potential of who we can become through grace (p. 24).”

“‘He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief… being fully persuaded that, what [God] had promised, he was able also to perform (p. 25).’”

“The one who had been asked to speak on his relationship with Christ. He said writing the talk was hard for him because he had so many personal stories to choose from. ‘Jesus is my oldest friend,’ he explained… I knew exactly what he was talking about (p. 27).”

“He was there. Constant. Steady. Sure. The One who kept me from falling. An ever-present help in times of trouble. The giver of grace. Jesus. For me, to live, is Christ. I don’t know where I would be without Him… I do not travel alone through this wilderness place. None of us do (p. 29).”

“It’s hard to journey through unknown wilderness places in darkness (p. 30).”

“‘I am the Lord God of Abraham, thy father, and the God of Isaac,’… I am the God of your grandfather. The Promise Keeper… Do you see the dirt where you are lying? I plan to give it to you… but there is more… I plan to bless it (p. 30).”

“The Lord will meet you right here in your story. Where you are. He will stand beside you and offer saving grace. He plans to bless you (p. 31).”

“Where is your wilderness place?… The Lord is about to bless that place (p. 32).”

“Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not (p. 33).”

“Transformation requires time, but also Him (p. 35).”

“The Lord loves introspection, inviting us to go deeper, making us think (p. 37).”

“He loved that boy. The one standing vulnerable there in the street. Despite his lack (p. 39).”

“When Christ asked the boy to take up the cross and follow Him, He was suggesting a life that would be filled with pain, sacrifice, and adversity. Becoming the very symbol of your belief. Leaving behind everything. Giving all. Just as He did. It wasn’t easy to take up the cross (p. 40).”

“Sometimes Jesus asks us to do hard things. Even though He loves us. Because He loves us (p. 41).”

“What had been asked of him was too hard—alone. But with Him, it would be possible. With Jesus. Because of His grace… Where is your lack? Becoming will require us to be vulnerable. It will begin with a recognition of our brokenness, our lack, our weakness. Perhaps we too will stand with our soul laid bare in the middle of the street. The process will lead to us asking that same question, Good Master, what should I do? You could walk away… Or you could take up the cross. Enter the covenant path. Lean into His exalting grace. Believe. You could choose to become (p. 43).”

“‘We have a glorious destiny before us; we are engaged in a glorious work. It is worth all our attention, it is worth our lives and everything the Lord has put into our possession and then ten thousand times more (Joseph F. Smith, p. 47).’”

“Within the vulnerability, he had become (p. 48).”

“I want to learn something about the One who walked the dusty paths of mortality in sandaled feet. Perhaps the best way to learn is to walk the path the way He did (p. 49).”

“I am with you; thou shalt be made stronger. The workmanship of God’s hands, His people, would become the lifework of Moses… Transforming the children of Israel would take effort and time and would only be accomplished with the help of His Only Begotten, who is full of grace (p. 51).”

“‘The Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it… We’re always progressing (p. 52).’”

“Faith was manifest as they went, but grace is what actually enabled the miraculous transformation to take place (p. 53).”

“Faith, by itself, could not produce the desired outcome… It was His power that enabled the walking on water, the healing, the overcoming, the building of relationship, the cleansing, the light, the opening up of an obstructed way. His enabling strength. His grace. Faith requires action on the part of the individual. Grace is His miraculous work in us (p. 53).”

“I lay out a fresh piece of paper in front of me with the intention to set new goals, to contemplate the work of this new year, and I wonder what it will be. I always include the Lord in this process of soul searching. I write down the responsibilities of my life—mother, wife, grandmother, mother-in-law, friend, teacher, minister, author, creator, lifter of others… How will I move forward and upward in each of these ares? Where do I need to be transformed? Who will I become (p. 54)?”

“The truth about failure is that it always turns my heart to Him. I have proved Him in my lack before, in my places of want; I have handed Him my weakness and pled for His grace. It happens every single time I list my goals. I know that I can plan and prepare, but only He can bring the increase I am seeking (p. 55).”

