LDS Music & Talk Reviews

Talk on CD: Multi-Platinum Marriage: Going From Surviving to Thriving

2008-11-06T16:36:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Matt Molen, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Multi-Platinum Marriage: Going From Surviving to Thriving by Elia Gourgouris.

Retail Price: $16.95
Available here

Whether you're newly engaged or reached your 50th anniversary, this honest, straight-forward discussion about what makes a successful marriage will touch you.

Brother Gourgouris' conversational style and years of private practice as a counselor meld together nicely with his LDS perspective of the import of marriage. Dealing with issues such as emotional and physical intimacy, communication differences, and selfishness vs. selflessness, he speaks from his own heart, while also educating those who strive to make their marriages the highlight of their lives.

Highly recommended, this reviewer has listened to this CD a couple of times now. Hopefully his wife has noticed a positive difference.

D.T.R.: What You Should Know Before You Get Married - Talk on CD

2008-04-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

D.T.R.: What You Should Know Before You Get Married by Elia Gourgouris. Published by Deseret Book.

Retail Price: $13.95
Available here

Don't let this title fool you. I didn't know if I would get anything out of this talk since I am already married, and it appears at first glance that this talk is only for those about to get married. Not so! It doesn't matter if you are considering getting married, a newlywed, or married for 40 years. Everyone can get something from this talk. I heard Elia Gourgouris at Time Out for Women and he is a wonderful speaker. In this talk, he discusses how vitally important it is that we define our expectations before we get married in four different aspects of life: Communication, Finances, Spiritual Beliefs, and Emotional, Spiritual, and Physical Intimacy. If you are already married, it's never too late to discuss with your spouse your expectations in these areas. It is also a good idea to periodically examine where your expectations are and how you are doing as a couple. If you have children close to marriage age or that are newly married, getting this talk for them would be a big blessing for them. I wish I had been able to listen to it before I got married.

The Difference One Can Make - Talk on CD

2008-04-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

The Difference One Can Make by Larry Johnson. Published by Deseret Book.

Retail Price:$9.95
Available here

My husband and I listened to this talk on CD while driving on a recent family trip. About 5 minutes into it, my husband said, "I'm pretty sure I have heard this before." That's when we discovered that this was not a new talk, it was actually done in the 80s, but has such a powerful message that it never gets outdated.

Brother Johnson tells in a compelling way the story of Kent Williams, loved by all, an extraordinary missionary with an extraordinary testimony that gets taken from life much earlier than expected. He tells with such passion the effect Kent had on him and all his peers, leading us to undertsand that each person's influence can be felt and make a difference in many peoples' lives. Nearly 30 years later, his influence is continuing to make a difference as this talk maintains its popularity. Thank you for your example, Kent, and thank you Brother Johnson for telling us his story.

Overview of Time Out for Women

2008-03-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Time Out for Women

My sister and I got the wonderful opportunity to take a Time Out from our lives for 2 days and boy did we! It has been so long since I've been to EFY that I kind of forgot that feeling of being completely uplifted, almost elevated, ready to conquer the world. We experienced wonderful speaker after wonderful speaker that lifted my spirit more than I can express. We were taught by Sheri Dew, Wendy Watson Nelson, Virginia Hinckley Pearce, Wayne Boss, Chieko Okazaki, Elia Gougouris, Michael McLean, Mercy River, Hilary Weeks, Mary Ellen Edmunds, Doug Brinley, Merilee Boyack, Jane Clayson Johnson, and Carolyn Rasmus. I haven't felt so spiritually filled in a long while. As I looked around the auditorium filled with thousands of women, I was struck by the thought that the heavens had opened as each woman there was receiving individual spiritual instruction to help them further build the kingdom of God. Amazing. My sister and I were touched and learned from completely different things, making me realize how individual our purpose is.

If you haven't had the experience of going (this was my first time), I recommend it so highly.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes or thoughts from my experience:

Wendy Watson Nelson talked about how to ask effective questions instead of limiting questions and she also talked about false beliefs that hold us back. (one of my favorite topics!) She was giving some examples of how to change our ways of thinking and this was one of her examples: "If you were to believe that your husband really loves you and that his behavior which has irritated you, is actually his best effort to draw close to you and to help solve problems, how would you treat him?" and "If you were to believe that the Holy Ghost really were your constant companion, how would you manage this very difficult situation?" She also taught to "bury our weapons of war".

Wayne Boss: "Your most powerful source of power is the extent to which you can be trusted." and "If anyone has been making your life miserable, you have been giving them your power."

