Whether it's a long drive to a family reunion or just a momentary reprieve in the day-to-day chaos, summer is the perfect time to grab a book and immerse yourself in good, uplifting literature. And Deseret Bookshelf PLUS has the perfect books to do just that.
Termed by some as the LDS Audible, Deseret Bookshelf PLUSgives members access to unlimited
audiobooks and over 1,500 eBooks from their catalog, which includes everything from books by prophets and apostles to clean romances, fantasy, historical fiction, gospel topics, and so much more.
With the addition of 20 new books to the catalog, you'll definitely want to refresh your summer reading list with these incredible picks.
Download the app today so you can enjoy these great new books. If you already have Deseret Booshelf PLUS, check out the "What's New" section on the app to find new titles as soon as they available.
1. 52 Life-Changing Questions from the Book of Mormon by Brad Wilcox, John Hilton III
Can a question change your life? What if that question was about a gospel?
As Elder Tad R. Callister wrote, "A good question ... is like an alarm clock. It awakens us out of our mental doldrums [and] jump-starts our mental engines."
Using one question for each week of the year, This book has 52 ponder-worthy questions that can change the way you see yourself and how you live the gospel.
2. Consider the Blessings: True Accounts of God's Hands in Our Lives by President Thomas S. Monson
If you ask people what they love most about President Thomas S. Monson’s teaching style, chances are they’ll say something about the personal experiences he relates. The accounts President Monson shares are always true, taken from his own life or the real lives of other people. Those warm, memorable accounts have truly become a hallmark of his messages.
3. Living in the Eleventh Hour: Preparing for the Glorious Return of the Savior by Robert L. Millet
In Living in the Eleventh Hour, author Robert L. Millet points our minds and hearts toward the future—to the glorious day that lies ahead. This encouraging work not only assists us a Latter-day Saints to recognize and better understand the signs of the times but also reminds us of our individual responsibilities as we prepare ourselves and the world for the much-anticipated return of Jesus Christ.
4. Failsafe by Traci Hunter Abramson
In the wide-open landscape of Pennsylvania, Charlotte Martin and her father live a peaceful life on their farm...or so it seems. In truth, the rural locale provides the perfect front for the father-daughter NSA operatives as they expertly carry out their mission: using a high-tech computer system, they protect a team of undercover agents. Some would kill to have access to this system, and it makes Charlotte and her father prime targets. It was only a matter of time before this nightmare unexpectedly crashed down on them, and only Charlotte escaped with her life. Before Dwight Martin dies, though, he initiated the failsafe lockdown, and now Charlotte's the only one who can access the system.
5. Choose Higher Ground by President Henry B. Eyring
"Let us do whatever is required to qualify for the Holy Ghost as our companion," President Eyring urges, "and then let us go forward fearlessly so that we will be given the powers to do whatever the Lord calls us to do."
Filled with a revered leader's clear insights and sound counsel, Choose Higher Ground helps readers gain access to the power promised by the Lord to all His faithful disciples in the latter days,
6. Men of Covenant: Oath, Covenants, and Transcendent Promises by Robert L. Millet
We are a covenant-making people, but do we fully appreciate the power of the promises contained in just the twelve short verses of the oath and covenant of the priesthood?
In Men of Covenant, companion to Men of Valor and Men of Influence, author Robert L. Millet invites us to explore such questions as these:
What are the terms and conditions of the oath and covenant of the priesthood?
What would my life be like if I were more focused on my covenants?
How could my more covenant-focused life affect my family and others for whom I have responsibility?
7. Righteous Warriors: Lessons from the War Chapters in the Book of Mormon by John Bytheway
Why are there so many wars in the Book of Mormon? Could it be that a book written “for our day” would have to prepare us to survive in a time of “wars and rumors of war,” a time when Satan is at war with everything that is good?
In this talk on CD, John Bytheway shows that what we often call the “war chapters” in the Book of Mormon are rich in gospel wisdom and spiritual insight. The pattern is clear: When the children of Lehi are successful, it's because they make covenants first and swords later. They pray mightily for help from God; then they go to work and fortify their cities. They fail only when they allow themselves to be enticed, decoyed, and distracted from what they should have been doing.
8. Worship: Adding Depth to Your Devotion by Eric D. Huntsman
When you think of the word worship, do you think of such devotional acts as praying or partaking of the sacrament or performing temple rites or even just enjoying the beauty of God's creation?
In this engaging and thoughtful book interlaced with poignant personal experiences, Latter-day Saint author Eric D. Huntsman explores how worship works—what it is about our acts of devotion that can connect us to the divine and the eternal.
9. Betrayed by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
After two long years eagerly anticipating her fiance's return, twenty-year-old Julia Barrett is ready to make a fresh start with Adam Wolcott—even if it means putting her dream of traveling west with the Mormons on hold. But when Adam's return is overshadowed by the unexpected arrival of a young orphan girl in desperate need of help, Julia is drawn into a dangerous mystery that will threaten all she holds dear.
10. Jesus the Christ Study Guide by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Thomas A. Wayment
Jesus the Christ, a true gospel classic about the life and ministry of the Savior, has drawn readers closer to Christ for decades. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the publication of Jesus the Christ and aligned with the New Testament study year, this unique study guide helps learners of all levels get even more out of their study of the Savior, the scriptures, and a beloved, classic book.
