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5th out of 163 books
—
185 voters
The Miracle of Forgiveness
This classic work examines the process of repentance and the subsequent healing of the soul. Because all of us have weaknesses and challenges to overcome, we are all dependent on the master's redeeming work in our lives.
376 pages
Published
January 28th 1997
by Bookcraft Pubs
(first published 1979)
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Jul 15, 2008
Roasterx
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
LDS scholars
Recommended to Roasterx by:
A former bishop
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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How to rate this book...did I love it, like I'll read it over and over? Did I agree with every word? Instead of feeling guilty, I felt the power and love in obedience, and felt strongly how there are real consequences for actions that the world tends to gloss over or mock. However, I find it a difficult book to read, though I would recommend this to anyone who is feeling like sowing their oats and repenting "someday."
The first half of this book will tear you down and make you feel like you need to go see your bishop for even the smallest little thing like taking the last Oreo cookie out of the cookie jar. But then the last half of this book will show you the true power of the atonement and what Christ has done for us. I would recommend this book to anyone but remember to finish the whole book before you talk to your bishop.
7 likes · like · see review
No particular reason to read, just heard it was good and decided to read it.
It's uh...very humbling to read. A good tweak for the soul! :-)
I noticed a friend was reading one of his books and remembered this one. I would recommend reading this book every few years or so just to, uh, keep on track. :-)
Very compassionate and straight forward.
It's uh...very humbling to read. A good tweak for the soul! :-)
I noticed a friend was reading one of his books and remembered this one. I would recommend reading this book every few years or so just to, uh, keep on track. :-)
Very compassionate and straight forward.
5 likes · like · see review
Apr 11, 2008
Tamra
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Mormons with strong dispositions
Shelves:
own-currently
I read this book as a supplement to a RS lesson I was teaching. I'd read chapters in this book before (when I was struggling with those topics), but hadn't made it past chapter 6, which everyone should skip. Chapter 6 is an out-of-date view on homosexuality. The church approaches homosexuality differently now, and with more compassion.
Some of the things were hard for me to take--like his opinion that women shouldn't wear shorts and that teenagers shouldn't drive cars. But when you focus on the d...more
Some of the things were hard for me to take--like his opinion that women shouldn't wear shorts and that teenagers shouldn't drive cars. But when you focus on the d...more
6 likes · like · see review
Oct 02, 2007
Scott
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who are perfect
Shelves:
religion
I don't get why this is such a famous book within Mormondom. It is basically just a rule book. I've heard that to soften the blow, you're supposed to start with the last two chapters, then read the whole book. To me the last two chapters were just so-so, and they definitely didn't make up for the harshness of the rest of the book. Do people really recommend this to people who suffering emotionally and struggling to gain forgiveness? I read this on my mission (my most righteous period in my life)...more
Excellent book. I like the list of all sins on page 25. I expect that I'll be working my way through that list for the rest of my life. This is the first book that introduced me to the concept of "Sins of Omission". I've often heard the words "I've never done anything wrong". The chapter on Sins of Omission explains that we can also sin when we don't do what we should be doing. This is a must-read for all LDS readers.
2 likes · like · see review
A guilt-laden piece who's main purpose, in my opinion, is to scare people into keeping inline with the LDS morality code. I admire what he tried to do, but he went about it entirely the wrong way.
Should be called "Forgiveness? It would take a miracle." Part of the unofficial second-tier LDS canon. Kimball uses an interesting literary device, devoting the vast majority of his book to all the reasons one needs forgiveness, from french kissing to extramarital sex, from lusting after a 68 Camaro to sitting in the wrong seat on the school bus and therefore missing out on a predestined obligation to testify to that dopey kid who played the tuba. In the end, it all wraps around to the idea that...more
Oct 01, 2007
-uht!
rated it
1 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who think guilt is virtuous
Shelves:
bullshit
uh oh. i put my winkey by her who-ha. thank goodness the creator of the multiverse, inventor of quantum mechanics, space, time, and all that exists, had nothing better to do than to concern himself with the juxtaposition of the naughty bits of a singular species in all the universe. how groovy of him.
