Too Much to Carry Alone by Camille Fronk Olson

Too Much to Carry Alone Reviews

• 
  Katie Lynn

  Fast read with some good points to ponder.
  
  "Heartache and struggle were divinely designed to stretch us to the point where we have nowhere to turn but to God. Christ heals our pain; He does not prevent it."
  
  "Christ declared, "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). He didn't say you must overcome the world or that He overcame the world just for the weak ones who weren't smart enough or strong enough to do it on their own. He said, "I have overcome the world."
• 
  Afton

  Another short, but powerful self-help book I got at Time Out for Women. All 60 pages of this book discusses the scripture found in Matthew 11:28-30 for the Savior's invitation, our responsibility, and His promise that we don't have to carry our burdens alone. There are too many golden nuggets not to share! Camille Fronk Olson talks about her research on yolks, and how they allow a person to carry heavy burdens for a longer period of time. Yokes also diffuse the weight and stress and make it more bearable. We all have yokes as we attempt to carry the responsibilities and burdens of life. Some of the reasons our burdens become heavy is "when we are bent under the pressures of time and have lost perspective concerning priorities and rest."
  
  Top 10 favorite quotes:
  1. "When we finally acknowledge that we have too much to carry alone, we hear the Lord's invitation to willingly take, not just any yoke, but specifically His yoke upon us. To accept His yoke means that we will have to set aside the faulty, yet by now very familiar yoke we have been using and trust in His liberating gospel."
  
  2. "As a carpenter by trade, Jesus likely made yokes for both animals and people who had heavy burdens to carry. The Savior knows a lot about perfect balance. Jesus Christ, the Master Carpenter, designs a yoke for each of us that not only fits our physical stature but considers our personality, talents, and personal circumstances."
  
  3. "We falsely assume that if we are good enough, we can avoid bad things happening to us and those we love. Elder Maxwell observed, 'we want victory without battle and expect campaign ribbons merely for watching.' Trials will come, including when we are trying to do everything right."
  
  4. Elder Scott, "one purpose of adversity is to accomplish the Lord's own purposes in our life that we may receive the refinement that comes from testing. Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously."
  
  5. "Obedience to God is not insurance against pain and sadness. Challenges have always been included in God's great plan to test our faith, to stimulate in us growth, humility, and compassion. Christ heals our pain; He does not prevent it. The scriptures remind us that the faithful are frequently stretched to greater devotion and humility by divinely designed trails." Examples included - the ground was cursed for Adam's sake, Eve was promised that her sorrow and hardships would be multiplied, and Sariah had to send all four of her sons back to Jerusalem to face the men who wanted to kill her husband.
  
  6. "Christ's mission was never to prevent hearts from breaking but to heal broken hearts. He came to wipe away our tears, not to ensure that we would never weep. He clearly promised in John 16:33 'In the world ye shall have tribulation.' The Father did not send us to earth to learn how to escape burdens and responsibility."
  
  7. "We are here to learn to become more like the Savoir, and we don't do that by having someone else carry our burdens for us. The Lord's yoke not only enables us to carry the load He called us to assume but allows us to carry it for as long as He requires."
  
  8. President Kimball, "When you do not worry or concern yourself too much with what other people do and believe and say, there will come to you a new freedom."
  
  9. "As we mature in the Lord's service, He increases the weight of our responsibility, and our overall strength increases as a result. We are learning to become more like Him."
  
  10. Alma directed his son Helaman to teach his people 'to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly of heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.' - Alma 37:34. President Joseph F. Smith defined the Lord's rest as the peace that comes from unwavering faith in Christ and His doctrines. He wrote, 'To my mind, rest means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan. The man or woman who has reached that degree of faith in God that all doubt and fear have been cast from him, he has entered into 'God's rest.'"
  
  Loved this book! I've always said I'm grateful for my trials and not somebody else's. Just today I found out that a little boy in Evan's class is having brain surgery on Tuesday. As I look back on my life, I realize that all of my trials have also been my greatest blessings for the things I have learned and for the people's paths I have crossed who have touched my life. My mom reminds me that God gives big trials to those who are strong. Christ has been there every time to wipe away my tears and I know he'll always be there for me!
  
