Let’s start with books.
I love doctrine. Here are two recent reads I got from Deseret Book, both written by current apostles:
21 Principles: Divine Truths to Help you Live by the Spirit” by Elder Richard G. Scott. Elder Scott offers 21 principles distilled from his life experiences. These “concentrated truths” will help you understand more fully how to be guided by the Spirit. Elder Scott’s brief explanations open the way for your own discovery and exploration. I really like this book. There are so many poignant quotes and thoughts and it’s a great, concentrated resource about what is and how to live a spirit-driven life.
“One Drop at a Time: A Message for Women” by Elder M. Russell Ballard. Do you sometimes wonder if your little efforts could possibly make any difference at all? Consider a simple example from nature.
I would say this book is mostly a “gift book” because it’s short, decorative, and as far as I can tell, basically a lovely reprint of his recent talk “Be Anxiously Engaged.”
Other books: These are kind of random shares I wanted to pass along. When I was doing my own book signing for Covenant Motherhood at the BYU Bookstore during Women’s Conference, I got to share a table with Elyse of SixSistersStuff.com, who was selling their new cookbook. She was really nice and it was fun to get to know her a little, but I didn’t pick up the book because it was a cookbook and they scare me. 
Well just a week or two later, I won a copy of their cookbook as a door prize at an event I went to, and I have to confess, I’m pleasantly surprised. The recipes look like great family meals and the ingredient lists and instructions seem really simple. So I’ve decided I’m going to incorporate it into our summer plans by working with one child a night to make dinner. I think the recipes will be simple enough that they can join in and feel like they’re really being chefs.
Because my calendar has been so busy over the last month or so, I’ve done quite a bit of reading for pleasure just as an escape. I love Jane Austen. That’s no shock to anyone who’s read my blog before. I’ve read some Austenesque knock-offs before, and I’ve enjoyed some of them. (Most just can’t measure up to the originals in that genre.) I had heard good things about Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson, so I picked it up and read it recently. In a day. I loved it. It’s probably the best modern-written, Regency-set one I’ve read. So if you’re like me and you’ve heard of it, but haven’t picked it up, you should. Oh, and it just won the best Romance novel of the year at the Whitney Awards last week. (My friend, Melanie Jacobson, had two books that were finalists in that category because she’s crazy talented. If you like more contemporary, sassy romances, you need to check her stuff out, too.)
Okay, moving on to movies.
Do you like movies that make you weep and thank your lucky stars that you were not a pioneer? Well, I was recently invited to meet the director and lead actor for the new film, Ephraim’s Rescue. 
I’m ashamed to say that I was almost wholly unfamiliar with the incredible story of Ephraim Hanks. I think this movie is going to be super powerful, so you know, bring your tissues. It opens in several Utah theaters on May 31.
And finally, prizes. At that movie preview/launch event, Deseret Book offered to let me give away to my own little blog-reading friends two tickets to see a pre-screening of Ephraim’s Rescue. How cool is that? There will be special screenings in St. George (5/25), Ogden (5/28), Logan (5/29), and Orem (5/29). If you’d like to win tickets to that very cool, exclusive event, leave a comment below. Update: I’ll do a drawing for this winner first thing this Saturday morning. Make sure you leave a valid email address when you sign-in so that I can contact you right away and get you in touch with your tickets on time.
For the win: In the comments, tell me your favorite movie that makes you cry every time. (Please just don’t say “The Notebook.” I’ve never seen it, but people are always saying how it makes them cry, and for some reason, I have an aversion to sobbing while cheesy people are kissing in the rain.) Ready? Go!
Diapers and Divinity 
Amazing Grace. Seriously.
And I know I don’t live there. But my Mom does. 🙂
17 Miracles! I cry EVERY time! Also West Side Story.
I love the movie “LittleWomen” with Susan Serandon and Wynona Rider. The growing up and leaving home and finding your own place in the world always brings me to tears….and Beth. Always cry when Beth leaves.
But don’t enter me in the drawing, because I don’t live anywhere near Utah.
17 Miracles. My heart goes out to all the pioneers who came across the plains and am so very thankful for all my blessings we have today just because of them. I’m sure Emphraims going to be just as good. Can’t wait.
I too say 17 miracles
I cry during most movies as I’m a big baby. Most recently though, I cried while watching The Best Two Years. I love the part when Elder Rogers bears his testimony and remembers why he is on his mission.
I know this is kind of lame and maybe because I just watched it with my little ones so it’s fresh on my mind but The Lion King makes me cry every time I watch it!
I haven’t seen 17 Miracles yet, but I just got it and am SO excited to watch it! Sounds like I’m going to need some tissues. 😉
Swing Kids gets every time. Haven’t seen it? it’s a great movie, Christian Bale/Robert Sean Leonard, need I say more? In high school my friends and I saw it in the theater and we waited for quite awhile to leave because we were all crying so much. Someone else said Little Women, that makes me cry as well, also cried when I saw it in the movie theater. (I normally don’t cry in public places 🙂
“Return to Me” with Minnie Driver and David Ducovny, because it’s a laugh and cry movie. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is another favorite that makes me cry every time. I live in Idaho Falls although I may be able to find a friend who could go.
Oooh Ooh! I’m going to be in Utah that week! I can actually enter. I am kind of a stoic when it comes to movies, but I just saw The Impossible and being a mother of three little boys I totally broke down. Of course, I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite movie though, probably won’t see it again it was kinda painful. Other movies that make me cry are like that. One that we watch every memorial day though is The Majestic. It’s a good one.
P.S. Loved Edenbrooke, just read it two weeks ago. I wish I could get Melanie’s books at the libraries here in Idaho.
Up makes me cry. And Toy Story 3, which came out the summer my oldest son graduated from high school. Those are the only two movies that I will admit to crying when I watch.
I loved “The Blind Side,” which always makes me cry, but I also have the same reaction to “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Wish I could think better right now . . . can’t remember which ones have gotten to me the most. LOL
Movies that Make Me Cry, the short list: Little Women, but I cry out of pique, because I think Wynona should have loved Christian. Henry V, when Kenneth carries tiny Christian across the battlefield, and when he gives that St. Crispin’s Day speech. My Girl. Yes. I’m a cheesy, cheesy girl. But the first time I saw it, I did the Ugly Cry, and it sort of always has that effect on me. Dead Poets’ Society, when the kids stand on the desks at the end. To Kill a Mockingbird. I love that porch scene with Boo in the corner…
“P.S. I love you” made me weep like a baby. And “A Walk to Remember” always gets me. Pretty much whenever a spouse dies, I do, too. Sob sob.
“We Bought a Zoo.” The thought of losing the love of my life just kills me. It gets me every time…..ball my eyes out. Also “P.S. I love you,” let’s just say I never stopped crying in this one…..sobbed….people were looking at me with the thought in their eyes, “get a grip lady!”
“Bambie” always makes me cry!
Awesome giveaway! Everything makes me cry. Sense and Sensibility, Emma Smith, Newsies, even Meet the Robinsons. Oh yeah, I have to be discreet for the Incredibles, too.
Hmm… I actually don’t cry in movies so I can’t name any – but one movie I just love watching over and over is the Princess Bride. 🙂
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