The Power of Stillness by Jacob Z. Hess Summary

The Power of Stillness explores how Latter-day Saints can revitalize their spiritual lives through mindfulness and intentional pauses. Jacob Z. Hess combines LDS teachings with mindfulness principles to address spiritual exhaustion, urging readers to embrace reflection over relentless activity. Key themes include differentiating between passing thoughts and eternal truths, practicing Sabbath stillness, and cultivating inner peace through observational awareness.

This book is ideal for Latter-day Saints experiencing spiritual burnout or seeking deeper gospel connections. It’s also valuable for mindfulness practitioners interested in faith-based applications and leaders aiming to foster resilience in their communities. Hess’s insights resonate with those navigating modern life’s pressures while striving for authentic spiritual engagement.

Yes, particularly for readers seeking actionable strategies to balance religious devotion with mental well-being. Hess provides relatable examples, such as reframing Sabbath observance as a “pocket of eternity” and using mindfulness to disentangle transient emotions from core beliefs. The book’s blend of psychology and theology offers a fresh perspective on sustaining joy in LDS practices.

Hess frames mindfulness as a tool to enhance spiritual discernment, emphasizing practices like observing thoughts without judgment and grounding oneself in gospel truths. He aligns mindfulness with LDS principles of agency and self-mastery, showing how stillness helps individuals recognize divine guidance amid inner noise.

• Sabbath Stillness: Reimagining the Sabbath as a sacred interruption to cultivate peace.
• Observing Mental Turbulence: Learning to detach from overwhelming thoughts by recognizing their impermanence.
• Grounded Agency: Using mindfulness to act intentionally rather than reacting to emotional triggers.

Hess critiques the culture of hyper-activity in religious life, advocating for intentional pauses to reconnect with spiritual joy. By practicing mindfulness, readers learn to differentiate between performative service and authentic devotion, reducing exhaustion while deepening their testimony.

Hess argues that not all mental content reflects truth, urging readers to “meet inner noise with curiosity rather than fear.” By observing thoughts nonreactively, individuals can disentangle fleeting emotions from enduring spiritual insights, fostering resilience against anxiety.

• Daily Reflection: Pausing to observe thoughts and emotions without judgment.
• Sabbath Rituals: Prioritizing restorative stillness over productivity one day a week.
• Scripture Engagement: Reading sacred texts with focused attention to discern personal relevance.

Unlike general self-help guides, Hess’s work uniquely integrates LDS theology with clinical mindfulness techniques. It complements books like Believing Christ by focusing on internal stillness as a pathway to grace, rather than doctrinal instruction alone.

Hess describes the Sabbath as a “hiccup in time” and likens overwhelming thoughts to “weather patterns”—temporary phenomena that don’t define one’s spiritual worth. These metaphors simplify complex psychological concepts for faith-oriented audiences.

The book teaches readers to acknowledge anxious thoughts without letting them dictate actions. By grounding mindfulness in LDS teachings like divine love and eternal perspective, Hess offers a faith-based framework to reduce anxiety’s grip.

Yes, Hess includes exercises such as breath-focused meditation during scripture study, journaling to track emotional patterns, and intentional Sabbath rituals. These practices aim to build habitual stillness while aligning with LDS cultural norms.