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Blessed Are Ye
Because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, the gift of grace is available to all. But how do we receive and use His gift, and to what end? Jesus Himself gave us the answer in His presentation of the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. Like many scriptures, the Beatitudes can be interpreted in multiple and diverse ways. In Blessed Are Ye, gospel scholars Brad Wilcox and Roger Wilcox explore these varied interpretations and examine possible connections between the Beatitudes, the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, and temple covenants. Featuring a straightforward examination of sacred scripture and prophetic counsel as well as practical ideas for application, this inspiring volume will guide modern-day disciples of Christ to view and value the Savior’s Atonement in truly meaningful and personal ways.
- GenresReligion
176 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2023
13 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 15, 2024
This is a nice book about the Beatitudes and how they match up with and teach us about the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ from faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, the sacrament, and all of the temple covenants, as well. They also teach us about Jesus Christ and how to become like Him. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
"Jesus was the first to link each beatitude with blessings, including salvation and eternal life. Christ alone has the authority to promise and the power to grand such blessings (p.2)."
"We believe Christ did come to show us how to live and help us do it (p. 3)."
"'Becoming as Jesus Christ is will require changing our hearts and minds, indeed, our very character, and doing so is possible only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ' (Scott D. Whiting, p. 7)."
"In the temple we learn how to endure to the end. We invite Christ's patience and grace as we obey and sacrifice and mercifully offer the same help to others (p. 8)."
"The pattern provided in the Beatitudes is recursive and builds on itself. These 'steps unto heav'n' are a circular staircase that continually invites us to revisit the same truths over and over at higher and higher levels (p. 9)."
"Instead of seeing God as trying to control and restrict us, we can see commandments as expressions of His love and opportunities for greater freedom (p. 9)."
"Like the father in Mark's gospel who wanted desperately to invite and access the power of Christ, we also start that process by choosing to believe... Some might ask, 'Why does Jesus require faith?'... One is to preserve our agency... 'we are free to choose' (p. 11)."
"'Unless we choose to exercise faith and repentance, we are as lost as if Christ had made no Atonement... Conversely, only our willingness to choose belief and choose trust allows God to influence our lives' (Bruce and Marie Hafen, p. 12)."
"Believers today 'feel after God and are not satisfied till we have found Him' (p. 13)."
"Choosing and acting on faith--especially in today's secular world--takes conscious and deliberate effort, and that effort leads to growth (p. 14)."
"'The covenants God offers to His children do more than guide us. They bind us to Him, and, bound to Him, we can overcome all things' (D. Todd Christofferson, p. 14)."
"The Nephites who gathered at the temple saw Christ and felt His wounds, yet He still taught, 'Blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me' (3 Nephi 12:1). Obviously, He was asking for more than simply a belief in His existence... our faith is in Christ... it grows as we recognize and accept the reality of God's kingdom and Christ's authority to establish and administer that kingdom (p. 15)."
"The Church gives us a place to apply doctrine, find respite and renewal, and get help as we strive to repent (p. 17)."
"I couldn't have helped you on my own. Neither could the elders quorum president or the Relief Society president. It's through the organization of the Church that good and caring people can pull together to help. We trust that you want to start a new life and we want to help (p. 18)."
"Our faith in Christ grows as we are united with His Church, but also when we align with His servants (p. 18)."
"'Blessed are they who shall believe in [the Apostles'] words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins' (3 Nephi 12:2)."
"Jesus taught of the absolute necessity of baptism (p. 27)."
"Baptism is the gateway out of the world and into the Lord's kingdom and is an essential ordinance. But baptism is much more than a box to check on our way to heaven. It is how we enter a covenant relationship with God and Christ and receive Their power to become heavenly (p. 29)."
"'When we get to heaven it will be because we have developed within ourselves the qualities that make heaven' (George Q. Cannon, p. 29)."
"It is within a covenant relationship that we can be tutored, taught, mentored, and prepared for heaven (p. 30)."
"The purpose of the Book of Mormon is not just to convince 'Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ' but also to help all 'know the covenants of the Lord' (p. 31)."
"Blessed are those who recognize how much they still must learn and who choose Christ as their perfect mentor (p. 36)."
