Olga Kovarova was a university student in Communist Chechoslovakia when she contacted Otakar Vojkuvka to learn more about yoga. As she entered his home and began an acquaintance with his family, she felt inspired to ask him more about his religious philosphies After many months of friendship, Mr. Vojkuvka confided to Olga that he was a member of the Mormon church. Olga felt an overwhelming feeling to join the church and was secretly baptized in a nearby river.

Here is the passage describing her baptism:

"Brother Holcman, who would baptize me that night, entered the water first, and then he walked back toward the water's edge where I was waiting and took my right hand, walking with me as we went deeper into the water. I felt a that very moment that everything was changed in my life. I strongly felt the power of the priesthood for the first time in my life--it felt like a safeness and an unshakable authority to act in the name of God. Brother Holcman offered the baptismal prayer, and when I heard my name I felt in my whole body and spirit that I had ended one lengthy chapter of my life. While walking back out of the water, I felt a complete joy in every pore of my being. I knew that this baptism was recorded in heaven. It was a real act, not only a ceremony to enjoy and see...

I was confirmed that same night. I had never seen before the laying on of hands. As soon as the brethren laid their hands upon my head and pronounced me a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Letter-Day Saints, I knew that the old spirit of loneliness and confusion was gone, and I felt fully accepted by God into his kingdom as one of his daughters. Receiving the Holy Ghost brought me a most beautiful assurance that I didn't have to be lost in the confused world. The companionship of the Holy Ghost felt like the sweet embrace of a best friend. My whole body felt completely cleansed and renewed to a life of happiness and joy. Above all, I was awakened in my spirit, and I felt on my baptismal day as if I had renewed a lost connection to the eternal part of my being.

The most amazing thing to me was when I heard in the prayer of confirmation that I would be able to bring multitudes into the Church. I thought about this all the time from that day on. This sentence particularly became my personal Liahona for my direction and activity in the Church for the coming years while living in Czechoslovakia."

Olga was the first young convert in Czechoslovakia for decades. Because her affiliation with the church was not known by the Communists, she was able to influence and convert dozens of young people through yoga classes and camps. This book details her conversion process and the ways in which she was protected from discovery by the Communists.

I found this book fascinating--I loved learning about life under Communism, and of the ways Olga and her fellow members conduct covert missionary work. _Saint_ is well-written. I thought the passages describing Olga's feelings as she was influenced by the Spirit were often poetic in their detail.

All in all, I would definitely recommend this book (and I already have to some of my friends). I think young men and women as well as adults would enjoy it.

On a personal note, I might add that I became acquainted with Olga a few years ago through an LDS mailing list. At the time my brother was serving a mission in the Czech Republic and she offered great motivation to me (and to my family) through her friendship. She also influenced me to take a yoga class, which I thoroughly enjoyed (much to my surprise), and I am very grately to her for this since the exercise techniques I learned have helped me a great deal.

This book reflected on Sammy's life as a child and a big leaguer. This book also talks about how he was brought up in life, as a child and as a miner in baseball and when he first was in the majors. Sammy didn't always have a great batting average but he steped up to the plate one day and started hitting moon balls. Then once he started hitting moon balls pitchers where starting to pay a lot more attention to Sammy and the fans started coming and looking at Sammy as the greatest player of all time.

This is one of my favorite books! Not only does it have usable historic recipes from the pioneer women of Texas but helpful household hints, like how to make shampoo, cold creme, lip salve, rose water... There's also home remedies like arrow wounds, cure for lunacy, rheumatism, birthmarks, ague, dropsy...all sort of interesting little tidbits. This make a delightful book to read and to use. I highly recommend it.

this book has really helped me in my research about the political situtation in russia. it will benefit any other student who has to do a research report on this topic.

This volume covers 1783 to 1826. The coverage of the Lewis & Clark expedition and of Lafayette's visit and of the War of 1812 are perfect. And there is a lot of social history, which I usually do not care for, but I found this very interesting in this volume, also. This is a real 5-star work.

Michael T. Isenber, an Annapolis history professor, has written a thoroughly enjoyable history of the United States Navy from the close of World War II through the end of the Cuban Missle Crisis in Shield of the Republic. This is not a PR volume for the Navy but rather a history that views the nation's sea service from all angles, exposing the problems of maintaining a Navy in light of the massive post-war draw down, the internal and inter-service rivalries that threatened to destroy the early Department of Defense in the late 1940's, the internal competition between the air, surface, and submarine services, and the scramble to meet the mobalization crisis that came with the invasion of South Korea. It continues with the struggle (and mastery) of the new technologies that challenged the Navy: nuclear power and the role of nuclear delivery by ballistic submarine, the explosive growth of electronics, and the growth of the super carrier. It details the Navy as a "people organization" employing large numbers of young men, the requirement for men to handle the increasing sophisticated weapon systems and electronics, the growth in the number of "flags" (admirals) and the integration of all races in the 1950's. It closes with a view of the Cold War Navy that sustained the blockade of Cuba during the crisis of 1962, a Navy that spanned the globe from the Western Pacific to the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. Shield's 900 pages (including bibliography and notes) is easy to read and almost novel-like in its treatment of the many people and the experiences that were the US Navy in the post-World War II period. It offers many lessons that are applicable to the services of today: Meeting expanding requirements during a (short) period of peace and the attending draw-down, the requirement to fight come-as-you-are wars (police actions), the need to incorporate explosively growing technology into an every aging fleet, and the need to recruit, train, and retain skilled personnel in competition with an attractive commercial job market. Shield is the Samuel E. Morison of the post war period in scope and thoroughness, but is easier to read than an operational history. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in American history, Military history, or the military in general.

Here's an update on this amazing family: Abe and Mary Kroeker's oldest son, Bud, has been active in printing and publishing Christian literature for the past 35 years in Belgium. Mark is one of three finalists for police chief of Los Angeles as of July 28, 1997. Joanne is a prolific writer, as you can see

An enjoyable read for those with an interest in Siberia. The text is enlivened with personal anecdotes of the author, a professor at the University of Houston.

Osherenko and Golonev have created a work that satisfies scientific researchers, sociologists and casual readers alike. The story of the Nenet people is a fine blend of history, folklore, and sharp realism. The assessments come from professionals who have had real experience; understand political dynamics of both the FSU and the world community; and who can apply their findings to view, to some extent, the future of the Yamal. The authors deeply care about the people of the Yamal and their Arctic environment from both personal and scientific perspectives. They supply the reader with an in-depth view of a society that may represent other societies around the Arctic regions. The Nenets' story is unique in one respect but also applies to Arctic regions in general. Read this book to understand a key issue in world politics and international trade. Read this book to understand use of "The Commons". Read this book to understand indigenous peoples and their struggles. Read this book.

Until quite recently, this wonderful book was lost to the world. Sidney was one of the most eloquent advocates for republicanism and liberty in his or any period of history. This work offers a clear and direct exposition of his political philosophy. Although it is no substitute for his great "Discourses Concerning Government," it is certainly a worthy compliment.