Virginia Hinckley Pearce (who is just as adorable as her parents), "Everyone wants to be interesting, but the vitalizing thing is to be interested."

Sheri Dew talked about having divine influence, how we as women have the power to change the world. She said righteous influence is a spiritual gift and we use it to build the kingdom of God. She talked about how influence works and talked a bit about Oprah and how much influence she has. She prefaced this quote by saying she has no personal beefs with Oprah, but "Be wary of taking counsel from someone who is building their own kingdom."

Carolyn Rasmus: "The gospel of Jesus Christ is NOT insurance against pain. It is a resource in the event of pain."

And probably my favorite quote of the whole thing....Jane Clayson Johnson was talking about how she left her husband home with their toddlers so she could come to speak. He called her and was telling her how he was doing fine "babysitting" the children. She said to him, "Honey, it's not called babysitting, it's called PARENTING."

Thirty Hymns for Missionaries

2008-03-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Thirty Hymns for Missionaries. Published by Covenant Communications.

Retail Price: $16.96
Available here

Okay, so I'm not a missionary and I really enjoy this CD. I think the title is deceptive. This is a wonderful 2 CD-set for anyone who wants spiritual, uplifting music. Some of the tracks have a celtic sound, some are instrumental, some with beautiful vocals. This set is a compilation of a variety of artists. I didn't enjoy every single song, but I enjoyed almost all of them. If you're like me and you just want to hear an opinion about whether the CD is worth it, my opinion is that it is.

Mindy Gledhill – Feather in the Wind

2008-03-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Jennifer Wilks, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Feather in the Wind by Mindy Gledhill. Produced by Scott Wiley. Published by Blue Morph Music

Retail Price: $15.28
Available here

Near the end of 2007, Mindy Gledhill released her second CD, Feather in the Wind. I am generally very cautious about the music I buy, especially if I haven't heard a lot of the songs beforehand. In this case, I had never heard any of Mindy Gledhill's music before buying this CD. But something about the cover and the names of the songs caught my attention and I decided to take a chance on it.

I wasn't disappointed. In fact, Feather in the Wind is now one of my favorite CDs. Mindy has a very distinctive voice and I love the sound of her songs. Usually, it takes several times through a CD, when I've become more familiar with the songs and their messages, before I really love the songs. That was not true of this CD – I loved almost every song the first time through.

If you haven't heard Mindy's music yet, I'd encourage you to check it out.

Teaching Your Children to Fly

2008-02-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Teaching Your Children to Fly by Merrilee Boyack. Published by Deseret Book.

Retail Price: $13.95
Available here

I love Merrilee Boyack. I read her previous book, "The Parenting Breakthrough", which I thought was brilliant. If you have read "The Parenting Breakthrough", you will probably want to skip this talk on CD because it is essentially the same information that is in the book. If you haven't read the book, then this CD is a good option to get the great information she has to share. Either way, if you choose the book or the CD, you have a winner. Her information on how to teach your children to be independent, capable adults is invaluable.

Stay in the Life Boat

2008-02-23T13:40:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Stay in the Life Boat by Brad Wilcox. Published by Deseret Book.

Retail Price: $11.86
Available here

This is the first talk by Brad Wilcox that I have heard, even though I know he is a very popular speaker. I was impressed with his style of teaching. The first half of his talk on CD was focused on the question, "What do we get from being Mormon?" This half was entertaining and very interesting to listen to, but I felt it was the last half that was the true gem. He speaks very honestly and openly to teens about the temptations that afflict them in these days and he teaches very convincingly why it is better to choose righteously. He explains these things in a way that teens can understand and apply.

Talk on CD: No More Double Messages

2007-04-10T11:39:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

No More Double Messages by Jeanette Smith. Published by Covenant Communications.

Retail Price: $10.75
Available here

"No More Double Messages" by Jeanette Smith was a pleasant surprise for a talk on tape. I felt it really presented a viewpoint I hadn't thought of before and I have been thinking about it since. In her talk, she addresses a huge problem facing our youth today, that of physical intimacy. Although she says it's important to teach our children to avoid physical intimacy, she says it's much more vitally important to teach them to avoid emotional intimacy, because emotional intimacy will very easily lead into physical intimacy. The idea of our youth being close emotionally, being exclusive in their dating, knowing where the other is at all times, spending hours talking and confiding in each other brings with it a desire to be closer in a physical way too.