"In the Sermon at the Temple, we see an addition of four small words that make a significant difference in the third beatitude: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me' (3 Nephi 12:3)... Christ was not inviting them to follow for a few hours or even a few weeks. He wanted them to be His disciples forever. He did not just want them to watch Him perform miracles. He wanted them to use the priesthood He would give them to perform miracles and continue His work. Choosing Christ meant they would eat as He ate, dress as He dressed, and serve as He served... they would learn to be like Him (p. 36)."
"Christ seeks us out. Christ calls for us to come unto Him with broken hearts and contrite spirits... humble and receptive to God's will... to put one's interests in God's hands... Blessed are they who feel their own weakness, and know their own inability and the power of God (p. 37)."
"The proud see no need to change. They think they are fine just the way they are and ignore or reject Christ and His Atonement. The poor in spirit, on the other hand, come to Christ. They yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and become stains through His Atonement (p. 37)."
"As we mature in our faith, we realize a Savior without expectations and commandments is a Savior who does not care where or how we end up (p. 38)."
"The poor in spirit not only ask, 'What lack I yet?' but must be ready to receive and act upon the answer (p. 38)."
"The poor in spirit couple the question 'What lack I yet?' with the declaration 'They will be done' (p. 40)."
"If we believe we can sin and suffer no consequences, we are only deceiving ourselves (p. 50)."
"Repentance is turning to God, who helps us turn away from sin; it is putting on godliness so we can put off ungodliness (p. 51)."
"In 3 Nephi, 'the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ connected the word 'repent' to the words 'come unto me' (Neil L. Andersen p. 52)."
"'Cast away from you all your transgressions' and 'make you a new heart and a new spirit' (Ezekiel 18:31).... Repentance is not penance that must be paid for our indulgences, but the promise of progress to overcome and abandon our indulgences (p. 53)."
"Heaven is more than living with God. It is living like God (p. 54)."
"God and Christ cannot overlook or condone sin, but they can encourage repentance and offer forgiveness (p. 54)."
"True comfort doesn't simply come from forgiveness but knowing the Forgiver (p. 56)."
"The definition of meekness in the original Greek is 'gentle, forgiving, or benevolent.' Considering these definitions, meekness could be called the capstone characteristic of Christ (p. 58)."
"As we partake of the sacrament, the Lord cleanses, heals, and renews us. We then use the power He gives us to treat others with gentleness and benevolence in preparation for inheriting the earth (p. 58)."
"We show meekness as we return to the sacrament table week after week and weakness after weakness. We obediently invite the Savior to cleanse and transform us, and He works His miracle. We then love others through the same process (p. 60)."
"'Whatever your struggle... Trust in God. Hold on in His love' (Jeffrey R. Holland, p. 62)."
"Like the woman with the issue of blood, when we partake of the sacrament, we meekly reach out to Christ as we reach for the emblems of His body and blood and feel His virtue--His power and grace--flow into us. We then offer mercy, grace, and healing to others (p. 63)."
"When Roger served as a bishop, he sometimes felt overwhelmed... One Sunday he felt drained... he sat on the stand as the emblems of the sacrament were blessed... Roger took the emblems... he felt renewal of his spirit--like his batteries were recharged. By the end of the meeting, he felt energized and able to continue because He remembered the Lord was shouldering the heavy load with him (p. 64)."
"What time, service, and gifts do we offer God and Christ (p. 64)?"
"Obedient followers make the most gentle and benevolent leaders (p. 66)."
"Those who have become celestial beings will live right here on the earth with family, friends, and God in a state of enduring love (p. 68)."
"We can be sanctified in Christ through the gift of the Holy Ghost (p. 70)."
"All God's children are given access to the Spirit at various levels. As we follow the light of Christ, we are filled with additional light through the influence of the Spirit (p. 71)."
"'There is indeed such a thing as absolute truth. This truth is different from belief. It is different from hope. Absolute truth is not dependent upon public opinion or popularity. Polls cannot sway it. Not even the inexhaustible authority of celebrity endorsement can change it' (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, p. 73)."
"In addition to being a witness and comforter, the Spirit also acts as a guide (p. 76)."
"WE all need truth, comfort, direction, and sanctification. To those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, these are the blessings that come as they are 'filled with the Holy Ghost' (p. 80)."
"The temple can be the unifying thread that ties the entire sermon together (p. 81)."
"Christ's character is revealed in both the Beatitudes and temple covenants (p. 83)."
