My Soul Grew Two Sizes Reading Survivng Hitler

Every once in a while you get the chance to read a book that moves you to the core, a book that illuminates truth, displays life's best virtues amidst its worth flaws, and feeds your soul to the point of growth. Surviving Hitler is that book.

Surviving Hitler is the true story of Agnes and Gustav, both victims of a terrible war on humanity. One a Jew, and the other an SS Soldier, this book delivers a beautiful mixture of God's hand at work, incredible mortal courage, unthinkable human sacrifice and uplifting spiritual triumph, even amidst the ugliest reality of pride, greed, power, and death. Through the hand of the Lord, and unlikely situations, both survive the war, meet, marry and join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

During her stay in one of many concentration camps Agnes records,

"I was overwhelmed with gratitude that such greatness and nobility survived in the most degraded situation. I felt that the eternal spirit, which exist is in all people, could be accessible despite the circumstances. Maybe there was still hope for the world, if some could remain untouched and pure in the midst of all the insanity. I learned that the hope that the world will be a place where all people will love their neighbors and themselves is alive as long as there is one person alive practicing it on the earth."

Another of my favorite accounts is a story that Agnes shares towards the end of the war.

"From inside the fence, lots of men still begged for water, and we continued to help them as best we could. Once while running from the hole in the fence back to the truck, I stepped on an arm by a ditch. At first I thought I had stepped on a dead man but then heard moaning. I looked down and saw the man looking at me, stirring something in side me to the marrow. I fell down to my knees, lifted his head, and poured a few drops of water into his mouth. He mumbled in Hungarian, "May Abraham, our Father, bless you." I saw that he was close to death and shouted in his ear that we were liberated, to which he nodded and said, "Thank God!" He looked at me and took one last breath. My last favor to him was to close his eyes so he wouldn't have to stare out into nothing like so many other corpses did. In wet clothes, I continued to alternately walk and run between the tanker and the hole in the fence. Suddenly I thought I heard a voice saying, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Mathew 25:40). I looked around to see who had quoted the Bible but saw no one."



Photo Courtesy of LDSliving

I think the thing that I loved most about this book was the way that while reading it you could actually see the Lord guiding their lives, protecting them from harms way, and strengthening them through their journey. My heart is forever changed thanks to these two brave humans. Two individuals that lit up all of their surroundings, on their very darkest journey, with their faith and humanity. The aftermath of the war was not easy for Agnes and Gustav, and after fighting for so many years to Survive Hitler it definitely took its toll on these two. But the miracle is in the choice that they both deliberately decided not to harbor hate, but to spread love.

To Agnes and Gustav: It is a privilege to know your story. If I could I would hug you both so tight and tell you thank you for blessing my life through sharing yours.

Available at Deseret Book.com

Read This Book: Diary of Two Mad Black Mormons

You've read the title, and now you're scratching your head, wondering if this book is for real, right?

It is. Yes, the authors are bona fide Mormons. And hilarious, too! They call themselves Sistas in Zion.  (Ensign Peak Press Release)

FACEBOOK / WEBSITE / TWITTER

Stop scratching your head and read this book. I'm totally serious. Whether you are white or black, Catholic or Presbyterian, this book is for you.

I was laughing out loud from the very first page. These women are hilarious, clever, witty and smart. They are confident in themselves and in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Don't be surprised if you can't put the book down once you have started. It is made up of short, sweet and poignant journal entries which can be devoured one or twenty at a time. I loved their "urban dictionary" which came in handy. I also loved their honesty about life and its choices and consequences. These women are real. They tell it how it is. They don't hold anything back...they are 100% legit. 

If I had to chose my favorite story they shared it would either have to be the one about Mrs. Platt, the shoplifter, or the Prayer Warrior. I really loved them all. 

Here is a selfie of me, a perfect stranger  and my copy of Diary of Two Mad Black Mormons. I almost read the entire book on my flight last weekend. And I would have if I read faster than my 4th grader ;), but I also had to stop and ponder the new incites I received while reading this book.

Make sure to pick up your own copy!

