In what follows, we summarize resources we personally trust as mindfulness supports that align with prophetic teaching in the Church of Jesus Christ. On separate pages, we’ve gathered information on in-person retreats and guided audio practices.
For a Good General Introduction
Mindfulness for Beginners: reclaiming the present moment – and your life by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Sounds True, Inc., 2012.
- This simple and accessible intro was one of Jacob’s first exposures to mindfulness – and is a beautiful way to grasp the larger picture, led by the man who’s done more than any other to make the practice accessible to Americans.
Mindfulness in Plain English by Henepola Gunaratana.
- This book has a beautifully simple way of explaining mindfulness as a whole.
Mindfulness Essentials Online Class.
- This class by Latter-day Saint teacher Thomas McConkie, “provides a solid foundation for anyone looking to reap the profound benefits of a mindfulness practice in their daily life. Broken into eight modules with six in-depth guided meditations, this course will lend momentum to your practice whether you are just beginning or have been practicing for many years.”
For Guidance on Applications in Daily Life
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. Hyperion Books, 1994.
- This book provides summary, helpful summaries on way to apply mindfulness in day-to-day life.
Arriving at Your Own Door. Piatkus Books, 2008. By Jon Kabat-Zinn.
- A simpler, quicker read.
Letting Everything Become Your Teacher: 100 Lessons in Mindfulness. Dell Publishing Company, 2009. By Jon Kabat-Zinn.
- A simpler, quicker read.
Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief: Guided Practices for Reclaiming Your Body and Your Life Jon Kabat-Zinn.
- This is the best resource we know for people facing chronic physical pain – and was a Godsend to Jacob’s mother in the final stages of her cancer.
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
- This class is now taught on 6 continents and has been taught to 10s of thousands of people for 30 years – with many research studies conducted on it. You can find in-person classes in Ogden, in the Salt Lake area, in Davis County, and in Utah county – as well as classes across the nation and in other countries here (some online MBSR options are also available here from the University of Massachusetts and here a well-regarded free version in both English and Spanish). If you’re interested in seeing more classes in Cache county, send an email to Jacob at [email protected].
Full catastrophe living: how to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation. Piatkus, 1996.
- This best-selling book summarizes the approach to stress reduction and healing advocated in the MBSR classes above – a classic!
- This online course was developed by Jacob Hess and Thomas McConkie and explores creative ways to work with mental/emotional distress All the videos in the class can be accessed by scrolling down on this page on Jacob’s website too.
The mindful way through depression: freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness, by J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, Jon Kabat-Zinn. Guilford Press, 2007.
- The absolute best mindfulness resource for those facing depression – Jacob’s recommended this almost as many times as he’s told people about the Book of Mormon! Comes with a helpful CD and some audio practices.
Lift – Depression/Anxiety Support platform (also available in iOS or Android apps) – extra support and mindful guidance to those facing depression/anxiety.
- Along with guided mindful practices, there are concrete suggestions for therapeutic lifestyle changes shown to make a difference. Jacob Hess was centrally involved in helping develop the online training and experience.
Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief: Guided Practices for Reclaiming Your Body and Your Life Jon Kabat-Zinn.
- This is the best resource we know for people facing chronic physical pain – and was a Godsend to Jacob’s mother in the final stages of her cancer.
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR).
- This class is now taught on 6 continents and has been taught to 10s of thousands of people for 30 years – with many research studies conducted on it. You can find in-person classes in Ogden, in the Salt Lake area, in Davis County, and in Utah county – as well as classes across the nation and in other countries here (some online MBSR options are also available here from the University of Massachusetts and here a well-regarded free version in both English and Spanish). If you’re interested in seeing more classes in Cache county, send an email to Jacob at [email protected].
Full catastrophe living: how to cope with stress, pain and illness using mindfulness meditation. Piatkus, 1996.
- This best-selling book summarizes the approach to stress reduction and healing advocated in the MBSR classes above – a classic!
- This online course was developed by Jacob Hess and Thomas McConkie and explores creative ways to work with mental/emotional distress All the videos in the class can be accessed by scrolling down on this page on Jacob’s website too.
The mindful way through depression: freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness, by J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal, Jon Kabat-Zinn. Guilford Press, 2007.
- The absolute best mindfulness resource for those facing depression – Jacob’s recommended this almost as many times as he’s told people about the Book of Mormon! Comes with a helpful CD and some audio practices.
Lift – Depression/Anxiety Support platform (also available in iOS or Android apps) – extra support and mindful guidance to those facing depression/anxiety.
- Along with guided mindful practices, there are concrete suggestions for therapeutic lifestyle changes shown to make a difference. Jacob Hess was centrally involved in helping develop the online training and experience.
- Headspace – The largest, most famous mindfulness app in the world.
- Insight Timer (Click here to read some great reviews of Insight Timer & the others below)
- 10% Happier
- UCLA Mindful
- Stop, Breathe & Think
- Smiling Mind
- Free guided meditations in the tradition of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction – including mindfulness of breath, body scan, etc.
- Free guided meditations from UCLA Each week has a different theme, and usually includes some introductory comments, a guided meditation, some silent practice time, and closing comments. Presented by the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center.
- UCSD Center for Mindfulness Guided audio files for practicing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) from the UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness.
- Basic meditation with Tara Brach Free meditations that you can stream or download.
- Contemplative Mind in Society Guided practices from Mirabai Bush, the center’s director, Diana Winston from UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center, and Arthur Zajonc, president of the Mind & Life Institute.
- Insight Meditation Society Selected talks, podcasts, and audio streams, including various lengths of guided meditation.
- Three great and free guided practices here too
- Davis Mindfulness Center – a beautiful center in Layton Utah that offers mindfulness classes for adults, youth – and even parents and youth at the same time.
- Sixteen Stones Center for Growth – Carrie Skarda’s organization that offers therapeutic support and mindfulness retreats for women
- Lower Lights School of Wisdom – Latter-day Saint Thomas McConkie’s sangha that offers in-person retreats, coaching, and classes.
- Mindfulness Utah – An aggregation of in-person guidance in the Salt Lake Area – including classes at the lovely Red Butte Gardens center.
- Davis Mindfulness Center – a beautiful center in Layton Utah that offers mindfulness classes for adults, youth – and even parents and youth at the same time.
- Sixteen Stones Center for Growth – Carrie Skarda’s organization that offers therapeutic support and mindfulness retreats for women
- Lower Lights School of Wisdom – Latter-day Saint Thomas McConkie’s sangha that offers in-person retreats, coaching, and classes.
- Mindfulness Utah – An aggregation of in-person guidance in the Salt Lake Area – including classes at the lovely Red Butte Gardens center.
Note: We can’t vouch for every teaching provided by every person involved in these sites – but in virtually every case, we’ve found them consonant with Latter-day Saint teaching (with rare exceptions).