"God does not ask for our obedience and sacrifice merely as prerequisites for blessings or protection from destruction. He asks us to keep this law for our development (p. 84)."
"The Lord did not rush their learning in mortality just as He did not rush their learning through the eons of time they prepared for mortality (p. 86)."
"'True enduring represents not merely the passage of time, but the passage of the soul--and not merely from A to B, but sometimes all the way from A to Z. Patient endurance permits us to cling to our faith in the Lord and our faith in His timing' (Neal A. Maxwell, p. 87)."
"Ordinances and covenants are how we receive the mercy and grace God gives, and how we invite more into our lives (p. 88)."
"A covenant relationship with God does not wait upon worthiness; it facilitates it (p. 89)."
"Showing mercy to others is part of how we obey and sacrifice (p. 91)."
"'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.'... In the temple, purity is represented as we participate in symbolic washings and dress in white, but the covenants we make also teach of purity (p. 93)."
"The Lord asks us to step beyond telestial (the world) and terrestrial (the law of Moses) levels and live the fulness of the celestial life (the higher law) (p. 94)."
"A transformation from telestial to terrestrial to celestial involves choosing to engage with Christ in a process of lifting our sights and purifying our motives (p. 95)."
"Our desires can be changed, and so can our motives (p. 98)."
"Enduring to the end does not mean living perfectly. It means enduring in our covenants despite imperfections. Enduring includes renewing broken covenants and practicing in our homes and workplaces what we learn and teach on Sundays (p. 99)."
"As we strive to live the higher law of the gospel, educate our motives, and experience a change of heart, Christ promises we can see God (p. 100)."
"'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent' (John 17:3, p. 101)."
"With heaven's help, our desires are educated and we 'call on the Lord out of a pure heart' (2 Timothy 2:22). As we endure to the end, our choices become motivated by love of God, and we 'love one another with a pure heart fervently' (1 Peter 1:22). This is how we come to see--understand and know--God (p. 103)."
"Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker, not just because He seeks to limit contention, but also because He allows us to live in at-one-ment with God... 'World peace, though a lofty goal, is but an outgrowth of the personal peace each individual seeks to attain' (Thomas S. Monson, p. 106)."
"Many people wanted freedom but refused to take the responsibility required to maintain it (p. 108)."
"'The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:7, p. 109)."
"As we choose to remain sealed to God, we become 'heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ' (Romans 8:17) and receive 'our status in the royal family of God' (Robert L. Millet, p. 114)."
"Those who make the choice to live the law of chastity are finding freedom and peace but also learning the attributes that will allow them to remain sealed to their families and God's family forever (p. 115)."
"We don't achieve consecration 'in the abstract' (Neal A. Maxwell, p. 118)."
"The world will always be at odds with those who hold to the iron rod (P. 118)."
"In temples, we learn to endure to the end. We show our love for God by covenanting to obey and sacrifice, live the higher law of the gospel, and keep the law of chastity (p. 119)."
"Huldah gave her all for the kingdom. She knew better than most that discipleship and consecration are not a guarantee of protection against opposition... Today, some people still look to God to take away all tribulation, hatred, and even death (p. 120)."
"Knowing God's plan and keeping an eternal perspective will allow us to move forward with a strong sense of mission... Knowing God's plan allows us to successfully face opposition... He wanted His children back after mortality, but He also wanted us to be better for having made the choice to come to Earth in the first place... Although the father has power to intervene and prevent pain, sometimes He chooses to show his love by letting the child learn his own lessons (p. 121)."
"Opposition must exist, providing alternatives from among which to choose (p. 122)."
"The persecution that almost certainly accompanies the choice to live consecrated lives can completely overwhelm us unless we keep an eternal perspective (p. 124)."
"Why do elders quorum presidents and Relief Society presidents go out of their way to visit people they do not know?... to serve a God they do know (p. 126)."
"'How can I know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me' (p. 134)."
"The Beatitudes could perhaps be viewed as the ten commandments of a higher law... associated with the temple (p. 137)."
"Our eventual exaltation is the reason for the Creation of the world and the Fall (p. 140)."
"Our exaltation was the reason for the Savior's Atonement (p. 140)."
"We must never allow ourselves to lose sight of exaltation (p. 141)."
"Ultimately, all who accept Christ and walk His covenant path can 'be partakers of the divine nature' (2 Peter 1:4, p. 141)."
