John Bytheway (born October 1962) is an American author and academic, who is well known as a comic motivational speaker for youth within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Salt Lake City, Bytheway attended the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah, receiving a Master's Degree in Religious Education. He also served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Philippines.
Bytheway is a religious studies instructor at BYU, currently focusing on the Book of Mormon. He also serves on the Aaronic Priesthood/Young Women Writing Committee for the LDS Church. Bytheway and his wife Kimberly have six children.
Fourth time through this book. Another really rough year. I really liked the last section which was 5 scriptures to get you up and moving this time--really needed it. Third time through. I thought 2017 was tough but this last 12 months has it beet. Between the Corona virus and Keith's deteriorating health I really needed the extra boost that I get in reading this. I think that I will make cards with the 5 scriptures to get you through 5 difficult situations. I just finished reading this book for the second time. I picked up more points to help me through a really tough year. I love his practical advice and his sense of humor. Then there is my first review as follows: This is a really uplifting book with great ideas for giving yourself that little extra boost that you need.
This highly readable little books gives five scriptures and lots of good insight for five areas: Help for Almost Anything, Strengthening Marriage, Improving Family Relationships, Strengthening Faith and Motivating to Action. In the book, author Josh Bytheway shows us that the power, hope and perspective we need are found in the scriptures. As the cover flap explains, "in his interesting and distinctive way, John encourages us to look to the word of God for strength in fighting life's battles, and he explains how we can be lifted by the gospel when times are easy and lean on the gospel when times are tough." There is much inspiration packed into these 153 pages. Excellent!
This is an absolutely fantastic book - motivational and inspiring. While the entire book is full of scriptures and quotations, the specific 5 that headed each section were especially varied and applicable.
Near the end, he mentions that the scriptures he chose may not be the same ones we would choose, but that is the amazing power of the scriptures: they belong to each of us and can guide us in all the very personal aspects of our lives. It inspired me to do some extra study and choose 5 scriptures of my own to help me get through almost anything!
This is actually a talk on tape but still worth the listen. John Bytheway is one of the best motivational speakers ever and this lastest offering does not disappoint. He weaves humor in with gospel truth to have you laughing one minute and tearing up the next. The scriptures were meaningful. The most touching part, for me, was when he talked about visiting the kids in Littleton, CO after the school shooting and how he used scriptures to help comfort them. Excellent talk-don't miss it!
In addition to 5 scriptures for tough times, it also has scriptures to strengthen your marriage, strengthen your faith, improve family relationships, and motivate you to action. I loved this book, it had a great perspective.
There were a lot of great scriptures and ideas shared in this book. I totally agree with one of Bytheway's parting comments - each of us could find 5 scriptures on each of the themes discussed and have our own insight.
Some of the comments were particularly relevant to me at this point - especially the section about discovering and then doing what it is we were sent here to do. It's something I've been thinking a lot about, and the advice to write out life mission in pencil so we can adjust and add over time resonated with my soul. It also gave me more courage to make some choices - it's not like I'm writing in pen, or setting things in stone. I can shift and adjust as needed at any time.
Thoughtful book by John Bytheway, discussing five different scriptures on each of the following topics: 1. To help you get through almost anything 2. To strengthen your marriage 3. To improve family relationships 4. To strengthen your faith 5. To move you to action
This is one I will return to from time to time. I've also thought it would be personally helpful to write up my own five scriptures that are meaningful to me for various topics. Others may find the same exercise useful. I think we get far more from thinking through, and writing about, these kinds of things than in reading someone else's thoughts about them. Both are good practices.
I was pursuing the shelves at my local library and came across this little book. I hadn't read or heard anything from John Bytheway in years and thought it would be a fun, quick read-- even if it was geared more toward teenagers. However, I was surprised to find that this particular book is actually written for adults. Despite being short and sweet, it contained tons of insight and I found myself wishing I owned the book as there were many passages I would have marked. Definitely worth reading and one I would like to own and continue to reference again and again.
This is an expanded version of a talk John Bytheway gave to the youth who were affected by the Columbine shooting years ago. Despite this, it still felt so timely and relevant. This was a quick read about hope and faith, and I’m grateful for John Bytheway’s knowledge and unique insight into the scriptures.
