Daystar Productions

Fiction

Novels by Lawrence Gardner

Free To Love — The Road to Zion's Gate

Free To Love is the first book in the series The Road to Zion's Gate — a religious novel set in the future before the second coming of Christ.

The collapse of civilization has stripped everyone of their moral fiber. America swarms with marauding gangs. Adam and his lifelong friend Matt have been called by the Church to go to Wisconsin to recover a group of members. Although both are devoted, Adam's analytical mind harbors hard questions his religion has been unable to answer. Truth has become the anchor keeping his soul from drifting into lunacy.

The story chronicles their daily struggles to survive in a world that has gone mad. Will they complete their mission? Will they save the members in Wisconsin, or lose their own lives — or worse, their souls?

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Tales From Springtown

Springtown, Utah (now Spring City) gets its name from the more than thirty springs that once graced its boundaries. Many colorful characters have walked the streets of this small Mormon pioneer farm and sheep community.

Tales From Springtown is the first book in a series of short stories taken from the old time radio show, Life Under The Horseshoe. With a Mark Twain style, Lawrence depicts events that did or might have occurred as a result of pioneer life. Most stories have a fictitious element but nearly all are inspired by true events.

You are sure to be captivated, charmed, and amused by the wide variety of mysteries, enchanting romances, and humorous accounts of life in Springtown.

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Non-Fiction

Doctrinal works by Lawrence Gardner

This series, Best Kept Secrets of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is a non-fiction doctrinal work inspired by a religion professor at Brigham Young University who often asked, "What is the best kept secret of the Mormon Church?" — and answered his own question: "It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Having taught Gospel Doctrine and Priesthood classes for many years, Lawrence has discovered that many members do not understand some of the most fundamental and important principles of their own religion.

Celestial Concepts in a Telestial World

The first book in the series. It digs deeper into fundamental concepts such as truth, love, stewardships, attributes of God, the need for suffering, and the oneness of the Gods. Because our study of the gospel is cursory, we do not understand even the basics — leaving us unaware that there is a "meat of the gospel," a Higher Gospel. A greater understanding of these simple basic principles will impact our ability to comprehend and move up to the Higher Gospel of Christ.

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Quantum Leap

The second book in the series. It teaches us that there are two gospels, each having their own priesthood, keys of knowledge, and blessings. Once we understand the Higher Gospel, the true meaning of being Born Again and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we are prepared to make the quantum leap. This is the heart of the Gospel of Christ revealed to Adam, Enoch, and every prophet down through time. If one can only read one book, this is it.

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How Stupid Can We Be?

The Book of Mormon claims to be the history of two American civilizations spanning over 3,000 years. The absence of physical proof has caused many followers to lose their faith altogether. How Stupid Can We Be? presents an innovative case for an all-inclusive Western Hemisphere geography model that rebuts other highly speculative theories, and philosophically strikes at the root of why we have chosen to believe many of our erroneous notions and traditions.

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About The Author

Lawrence D. Gardner — Producer, Director, Writer

How do you get an uncommon, engaging, mysterious, fascinating, story? You start with an uncommon, mysterious writer who has listed a fascinating life.

The son of an Air Force career pilot, Lawrence has traveled and lived in many places. He served as a Military Intelligence Agent during the Vietnam War, hold a BA degree in Art from Brigham Young University, studied filmmaking at California State University, worked as a CBSA cameraman, and owned a motion picture production company producing award winning TV spots and documentaries. He has written, produced and directed a full-length feature film Jump Cut, and an “old time” radio program, Life Under the Horseshoe.

In his extraordinary, often worrisome (sometimes flat-out terrifying) life, Lawrence has never lost sight of his spiritual roots. He served a mission in England and taught for many years in the LDS Church. He has learned that members do not know their own religion. Although replete throughout the revealed word, little is known about the higher Gospel of Christ. The Church teachers only the lesser gospel of carnal commandments. Because of his love of storytelling, Lawrence has framed the higher principles and doctrines in a fictional format that can be comprehended and enjoyed by anyone.

Radio Show

Lawrence co-produced, wrote, and directed the "old time" radio show Life Under The Horseshoe, broadcast from Victory Hall — a restored 100-year-old vaudeville theatre in downtown Spring City.

Producer / Director

Lawrence has enjoyed a challenging and rewarding career in the performing arts as an Actor, Writer, Director, and Producer — in live theatre, television, and motion pictures.

Writer

Having written stage plays, screenplays, radio dramas, short stories, and several books, Lawrence deems writing the freest, most creative, and most rewarding thing he has ever done.

Testimonials

What readers are saying

The scenes are sometimes brutal, but realistic in the context of general anarchy, lawlessness, and desperation. Periodically, the two missionaries experience genuine miracles, help from an angel named Martin, and even meet a group of Baptists who are “Zion seekers.” I was moved to tears.

David Tuttle, PhD

Founder, CliffRose Mesa Publishers

Although harsh at times, Free To Love is written in a comfortable style with extremely imaginative and captivating episodes. It is a true “page turner.”

Jeremy T.

NY Times Reporter

Read Chapter 1 Free

"The two missionaries, Adam and Matt, are called to travel from Preston, Idaho to Wausau to discover what became of a lost group of members. The scenes are sometimes brutal, but realistic in the context of general anarchy, lawlessness, and desperation. Periodically, they experience genuine miracles, help from an angel named Martin — a translated being who provides friends at opportune times, including a coyote who follows them on their journey."

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