"Jesus was the first to link each beatitude with blessings, including salvation and eternal life. Christ alone has the authority to promise and the power to grand such blessings (p.2)."
"We believe Christ did come to show us how to live and help us do it (p. 3)."
"'Becoming as Jesus Christ is will require changing our hearts and minds, indeed, our very character, and doing so is possible only through the saving grace of Jesus Christ' (Scott D. Whiting, p. 7)."
"In the temple we learn how to endure to the end. We invite Christ's patience and grace as we obey and sacrifice and mercifully offer the same help to others (p. 8)."
"The pattern provided in the Beatitudes is recursive and builds on itself. These 'steps unto heav'n' are a circular staircase that continually invites us to revisit the same truths over and over at higher and higher levels (p. 9)."
"Instead of seeing God as trying to control and restrict us, we can see commandments as expressions of His love and opportunities for greater freedom (p. 9)."
"Like the father in Mark's gospel who wanted desperately to invite and access the power of Christ, we also start that process by choosing to believe... Some might ask, 'Why does Jesus require faith?'... One is to preserve our agency... 'we are free to choose' (p. 11)."
"'Unless we choose to exercise faith and repentance, we are as lost as if Christ had made no Atonement... Conversely, only our willingness to choose belief and choose trust allows God to influence our lives' (Bruce and Marie Hafen, p. 12)."
"Believers today 'feel after God and are not satisfied till we have found Him' (p. 13)."
"Choosing and acting on faith--especially in today's secular world--takes conscious and deliberate effort, and that effort leads to growth (p. 14)."
"'The covenants God offers to His children do more than guide us. They bind us to Him, and, bound to Him, we can overcome all things' (D. Todd Christofferson, p. 14)."
"The Nephites who gathered at the temple saw Christ and felt His wounds, yet He still taught, 'Blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me' (3 Nephi 12:1). Obviously, He was asking for more than simply a belief in His existence... our faith is in Christ... it grows as we recognize and accept the reality of God's kingdom and Christ's authority to establish and administer that kingdom (p. 15)."
"The Church gives us a place to apply doctrine, find respite and renewal, and get help as we strive to repent (p. 17)."
"I couldn't have helped you on my own. Neither could the elders quorum president or the Relief Society president. It's through the organization of the Church that good and caring people can pull together to help. We trust that you want to start a new life and we want to help (p. 18)."
"Our faith in Christ grows as we are united with His Church, but also when we align with His servants (p. 18)."
"'Blessed are they who shall believe in [the Apostles'] words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins' (3 Nephi 12:2)."
"Jesus taught of the absolute necessity of baptism (p. 27)."
"Baptism is the gateway out of the world and into the Lord's kingdom and is an essential ordinance. But baptism is much more than a box to check on our way to heaven. It is how we enter a covenant relationship with God and Christ and receive Their power to become heavenly (p. 29)."
"'When we get to heaven it will be because we have developed within ourselves the qualities that make heaven' (George Q. Cannon, p. 29)."
"It is within a covenant relationship that we can be tutored, taught, mentored, and prepared for heaven (p. 30)."
"The purpose of the Book of Mormon is not just to convince 'Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ' but also to help all 'know the covenants of the Lord' (p. 31)."
"Blessed are those who recognize how much they still must learn and who choose Christ as their perfect mentor (p. 36)."
"In the Sermon at the Temple, we see an addition of four small words that make a significant difference in the third beatitude: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me' (3 Nephi 12:3)... Christ was not inviting them to follow for a few hours or even a few weeks. He wanted them to be His disciples forever. He did not just want them to watch Him perform miracles. He wanted them to use the priesthood He would give them to perform miracles and continue His work. Choosing Christ meant they would eat as He ate, dress as He dressed, and serve as He served... they would learn to be like Him (p. 36)."
"Christ seeks us out. Christ calls for us to come unto Him with broken hearts and contrite spirits... humble and receptive to God's will... to put one's interests in God's hands... Blessed are they who feel their own weakness, and know their own inability and the power of God (p. 37)."
"The proud see no need to change. They think they are fine just the way they are and ignore or reject Christ and His Atonement. The poor in spirit, on the other hand, come to Christ. They yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and become stains through His Atonement (p. 37)."