Deseret Book / Amazon

And here is a snipped from their website on their About Us page. Enjoy!

"Are Mormons funny? Oh, Heavens Yes!  We’re just two Sistas with testimonies in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We love to laugh and we think Mormons are hilarious, if we do say so ourselves. We don’t always agree with one another, but we always “Love One Another.” We are truly blessed to have one another as sisters, friends and SISTAS IN ZION."

READ THIS BOOK: My Name Used To Be Muhammad & Giveaway!

I had to read this book twice. 

I even read the last chapter through muffled tears out loud to my parents. It is THAT good.

This book is fascinating, heart-breaking, eye-opening, educational, life-changing and TRUE.

Yes, you read that right. This book is a true story.

I was engrossed in this story from the first page.

I want to tell you enough about this book so that you will read it, but not too much. I want you to live this story for yourself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





At the age of five Muhammad's father woke him at 4:45 am for the first time, and took him to the mosque for prayer. He was given a Qur'an for his birthday and told to read it. He was then told to memorize it. He spent everyday copying the book word for word. The length of the Qur'an is comparable with the New Testament. I googled that one.

Muhammad's father loved him very much and thought of him as chosen. He was being schooled and prepared to become a leader capable of leading a jihad, or in other words, a holy war. His job would be to convert nonbelievers to Islam. But not just to convert them as modern day missionaries would do. A Jihad is actually going to war against nonbelievers.

Muhammad was a good child. Obedient. Smart. Faithful. He loved his religion and was kind as I suppose the majority of Muslim's are. I felt that in telling his story he was very clear that Muslim's in general do not all feel this way about "Westerners". But his father wanted him to embrace the radical side of his religion.

As Muhammad starts to get older and attends University he begins to be exposed to a lot of different cultures. And after being so sheltered he is actually curious.

I won't tell you the whole story, but he eventually converts to Christianity. He is then imprisoned for 15 years for being a Christian. Did you read that? 15 YEARS!!!

Does this sound familiar to another story being talked about in the news?

I am just heart broken over the news that Pastor Saeed Abedini is still in prison in Iran, after more than a year, for charges of Christianity. How can this still happen? It is so heart breaking. Please pray for him and his sweet family. And please join the cause in helping him.

Religious Freedom is so important. It is vital to all human's. God gave us the gift of Free Agency for a reason.

My heart aches thinking of those who suffer the hopelessness of not being able to practice their faith, and yet are so faithful they just keep praising God.

I'm reminded of one of my favorite scriptures in The Acts 5:

 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
 41 ¶And they departed from the presence of the council, ^arejoicingthat they were counted worthy to ^bsuffer ^cshame for his ^dname.
 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and ^apreach Jesus Christ.

I love these scriptures. I love the example of people like Tito Momen and Saeed Abedini and of course Paul the Apostle, who were able to stay faithful and rejoice in suffering for our  Savior.

Muhammad changed his name to Tito after Titus in the New Testament.

I am really grateful he was able to tell his story!

What a powerful story it is.

What a BRAVE man.

And I have to share this picture. Tito was signing books for readers at the SLC Deseret Book when the man who baptized him, Brother Whatcott, showed up. They hadn't seen each other since 1989 in Cairo, just before Tito was imprisoned. The expression on Tito's face says it all and brings me to tears over and over again. What an incredible story he has to tell.

So does this sound like a book you would like to read?

I would if I were you. I think this would be the perfect Christmas Present.

You can purchase one online at Deseret Book or enter to win a free copy here.

To Enter Giveaway:

Please leave your name and an email address so I can contact you in the comment's below.

Good Luck!

52 Life-Changing Questions From The Book Of Mormon & Giveaway

Have you ever thought about the power of a question?

Have you ever been asked a life-changing question?

I have.

Scott asked me to marry him.

I said, YES!!!

LIFE-CHANGING.

Last year I was asked another life-changing question. 

Well, actually 3 questions. 

As I was flipping through channels, watching "trash-TV" (which is what I call it because most of it pretty much is) , I heard the spirit whisper to my soul...

