Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The Silence of God

From Christianity to forced atheism, almost overnight!

At the turn of the twentieth century, St. Petersburg offers the best of Imperial Russia. The vast country is filled with grand cathedrals, a faithful populace, and many people who love and revere Tsar Nicholas II and the Romanov family. But as Russia becomes further entrenched in the Great War, a revolution begins brewing within her own borders.

For the wealthy Lindlof family, the only Latter-day Saints living in St. Petersburg at the time, the glitz and glamour of the Silver Age soon dissolves into mass rebellion, dividing their family and testing their faith. Life for Agnes Lindlof will never be the same—changed forever by an ideology that forces equality and demands the silence of God.

Agnes’s lifelong friend, Natasha Ivanovna Gavrilova, is the daughter of a professor and a firm supporter of Bolshevik ideals; she doesn’t believe in God at all. Yet, when the waves of the revolution wash over her family and her friends, Natasha must examine her own heart and decide for herself what to believe and what voice to listen to.

Based on an amazing true story of the only Latter-day Saint family living in St. Petersburg during the Bolshevik Revolution, The Silence of God is a rare glimpse into a fascinating period of history and a powerful, extraordinary novel of devotion and loyalty.

This well researched novel by author Gale Sears offers a rare glimpse into a fascinating period of history, including the rise of socialism and the origins of the LDS Church in Russia. 

From the moment I picked up this book I could not put it down.  The story of this family and what they went through because they refused to deny their religion or their God, really touched my heart and soul deeply.  I am fascinated with historical novels for what I learn when I read them, and this book was no different. I learned a great deal about the history of Russia during the Bolshevik Revolution and now I am eager to learn more about that period in history. This book captivated me so much that I felt it was I who was living during that time.  I can't imagine how any Christian must have felt during that time who believed in God one day, and was forced to deny God the next day.  To read about how the churches were completely destroyed and how those people had to stand and watch, it just really tore at my heart.  I just can't imagine not having the freedom of religion in my life. 

Reading this book  brought back memories of when I was in Berlin, Germany in the early 1980's, a few years before the wall came down. I remember the cold, dark feelings I felt when I entered the Soviet Controlled, East Germany and the stark differences there were from the communist controlled side of Berlin to just over the wall to the free side of Berlin.  I also remember the empty looks in the eyes of the people who lived in the East. Seeing a glimpse of that, helped me to understand maybe just a little how the Lindlof family must have felt.  I was so happy when those walls came down.  And I am so glad the people of Russia are now free to believe in God and in their religion once again. I am also very excited that a Temple is being built in Kiev, Ukraine. What a wonderful blessing that will be for those people.

If you would like to purchase this book you can go to Deseret Book at this link here, or you can purchase it at Amazon at this link below.  I recommend this book to all!
















7 comments:

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

Thanks for the review. I love a good book.

{darlene} said...

I think I will have to read this one. Especially having Agniya here last year, and knowing of the amazing awakening of Christianity amidst the darkness that remains in her country.
Thanks for a great recommendation!

Anonymous said...

Great and interesting book review.

Anonymous said...

great and interesting book review. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Great and interesting book review. Thank you. D'Ann

Anthony said...

Thank you Sherrie, I found your blog on a random LDS search and this book is a gem. It shows the trials that must be met to overcome what we see in life. It also speaks to the courage necessary to do Gods will and not what makes us happy right now. What makes us happy right now is not what will make us happy in the eternities. It shows how the strength of families provides the necessary refuge to avoid Satan's little lies to pull them apart and from the truth.
Sometimes his ways are obvious such as the governmental edict against worship and sometimes his ways are devious by introducing disharmony in homes where God sees eternal families. Happily faith and repentance changes us all if we let it.

I appologize for prattling on but this book affected me
Again ..thank you for the revue ...
Tony

Anthony said...

Thank you for the review of my blog Sister Carpenter. I have sent you an e-mail response to your email listed here. I hope it is the right one. It was not a response for everyone. I hope it has reached you. Cheri and I appreciate your comments and your sharing. We shared something with you that we hope is right.

thanks Tony