The Year of Living Biblically

I am behind on my book reviews, but I will review the book I read this month. "The year of living biblically" by A.J.Jacobs is a non fiction account of Mr. Jacobs attempt to follow the Bible literally for a year. He performs sacrifices, stones an adulterer, wears clothing made of non mixed fibers; you get the picture. It started out as an entertaining read. Jacobs has a fun tongue in cheek style of writing, but I must admit that after the first 100 pages or so it just felt too much the same.

My biggest complaint with this book though is that as a reader I felt like the only reason Jacobs was writing this book was to do just that; write a book. Forgive me for wanting the writer of a book about a spiritual journey to have one. Mostly I felt like Jacobs (a professed agnostic) poked fun at those who take their faith in God seriously. He is slightly kinder to members of the Jewish faith (he comes from a Jewish background).

The book may make those who are religious look at their own faith in a new way and for that reason I don't think it is a waste of time to read it.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars

Spiritually Plain

So I had a wonderful "aha" moment when I was reading my scriptures yesterday. Our Heavenly Father and the prophets praise plainness too. In the Book of Mormon, Nephi quotes the prophet Isaiah and then says this to his readers:

"Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn" (2 Nephi 25:5).

I feel like the prophet Nephi. My soul delights in plainness, in simpleness and in that which will help me return to my Father in Heaven when I have finished my work on this earth (the most important bit of which for me is raising 4 beautiful children to be lovable and loving human beings.)