"As we mature in our faith, we realize a Savior without expectations and commandments is a Savior who does not care where or how we end up (p. 38)."
"The poor in spirit not only ask, 'What lack I yet?' but must be ready to receive and act upon the answer (p. 38)."
"The poor in spirit couple the question 'What lack I yet?' with the declaration 'They will be done' (p. 40)."
"If we believe we can sin and suffer no consequences, we are only deceiving ourselves (p. 50)."
"Repentance is turning to God, who helps us turn away from sin; it is putting on godliness so we can put off ungodliness (p. 51)."
"In 3 Nephi, 'the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ connected the word 'repent' to the words 'come unto me' (Neil L. Andersen p. 52)."
"'Cast away from you all your transgressions' and 'make you a new heart and a new spirit' (Ezekiel 18:31).... Repentance is not penance that must be paid for our indulgences, but the promise of progress to overcome and abandon our indulgences (p. 53)."
"Heaven is more than living with God. It is living like God (p. 54)."
"God and Christ cannot overlook or condone sin, but they can encourage repentance and offer forgiveness (p. 54)."
"True comfort doesn't simply come from forgiveness but knowing the Forgiver (p. 56)."
"The definition of meekness in the original Greek is 'gentle, forgiving, or benevolent.' Considering these definitions, meekness could be called the capstone characteristic of Christ (p. 58)."
"As we partake of the sacrament, the Lord cleanses, heals, and renews us. We then use the power He gives us to treat others with gentleness and benevolence in preparation for inheriting the earth (p. 58)."
"We show meekness as we return to the sacrament table week after week and weakness after weakness. We obediently invite the Savior to cleanse and transform us, and He works His miracle. We then love others through the same process (p. 60)."
"'Whatever your struggle... Trust in God. Hold on in His love' (Jeffrey R. Holland, p. 62)."
"Like the woman with the issue of blood, when we partake of the sacrament, we meekly reach out to Christ as we reach for the emblems of His body and blood and feel His virtue--His power and grace--flow into us. We then offer mercy, grace, and healing to others (p. 63)."
"When Roger served as a bishop, he sometimes felt overwhelmed... One Sunday he felt drained... he sat on the stand as the emblems of the sacrament were blessed... Roger took the emblems... he felt renewal of his spirit--like his batteries were recharged. By the end of the meeting, he felt energized and able to continue because He remembered the Lord was shouldering the heavy load with him (p. 64)."
"What time, service, and gifts do we offer God and Christ (p. 64)?"
"Obedient followers make the most gentle and benevolent leaders (p. 66)."
"Those who have become celestial beings will live right here on the earth with family, friends, and God in a state of enduring love (p. 68)."
"We can be sanctified in Christ through the gift of the Holy Ghost (p. 70)."
"All God's children are given access to the Spirit at various levels. As we follow the light of Christ, we are filled with additional light through the influence of the Spirit (p. 71)."
"'There is indeed such a thing as absolute truth. This truth is different from belief. It is different from hope. Absolute truth is not dependent upon public opinion or popularity. Polls cannot sway it. Not even the inexhaustible authority of celebrity endorsement can change it' (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, p. 73)."
"In addition to being a witness and comforter, the Spirit also acts as a guide (p. 76)."
"WE all need truth, comfort, direction, and sanctification. To those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, these are the blessings that come as they are 'filled with the Holy Ghost' (p. 80)."
"The temple can be the unifying thread that ties the entire sermon together (p. 81)."
"Christ's character is revealed in both the Beatitudes and temple covenants (p. 83)."
"God does not ask for our obedience and sacrifice merely as prerequisites for blessings or protection from destruction. He asks us to keep this law for our development (p. 84)."
"The Lord did not rush their learning in mortality just as He did not rush their learning through the eons of time they prepared for mortality (p. 86)."
"'True enduring represents not merely the passage of time, but the passage of the soul--and not merely from A to B, but sometimes all the way from A to Z. Patient endurance permits us to cling to our faith in the Lord and our faith in His timing' (Neal A. Maxwell, p. 87)."
"Ordinances and covenants are how we receive the mercy and grace God gives, and how we invite more into our lives (p. 88)."
"A covenant relationship with God does not wait upon worthiness; it facilitates it (p. 89)."
"Showing mercy to others is part of how we obey and sacrifice (p. 91)."