What an important point! I had never looked at it that way, but it is entirely true. Many youth never have the intention to get involved physically, but one thing leads to another after emotional closeness develops. Sister Smith teaches how we as parents and leaders of these youth can help them to avoid becoming emotionally intimate. There are many ways we don't realize we as parents and leaders are contributing to the problem. We are sending the youth mixed messages. This is a wonderful resource and great food for thought.

Music CD: "A Privilege" by Ty Turley-Trejo

2007-03-19T14:57:00.000-07:00

Reviewed by Mark Jacobsen, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

"A Privilege" by Ty Turley-Trejo. Published by Ty Turley-Trejo.
Rating: 5/6 stars

Web site: www.MyNameIsTy.com

When I first received this album knowing that it was an inspirational piano arrangement of some hymns, I had little hope that I would find nothing more than some nice playing of the same old things that we hear from most pianists who release “inspirational piano arrangements of some hymns” albums. I was so thrilled upon a first listen to find how wrong I was to have such “little hope”. Ty Turley-Trejo has delivered something that many of us have been hoping and even pining for for a very long time. Ty’s debut album “A Privilege” is a truly unique and refreshing piece of work.

I knew I was in for a treat when he ended the opening track with a blue-noted jazz chord that many in the LDS music community would not even dare (or perhaps, better said, would not even know how to do) put at the end of an “I Hope They Call Me On A Mission / Called To Serve” medley. For me, though, it makes me want to put a few extra missionary pass-along cards in my shirt pocket! It’s brilliant!

As Ty then ventures into standards such as “I Need Thee Every Hour”, “Where Can I turn For Peace?”, and “Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words”, he does them in such a way as to make them very recognizable, and even hum-able, yet he still manages to take you places you do not expect, and all to great effect. One of the shining moments, though, is his take on “If You Could Hie To Kolob”. This melody fits like a glove with Ty’s style of playing and arrangement. He makes it all his own. Where he gets his ideas that he throws into this arrangement, I have no idea, but I certainly hope he goes there often.

The album ends tastefully on some of his own compositions with vocals, including a very beautiful tribute to the Martin Handcart Company called "Privilege To Pay", which he also sings. This song has all the hallmarks of an LDS inspirational classic. I would not be surprised to find this song being sung in chapels for years to come. Its melody alone is very moving.

This is a debut album that needs to be heard. I would give it a 6 star rating, but I do not believe that this is the best we will get from Ty Turley-Trejo. So, I am giving it a 5 out of 6 stars. Get it, get it, get it!

Go to http://www.mynameisty.com/ to find out how to buy Ty’s “A Privilege” album and for booking information.

Fortunately I also had “a privilege” to speak with Ty Turley-Trejo and ask him a few questions. Please enjoy:

Interview:
Where did you grow up?
Temecula, CA (South Riverside County)

When and how did you get involved with music?
At 7.5 yrs old I started music lessons on piano and it evolved from there. I started writing at age 14. The first time I performed one of my own compositions was my junior year in high school.
I was more involved in sports during High School, so I did not do much music except at church. I would have liked more exposure, but no one knew I played piano unless they were LDS. It has always been a passion for me. Most of my early writing was just instinctive. I would improvise a lot which would get me in trouble at church.

What were some of your musical influences?
I listened to music, but nothing that was a passionate thing until later.
Taking music theory has really opened my eyes. Classical, romantic and
impressionist composers have been amazing to me.
I have been listening to Stravinsky a lot; I just wrote a song called “Blue Cold Room” and that influence is definitely coming through. The minor-major chord structures in Stravinsky's music have really opened my ears. It's such a shock at first to the listener, but then I try to build a melody off of it and people come to an appreciation.
So these are just some examples of what music education has done for me as a
musician.

What do you like to listen to now?
Mostly classical music right now. I really enjoy soundtrack music, John Williams
and Howard Shore.
Now I really like Billy Joel, Counting Crows and some old classic rock.
I am really getting into old school rock. Some punk rock even.
Jazz - everything Gershwin!! If could ever write chord progressions like Gershwin.
Cole Porter, Irving Berlin...

What are some of your music career goals?
I want to be an artist and singer/songwriter, but not predominantly LDS.
I am currently writing my 2nd album which is not religious per se'.
Would love to do soundtrack music.

What are some of your other interests?
Sports. I grew up in an athletic family.
Teaching. I would like to get into education. A lot of social change can happen
through good educators.
I am very philosophical and enjoy talking about stuff from that perspective.

