My Thoughts On The Book: More Than The Tattooed Mormon

I just finished Al Fox Carraway's book More Than The Tattooed Mormon. And wow. Just wow. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to actually read it - it's been sitting in my back pack for the past six months just waiting to be cracked open.

I don't even know where to begin with my thoughts on this book... so I'll just word vomit, right now:

I started the book last Sunday and finished it within the week. My family went to San Francisco and I knew the hours inside the car would be long and sometimes boring, so I searched for a good book to read. Remembering that this neglected book was sitting amongst the textbooks, papers, and pencils in the black hole that is my back pack, I decided that this would be the book to subdue my boredom if needed. It didn't take long. I reached into my bag and began to read.

I love Al Carraway. I've been following her for the past few years and gobble up every single post that she writes. I was excited to find out that I didn't know everything she had written within the pages of her book; it kept me coming back for more and more.

The thing I love most (if I absolutely had to pick something) about Al is how happy she is. You can just tell by her writing. And it's not that I didn't know why she's always happy, because I have what she has, too: the same Gospel. The same God. The same promises. Etc. But I learned something that I'll (hopefully) never forget after reading this book: "...they (blessings) do come, and they will be better than what we had in mind. That is what happens when we put God first..." (pg 118)

That's it! Put God first! That is the secret to the happy life. No, it doesn't mean that life will suddenly become easier; all of the answers to your questions won't magically be answered, all of your trials and burdens won't be lifted from you (though that would be nice). But! You will have the strength to push forward through all the rough times that will come your way. If you put the Lord very first. Just like Al said so many times throughout this book, He is our only option.

"Satan will not give up, and it's through the smaller things that he slowly gets us. We have to continuously be conscious of what we're doing and striving toward. The gospel is like running up the downward escalator: the moment you pause, you start sliding back. Satan waits for the moment you slow down to try and get you." (pg 91)

I've always been a visual learner and for some reason this visual of an escalator just clicked! Of course we're going to move backwards if we're not continuously pressing forward! Of course Satan is going to get to us if we slow down! We must always keep moving forward, keeping Christ the center of our lives, by putting Him first-at the very front of everything. 

I love how real and genuine Al Fox Carraway is. She doesn't sugar coat it; life is hard. Making decisions is hard. Patience is hard. "There will always be something to overcome, something hard to handle, or something new to figure out. How unproductive it is to long for the trial to be over, to crave a fast-forward button, to hang onto that make-believe mortal vision we create in our minds. Stop living in the future, and enjoy today. Search, learn, and find joy in your trials, because surely there will be many, consistent throughout our whole existence here." (pg 106) Repeatedly, Al talks about the blessings that will come to us if we continue forward in faith. We're promised blessings we can't even begin to imagine. How cool is that?!

I could keep talking about this book, but I should probably stop and just let you read the book for yourself. Seriously, I definitely recommend it. Al helps her readers (and followers) see the happiness that can be and is attained through living the Gospel. If you find yourself in need of a good wake up call, this book is your kick in the butt. If you've already read it, read it again. Al's positivity is infectious and you'll find yourself smiling through all that comes your way.

"Embrace yourself. Love what you can do and accept what you can't. Love your differences, and most important, be proud of yourself! Love who you are and where you are. Don't spend your time looking ahead, pleading for things to be over or different. Stop looking backward. Stop yearning and waiting for the future. Today, where you are right now, is a joy. Today, right now, is the best place to be. Happiness, opportunities, and blessings do await us in this day." (pg 138)