hmmm... wait a minute... why *doesn't* he have anything better to do? i mean... the universe is a big place with a lot going on. i guess it just goes to show how awesome he really is. so awesome tha...more
hmmm... wait a minute... why *doesn't* he have anything better to do? i mean... the universe is a big place with a lot going on. i guess it just goes to show how awesome he really is. so awesome tha...more
Wow this was an intense read, and took me awhile to get through. But was very insightful and has given me a deeper understanding of the gospel. One quote from this book that stuck out to me was: 'Jesus may stand and knock, but each of us decides whether to open. The Spirit is powerless to compel a man to move. The man himself must take the initiative. He must himself desire to repent and take the specific steps. He must, as Paul counseled, " put on the whole armor of God," and thus insure that h...more
When I read this book as a teenager I loved it. It made me feel empowered and maybe a little smug (whether I realized it or not) because so much of it didn't apply to me directly and was theoretical. This time, while most of the sins he talks about still don't apply to me, I am more acquainted with the world and they do apply to some people I know and care about. I found this a much harder read this time. The language was not just blunt, it was harsh, and I found myself disagreeing with him on a...more
Again I'm feeling guilty for giving something only three stars. I guess my expectations for this book were so high it would have been hard to meet them, after years of hearing of it spoken of as one of THE LDS classic must-reads. When all is said and done, I did gain insight from this book and I'm glad I read it.
I didn't know beforehand what the content was going to be-- whether it was a book about forgiving others (the chapter about forgiving others was probably my favorite in the whole book) o...more
I didn't know beforehand what the content was going to be-- whether it was a book about forgiving others (the chapter about forgiving others was probably my favorite in the whole book) o...more
Often called the "Valley of Despair" book. It begins on the downward plunge to the depths of darkness, and ends on the upward climb to hope. It is eye-opening and comforting, especially if you can make it through the blatantly honest first half. If you do read it, please be aware that the book was written 40 years ago in the prevalent views of the time. One big change in church doctrine since that time is the point of view on homosexuality. The church no longer teaches that homosexuality is a le...more
I feel that this is one of the most over-rated unofficial Mormon texts of all time. While I can't say that there are any doctrinal problems with the text, I felt that it misrepresented the gospel. The first half or so of the book is designed to help you understand that you are a worthless sinner. Really, the people who are inclined to read it are also generally inclined to recognize their guilt already. This means that the book first focuses on piercing their tender hearts with deep wounds (see...more
Perhaps the best book I have read on the Gospel (other than the Scriptures themselves, of course.) Every page --almost every paragraph--humbled me and my sole (and my soul's) desire was to repent. My understanding of the Atonement has never been clearer, and my reverence for my Savior has never been as profound as when I read this book. As I read it, I felt as if God was removing my heart of stone and replacing it with one of flesh.
This book is the Mormon equivalent to "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." Okay, well maybe God is not quite that angry in this, but it made me feel just like Edwards' loathsome spider. I don't think that is how God wants me to feel about myself.
I ave always been a faithful member of the church. So, this is not coming from an anti-Mormon or from someone with an ax to grind with Pres. Kimball. I just don't believe every little thing leader of the church says or writes is scripture, especially...more
I ave always been a faithful member of the church. So, this is not coming from an anti-Mormon or from someone with an ax to grind with Pres. Kimball. I just don't believe every little thing leader of the church says or writes is scripture, especially...more
2 likes · like · see review
It is written by a prophet, so of course it is good. I particularly liked the clarity with which President Kimball explained that families should not be put off for school or to make money. The story he tells of counseling a young man who had been excommunicated about being careful with his person to ensure he was around long enough to repent was powerful. I think I read this on my mission.
In Kimball's book, everybody is evil, including the coffee drinker, but none more so than the homosexual. Kimball finds it regrettable that today's society is more tolerant towards homosexuals than in Old Testament times when homosexuals and other fornicators were stoned to death. No wonder gay mormons are driven to suicide, and not only gay mormons, but all mormons will inevitably fail to live up to Kimball's impossible moral standards (one possible reason people in Utah consume so much antidep...more
1 like · like · see review
When resding this book I suggest reading the last part of the book first then work to the first then the middle and read the end again. As you read it guild can take over but in the end you see the true blessings of forgivness. I can see how Kimball would write it like he did though. The feelings you get reading the book are the same feelings as when you go through a repentance process. As we realize our sin and we go through the repoentace it is very hard and you struggle with all kinds of emot...more
O.K., I didn't really read this book cover to cover. After doing some studying about Grace and seeing how it all tied into Jesus and repentance and such, I thought I'd better look over this "famous" LDS book to see if it had any gems for me. So, I perused the book. That is probably as far as I'll ever get in reading it cover to cover, so I am adding it to my Goodreads now. : )
I have to say, I believe this book is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to better understand the process of repen...more
I have to say, I believe this book is an excellent resource for anyone wishing to better understand the process of repen...more
I greatly appreciate the time that President Kimball put into this book. It is a must read for every LDS. This really put into perspective my concerns and behavior, as well as hit home with the idea of letting personal offenses slide off my feathers like scummy pond water. This is a diatribe that changed my thinking and is helping to make me a better person.