Many thanks to Ty for his time. -Mark J.

Talk on CD: Sticks and Stones

2007-03-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Sticks and Stones by Andrew Horton. Published by Covenant Communications.

Retail Price: $11.95
Available here

Andrew Horton is simply entertaining to listen to. He reminds me a lot of John Bytheway in his style and humor. What a gift he has to inspire our youth today to do better and live more righteously. In "Sticks and Stones", he talks a lot about some of the stupid things youth do to be accepted or get some attention. Brother Horton keeps you laughing as he describes some of the dumb things he did in his youth. One of the things not to be missed in this talk is an experience he shares about his seminary class and the temptation (or lack of it!) to eat goat droppings.

Brother Horton engages the youth with his humor and then leaves very poignant messages about the importance of teaming up with the Savior in life and also about resisting peer pressure and the importance of friends that encourage you to be more like the Savior.

Forever: 14 Romantic Favorites

2007-03-07T18:14:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Forever: 14 Romantic Favorites by Various Artists. Published by Covenant Communications.

Retail Price: $15.95
Available here

Are you a romantic at heart? Do you love piano music? If so, the new CD "Forever: 14 Romantic Favorites" should be in your music library. This CD is a compilation of various artists that include David Glen Hatch, Dustin Gledhill, Clair Bender, Marshall McDonald, Steven Sharp Nelson, and Joshua Creek. The music is indeed romantic and would be perfect for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, a romantic date, or even just some relaxation time.

The collection is a mix of classical pieces and musicals and movies. Some of my favorite tracks are "Somewhere in Time", "Moonlight Sonata", and "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again". Pop this CD in your stereo for instant romantic atmosphere. But don't forget the sparking apple cider.

CD Review: Showtime!

2007-02-19T13:45:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Showtime! Music of Broadway and Hollywood by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Published by Deseret Book.

Retail Price: $14.38
Available here

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has done it again! They have produced another CD of flawless, beautiful music. I end up loving anything the choir puts out, and this one is no exception. The choir departs from their usual hymns and spiritual numbers on this CD and instead, they tackle Broadway and Hollywood. The arrangements are stunning and since most of the songs are familiar to me, I found myself singing along right away.

Arrangements on this CD are done by Michael Davis, Kurt Bestor, Mack Wilberg, Arthur Harris, and Barlow Bradford. The songs range from slow ballads like "Where Is Love?" from the musical Oliver, and "Over the Rainbow" from the Wizard of Oz to more upbeat numbers like "Circle of Life" from The Lion King. Guest soloists on "Circle of Life" are Jenny Jordan Frogley and Alex Boye'. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is so professional is all their productions. I know this one will be played regularly at my house.

Talk on CD Review: Stand Your Ground

2007-02-19T13:28:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Stand Your Ground by Diana H. Hoelscher. Published by Covenant Communications.

Retail Price: $11.95
Available here

This is the first talk given by Diana Hoelscher that I have heard, and I was impressed with her abilities as a public speaker. As I listened to her, I visualized a young, vibrant, cheerleader-like person. I have no idea what she is really like in real life, but that's the kind of energy she puts off, the kind of energy the youth love to listen to.

In "Stand Your Ground", Diana talks about ways in which Satan tries to get to her. She gives examples from the scriptures and teaches us how we can resist Satan's enticings. I think this message about how to resist Satan is so very important in this generation. The more aware the youth are of his tactics, the better prepared they will be to win their battles with him. She left me with a real sense of wanting to be better in many different areas in my life.

Let the Light In by Lyndsi Houskeeper

2007-02-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Let the Light In by Lyndsi Houskeeper. Published by Covenant Communications.

Retail Price: $15.95
Available here

"Let the Light In" is Lyndsi Houskeeper's fourth original CD release. She was named as the #1 new LDS artist of the year in 2003. Lyndsi has a great deal of hope and inspiration to share with others. She is a cancer survivor, and one of her tracks on this CD, "I Live for That" draws from the experiences she has had and was written specifically for National Cancer Survivor's Day.

Also on this CD is a song entitled "Within Me", written for the 2007 Young Women's theme, "Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly". Lyndsi sings regularly at concerts and firesides and is known for her uplifting and motivating messages within her music.