“Every year… I ask to know my great work, and then I prepare to walk the path. Over time I have learned that my effort combined with His grace offers a fertile ground for becoming (p. 55).”

“Where is your mountain? What is your great work? How is the Lord transforming you? Take off your shoes (p. 56).”

“‘The job will not be complete in this life, but he means to get us as far as possible before death’ (C.S. Lewis, p. 59).”

“It’s hard to feel welcome in someone’s house when you feel like you’ve been forgotten (p. 60).”

“Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it… Keep company with me (p. 61).”

“It wasn’t religion that had changed; it’s as me. The yoke wasn’t supposed to be ill-fitting or heavy… No one ever said that religion was comfortable, and growing muscle requires repetition that causes pain, and strength comes from pushing ourselves outside of comfort zones, and grace is what happens when Christ enters into the empty places and into the heavy places. Grace is what happens when Christ enters in… Don’t be afraid to look for Him in heavy situations. One of His best jobs is lifting (p. 61).”

“Heavy doesn’t have to mean forced. Instead, it might remind us of the need for the yoke. The sharing of the burden. Someone to help us lift the hard things. Someone to help lift us. The process of ascension requires lifting, and there is One who is willing to help… The rhythm of grace (p. 62).”

“There is something about the rhythm that renews the soul and restores life. And heals. And fills empty places. And lightens the burden of heavy things… The Creator must know about how rhythms heal souls, because He invites us to create rhythms in our own lives. Holy rhythms of prayer and scripture study and taking the sacrament and ordinances and covenants. These are the rhythms that rejuvenate and restore with time. Rhythms of a yoke that lifts and lightens and offers rest… Get away with me… Rest in me. I will help you recover your life. Keep company with me (p. 63).”

“We do not become fully transformed with one encounter. Could it be the sum of every encounter that in time renders us whole? Is it the process that enables us to return to where He is, as He is? Learning Jesus (p. 65).”

“Will the work of becoming leave its mark on us (p. 66)?”

“I want him to write four words on my tombstone: ‘Wasted and worn out.’ That’s how I want to return home, with the sum of every encounter having left a mark on my soul… I long for the healing, but also the becoming (p. 68).”

“‘The grace of our Lord be with you all’ (Romans 16:24, p. 71).”

“I have experienced moments so heaven that they have caused me to sit down and list every good thing that was mine because of Christ in order to find strength to continue on (p. 72).”

“What if someone who wronged you showed up at your door with a letter in hand? A letter signed by Jesus Christ… ‘Grace to you, For love’s sake I beseech thee for this person who has wronged you so deeply that he has spent time in prison. I know he has been unprofitable to you, but he has changed (p. 75).’”

“The effort was exhausting me. I simply needed grace. I remember the tears flowing ever and the realization that somehow the Lord had remembered me and my desire for a blessing and that He had found me and met me, right there where I was (p. 79).”

“Do you hear the whisper of something hard ahead? Does what you have been asked to do feel too great? Where is your capacity being stretched right now? Grace to you (p. 80).”

“Waking up in the morning is hard. Facing a new day is hard. Even entering into normal, routine situations is hard (p. 84).”

“Why does the Lord bless people with hard seasons (p. 84)?”

“I believe resilience and discipleship and exaltation are forged in the fire of falling short. I’ve met the Lord in the treasury. In my places of poverty. He showed up because of my want and offered His enabling grace (p. 86).”

“Who pays the cost of grace (p. 87)?”

“Why in the world would someone purchase something they created for that much money? Who pays the price of the workmanship of his own hands? At what cost? It depends how great the want is (p. 88).”

“We might believe the cost of grace is all our living, but perhaps, in reality, it is all of His. He gave all His living, His life, to redeem ours. The cost of grace is sacrifice. The Father giving His Son. The Son giving His life. Each of us turning over our life as is to Him. We surrender all our living, our want, our poverty, our falling short, believing that He will make up the difference. He will help us overcome, He will help us become, through grace (p. 88).”

