Posted by Adar Kielczewski

Why did Mr. Armstrong write an autobiography? What can we learn from it today? These are important questions that can help you answer another: Why am I reading it? Mr. Armstrong is the man God used to introduce each of us to His way of life. All of us came to know God either directly from Mr. Armstrong, by his writings, or via our parents’ connection with him. This is why last fall, when I heard there would be a Herbert W. Armstrong College class on his autobiography that I just had to take it.

As God used him to do a greater and greater work, many people encouraged Mr. Armstrong to write a book about his experiences. He declined for a long time, however, because he did not want it to come across as vanity—and he had a lot of other things to do. But as he grew older, he changed his mind, seeing that his autobiography could help other people.

“I came to realize that the recording of one’s life experiences can be inspiring and helpful to others—provided there has been something of real value in those experiences,” he wrote in the introduction to his autobiography. “I feel that the recording of all this might impart some measure of inspiration and help to the reader.” He was focused on giving the lessons God taught him through his life.

This statement shows God was working on Mr. Armstrong’s mind. There is real value in studying Mr. Armstrong’s life, because it is a life in which God was working. And that’s what each of us wants in our lives. It is inspiring to read about all the tests and trials Mr. Armstrong went through, especially when he was younger. I know as I went through the class (which is what inspired these anecdotes in the first place), I developed a greater understanding for how God works through people, how God blesses us when we follow His law, and how no matter how hard something seems, you can always overcome.

Mr. Armstrong writing his life story was certainly God-driven. As Mr. Gerald Flurry said in Malachi’s Message, “This [autobiography] is perhaps the second-most important book Mr. Armstrong wrote. It tells the history of the Philadelphia era better than any other book.”

Mr. Armstrong’s sincere and selfless motivation really hits you as you read the introduction: “It is my sincere hope and desire that the reader will be helped to a richer, fuller, more abundant life by this autobiography.”

That’s the whole motivation Mr. Armstrong had—that we would be helped by it. It is a detailed account and practical, inspiring motivation of how to do the Work of God, how to be used by God and how to produce great things for God by surrendering to His will and purpose.

Hopefully these “Armstrong Anecdotes” encourage you to read Mr. Armstrong’s autobiography. If you have read the autobiography, what stories are your favorites? How have you tried to be more like Mr. Armstrong? Is there anything you would like to see covered in these anecdotes? Let me know in the comments!