Talk on CD: Christ's Second Coming & Millennial Reign

2006-11-16T12:18:00.001-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Christ's Second Coming & Millennial Reign - Talks on CD by Randall C. Bird

Retail Price: $14.95
Available here:

I didn't realize how little I knew about the Second Coming until I listened to Randall Bird's talks on CD. There were fascinating points presented that I never had heard before. Brother Bird takes us on a journey through the major events of the Second Coming. One thing in particular I had never heard very much about was the meeting that will occur at Adam-ondi-Ahman. I never understood that before and now I have this intense wish to be present at that meeting.

One important point he emphasizes is that we should be looking forward to the Second Coming and preparing for it instead of dreading it or worrying about what will happen to us. It will be a joyous time and probably the most glorious time to be on the earth. I was left with such a positive taste in my mouth of the Second Coming and again, the wish to be here when the time comes.

The only negative thing I will say about this set is that the first and second talks are very similar. He uses a lot of the same material in both talks. The second one does have some different material, but there is a lot of the same as the first.

Music CD: 30 Hymns For A Peaceful Sabbath

2006-11-16T12:17:00.001-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

30 Hymns for a Peaceful Sabbath - 2-CD set by David Glen Hatch

Retail Price: $19.95
Available here:

There's not too much that can be said about this 2-CD set by David Glen Hatch except that it's beautiful. I've been playing it in my car continuously for the last couple of weeks. Hatch's piano music is always beautiful, but his songs are combined with orchestra arrangements that are so touching. There is nothing quite like the hymns of the church. One of my favorites is his arrangement of "In Humility, Our Savior" on the first CD. Usually, we just sing that as a sacrament hymn, but when I listen to it on his CD9, I find myself thinking of the words and what they really mean and I realize what a gorgeous hymn it is.

I don't think you can go wrong by purchasing this set for your Sabbath day collection. It is bound to bring a spirit of reverence and love into your home.

Talk On CD Review: On-Target Dating

2006-11-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

On-Target Dating by Andrew Horton, published by Covenant Communications

If you have a teenager in the house, I would highly recommend this talk on CD as a stocking stuffer for Christmas this year! Before I popped this CD in the CD player, I wondered if it would be worth my time, since I am not in the dating realm anymore. It doesn't matter if you're old or young, married or not, there is something for everyone with "On Target Dating", by Andrew Horton.

I've never heard Andrew Horton speak, but this guy is really, really funny! It takes a lot to make me laugh out loud. I found myself laughing out loud throughout his whole talk. He puts just the right amount of humor and just the right amount of spirituality in to make it appealing on so many levels. He focuses a lot on temple covenants and it made me think about my own temple covenants and how much they mean to me. I did not catch myself daydreaming once. He's such an engaging speaker. I will keep my eye open for talks in the future from Brother Horton.

Talk on CD: Healing the Wounded Soul

2006-11-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Healing the Wounded Soul by Jack R. Christianson

Retail Price: $11.95
Available here

There is one major, thought-provoking theme throughout this talk on CD by Brother Christianson. When someone we know in our lives is acting out, would our hearts change to know that they are acting out not because they want to be bad, but because they are wounded? I've been thinking about this so much after listening to this talk. It's so easy to be judgmental of others, especially if we don't know the reasons why people act the way they do. If we change our thinking to the knowledge that they have been wounded in the past and are doing the best they can with the wounds they carry, it can change our hearts. Those people need more of our patience and our love, not less. Withdrawing our love for them will not help them.

I know that personally, I'm going to strive to implement this thinking into my daily living, so I will not be so quick to judge or to protect myself and realize that I may not have any idea what deep wounds that person may have. Brother Christianson gives an eye-opening analogy about his dog that is not to be missed. His talk is full of love and Christ-like living.

Talk on CD: Come, Come Ye Saints

2006-10-29T12:16:00.000-08:00

Reviewed by Melanie Lott, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer

Come, Come Ye Saints by Heidi Swinton

Retail Price: $11.95
Available here

I really enjoy talks on CD. Since I'm a busy mom, it's perfect for me to be able to listen to these talks as I'm driving around town. It makes me feel like I am still able to get an inspirational message in during my hectic life. "Come, Come Ye Saints," a fireside talk given by Heidi Swinton is worth the listen. She recounts the story of the tragedy of the handcart companies and applies those lessons they learned to us in our day. She talks about the positives amidst so many negative, awful trials. It is a message of hope and inspiration.
One thing I loved is that I heard new details of that trek I had never heard before. She read journal entries from pioneers that were there that I would not otherwise be honored to hear. The only negative thing I can say about this CD is that it is not the best quality taping, but that didn't bother me after the first 5 minutes when she got going into her talk. The content is what counts, and the content is great.