11. The Gate of Heaven: Insights on the Doctrines and Symbols of the Temple by Matthew B. Brown
From the premortal world, where the Plan of Salvation was laid out and the need for temples was established, to the Restoration, in which the fullness of the gospel was reintroduced to the world in the temple ceremony, author Matthew B. Brown explores the rich heritage of symbolism that has characterized temples and temple worship through the ages, reverently examining the sacred doctrines associated with "the gate of heaven."
12. 21 Days Closer to Christ by Simon Dewey, Emily Belle Freeman
Nestled between the covers of this beautifully illustrated book is an invitation — an invitation to come closer to Christ through a 21-day journey. Each step of the journey introduces a new concept that will help you come to know and recognize the hand of the Lord in your life. With an emphasis on daily scripture study and personal prayer, each chapter concludes with an assignment designed to help you apply and personalize concepts such as humility, gratitude, and listening to the Spirit. In the rush of everyday life, this unique book provides a refreshing pause and the opportunity to focus our efforts on becoming closer to Christ.
13. Blackmooreby Julianne Donaldson
Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead — if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured — and rejected — three marriage proposals.
Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain sooner rather than later and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?
14. Longing for Home by Sarah M. Eden
Though she was only a child during the darkest days of Ireland’s Great Famine, Katie Macauley feels responsible for the loss of her family’s land and the death of her sister. Now a woman grown, Katie has left Ireland for America and the promise of earning money enough to return home again and plead for her family’s forgiveness. She arrives in Hope Springs, Wyoming Territory, a town sharply divided between the Americans who have settled there, with their deep hatred of the Irish, and the Irish immigrants who have come searching for a place to call home. Her arrival tips the precarious balance, and the feud erupts anew. Even in the midst of hatred and violence, however, Katie finds reason to hope. Two men, as different as they are intriguing, vie for her heart, turning her thoughts for the first time toward a future away from Ireland. Katie must now make the hardest decision of her life: stay and give her heart a chance at love, or return home and give her soul the possibility of peace.
15. Portrait of Lies by Clair M. Poulson
It was a robbery gone bad, or so they said. For Detective Trey Shotwell, the murder of his mother, a prominent artist, was the catalyst for setting aside his own artistic aspirations to pursue a career in law enforcement—despite the opposition of his father, also a famous painter. When he agrees to attend an art auction featuring his father’s work, the cruise ship locale provides the relaxation Trey needs. And when he meets stunning fellow passenger Aariah Stanton, the undeniable chemistry they share is an unexpected bonus.
But the tranquil voyage quickly turns into a nightmare at sea. The Shotwell paintings have disappeared, and amidst the chaotic hunt for the thief, a murderer is free to roam the halls of the ship. Aariah finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and miraculously escapes the murderer—for now. But another victim is not so lucky . . . The crime is eerily reminiscent of the death of Trey’s mother so many years before. But this time, the young detective has the resources he needs to track the killer.
16. 400 Questions and Answers about the Book of Mormon by Susan Easton Black
In this engaging volume, renowned gospel scholar and teacher Susan Easton Black explores more than 400 questions — many inspired by her own students — about the Book of Mormon. The book is organized into six chapters that address questions that enhance your knowledge of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and how this sacred scripture testifies of Christ. These chapters also include queries about Mormon’s abridgment, the plates of Ether, the small plates of Nephi, and Moroni’s final additions to the Book of Mormon. Dr. Black’s answers illuminate and enhance the scriptural text, and many address more complex doctrinal topics in a succinct and sensitive manner.
17. No Doubt About It by Sheri Dew
No Doubt About It is much more than an insightful look at foundational gospel principles. It is a stirring call to action, a motivating book that will help readers move beyond knowing to doing. Vivid stories of the author's own experiences demonstrate how these truths apply in real-world settings.
"We no longer have the luxury of spending our energy on anything that doesn't lead us and our families to Christ," writes Sister Dew. "In the days ahead, a casual commitment to Christ will not carry us through. The time has come for each of us to stand tall, and then, in doing so, to stand together."
18. Seventy’s Course in Theology, Volumes 1-5 by B. H. Roberts
Originally printed in five different volumes, Seventy's Course in Theology was written by Brigham H. Roberts, of whom it is said was perhaps one of the finest theologians and greatest intellectuals of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
19. Who Shall Be Able to Stand? Finding Personal Meaning in the Book of Revelation by S. Michael Wilcox
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, "The book of Revelation is one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written." Why, then, do so many people consider it to be so difficult? In Who Shall Be Able to Stand? author S. Michael Wilcox helps open our minds and our hearts to understand the eternal message of this supernal book of scripture. In a clear, conversational way, he explains how we can use the Joseph Smith Translation, the words of modern scripture, allusions from the Old Testament, poetic and parallel imagery, and the whisperings of the Spirit to unlock the passages of this seemingly sealed book.
20. The Doctrine and Covenants Revelations in Context: The 37th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium by Sidney B. Sperry Symposium
An awareness of the background and development of Joseph Smith's revelations allows us to better understand their significance. The 37th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium will help readers gain that knowledge. Written by scholars trained in a variety of fields, the articles illuminate the setting in which Joseph received his revelations. This book will help Latter-day Saints appreciate the significant roles Joseph Smith's revelations have played, and continue to play, in the dispensation of the fulness of times.
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