"At what point in your life are you going to give THIS up and CHOOSE ME?"

Followed by,

"Does this mindless entertainment BRING LASTING HAPPINESS?"

And then sealed with this final question...

"How old will you be when you decide you are ready to SEEK ME FIRST?"

I won't lie. That last question threw me for a loop. And I most certainly wasn't ready to give up watching Modern Family and Grey's Anatomy when, for a brief moment, I settled on the ripe old age of 57.  

My difficult response to these 3 questions I'll save for another post. But were these questions life-changing?

Absolutely. 

Am I a different person because of them?

Most assuredly, yes.

What questions have you been asked in your life that have been life-changing?

Elder Tad R. Callister wrote,

"The power of a good question is of inestimable worth. It is like an alarm clock that awakens us out of our mental doldrums. It is a catalyst that jump-starts our metal engines."

Did you know that...

• There are 61 different individuals in the Book of Mormon that ask questions. Some of these include, prophets, missionaries, investigators and apostates.
• Alma chapter 5 has the most questions of any chapter in the Book of Mormon. 42!
• Alma the Younger asks the most questions in the Book of Mormon. He asks 103 questions. Nephi is in 2nd place with 41 questions.
• The most commonly asked question has to do with how people remember - or forget - the Lord. Variations of this question appear 26 times.
• Jesus Christ asks 35 direct questions in the Book of Mormon

The Book 52 Life-Changing Questions from the Book of Mormon is designed to give you one question to ponder and study, every week for an entire year. 

The authors Brad Wilcox and John Hilton III note that Joseph Smith stated that people would get nearer to God through reading the Book of Mormon than through any other book. They also suggest that one short chapter each week in a year while pondering these inspired questions will propel readers forward to attain that goal.

Some of my favorite questions that they cover in their book are...

• Have ye received his image in your countenances? (Alma 5:14)
• Why do not angels appear unto us? (Alma 21:5)
• Is not a soul at this time as precious unto God? (Alma 39:17)
• How is it that ye have forgotten? (1 Nephi 7:11)
• What evidence have ye that there is no God? (Alma 30:40)
• 
  

GIVEAWAY!!!

So now comes one more question.

Is this a book that you think you or someone you know could benefit from?

If the answer is yes, you are in luck.

I'm GIVING AWAY  one copy to a lucky reader.

Please leave me a comment, or a question below and you will be entered to win.

You can purchase this book also. Visit Deseret Book.

Good Luck!!!

READ THIS BOOK: The Rent Collector Review and GIVEAWAY!!

Every so often a book comes along that is just the perfect read. And this book was. I curled up with a blanket on the first cold day of fall and couldn't stop reading.

I mean...it educated me, made me feel compassion, made me want to be better, made me wiser, made my heart hurt, made me cry, made me happy, made me wonder...

It made me wish I had never read it so that I could experience the joy of it all over again.

Do you know what I mean? Have you every wished you could just start all over?

The Rent Collector by Camron Wright did that for me and I am so THANKFUL.

This book is so beautifully written and crafted. I loved his writing. I loved the characters and the humanity. I'm sure a part of that is because this book is based on a REMARKABLE TRUE STORY. But I give Wright so much credit for his crafting and delivery of this book. My heart strings were pulled, tightened, lengthened and nearly broken.

Sang Ly is a mother living in the harshest conditions in Cambodia. She literally lives in a dump. Just like the picture on the cover of the book. This dump is a real place. It is called Stung Meanchey and it is the largest municipal waste dump in all of Cambodia.

Why you ask would anyone live there?

Well, the people make their living there. They collect garbage and use it to survive. They sell precious treasures that they find for money. There is an economy in this dump that barely keeps things going.

Life there is almost unbearable, but somehow this book helps you to also seek and find beautiful treasures in the dump. I came away from this book realizing just how amazingly miraculous the world can be, even in the hardest conditions and the most painful times.

I'm so happy to get to tell you about this book. I hope you will read it and let me know if you loved it just as much as I did.

GIVEAWAY!!!

Leave me a comment and you could win your own copy of this book!

Good Luck;)