“Grace, bestowed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which ‘can fill that which is empty, straighten our bent parts, and make strong that which is weak (Bruce C. Hafen, p. 89).’”

“I believe it is our falling short that causes us to yearn for a relationship with Jesus Christ… It is my weakness that prompts me to reach out to him and plead for His grace. Those weak moments are what activated the full power of Jesus Christ in my life (p. 89).”

“We look around the treasury and see Him and then we know it is worth casting in all we have, all our living, because of our want to return to where He is. As He is (p. 89).”

“‘Above all, trust in the slow work of God (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, p. 90).’”

“Becoming isn’t about work, or earning, or checklists or routine; this process of becoming is about love, and covenant, and relationship. We must remember love. The giving up of what might come between (p. 95).”

“If the Holy Ghost is truly the messenger of grace, I find myself wanting to improve my relationship with Him. To give up what might come between (p. 96).”

“‘The gift of the Holy Ghost… quickens the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom… It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature… (Parley P. Pratt, p. 97).’”

“Walking the covenant path increases the privileges that flow from the blessings of the gospel because the ordinances and covenants lead to an increase of the Spirit. The increase of the Spirit leads to an increase of grace. By walking the covenant path, we can receive greater guidance, greater protection, and greater inspiration… ‘God provides and almost incomprehensible gift to help covenant-makers be covenant-keepers: the gift of the Holy Ghost’ (D. Todd Christofferson, p. 97).”

“It is the relationship that leads to exaltation (p. 98).”

“Exaltation is to know the love of Christ. The breadth, the length, and depth, and height. Exaltation is to know Christ. To invest in loving Him. To give up anything that might come between. It is the relationship (p. 100).”

“It is my nature to wait until the project is completed, until the work is finished, to evaluate weather or not my work is good… Not God. He saw the goodness in every step of the progression. He spoke it out loud (p. 104).”

“Why do we put the pressure on ourselves to become complete today instead of embracing the idea of progression? A little at a time. Every day better. Grace for grace. What if exaltation is all about progression (p. 105)?”

“You are already good (p. 105).”

“He will see the good… Each day delivers new gifts because of the preparation of the day before—one building upon the other, line upon line, precept upon precept? What does this progression eventually lead to?… His happiness (p. 106).”

“What if these kingdom verses [section 76] also describe a way of living here and now? A process of progression. Could mortality be a practice ground for becoming in preparation for the eventual kingdoms we will receive?… The Lord taught that the kingdom of God isn’t something to watch or wait for; it is something we become (p. 112).”

“Progression cannot be achieved on our own merit; it requires His work in us (p. 113).”

“Sometimes the kingdom list overwhelms me… there is a process to progression… What if I had refused the guide?… I have been offered a Guide who knows my name and who knows everything about this adventure I am on. He has stories to share with me, and insights, and mysteries (p. 114).”

“When times are dark, He will remind me of the light… A Father who offers a clear path and His Spirit and His grace and mercies and miracles. A Father who wants nothing more than for us to experience His fulness… What if I passed upon His grace (p. 115)?”

“I want to return to the One who has devoted His entire eternal work to bring to pass the eternal happiness of His family (p. 115).”

“It seems the Lord is always growing us. There is always something more to learn. Sometimes it is a struggle (p. 117).”

“Maybe it’s your will that feels broken. Maybe your heart. Perhaps it is your faith. Maybe you don’t even know what it is that is broken (p. 119).”

“Jesus… is not afraid of broken (p. 120).”

“It is the breaking that allows for more to be given (p. 121).”

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way the author uses stories to illustrate her points and I love the way she presents complex ideas so you can understand them. It is not meant to quickly devour but to slowly savor. Definitely worth the read.