  
  
• 
  kelley

  This book uses as the base of its text Matthew 11:28-30
  King James Version
  LDS Edition
  
  Following is the breakdown of the scripture and the outline of the book
  Come unto me (the invitation),
  all ye that labour and are heavy laden (our condition without the Savior),
  and I will give you rest (the promise).
  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
  for I am meek and lowly in heart (the cost)
  and ye shall find rest unto your souls (the promise repeated).
  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (a contrast to burdens we are currently carrying).
  
  
  The subject of this book is deep and requires pondering and prayer. The author, however, has a way of taking the scripture, breaking it down and explaining it in such a way that is easy to comprehend. Her writing is simple and straightforward. The book is small (60 pages) and reads like the text of a speech. It doesn't take long to read but is one that stays in the mind, and the heart and requires additional readings.
• 
  Noelle

  This book gave powerful insight on how we can overcome challenges and become stronger.
• 
  Nicole Stanton

  Camille is very knowledgeable, but I find her writing dry and stiff. I couldn’t finish this short little read.
• 
  Sherilyn

  Another great book my my dear friend Camille Fronk Olson. I loved how she teaches that coming to Christ is the way to solve our problems. That turning our life over to Christ gives us eternal healing, perspective and helps us to make better choices. Will read this little book often. Camille Fronk Olson is one person who has left a lasting impression on my life for good. I love and admire her so much
• 
  Erin

  I began by reading a chapter a day, and half way through, (three days) I quit. This is a book that should be read in one sitting. (easy to do) This is the second book I have read by Camille Fronk Olson, and I love her analogies. Her thoughts and ideas are so easy to relate to. Very good uplifting book. I love the pictures in the book and on the cover.
  Amazing to think about all that Christ will do for us if we but allow Him to. I would recommend this to all of my friends.
• 
  Jenn

  I like Camille Fronk and enjoyed this book, so I'm giving it 3 stars. But the cost of this book makes me say that Deseret Book is the devil. This was probably an Education Week or Women's Conference talk, turned into hardcover and it pains me to think I paid 10 dollars for it! It was good but not worth someone else spending another 10 DOLLARS!
• 
  Natalie

  I was looking forward to this book so imagine my surprise when I was not a fan. I found the writing dull and drab. I had a hard time making it through the small gift book. Not one that I will visit again.
• 
  Carolyn

  Look at Matthew 11:28-30 in a new way. Recommended.
• 
  Kathy

  This is one of those talk turned into a gift book kind of books. Far too short but still worth reading.
• 
  Lacey

  Another great, simple pick me up book. If you're looking for something to make you feel better, uplifted and don't have a lot of time I suggest reading this.
• 
  Beth

  Easy to read book with a simple profound message.
• 
  Heather

  This was a nice little read to uplift and strengthen.
• 
  Susan

  I think I would have liked it better if I had read in one sitting instead of three or four. It would have made more sense.
• 
  Jamier1947

  Insightful and profound about a yoke. Great discussion material
• 
  Angela

  Short book, packed with great quotable lines, interesting ideas. Uplifting.
• 
  Rachel Robins

  Inspiring, short read. This is pretty much a talk put in a book. Perfect for a quiet Sunday read. Great author, great message!
• 
  Nancy

  A nice very brief book (really just a talk) about how Christ can help us.
• 
  Amber

  Great, simple, little book!
• 
  Myra Marangi

  She is brilliant when it comes to scripture. I enjoyed it as it was a good reminder that when I'm weak, I'm truly strong in Christ.
• 
  Brooke

  Average. Very quick read
• 
  alisonwonderland (Alison)

  This short exploration of Matthew 11:28-30 was worth a little of my time on a Sunday afternoon.
• 
  Kim Dennis

  I love Sister Olson. She has such great insights. I had never thought of a yoke in quite the way she presented it. It gives me a lot to think about.
• 
  Natalie Steed

  Part of a “Time Out for Women” classics Book Collection. Impressed with the heavy research done on certain principles. Was fascinated by her angle of “take on a yoke”. Much food for thought