The Power Of Stillness: Summary Review

What if the spiritual life you’re striving for isn’t found in doing more, but in finally learning how to pause? In The Power Of Stillness: Mindful Living For Latter-Day Saints, Jacob Z. Hess offers a refreshing invitation to rediscover faith not through effort alone, but through awareness, presence, and inner quiet.

What is the Book About?

The book explores a tension many religious people quietly experience. They pray, serve, study, and stay busy with meaningful commitments, yet still feel spiritually tired. Hess suggests that the issue may not be lack of devotion but an overemphasis on constant activity. By introducing mindfulness in a faith-centered way, he reframes spirituality as something that deepens not when we add more practices, but when we bring conscious attention into the ones we already have.

Drawing from both contemplative traditions and Latter-day Saint teachings, the author shows how stillness can become a powerful spiritual skill rather than an abstract ideal. Readers are guided to notice thoughts without chasing them, to feel emotions without judgment, and to connect with God without forcing experiences. The book ultimately presents mindful awareness as a bridge between belief and lived experience, helping faith feel alive instead of routine.

Book Details

Print length: 240 pages
Language: English
Publication date: December 30, 2019
Genre: Religious spirituality and mindful self-development

Book Author

Core Theme

At its heart, the book argues that spiritual growth is less about accumulating religious behaviors and more about cultivating attention. Many people equate devotion with effort, measuring faith by productivity. Hess gently questions this mindset and proposes that genuine transformation occurs when awareness enters ordinary moments. Prayer becomes listening, scripture study becomes reflection, and service becomes connection instead of obligation.

A second major theme centers on integration. The author rejects the idea that mindfulness belongs only to secular psychology while religion belongs only to belief. Instead, he shows how contemplative awareness naturally fits within a relationship with God. Stillness becomes a way to recognize grace, respond to emotions compassionately, and experience faith as lived reality rather than intellectual commitment.

Main Lessons

A few impactful summary lessons from The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints :

1. Mindfulness Already Lives Within The Restored Gospel

One of the central theses of the book is that mindfulness is not foreign to Latter-day Saint faith but woven into its very fabric. As explained in the overview and key takeaways, practices such as prayer, scripture study, Sabbath observance, and temple worship already contain invitations to be present, aware, and receptive. The authors argue that Restoration teachings from prophets like Joseph Smith and Gordon B. Hinckley harmonize naturally with contemplative insights often associated with figures like Jon Kabat-Zinn or Thich Nhat Hanh. Rather than importing something external, the book reframes mindfulness as a rediscovery of what has always been embedded in LDS doctrine and covenant life.

2. Stillness Is Essential Not Optional For Spiritual Depth

In a world defined by chronic busyness and constant stimulation, the book insists that intentional non-doing is vital for discipleship. As outlined in the key takeaways section, stillness creates increased receptivity to divine guidance, clearer decision-making, and reduced anxiety. Without pauses for reflection, even sacred practices can become mechanical. The authors critique the overemphasis on activity, both in modern culture and in church life, warning of the spiritual barrenness that follows relentless motion. Stillness is not laziness. It is the soil in which revelation grows.

3. Prayer Becomes Dialogue When We Learn To Listen

The book reframes prayer as more than speaking to God. It emphasizes that God’s voice is essential to prayer’s fullness. Mindful prayer begins with silence, attention to the body and emotions, and a willingness to wait. Elements described in the summary include centering oneself before speaking, allowing pauses, and cultivating receptivity. This transforms prayer from hurried recitation into communion. Listening becomes as sacred as speaking. Through this shift, individuals deepen assurance, clarity, and intimacy with God.

4. Quieting The Mind Opens Space For Revelation

On the pages detailing techniques for mental stillness, the book teaches that inner chatter often drowns out spiritual insight. By focusing on the breath, observing thoughts without attachment, or resting attention on a sacred word, readers can gradually cultivate a quieter mind. The quieter you become, the more you can hear. This does not eliminate distraction overnight. Instead, it normalizes wandering thoughts and teaches gentle redirection. Over time, mental quiet enhances discernment and strengthens recognition of the Holy Ghost’s promptings.

5. The Present Moment Is The Gateway To Eternity

A powerful insight highlighted in the summary is the phrase that forever is composed of nows. While Latter-day Saints emphasize eternal progression, the book argues that eternal life begins in present awareness. Fully inhabiting each moment increases gratitude, strengthens righteous decision-making, and sharpens awareness of divine guidance. Living mindfully in the now does not diminish eternal goals. It prepares the soul for them. Presence becomes preparation.

