The new book was curated by Patricia T. Holland’s daughter, Mary Alice Holland McCann.
When Patricia T. Holland passed away in 2023, she left behind more than a legacy of leadership and service. As the wife of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was known to many as a spiritual leader, teacher, author, and musician. But to her daughter, Mary Alice Holland McCann, she was simply “Mom”—a woman of deep faith, quiet strength, and extraordinary kindness.
In a recent interview on Studio 5, Mary Alice shared the story behind her new book, An Eye Single: Thoughts and Teachings from Patricia T. Holland, a collection of her mother’s most cherished insights. What began as a personal project to preserve her mother’s testimony for future generations has become a gift to all who seek peace, purpose, and spiritual confidence.
A Legacy of Love and Testimony
“I just became kind of frantic or desperate for [my children and grandchildren] to have her testimony in their hands,” Mary Alice said. “I wanted a physical reminder of her testimony for them for the rest of their lives.” Mary Alice’s desire to preserve her mother’s voice was born out of grief—but also out of love. She wanted her children and grandchildren to know the woman behind the public persona: the grandmother who read them bedtime stories, the mother who left notes and gifts on their beds, and the woman who never stopped testifying of God’s goodness.
Embracing the Sacred Privilege of Womanhood
Patricia Holland’s life was a celebration of womanhood—not as a societal role, but as a divine calling. “She loved being a mother, and she loved being a woman in the Lord’s Kingdom with all the sacred privileges and power that affords,” Mary Alice wrote in the book’s preface.
She taught her daughter that being a woman was not a burden, but a blessing. Even when Mary Alice, as a young girl, struggled with comparisons or frustrations, her mother gently reminded her of the divine attributes God had given her as a woman. “She never railed against [womanhood],” Mary Alice said. “If there were anything she railed against, it was anything that got in the way of that.”
The Ministry of Small Kindnesses
In a world that often celebrates grand gestures, Patricia Holland understood the power of small, consistent acts of love. “She just never failed to show us kindnesses,” Mary Alice recalled. “When I was little and too scared to sleep, she read me Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden until I fell asleep.”
From packing M&Ms in a girls’ camp duffle bag to leaving a new sweater on the bed before a big date, Sister Holland’s love was expressed in thoughtful, quiet ways. These gestures, Mary Alice said, helped her understand the Savior’s love. “The little things in our life that He cares about—because He is just a greater extension of my mother’s love,” she said.
Turning to God in Trials
Patricia Holland’s faith was not shaken by hardship—it was strengthened by it. “Everything I’ve done that’s been a challenge has driven me closer and closer to the Lord. Everything. Period.” – Patricia T. Holland
Mary Alice explained that her mother didn’t need to be “driven back” to God during trials—because she never left Him. “She always taught me… God is only good. He’s not capable of evil… So why would we turn away from Him in the moments where we need Him the most?” Mary Alice emphasized. This unwavering belief in God’s goodness became a cornerstone of her life and her teachings.
The Beauty of Simplicity
In a world that often glorifies busyness, Patricia Holland was a quiet advocate for simplicity. “Please,” she once wrote, “stop running to the point of exhaustion. Be quiet. Be still. Simplify.”
Mary Alice shared how her mother practiced what she preached. Church lessons were focused on scripture and testimony—not handouts or elaborate visuals. Family life was intentionally unscheduled, allowing space for connection and rest. “She didn’t over-schedule spring breaks. She tried to keep things simple… so she was available for the thing we needed most, which was just her,” Mary Alice added.
Confidence Rooted in the Divine
Though she may not have described herself as confident, Patricia Holland radiated a quiet strength that came from knowing who she was—and whose she was. “I plead with you to make a distinction between your problems and yourselves… We are not painful, dark, and disappointing.” – Patricia T. Holland
Mary Alice shared that her mother, like many women, had insecurities. But instead of letting them define her, she turned to God. “She found her confidence in the Lord… and that is the ultimate kind of confidence.”
The book ‘An Eye Single: Thoughts and Teachings from Patricia T. Holland’ is available at Deseret Book.
Hear more inspiring words from Mary Alice Holland McCann, listen to her episode on the Magnify Podcast.
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