"'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.'... In the temple, purity is represented as we participate in symbolic washings and dress in white, but the covenants we make also teach of purity (p. 93)."
"The Lord asks us to step beyond telestial (the world) and terrestrial (the law of Moses) levels and live the fulness of the celestial life (the higher law) (p. 94)."
"A transformation from telestial to terrestrial to celestial involves choosing to engage with Christ in a process of lifting our sights and purifying our motives (p. 95)."
"Our desires can be changed, and so can our motives (p. 98)."
"Enduring to the end does not mean living perfectly. It means enduring in our covenants despite imperfections. Enduring includes renewing broken covenants and practicing in our homes and workplaces what we learn and teach on Sundays (p. 99)."
"As we strive to live the higher law of the gospel, educate our motives, and experience a change of heart, Christ promises we can see God (p. 100)."
"'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent' (John 17:3, p. 101)."
"With heaven's help, our desires are educated and we 'call on the Lord out of a pure heart' (2 Timothy 2:22). As we endure to the end, our choices become motivated by love of God, and we 'love one another with a pure heart fervently' (1 Peter 1:22). This is how we come to see--understand and know--God (p. 103)."
"Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker, not just because He seeks to limit contention, but also because He allows us to live in at-one-ment with God... 'World peace, though a lofty goal, is but an outgrowth of the personal peace each individual seeks to attain' (Thomas S. Monson, p. 106)."
"Many people wanted freedom but refused to take the responsibility required to maintain it (p. 108)."
"'The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:7, p. 109)."
"As we choose to remain sealed to God, we become 'heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ' (Romans 8:17) and receive 'our status in the royal family of God' (Robert L. Millet, p. 114)."
"Those who make the choice to live the law of chastity are finding freedom and peace but also learning the attributes that will allow them to remain sealed to their families and God's family forever (p. 115)."
"We don't achieve consecration 'in the abstract' (Neal A. Maxwell, p. 118)."
"The world will always be at odds with those who hold to the iron rod (P. 118)."
"In temples, we learn to endure to the end. We show our love for God by covenanting to obey and sacrifice, live the higher law of the gospel, and keep the law of chastity (p. 119)."
"Huldah gave her all for the kingdom. She knew better than most that discipleship and consecration are not a guarantee of protection against opposition... Today, some people still look to God to take away all tribulation, hatred, and even death (p. 120)."
"Knowing God's plan and keeping an eternal perspective will allow us to move forward with a strong sense of mission... Knowing God's plan allows us to successfully face opposition... He wanted His children back after mortality, but He also wanted us to be better for having made the choice to come to Earth in the first place... Although the father has power to intervene and prevent pain, sometimes He chooses to show his love by letting the child learn his own lessons (p. 121)."
"Opposition must exist, providing alternatives from among which to choose (p. 122)."
"The persecution that almost certainly accompanies the choice to live consecrated lives can completely overwhelm us unless we keep an eternal perspective (p. 124)."
"Why do elders quorum presidents and Relief Society presidents go out of their way to visit people they do not know?... to serve a God they do know (p. 126)."
"'How can I know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me' (p. 134)."
"The Beatitudes could perhaps be viewed as the ten commandments of a higher law... associated with the temple (p. 137)."
"Our eventual exaltation is the reason for the Creation of the world and the Fall (p. 140)."
"Our exaltation was the reason for the Savior's Atonement (p. 140)."
"We must never allow ourselves to lose sight of exaltation (p. 141)."
"Ultimately, all who accept Christ and walk His covenant path can 'be partakers of the divine nature' (2 Peter 1:4, p. 141)."
February 28, 2023
I won a giveaway of this book from the publisher on instagram, and I've been enjoying reading a chapter here and there as part of my personal spiritual studies. This book is geared toward Temple-attending Latter-day Saints. It has made me think deeper about my relationship with Christ and how the Beatitudes fit into my life. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to deepen their understanding of Christ's sermon on the mount.
February 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. I just really love the way Brad Wilcox explains things, he has such a talent. I would read a little bit each night so it took me a while to get through but it gave me more ponder time between. I loved the way it was broken down and the conclusion at the end. I also loved the story/examples. I am grateful to have it in my library and I was able to highlight my favorite parts so I could go back and refer to them easily.