Fantastic read! I'm sorry it took me so long to pick up this little book. I'd heard the talk on CD by John Bytheway that is reproduced in the first chapter, but there were so many more treasures of information in the chapters that followed. I highly recommend.
Inviting and enlightening. I especially enjoyed the chapters on improving family relationships and strengthening marriage. Definitely applicable to more than the chapter titles describe. Worth the read!
I always enjoy John Bytheway's thoughtful work. This volume is so simple based on scriptures. It is also what makes it so powerful. A great addition to scripture study.
This was a great book. It focused on the scriptures and was extremely motivating. I highlighted a lot of passages and found many ideas I can put to use in my and my family lives. Loved it!
John’s writing style is so fun! I love how his honesty, humor, and experiences come together to share more about the scriptures and how we can find peace and comfort through any life experience.
"No matter what "it" is, we can do it because of our faith in Christ. So we fight on, knowing that, "they that be with us are more than they that be with them." We will "fear not: knowing that God delights to bless his children. And we will doubt not because with God, all things are possible to those that believe." -pg. 119
I needed this book right now! Not that times are insanely tough but some of my decisions are and sometimes it's nice to be reminded that even in our daily trials there is hope that things will get better. My favorite section of the book was "5 scriptures that will strengthen your faith". There were amazing quotes in this section. For instance-
President john Taylor taught, "God lives, and his eyes are over us, and his angels are round and about us, and they are more interested in us than we are in ourselves, ten thousand times, but we do not know it."
President Ezra Taft Benson testified, "If only we knew it, heavenly hosts are pulling for us-friends in heaven that we cannot now remember who yearn for our victory. This is our day to show what we can do-what life and sacrifice we can daily, hourly, and instantly make for God. If we give our all, we will get His all from the greatest of all."
"The Lord will take us where we're at, and he'll work with us. Some have taken the Lord's love and mercy too far and have concluded, "The Lord loves me just the way I am." While this is probably true, I also believe that the Lord wants us to be something better. I don't believe he wants us to be content where we are. Rather, I think he often fills us with "divine discontent" so that we'll keep striving, trying, and growing. Along the way, we'll make mistakes, but we can remember the reassuring words spoken to Joseph, "repent...and thou art still chosen.""-pg.84
So for now I'll accept my divine discontent and simply...believe.
This book was wonderful. It has five chapters. Each chapter presents 5 scriptures that will: 1. get you through anything 2. strengthen your marriage 3. improve your family 4. strengthen your faith 5. motivate you to action
I was entertained and inspired. One of my favorite segments came from the "5 scriptures that will strengthen your marriage" chapter. The scriptures was "Is it I?" (Matthew 26:22). Brother Bytheway explains that when the Savior told the Twelve that one of them would betray Him, their reaction was one of meekness and self-examination. Every one began to ask, "Is it I?"
In a marriage, the "is it I" attitude creates a setting where the Spirit may dwell. That humility and desire to change makes problem and marital stress melt away.
This one of the best LDS inspirational books I've read. It contains so much more than what the subtitle suggests. This book does include a chapter talking about "5 scriptures that will help you get through almost anything" but that is just one of many chapters. This book also includes chapters such as "5 scriptures that will strengthen your marriage" and 5 scriptures that will strengthen your faith". There are also chapters with scriptures to help you improve family relationships, and motive you to action. Each section was insightful and helped make scripture passages more applicable to daily struggles we may be facing. I liked reading just one or two scriptures from a chapter in this book each day, and they never failed to leaved me feeling uplifted, inspired, and wanting to be a better person.
I love the way John Bytheway gives insight into the scriptures he chooses. This book started out as a speech to the columbine lds youth who were affected after that horrible shooting. He was asked to speak to them. I can't imagine the magnitude of being asked such a thing. He came up with "5 Scriptures That Will Help You Get Through Almost Anything". In his book he has sections on different areas of life and a set of 5 scriptures he discusses for each area. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Another thing I like about this book is the sharing of true stories. I love true stories and how others can overcome trials and tribulation.