[Shayla Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some stories in this book that touched me and helped me think about grace differently. Overall a very good read

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to rate books on the way they make me feel; this book left me feeling uplifted, encouraged and loved. The writing and telling of stories is a little choppy, but I love the messages that are inside of these pages. Here are my notes of highlights from the book:

Most often God doesn’t take the broken out of mortality. He allows mortality to do its works in us, to grow us, to stretch us. That is why we are here, for the growing. Unwilling to leave us in this place alone, our god sent his son down…to meet us where we are, as we are. Pg 11

(Story of the lepers who were cleansed as they went) It was his divine intervention combined with their faith that produced the miraculous result, the transformation. Both the faith that moved the possessor to action and the touch of divine grace or favor. faith was manifest as they went , but grace is what actually enabled the miraculous transformation to take place. 53

Pg 54
Every January she makes new goals. She writes down the responsibilities of her life- mom, wife, grandma, mom in law, author, minister, teacher, friend, creator, lifter of hearts.
She immediately sees her lack in every situation she listed. But that lack, or failure turns her heart to Him. “I have proved him in my lack before, in my places of want. I have handed him my weakness and pled for His Grace. I know that I can plan and prepare, but only he can bring the increase I am seeking (1 Corinthians 3:6) the lifting up, the progression. Every year in January, I asked to know my great work, and then I’m prepared to walk the path. Overtime I’ve learned that my effort combined with his Grace offers of fertile ground for becoming.Sometimes it requires the wings of eagles (exodus 19:1-6)

*Grace is what happens when Christ enters in. Just because we don’t see Him doesn’t mean He isn’t there. It just means we don’t recognize Him in this situation. This is important. Don’t be afraid to look for Him in heavy situations.
One of his best jobs is lifting. 62

In those moments when we feel tired of the obligation, of the requirement, of the routine, perhaps we might ask ourselves, is there an importance to rhythm? In doing things again and again and more more time? Can the rhythm of ritual worship, the repetition of it, heal us, strengthen us, lift us?

It was shortly after that heavy season that I became very sick. I was so sick I didn’t know if I would ever heal. One day Greg walked me out of the house and buckled me into the front seat of our car. He placed a pillow behind my head and then he drove me thirteen hours to the ocean. For three days I sat in the sun on the sandy beach and listened to the waves rolling in and the tide going out. There is something about that rhythm that renews the soul and restores life…the Creator must know how rhythms heal souls, because he invites us to create rhythms in our own lives. Holy rhythms of prayer and scripture study and taking the sacrament and ordinances and covenants. These are the rhythms that rejuvenate and restore with time. Rhythms of a yoke that lifts and lightens and offers rest. They become unforced rhythms when our heart is yearning for Him. 63

Story of Paul asking Philemon to help someone who has wronged him and was an unprofitable servant. Philemon 1: 3-25
Imagine someone showing up at your house with a letter in hand and this message, just like Paul to Philemon:
“Grace to you, for loves sake I beseech thee for this person who has wronged you so deeply that he has spent time in prison. I know he has been unprofitable to you, but he has changed.
I have sent him again, asking that you would receive him as one of my own. Receive him, not as the person you once knew, but as a brother beloved, especially to me. In fact, receive him as you would receive me. Take care of him in that same way. (Don’t we do this with our own children; we must learn to look over faults and weaknesses and see them as Christ does, their potential for greatness. And don’t we want others to do the same for us; to have grace and forgive and forget our shortcomings and weaknesses?)
If he has wronged you, or if he owes you something to the pain he has caused you, put that on my account; I will repay it. Let me have joy in you in this. I have confidence in your obedience. I know you; I know that you will actually do more than I ask.
In the meantime, prepare a place for me. I know this will be hard for you, but I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. My grace will be with your spirit. -Jesus” 75-76

Elder Bruce c hafen tells us that “a sense of falling short or falling down is not only natural, but essential to the mortal experience.” He says Grace “can fill that which is empty, straighten our bent parts and make strong that which is weak”….
** I believe it is our falling short that causes us to yearn for a relationship with Jesus Christ. 89

Actions that lead to an increase of the spirit, rhythms of grace. When I read my scriptures, when I hear gods word, when I take the sacrament and pray, I experience an increase of the spirit. With an increase of the spirit I also experience an increase of grace. 96