6. Mindful Relationships Reflect Christlike Love

The section on relationships underscores that being heard is nearly indistinguishable from being loved. Bringing undivided attention to conversations, listening without judgment, and pausing before reacting cultivates empathy and unity. The book applies mindfulness to marriage, ward life, and community building, suggesting that Zion begins with attentive presence. Christlike love flourishes when people feel seen and valued. Mindfulness becomes a relational discipline that transforms ordinary interactions into sacred exchanges.

7. Mindful Parenting Creates Homes Of Peace

Parenting is described as transcendent work requiring intentional presence. The book encourages parents to create focused moments with each child, establish rituals of connection, and model emotional awareness. Discipline is reframed as teaching rather than reacting. By approaching family life with attentiveness and compassion, homes become sanctuaries rather than stress centers. Mindful parenting aligns with divine patterns of nurturing and stewardship, fostering spiritual growth for both parents and children.

8. Doubt And Not Knowing Can Be Held With Compassion

The FAQ section emphasizes that uncertainty is not failure but part of mortal growth. Instead of rushing to resolve questions, readers are invited to hold space for them with humility and patience. Mindfulness helps separate thoughts from identity, allowing doubts to be observed without panic. The authors caution against both glorifying doubt and clinging to rigid certainty. Instead, they advocate openness to ongoing revelation. This balanced approach strengthens faith by integrating inquiry rather than suppressing it.

9. Sabbath And Temple Are Built In Retreats

The book highlights uniquely Latter-day Saint sanctuaries such as the Sabbath and the temple as divinely provided spaces for stillness. These are not merely obligations but invitations to retreat from the doing mode of mind. When approached mindfully, the sacrament becomes meditative, the temple becomes restorative, and the Sabbath becomes a weekly sanctuary. The Restoration offers structured rhythms of rest that support contemplative living when embraced intentionally.

10. Transformation Requires Consistent Practice

Throughout the summary, the authors stress that mindful living is cultivated through repeated practice. Breath awareness, body scans, sacred pauses, contemplative scripture study, and mindful listening are described as practical exercises. Quieting the mind is gradual. Receptivity deepens with repetition. Spiritual growth is less about dramatic experiences and more about consistent presence. When practiced faithfully, stillness reshapes prayer, relationships, parenting, and personal revelation. In this way, mindfulness becomes not an add on to faith but a pathway into deeper discipleship.

Key Takeaways

Key summary takeaways from the book:

• Spiritual exhaustion often comes from overdoing rather than underbelieving.
• Mindfulness strengthens faith by helping individuals truly experience religious practices.
• Observing thoughts calmly creates emotional resilience and compassion.
• Stillness allows a deeper connection with God beyond routine habits.
• Presence transforms ordinary moments into meaningful spiritual encounters.

Book Strengths

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its balance. It neither dismisses religious structure nor idolizes meditation techniques. Instead, it shows how awareness enriches existing practices, making the message approachable to believers who might otherwise resist mindfulness. The writing is practical, gentle, and relatable, turning a potentially abstract concept into something readers can immediately apply in daily life.

Who This Book Is For

This book is ideal for readers who value faith yet sometimes feel spiritually overwhelmed, distracted, or disconnected despite sincere effort. It especially resonates with those interested in personal growth, emotional health, or contemplative living while remaining rooted in religious belief.

Why Should You Read This Book?

You should read this book if you have ever wondered why sincere devotion sometimes feels mechanical. Hess provides a reassuring answer and a hopeful path forward, showing that peace does not require abandoning belief but learning how to inhabit it more fully. The result is a calmer, warmer, and more personal spirituality.

Concluding Thoughts.

The Power Of Stillness presents a quiet but meaningful shift in perspective. Rather than pushing readers toward more commitment, it guides them toward deeper awareness within commitment. The message feels almost paradoxical yet deeply intuitive, reminding us that presence often accomplishes what effort alone cannot.

In a world defined by noise and urgency, the book offers permission to slow down without losing direction. It encourages readers to approach faith as a lived relationship rather than a checklist, allowing stillness to reveal insight already waiting beneath the surface.

→  Get the book on Amazon or discover more via the author’s website.

* The publisher and editor of this summary review made every effort to maintain information accuracy, including any published quotes, lessons, takeaways, or summary notes.

Chief Editor

Tal Gur is an impact-driven creator at heart. After trading his daily grind for a life of his own design, he spent a decade pursuing 100 life goals around the globe. Tal's journey and recent book, The Art of Fully Living, inspired him to found Elevate Society.