Bookstore Home > History > Biographies

Disciple's Life: The Biography of Neal A. Maxwell

Bruce C. Hafen, Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 2002, 6.25x9.25" hardbound, 631 pages. ISBN: 1570088330

In 1996, Latter-day Saints were stunned by the news that Elder Neal A. Maxwell had contracted acute leukemia.
Confronted by his illness, Elder Maxwell experienced the "wintry doctrine" he had eloquently taught for years--that the Lord may "deliberately choose to school" his disciples in tutorials of affliction designed to "enlarge their souls."

Discipleship is the central message of Elder Maxwell's life, a theme that helps us not only know Elder Maxwell but also know how to better follow the Savior ourselves. "All Apostles are Disciples of Jesus, but not all of Jesus' disciples are Apostles."

Compassionate, witty, politically astute, and spiritually authentic, Neal Maxwell has always been passionately "engaged" in life's battles. During his dark hours of chemotherapy, he whispered, "I want a jersey. On the team, on this side [of the veil] or that side, I don't want to sit on the sidelines."

This instinct for action impelled him into the infantry in World War II where, on Okinawa, "shaking and crying in a foxhole full of mud and foul water, he pledged his life to the Lord" and was miraculously spared.

He discovered the power of the scriptures while fighting in the Lord's army as a missionary in Canada. Next came the intellectual engagements of university studies and the political skirmishes of Washington, D.C. Then, tutored by President Harold B. Lee, he became the Church's commissioner of education when an entire generation of LDS college students needed his fresh, open, and faithful mentoring.

An Apostle since 1981, Elder Maxwell has engaged a broader struggle, that "between the sacred and the secular, the tension between faith and reason, and finally his greates cause--his spiritual ministry." His eloquent defense of Christianity and his brilliant reconciliation of faith and intellect are a rich legacy. But beyond that, he has shown that with the Savior's help, ordinary people "can be better, less competitive, more loving," and receive the soul-transforming gift of charity.

In this inspiring, sometimes humorous, and moving biography, Elder Bruce C. Hafen has painted an intimate portrait of a beloved Apostle, capturing the warm, personal stories that reveal the heart and mind of a true disciple of Christ.

Title: Disciple's Life: The Biography of Neal A. Maxwell

Retail Price: ~~$29.95~~

Your Price: Only $25.45

FAIR is not owned, controlled by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All research and opinions provided on this site are the sole responsibility of FAIR, and should not be interpreted as official statements of LDS doctrine, belief or practice.

You can send comments/suggestions using our contact page.