The gift of the Holy Ghost quickens all the intellectual faculties ..it inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling.97
I begin to realize that walking the covenant path increases the privileges that flow from the blessing of the gospel because the ordinances and covenants lead to an increase of the spirit. 97

Exaltation= fullness of God 98

Walking the covenant path with him…It is all about the relationship 99

Exaltation is to know Christ.
To invest in living Him.
To give up anything that might come between.
It is the relationship. 100

He saw the goodness in every step of the progression. He spoke it out loud….from the story of the creation we learn that our father is just as interested in the day to day progress as he is in the finished product. Sometimes we forget this is true. We wonder if we are enough, if we are failing, if we are falling behind. We become discouraged. We doubt. We consider giving up. We must remember that god never expected the results of day six on day 2. On day 2, he was thrilled with the results of day two. He declared it good.
Why do we put the pressure on ourselves to become complete today instead of embracing the idea of progression? A little at a time. Every day better. Grace by grace.
Our god knows about line upon line. He sees where you have come from. He knows what you had to do to simply get through this day. If he were to whisper down from heaven tonight as you drift off to sleep, do you know what I think he would tell you? You are already good. 105

The Lord taught that the kingdom of God isn’t something to watch or wait for, it is something we become. 113.

A favorite phrase is, every day better. It’s what I tell myself over and over again. If I can just be a little bit better than I was yesterday, that I know I am progressing, I am on the path to exaltation, to the fathers fullness. To his happiness. If I look to him throughout this process, he will remind me of my goodness along the way. 114.

It is our brokenness that draws him to us, and us to him. It is why we turn to him for lifting. It is through our brokenness that his exalting grace is best made manifest. It is through the struggle that we discover him. 120.

death reminds you of how short mortality really is… The mountains she climbed, the story she wrote with her living. Our conversations about Jesus, how he meets us where we are… I saw how his spirit was mighty in the strengthening of her, how his grace had carried her through failures and fear… His covenant path had exalted her. Through the walking of it, she became as he is. 123.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been studying Grace this year, and this book was a perfect addition to my studies. I loved the idea of Grace to overcome v. Grace to become. Emily has such a beautiful way of sharing her insights and welcoming you into her stories. I adore her authenticity.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Emily touched my heart again . I love when she mentioned about God creating the world 1 day at a time . Don’t forget about each day that we can become like him.

[Rebecca Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful teaching on Grace. Thank you for sharing your insights.

[Jaron Dunford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving grace is the middle and strength to overcome. Exalting grace is signaling strength to become.

Jesus came down to lift us up. Third nephi 27: 14-15. John 12:32.

As we move along the covenant path from salvation to exaltation, Christ enables our progress through grace period his saving grace rescues us heals us delivers us, and helps us overcome death, sin, and the weakness of mortality. His exalting grace enables progression an increase, transformation, the ability to become as he is and eventually see the father's fullness.

When Christ asks us to take up the cross and follow him, he is suggesting a life that will be filled with pain sacrifice, and adversity. Becoming the very symbol of your belief. Leaving behind everything. Giving all.. Just as he did.

There was a rhythm in the dipping. Again, and again, and one more time period I read that story and think to myself that perhaps there is a process that leads to the presence of God. The more I study, it seems we do not become fully transformed with one encounter. Could it be the sum of every encounter that the time renders us whole? Is that the process that enables us to return to where he is, as he is? Learning Jesus. Does it come through rhythms of grace? Perhaps every encounter with his yoke leaves the mark of grace.

What did Naman feel on the 3rd dip and nothing changed. Or the 5th time? Patience with the Lord and his promises.

Some people read section 76 and see these kingdoms as final destination, a place where we will arrive after the day of judgment. But what if these Kingdom verses also describe a way of living here and now? A process of progression. Could mortality be a practice ground for becoming in preparation for the eventual Kingdom or receive? It was the pharisees who asked the lord when the kingdom of god should come. He told them not to look for it, how they wouldn't see it, for behold the kingdom of god is within you. The lord taught that the kingdom of god isn't something to watch or wait for, it is something we become. Could the same be true for exultation?

