Defenders of the Covenant by Angie Lofthouse

This August at the LDS Booksellers Convention I met author Angie Lofthouse who has just published her first novel, Defenders of the Covenant.  Sci-Fi is never my first choice when choosing a book, but I had some time and started reading her novel the same day.

The book takes place sometime in the future.  Earth has been taken over by alien invaders.  Groups of refugees have hidden themselves underground and lived all their lives without seeing the light of day or knowing what Earth looks like, really.  The book tells the story of one particular group of people who are LDS.  Even though they have been warned all their lives of the dangers of leaving their refuge, four teens run away from their hiding place to discover for themselves what has happened to Earth.

The aliens capture the four of them and separate them and they each face individual struggles with the aliens – and with themselves as they now have to figure things out on their own.  Three of them use their religious beliefs and training to guide them.  One boy, Jeremy, rebels and his thought processes were never very clear to me.  It seemed he joined the dark side and became evil very quickly and easily.

There is plenty of drama and action and pretty good character development.  I struggled with the believability factor a bit, but as I said, I don’t often read sci-fi novels and a certain suspension of reality is probably requisite.

It’s an interesting idea to take aliens, Mormons, the Salt Lake Temple, faith, prayer, android soldiers, pig-people and even a bit of a love story and weave them together.  The book is probably suitable for ages 10-12 and up and will most likely appeal mainly to Mormons. It is 350 or so pages long, but a quick and easy read.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The following are excerpts from

ScriptureKIT Book 1 Information Pages 

called Importance of General Conference.  We hope you will take the time to prepare to hear God’s word for you today.

Purpose of General Conference

“Among the purposes of these general conferences are, in summary, as follows:

“(1) To inform the membership of general condi-tions—whether the Church is progressing or retrogressing, economically, ecclesiastically, or spiritually. (2) To commend true merit. (3) To express gratitude for divine guidance. (4) To give instruction ‘in principles, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel.’ (5) To proclaim the restoration, with divine authority to administer in all the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to declare, quoting the Apostle Peter, that ‘there is none other name under heaven given among men’ than Jesus Christ ‘whereby we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:12). (6) To admonish and inspire to continue in greater activity.” (Pres. David O. McKay, 10-1954 CR)

Importance of Conference

“A general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is far more significant than most people realize…it is one of the most important events of the present day. Many do not so regard it, even among the Latter-day Saints. But for those who appreciate its true significance, it is of transcending importance, for in it PROPHETS OF GOD SPEAK, living prophets.” (Mark E. Peterson, Why the Religious Life, 203)

Preparation for Conference

“In a few days there opens another general conference of the Church. The servants of the Lord will counsel us. You may listen with anxious ears and hearts, or you may turn that counsel aside. As in these devotions, what you shall gain will depend not so much upon their preparation of the messages as upon your prepara-tion for them.” (Boyd K. Packer, “Follow the Brethren”, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, 10)

DC 1:38
DC 20:61,63
DC 26:1
DC 28:10
DC 58:56
DC 72:7
DC 73:2
DC 124:88,144

Temple
Holiness to the Lord
A Haven In a World of Turmoil
by Vaughn J. Featherstone

The season of the world before us will be like no other in the history of mankind. Satan has unleashed every evil, every scheme, every blatant, vile perversion ever known to man in any generation. Just as this is the dispensation of the fullness of times, so it is also the dispensation of the fullness of evil. We and our wives and husbands, our children, and our members must find safety. There is no safety in the world: wealth cannot provide it, enforcement agencies cannot assure it, membership in this Church alone cannot bring it.

As the evil night darkens upon this generation, we must come to the temple for light and safety. In our temples we find quiet, sacred havens where the storm cannot penetrate to us. There are hosts of unseen sentinels watching over and guarding our temples. Angels attend every door. As it was in the days of Elisha, so it will be for us: “Those that be with us are more than they that be against us.”

Before the Savior comes the world will darken. There will come a period of time where even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure within these walls. The saints will come here not only to do vicarious work, but to find a haven of peace. They will long to bring their children here for safety’s sake.

I believe we may well have living on the earth now or very soon the boy or babe who will be the prophet of the Church when the Savior comes. Those who will sit in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles are here. There are many in our homes and communities who will have apostolic callings. We must keep them clean, sweet and pure in an oh so wicked world. There will be greater hosts of unseen beings in the temple. Prophets of old as well as those in this dispensation will visit the temples. Those who attend will feel their strength and feel their companionship. We will not be alone in our temples.

Our garments worn as instructed will clothe us in a manner as protective as temple walls. The covenants and ordinances will fill us with faith as a living fire. In a day of desolating sickness, scorched earth, barren wastes, sickening plagues, disease, destruction, and death, we as a people will rest in the shade of trees, we will drink from the cooling fountains. We will abide in places of refuge from the storm, we will mount up as on eagle’s wings, we will be lifted out of an insane and evil world. We will be as fair as the sun and clear as the moon.

