For our next read, Grandma Mary has requested THE SIMEON SOLUTION by Anne Osborn Poelman. It has been on her favorites list since she first read it fifteen or more years ago. (It also happens to be one of my all time favorites!) It deals with religious principles but reads a lot like a novel, as it tells of Anne's spiritual journey. People of every faith have much to gain from reading it!
I found the following brief review on-line:
"Although Simeon is mentioned only briefly in the scriptures, he is a shining example of faith and patience. Promised through the Holy Ghost that he would not die before the long-awaited Messiah, Simeon apparently spent much of his life watching for fulfillment of that promise. Surely there must have been times of doubt, moments when it seemed foolish to cling to such a hope, but his faith was at last rewarded when he was shown the infant Jesus in the temple and recognized him as the Savior of the world.
"In The Simeon Solution, Anne Osborn Poelman describes how she, like Simeon, learned to trust in the Lord and have patient faith in the ultimate fulfillment of his promises. When she was a medical student at Stanford University she discovered The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, finding in it the spiritual fullness for which she had been searching since childhood. She joined the Church and went on to become an internationally known expert in her medical specialty. At age thirty-eight she married Elder Ronald E. Poelman, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. In this book she shares many personal experiences that have demonstrated the workings of the Simeon solution in her own life."
Because all of us from time to time experience doubts and concerns that seem to have no forthcoming answers, we have no other option than to trust in the Lord and His timetable for resolution. For this reason Grandma hopes each of you will read this book with "an open mind and heart".
Hope you are all doing well! Remember that everyone would love to hear bits of your news on the blog. It's a good way to keep in touch!
Love,
Aunt Louise
What a lovely read! The book flowed easily, it was short and the stories were fun and mixed seamlessly with gospel lessons. I find it crazy that as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we are so often put into a box. People think that because you are Mormon, you are a certain way. Everyone is different! Even if we all come to the same conclusion, the way we get there is never duplicated. Sister Poelman's journey was a good reminder of that.
ReplyDeleteRACH! I'm so glad you posted something! I had opened the blog planning to end this "on-line family book club experiment". I may still, as there seems to be little interest in it any longer, and I'm too busy to make the effort if it isn't fulfilling it's purpose. But seeing your comment really lifted my spirits, and it was so well stated! I'm glad you enjoyed the book. I have to admit that I have been guilty of putting us "Mormons" in that box myself. But reading Sister Poelman's story helped to wake me up. And, since I first read her book, whenever I haven't quite understood some point of doctrine or practice in the Church, or had a question to which there just seemed to be no answer at that point in time.......the Simeon Solution came to mind and made the difference for me. Sooooo, if this IS our last book for the book club........it really is a good one to end on.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for commenting!
See you soon!
Aunt Louise, I appreciate all you do and have done to keep this blog going. I have been reading the books, but not quite getting around to posting comments! Thanks to inter-library loan, I was able to request The Simeon Solution and it was an enjoyable read. She shared a lot of great experiences showing how she followed the guidance of the Spirit. And I also liked this part that emphasized that at times we may have to make decisions based on what we have learned without additional guidance: "... personal revelation is not constant. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has said, 'We believe in continuing revelation, not continuous revelation. We are often left to work out problems, without the dictation or specific direction of the Spirit.' ..." I am glad we have this blog, otherwise it is not likely I would ever have read this great book!
ReplyDeleteThanks Emily! Your comment meant a lot to me! I'm so glad you enjoyed the book, and have been reading along with us. If I felt there were a few more who really enjoyed the blog........I'd be happy to keep it going. But it was fun while it lasted. Hope it's not too long before we see you and your cute family again.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Aunt Louise