I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B.Eyring

Several people have recommended Eaton & Eyring's biography, "I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring." (This is about the son, in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not the father, who was an award-winning chemist.) I've always enjoyed the sermons of Brother Eyring: I have given one collection of his sermons, To Draw Closer to God, to many friends and family members as a gift. I thoroughly enjoyed this biography, and I learned a great deal from it. For many years, Brother Eyring kept a careful journal, and the biography is interspersed with passages from it, providing rich, personal insight. The flow of the story is compelling, from Brother Eyring's childhood in New Jersey, through a professorship at Stanford, to working as president of Ricks College in Idaho, to being called as a general authority and eventually to the First Presidency of the Church. I highlighted or annotated dozens of useful passages. If I were to draw out three themes, they would be -- first -- that revelation takes work. Again and again, Brother Eyring sought guidance but didn't receive it until he did his homework. He was taught this by Church president Harold B. Lee: "Hal, when we had done all we knew how to do, when we had our backs to the wall, then God gave us the revelation. Hal, if you want to get revelation, do your homework". Then again, he learned it from apostle Boyd Packer, who "taught him the significance of bringing thorough data and unbiased analysis to bear on questions that would ultimately require inspiration to answer." In turn, revelation brings more to do, as Brother Eyring remarked in his journal, "Continuous revelation seems to mean continuous work." The second theme is the importance of humility. As a student employee on a grounds crew, he learned "the importance of working hard without seeking to impress." Later, as a graduate student, he noted that, "I began to be impressive. Kaput -- end of good writing." The lesson came up again and again: When he received some praise from Brother Holland, he noted in his journal, "I'll be tempted to seek that again." And he taught, "If you want praise more than instruction, you may get neither." The third theme is in trusting the leaders of the Church, that the Lord is working through them. As a bishop in California, Brother Eyring said, "I felt strongly to urge us all to use the instructions, in detail, we already have from the Lord through the prophets. ... I'm sure some instructions must be in error. But...I can't remember trying anything I was told that wasn't a source of great blessings." Later, when in the First Presidency of the Church, he made a mistake, apologized and was forgiven by President Monson, and later heard President Monson tell a story, apparently to other people, but that clearly had a message for Brother Eyring. After that, "Hal recommitted to weighting President Monson's every word. ... In so doing, he began to find more guidance than he had imagined possible. As he replayed President Monson's statements in his mind, inspiration came to his heart." Beyond these broad themes, I appreciated the rich teachings from Brother Eyring's father, like this one: "I am glad when one of the brethren says something that I think is a little bit foolish, because I think that if the Lord can stand him, maybe he can stand me.." Brother Eyring's life also teaches more specific lessons, as when his sons complimented his family night lesson: "Great lesson, Dad: short!" We go on to learn that "the bulk of family home evening was reserved for games, into which Hal and Kathy tried to weave a modicum of learning and social development." I particularly enjoyed small points that I related to personally, as when Brother Eyring sat down to a physics exam and was unprepared for the Hamiltonian equation that stared back with him; I struggled with that same area of math in my first year of graduate study. Towards the end of his life, Brother Eyring's father was still an active researcher, as this anecdote captures: "Dad lacks a sense of the tragic: he was writing research proposals when he almost died of a heart attack last night from the strain of chemo-dialysis." I doubt I would persevere so far in my research, but I've written a number of proposals and appreciate Father Eyring's example. This book was a pleasure, and it made me want to be better. It made me want to do what he did: "When I got to my [hotel] room at ten, I tried the advice I'd suggested in my last talk: I read the Book of Mormon, thought about my gratitude for the Atonement, and then asked in prayer if there was anyone I could help." And it made me ask, as he did, "I wonder how many kindnesses I've put off in my life, blowing up in my mind the time and skill required when six minutes would have done it."

I feel that this book is one of the best examples of just a good human life. He wasn't perfect and he knew that about himself. However, I feel like he was humble and teachable. I love that they had the journals from his life to look back on. I feel like it made it one of the most well-written biographies that I have read that included actual details instead of speculation as well as chronologically laid out what his life entailed.

An unassuming man of tremendous talent and also a brilliant academic background matched against his father, one of America's leading scientists years ago, comes to light in this edition of his focus upon what it has been like to feel the quiet but also evidentiary direction of the forces of good, of love, of inspiration, of pure knowledge, and a guidance of such proportions as to be the means to verify that this is a man, who has learned as Moses said, "Look to God and live!" Even with the foibles of his youth, the sometimes careless decisions he made, yet in the midst of his focus upon a Christ-centered life, Henry Eyring stands as one of the great icons of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, the book is not just for the saints but also anyone, who is earnestly striving to find purpose to his/her life, and who in her/his own way would like to have some guidelines of what it takes to achieve when the nature of things seems to be against that achievement.

This is exceedingly well-written. It covers all of the essential details and is wonderful to read. You will learn to love this sweet man who was guided by Heaven and touched the lives of many people. The Kindle version (I use Kindle for PC) is easy to read. The pictures are crisp and clear and it is in every way a quality work. If you love reading about general authorities then please DO get this book. It will touch your heart and gladden your day. If someone of Elder Eyring's stature can have the Lord overlook his imperfections as he tries to draw nearer to Him then yes, there is hope for me too!

You can't help but be inspired to be a better person after reading this book. It is a wonderful insight into the life of a very humble and great man. I am amazed by his stamina and courage to constantly improve even in the face of extreme trials and tribulations. He never seems to look at a downside, only the positive side even when rebuked. I only wish that I could be more like him, and always look for the growth I need so I could be more like the Savior. What an example he sets for us to follow. I can clearly see why the Lord has called him to be a leader for us in these trying latter days. I very highly recommend this book for those who need an uplift in today's world.

Excellent and uplifting memories of a man, his wife and his family dedicating their lives to the Savior throughout their life.

President Eyring's family life is explored well in this book. Henry B. Eyring is a remarkably gifted and accomplished man, and the influence of his family is profound. I enjoyed the narrative and the beautiful pictures of President Eyring and his family, especially his lovely wife. She was worth the wait! One of the best insights I took from this book is that we need to be always faithful in small things, and God will trust us in the big things, and we'll have greater faith and confidence in ourselves.

Br. Eyring has kept a personal journal most of his life. Many contributions are drawn from his journal and makes this biography so personal and insightful. It's a thick book and I am sad it's finished. I loved what I learned from him about becoming a true disciple of Christ, exampled in words and deeds. I would buy this again and will read it again.