Every time I walk down disneyland's Main Street I tear up. This time when we walk under the tunnel that leads to Main Street, I'm already preparing for the tears of flow. Not happy tears. It's been a hard season, one of our hardest in recent years period I came here to remind myself that there was a happy place somewhere in the world. I take my time walking. I read the signs on the windows. We have been given this trip as a gift from my good friend. He set aside the tickets for us at will call. He knows how hard this season has been. When he calls to tell me about the tickets he explains he has also asked for a guide to accompany us for the day. I tell we don't really need a guide. He tells me just to accept the guide. You'll be grateful at the end he tells me. He's a good friend comer so i trust him our envelope with the tickets is deep Navy blue with the scroll along the outside. The gold tab on the back has our name and a date January 9th 2019. I still have the envelope. I never want to forget what I learned about the kingdoms on that day. Our guide and the chequered vests meets us first thing that morning. He asks our names, and then we start off. The man knows everything about Disneyland. As we walk he shares stories and insights and mysteries. When we get to each attraction, he takes us to a private entrance and we walk right onto the ride. He rides with us in this case we have questions in case we want to go again to make sure we have lack for nothing. He takes us to his favorite restaurant for lunch, tells us the best places for trees, and shows us the tiny house by the trunk of the large tree next to the Indiana Jones ride that I would have never noticed on my own. At the end of the day he takes us to a stand under the window with the red brick Firehouse at #105. He is the one who told me about the lamb. On that day we experienced the fullness of the privileges of the magic Kingdom has to offer. It was one of the best days. I won't ever forget it. The guide the rest from the weary the magic.

The same is true here on earth. I have been offered a guide who knows my name and knows everything about this adventure I am on. He has stories to share with me, and insights, and mysteries. He is willing to accompany me on every ride the thrillers the heart stoppers the one that makes me laugh out loud and the quiet excursions filled with song that fill me with peace and allow reflection. He is there in case I have questions, in case I need blessings, to make sure I lack nothing. He has strength and tender mercy and constant guidance. When times are dark he will remind me of the light and a father who stands at the window to watch all of the families below. The father who offers a clear path in his spirit and his grace and his mercies and his articles. A father who wants nothing more than for us to experience his fullness. It's why he offered his son period to guide us and to give us his gift of grace.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 4.5. I found this book to be a bit better than her other book, Even This: Getting to the Place Where You Can Trust God With Anything because it had more scriptural references and a bit clearer explanations. As with her other book, she blends personal stories (which tend to cover just the highlights so they aren't overly intimate), scripture stories, and introspection about Grace and God's power. However there wasn't an obvious organization to the book, but rather was a collection of insights. I would have preferred a clearer organization.
Her insights include:
God allows us to let life "work in us, to grow us, to stretch us" and he meets us wherever we are to lift us up (11).
Covenants provide us "greater guidance, greater protection, and greater inspiration" (15).
We are offered the promises made to Abraham and can have "a life of covenant becoming (23).
Christ can be "our oldest friend" (35).
Becoming more requires us to "be vulnerable" (43).
God's grace can "make you stronger, to increase your capacity, to enable you to fulfill the measure of your creation" (52).
Holy rhythms of prayer, scripture study, taking the sacrament and ordinances and covenants "heal the soul" (63).
Grace magnifies and enlarges our capacity, illuminates and strengthens our capacity (79).
"Resilience and discipleship and exaltation are forged in the fire of falling short" (86).
"Exaltation is to know the love of Christ. The breadth, and the length, and depth, and height" (100).
"The Father's greatest desire for us is to return home to Him, but returning home will require a process of progression" (106).
"We are all infants compared to the beings of glory and grandeur we are designed to become" (106).
"I trust [Christ] will lift me to where He is, as He is" (124).
Freeman's writing is well polished and at times poetic. Her insights are uniquely worded, making them seem like new ideas to someone who has been a member of the LDS faith for a long time. She shares her frustrations and challenges but this book definitely had a more optimistic tone than Even This. I look forward to reading more of her works.