The Savior will come and will honor his people. Those who are spared and prepared will be a temple-loving people. They will know Him. They will cry out, “Blessed be the name of He that cometh in the name of the Lord; thou are my God and I will bless thee; thou are my God and I will exalt thee.”

Our children will bow down at His feet and worship Him as the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. They will bathe His feet with their tears and He will weep and bless them for having suffered through the greatest trials ever known to man. His bowels will be filled with compassion and His heart will swell wide as eternity and He will love them. He will bring peace that will last a thousand years and they will receive their reward to dwell with Him. Let us prepare them with faith to surmount every trial and every condition. We will do it in these holy, sacred temples. Come, come, oh come up to the temples of the Lord and abide in His presence.  (Incomparable Christ: Our Master & Model, 3)

 

Doctrine and Covenants 110:7  “For behold, I have accepted this house, and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in mercy in this house.”

[submitted by Sister Pat Barton]

“The scriptures that are never read will never help us.”

(Elder L. Tom Perry, Ensign, May, 1985, p.23)

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were writtenfor our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”

[Submitted by Brother Bruce Barton]

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The Hourglass Door
by Lisa Mangum

My daughter, Alisa, my almost 16-year old granddaughter Amanda, and I decided to have our own little book club this summer.  We read some book reviews in the Deseret News and decided to read the Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum.  According to the newspaper article, this is the first novel by Mangum and “it won the 2009 Book of the Year for Young Adult Fiction, presented by ForeWord Reviews — a print magazine and online review service for readers, booksellers, book buyers, publishing insiders and librarians. Mangum’s second book, The Golden Spiral, won the same award in 2011.”

My granddaughter read it first.  She gobbles up books like chocolate chip cookies and finished it in only a day or two.  That’s when we found out it is a trilogy!  Heck, you can’t just read the first book and 3 books are almost more than I care to commit to, but committed we were now! Amanda started on #2 in the series, quickly finished that and then read the third book. I started on #1.

I was intrigued by the beginning pages and so anxious to figure out what was going on.   I almost never read sci-fi novels but have ended up reading two this summer.  I thought this one was well-done in many ways.  The characters are interesting, pretty believable and the ideas are unique.  I am impressed with the many details woven into the story that keep the pace lively and brisk.

I had a hard time believing the characters were 17-18 year old kids.  Abby, the main character seems to have lots of freedom….and seems to possess wisdom beyond her years, as she is supposedly the key to everything.  Dante was an interesting guy. Who wouldn’t fall for a mysterious, darkly handsome Italian with a sexy accent?  And yet, what bothered me was the improbability of this handsome hunk showing up at school and falling for Abby….with no apparent reason, much like the plot of Twilight.  Is anyone else bothered by this premise?

By the time I had read all three books I had had it with some of the sappy descriptions.  And I got tired of the river stuff.  However, I have to admit that I ploughed through these books very, very quickly so it all got pretty redundant for me.

I know I haven’t revealed much about the plot.  If you read these books you will want to discover that for yourselves. I don’t want to spoil it for you.  My granddaughter enjoyed the books and I would say that junior high through high school is the target audience.  We decided my daughter Alisa doesn’t have time for a trilogy.  Amanda and I read “Wonder” by R. J. Palacio. (Review coming.) We’ll have Alisa read that instead.  It’s a quick read with a good message.

I give this trilogy 3 out of 5 stars.

Gap Creek

By Robert Morgan

 

Be forewarned.  This is not a happily-ever-after story!

I seem to be drawn to books that are a little on the dark side…or is it just reality?  You won’t have to read ten chapters waiting for the action to start.  I was gasping right from the first few pages.

The main character is named Julie.  She is only 17 and her life is more than merely hard, it is exhausting and frightening.  Even when she marries a handsome 18-year-old named Hank, life doesn’t get much better.  Death, followed by fire, followed by flood, poverty, childbirth and starvation.  I’m not kidding, you’ll be so appreciative of your fridge and cupboards full of food. (Think Grapes of Wrath.)

Maybe you’ve heard the expression, “If it weren’t for bad luck, there’d be no luck at all.”  That’s the case in this story that takes place in the late 1800’s in Appalachia.  It will give you a deep appreciation for the early Saints in the Salt Lake Valley or for anyone starting out life on their own from nothing, but the will to succeed through their own hard work.  I don’t know if you could call their lives a success, though.  It’s more that they just keep on keeping on.

I was fascinated by the detailed descriptions of what life was like for a woman over a hundred years ago.

It ends rather abruptly… and you’ll be exhausted when it’s over!

I’d love for there to be a sequel that details happier times for Hank and Julie.