March 13, 2024
I haven’t read a book by Brad Wilcox that I haven’t loved. His style just works for me. I love his stories and his approach to the gospel.
April 17, 2023
Very good book, though I felt the artwork on the cover grabbed me more than the book. Haha! (I'm a fan of the artist!) - Anyway, I always enjoy any talk or written book by Brad Wilcox, and this book does not disappoint. Short and to the point, it does an excellent job at showing how the grace of Christ is available to literally every single person in this world ... IF.... any single person WISHES to grab it and apply it in their lives. And that takes effort. Anything worth doing is going to take a effort. That is a main law of the universe, right?
I enjoyed the person stories/sharing, and I really enjoyed how they connected the Beatitudes with the first principles and ordinances of the gospel (faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, the laying on of hands for the gift of the holy ghost and enduring well to the end) and the Tempe covenants we make. I had never thought of it along those lines before, but it makes so much sense and felt it was a true principle. It truly is "all connected" and the Lord is truly a very organize, frugal God who does not do things usually for just one reason, but multiple reasons.
Highly recommend this short and easy to understand book for anyone who is a serious student of Christ and His gospel.
I enjoyed the person stories/sharing, and I really enjoyed how they connected the Beatitudes with the first principles and ordinances of the gospel (faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, the laying on of hands for the gift of the holy ghost and enduring well to the end) and the Tempe covenants we make. I had never thought of it along those lines before, but it makes so much sense and felt it was a true principle. It truly is "all connected" and the Lord is truly a very organize, frugal God who does not do things usually for just one reason, but multiple reasons.
Highly recommend this short and easy to understand book for anyone who is a serious student of Christ and His gospel.
November 17, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! I have read two of his books before and they were so good. This book is co-written with his brother, Roger. Roger is a seminary teacher in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Brad is a counselor in the General Young Men's Presidency of the Church and is a professor of ancient scripture. I have heard him speak on a couple of occasions and he is very good and relates well with the youth.
Most of us have read the Sermon on the Mount in which Christ teaches the Beatitudes. In this book the authors share their knowledge and personal observations about how these words of Christ all build on each other to help a person become like Christ and live in heaven with God the Father. I don't usually markup books (textbooks excluded, of course,) but I sure highlighted things throughout the book. I couldn't put it down. I will definitely read it again and soon. There was so much in it that re-reading it will only help me grasp the concepts even better.
I really wish I could afford to buy this book for my friends. I'm pretty sure they would love it, too. This is definitely a keeper on my bookshelf.
Most of us have read the Sermon on the Mount in which Christ teaches the Beatitudes. In this book the authors share their knowledge and personal observations about how these words of Christ all build on each other to help a person become like Christ and live in heaven with God the Father. I don't usually markup books (textbooks excluded, of course,) but I sure highlighted things throughout the book. I couldn't put it down. I will definitely read it again and soon. There was so much in it that re-reading it will only help me grasp the concepts even better.
I really wish I could afford to buy this book for my friends. I'm pretty sure they would love it, too. This is definitely a keeper on my bookshelf.
September 14, 2023
This is one of my favorite books of the year. When I learned it was a look at the Beatitudes, I wasn't particularly excited, but knew a book by Brad Wilcox should be good. The doctrinal material was largely familiar, but with some neat insights and additional layers. However, what really made the book shine was all of the personal stories. They were so powerful and personal. Wilcox also drew from the stories of his family members who narrated their own stories in the audiobook. This is a fantastic, motivating, and quick read. I would highly recommend it to any Christian or honest seeker of truth.
March 5, 2023
I LOVE non-fiction Christian reads and for those of you currently studying the Beatitudes this is a must read!
This is a deep dive into each beatitude and how they can apply to our daily life with the gift of grace and the Savior’s atonement. To take it a step further these authors also make connections between the beatitudes, the ordinances of the gospel, and temple covenants.
A must read for deeper understanding and scriptural application!
Thanks to the publisher for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
This is a deep dive into each beatitude and how they can apply to our daily life with the gift of grace and the Savior’s atonement. To take it a step further these authors also make connections between the beatitudes, the ordinances of the gospel, and temple covenants.
A must read for deeper understanding and scriptural application!
