All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience

The author takes the reader to a place as a witness that... God knows! He knows every little thing about us. We will jump for joy as it is understood why we chose to participate in *every life experience* to prove us.

Beautifully written and inspired. I enjoyed the message and how it opened my mind and spirit to new concepts. Also a favorite author.

This is written by a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) and it is written for members of the LDS church.While others may get some encouragement from this book, be aware that it is directed towards Mormons.I was going through a rough patch and my friend leant me this book. I found comfort in reading this book. Not that it made the situation any better but it gave me some thoughts and provided a method of looking at my situation differently.I will probably pass this book on to others and reread this book at various times in my future.

This is a MUST READ for anyone experiencing pain and wants to understand WHY ME! I've had over 7 back surgeries, two knee replacements, shoulder surgery, over 80 kidney stones - along with 3 kidney surgeries and cancer with enough pain to last a life time, but I still have 20+ years to go. Neal Maxwell wrote this book in the late 1960's while he and several friends experienced pain while also fighting cancer. Is there a reason why so many of us experience pain? Neal Maxwell helped me understand that there is a reason God lets us experience pain. I wish I'd read his short, but powerful book 25 years ago after my first surgery. Pain pills are not the answer to pain. "All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience" helped give me a clearer understanding to the why of pain that daily helps me as I struggle in this life and prepare to meet God in the next. It's worth the read.

Very easy read. Each chapter shares new insights and is directly in line with gospel principles, but takes them to a new level. Highly recommend.

I have read this once before years ago but, like many, enjoy going back and rereading books again. It helps me to remember things I'd forgotten and look for insights that I may have missed the first time around. Neal A Maxwell was a tremendous man with insights from scholarly studies as well as from some of life's difficult trials. What a wonderful man and book!! I highly recommend it.

There are chapters in this book that need to be read and reread. I learned so much in the first couple chapters about god that I will never forget. Helped me understand more about an all knowing and loving God

The late author Neal A. Maxwell was a high-level leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ("Mormons") for many years. Titled after guidance given to the Church's founder Joseph Smith during a difficult episode of his life, this book offers perspective on the role of suffering in our lives. Written within the LDS religious tradition, it is most accessible and useful to those who understand and believe in this perspective. Those seeking an introductory presentation of LDS belief might prefer the official LDS Church guide  Gospel Principles .Maxwell warns that understanding the role of suffering is a "hard doctrine" that requires insight into both ourselves and the nature of God. Understanding suffering as part of our mortal experience does not only require faith in God's love of us, but also in his omniscience--particularly his knowledge of how much hardship each of us individually can bear. He begins with a discussion of suffering, and proceeds through the book to explain the related purposes of chastening from others, growing, serving others, praying, and following inspired leadership.Only some suffering do we bring upon ourselves through unwise choices in life. Maxwell identifies three other varieties that are not of our choosing. First is the suffering common to all humankind. All of us suffer the pains and inconveniences of mortal life, including ultimately death. Second, followers of Jesus Christ will suffer criticism and sometimes even stronger consequences because of the unpopularity of their religious belief. Finally, we will each suffer individual hardships in life because of a loving God's plan to give us experience, helping us to grow.As the themes of suffering and growth are developed, the book presents a number of insights. Several are summarized below to give the prospective reader a feel for the author's message:- We should not neglect true service of individuals, not matter how much we contribute funds or time to general causes. We need to see the face of those we help, loving our neighbors rather that distantly loving "all mankind."- There are many kinds of service. One often overlooked is to stop something evil from continuing. Absorb an unkind word or act without returning one in kind. End a feud by refraining from retaliation.- Corrective feedback must be done carefully, sparingly and lovingly. Maxwell's nine guidelines (pp. 74-75) suggest how to do so.- Praise or commendation is no less important. "Let us...be nondiscriminatory in the giving of commendation. [It] keeps us alert and noticing of the good deeds and qualities of others. It permits us to be more concerned with them and less with ourselves. As long as we avoid artificiality and generality, commending is one of the great dimensions of brotherhood and sisterhood." (p. 89).- We should put aside pride and petty differences with those who lead us and support them. We are reminded of the shepherd and flock model of leadership from Jesus Christ's time. "As with the shepherds in the Middle East, prophets are to lead the flock; they do not herd the flock, nor do they merely follow it." (p. 105). Maxwell presents a summary (pp 109-110) of the most common difficulties people have that stand in the way of following and benefitting from their leaders.Readers interested in knowing more about Neal Maxwell's life and church service will enjoy Bruce Hafen's biography,  A Disciple's Life: The Biography of Neal A. Maxwell .