[Kayla Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook and breezed through it in half of a work day. This poignant, spiritual self-help book was eye-opening.
Sister Freeman does a beautiful job at teaching the reader about grace and all its appendages. Not only do we learn about the divine gift of grace and its many forms, but we learn how to receive it from Heaven and apply it in our own lives, gift it to others, and cultivate it for ourselves.
I learned from a teacher in the 6th grade that "grace" is something we receive even when we don't deserve it. I have always reserved Grace for times of sin and shortcoming. This sweet book helped me understand that Grace is also for times of loneliness, grief, pain, hopelessness, and more. Grace is more than a "Oh that's just fine, we all make mistakes" attitude from the Lord. Grace is a gift that is forgiving, enabling, uplifting, saving, and healing.
I really struggle to feel God's love for many reasons. One of the biggest is that I just don't quite understand it. After listening to Grace To Become, I feel like I'm starting to catch the vision of what God's love is and how it's present in my life.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book on grace that is not about saving, but the grace of becoming more than we can on our own. I particularly like one thought I had reading this -- the Lord helps us face the impossible, not on our own, but with Him. We hear that so often, but until we truly feel what it's like to face the impossible, we can't really practice relying on Him when it comes. I had a moment reading where I felt the impossible wall and it helped me understand truly what it means to receive His grace in relying on Him to break through it and face what I deep-down in my heart believe is impossible to do. I have impossible things to do in my life right now, and now I feel a little more hope in completing them. I also have impossible traits in my personality. Traits I have locked away and never approached again because of the seemingly impossible nature of ever hoping to change them. And now I feel not only hope, but necessity in reopening that door and facing the darkness of doubt, knowing with the Lord I can truly become like Him.

[Jeff Birk · Rating 5 out of 5]

My bishop gave a talk in church drawing on a story in this book so I decided to read it. Sister Freeman has a great way with words and stories. When any author backs up their main points with stories and analogies, it always helps me retain the information and learnings better. She makes the case that there are two kinds of grace: saving grace and exalting grace. Both are necessary to help us progress along the covenant path. She makes some great points about the creation being similar to our journey of progress. Each day, the Lord pronounced "it it good" until the creation was complete. Just because we're not on Day 7 in our personal journey doesn't mean we're not good. If we're on Day 2, "it is good" and we build from there. The Lord loves what he did on Day 2 and he loves us on our Day 2. He meets us where we are. She mentions the importance of staying in the flow (regular scripture study, prayer, sacrament, temple attendance). This book has inspired me to recognize more and appreciate the countless graces Christ gives me every day.

[Kaylah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I just loved the raw, heartfelt, spontaneous thoughts of Emily Freeman! I have enjoyed watching her youtube channel ("Don't Miss This") for a while and just have grown to love her insights and vulnerability. This book brought up such sweet filled memories for me as she shared some memories of her own. I love how it is such an easy book to pick up and feel like you can begin wherever and end wherever and still receive little nuggets of knowledge along the way. This book was a great, no pressure, way to feel God's love and understanding of his grace for me. Would recommend to anyone wanting to come closer to God and understanding His grace.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful look at the grace that comes from Jesus Christ, and that although we often only think of enabling and saving grace through His Atonement, there is also exalting grace, which helps us to become. And not just become, but become like Him and our Father in Heaven.

I have heard the author speak of her thoughts on this before, and I loved reading a more thorough look at the two types of Grace. I loved how she used scriptural and real life experiences to help the reader understand more about both the grace that saves and the grace that exalts. I really enjoyed it and it made me think.

[LMoody · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the stories I loved most that Emily shared was when her son showed her a photo of his missionary shoes that were worn out from his missionary labors. She talked about how beautiful those shoes were to her as she realized the becoming that had happened during her son's missionary journey--and these shoes were proof of those sacrifices that changed him. Jesus truly has the power to save us and He also has the power to lift us and help us climb to Him as He works to exalt us. That work of exaltation looks a lot like those missionary shoes--but every effort in the climb with our Savior is worth it.