Thanks to the publisher for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
May 7, 2023
ABC’s of Repentance
A Acknowledge
B Be sorry
C Confess
D Don’t do it again
E Endure to the end
F Forgiveness
G Grace
H Help from the great I Am
J Jehovah
K King of kings
L Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world
Repentance transforms our hearts
Meek = strong, spirited, zealous, bold, obedient, poised under pressure, voluntarily humble
Gentle, forgiving, benevolent
Patience with others
“What wilt thou have me to do for thee?”
Meekness = the capstone characteristic of Christ
-ment = the process of becoming ______
A Acknowledge
B Be sorry
C Confess
D Don’t do it again
E Endure to the end
F Forgiveness
G Grace
H Help from the great I Am
J Jehovah
K King of kings
L Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world
Repentance transforms our hearts
Meek = strong, spirited, zealous, bold, obedient, poised under pressure, voluntarily humble
Gentle, forgiving, benevolent
Patience with others
“What wilt thou have me to do for thee?”
Meekness = the capstone characteristic of Christ
-ment = the process of becoming ______
May 16, 2024
This is an excellent and interesting book about Jesus' teaching in The Beatitudes which he gave during His Sermon on the Mount in the Gospels in the New Testament. Author Brad Wilcox and his brother Roger Wilcox relate the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount to the challenges of life in today's world. Both of the Wilcox brothers work with and teach young people, so the stories and experiences given in the book seem to be geared to young people. I enjoyed the book and gave it 4/5 stars on Goodreads. I listened to the audiobook on Deseret Bookshelf Plus.
June 23, 2025
Brad Wilcox skillfully shows how the Sermon on the Mount is not just a list of good behaviors but a divine blueprint for becoming more like the Savior. He explores each Beatitude with real-life stories, doctrinal insights, and practical applications that help us see how these teachings, that are connected to our temple covenants, can lead to true discipleship and lasting joy.
He explains that the word for Beatitude in Hebrew means holy and reminds us that the path to holiness begins with humility, meekness, and mercy—and that the Lord walks with us every step of the way.
He explains that the word for Beatitude in Hebrew means holy and reminds us that the path to holiness begins with humility, meekness, and mercy—and that the Lord walks with us every step of the way.
November 1, 2024
This is the five-star rating system I use:
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.
★★★★★ Great book! Can’t wait to read it again (and I will).
★★★★☆ Good book. I am glad I read this.
★★★☆☆ OK book. Nothing special but not bad.
★★☆☆☆ Not good. Why did I waste my time?
★☆☆☆☆ Lousy. I didn’t finish.
If for whatever reason, I go back and reread a good book, I will change the rating to five-star because I read it again.
August 25, 2025
Brad takes a deep dive into the beatitudes and their meanings; he has a few family members share their own experiences and how the various beatitudes were applied in their lives. It's worth the read, and has lots of interesting background information surrounding the context of the beatitudes that we may not be aware of 2,000 years after they were given.
June 19, 2023
I enjoyed this very much! I liked the way it was arranged, with focus on the first principles of the gospel, and then on temple covenants. I will definitely need to read this again to absorb more info.
February 5, 2025
Book from Davis Library. Very good book. Gave a lot of insight to better understand the Beatitude in both the Bible and The Book of Mormon. There is always more meaning when we truly study and look into the Savior Teaching. Great additional Insight. Thank you Wilcox brothers.
April 7, 2023
Loved this SO much!
April 28, 2023
I love how the author's teach throughout this book. Definitely will read it again
September 18, 2023
Beatitudes
December 5, 2023
I enjoyed reading that first-hand experiences.
December 7, 2023
Such a powerful book!
March 27, 2024
I loved this book, especially as I read it as part of my Holy Week studies!! It was perfect for me.
March 31, 2024
I loved this original and well written approach to the beatitudes!
April 10, 2024
I listened to the audio book narrated by the author; it was great to hear his voice!
Brad Wilcox shares thoughts and provides uplifting explanations about Christ's beatitudes. Highly recommended.
Brad Wilcox shares thoughts and provides uplifting explanations about Christ's beatitudes. Highly recommended.
November 8, 2024
Absolutely loved this account of the Beatitudes, their depth, their insight into the Doctrine of Christ. Beautiful perspectives personally shared.
December 30, 2024
Brad and Roger Wilcox make connections between the Beatitudes and the covenants we make. Some of these connections I wouldn't have noticed, and some of their insights really touched me.
October 24, 2023
Formatted with stories inserted.
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