Church History and the Fulness of Times (CES) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 4 Stars

Church History and the Fulness of Times (CES) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 4 Stars

Title: Church History and the Fulness of Times (CES Manual)

Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Publisher: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Year: Softcover Manual – 2003 - Current

Rating:   4 STARS

 

Price and Purchasing Options: So even though this book is fairly common in second hand options – the reality is this book is available new at any distribution center, or online at church distribution for only a couple of dollars.  No need to go hunting for this book and look for a great deal.  I would recommend – hitting up the online distribution center and picking it up.  This book is also available for FREE on the LDS Library App provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Review: I can’t tell you how surprised I was by how much I enjoyed this manual!

I read this manual as a typical book – I have never actually taken more than one “Institute” class – and I dropped out of seminary too early for me to admit I ever really went in my youth (not something I am proud of, but not ashamed of it either).  With that being said, I also never expected to be the guy that would find anything from the church distribution center and give it four stars (or five) – because I probably would risk being perceived as the guy that would sanction anything from the church, just because it is from the church – which I am not.

But I have to be honest with myself – and the book itself.  This book is probably the single best general overview on church history ever!  Most people ask me, after they get to know me, for a recommendation on a book on church history.  If they haven’t already, I tell them they should start here.  This text will give them a foundation, with a wealth of experiences, stories, and perspective, to grow from.

Although, I agree and support continued study beyond the material in this text, this text presents the church history foundation to grow off of.  Without this foundation, any other in-depth research is usually placed or highlighted out of context of the larger picture and time frame.

This text not only presents the faithful church history, but also contains surprisingly relevant stories.  Although, you will not get anything unexpected from the church in this manual – you will find some unique stories.  It is not uncommon for me to teach a church history class and share some stories, and have people well versed in the gospel and the history of the church to come ask for where I found that story – and they are always surprised when I point the Church History and the Fulness of Times by the CES department.

Again, I would highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a good, safe, and comfortable foundation in church history.  For those people who want to go beyong the “safe” I would still recommend this text as the foundation for their study to help keep their future studies in perspective.

I love it and I give it four stars without hesitation; and I hope that you trust me enough to know, it was had for me to risk being viewed as “that guy.”

Suggestions:  Jump online and get a copy for cheap!  You can just read through a free copy on your LDS Library App provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints… however, I struggle with electronic books, and find I don’t actually read through them as I should.

I hope you have enjoyed this review, and I encourage your to follow this blog as I update more reviews in the coming days, weeks, months, etc.  Please feel free to also follow my YouTube page – however, I enjoy writing more than being on camera!

Review #19

Tags: Church History in the Fulness of Times (CES), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church History, 4 Stars. LDS Book Review, Ryan Daley