It took me a long time to get through this book. I have picked it up several times over the last nine years. This week I was compelled to finish it after reading "Left to Tell".
I developed a better understanding of forgiveness and the atonement through reading this book. That we can be forgiven of the wrongs that we do is truly a miracle.
I developed a better understanding of forgiveness and the atonement through reading this book. That we can be forgiven of the wrongs that we do is truly a miracle.
Are books written by leaders of immutable religion supposed to be superannuated? I don't mean this disrespectfully, but through all the austerity of this book, the thing that stood out most to me was the disparity of the status quo, now and then. There were times that the writing was gorgeous and the message well-understood, but with so much focus given to the norms of the times, it was difficult not to question the book's relevance and to concentrate on the thesis. The current church body's acc...more
WOW! This was so wonderful. I'd been a bit hesitant to read it because I was told it made you feel guilty, and "guilty" always has such a negative connotation. It definitely made me look at myself, and helped me recognize some weaknesses, but I wouldn't say "guilty" was the general feel. Motivated to improve is a better way to say how the book made me feel, and I REALLY feel motivated. He wrote the entire book out of love, and that really comes through. After the scriptures, I think this would b...more
Fabulous book. It is a great book to learn about forgiveness and how to forgive. I always thought that this book was meant for people who had made grave mistakes then I picked it up and read it. It truly shares inspired stories and scriptures to help better understand the atonement and also our responsibility to forgive.
This book was recommended to me at a time where I was looking for hope. A way out of what I got myself into. I had broken 9 of the 10 commandments of the bible and all the commandments practiced by the church. However, while reading this book, sure, I felt guilty for what I had done and what pres kimball was saying, but I didn't let it discourage me. I used what is being taught in this book as constructive criticism. I felt like some of the things were a little out-dated (given when it was writt...more
this book has several problematic issues. The main one being that is is just silly bigotry. Masturbation leads to homosexuality? Homosexuality leads to bestiality? Is Kimball for real? I am amazed at the numbers of raters to 'love' this book. Are they saying they actually believe such nonsense? I have yet to see (and i am 100% sure i never will see) any and i do mean ANY proof that such statements have any truth whatsoever. And -if the book promotes those two lies, than i can only assume that on...more
This is another of the fundamental books for people that are approaching adulthood, or are newer members of the Church. It can be kind of a tough book to read (during the first half), then the compassionate book on the second half. President Kimball is one of my all time heroes. I can hear his voice as I type and as I read his words. A gentle man with the firmness of a tiger. The first half of this book can tear you down and make you feel like you need to go see your bishop for even the smallest...more
There is a trend in Mormonism to come off as either very lenient and forgiving without much substance or the reverse. This book follows the latter. There are some gems in this book, but tread carefully. He uses your sense of guilt and his authority as his greatest weapon in his arguments (granted, they're all theological.) If you do read this book, let your guilt drive you to what is right--not more, not less. Kimball did not mince or sugarcoat his words and liked his fire and brimstone.
My beef...more
My beef...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| repent | 2 | 43 | 04. Oktober, 10:49 Uhr |
Born on March 28, 1895, in Salt Lake City, Spencer W. Kimball grew up in Thatcher, Arizona. After completing a mission and marrying Camilla Eyring, he settled in Safford, Arizona, to raise his family and run an insurance business. Years of Church and community leadership preceded his calling as an Apostle in 1943. Overcoming severe health problems, he became Church President on December 30, 1973,...more
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“I ask you, what good is a big picture window and the lavish appointments and a priceless decor in a home if there is no mother there?”
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58 people liked it
“Who is to blame? The filth peddler, of course, but even more than this vulgar entertainer, the filth consumer, the public. So long as men are corrupt and revel in sewer filth, entertainers will sell them what they want. Laws may be passed, arrests may be made, lawyers may argue, courts may sentence and jails may harbor men of corrupt minds, but pornography and allied insults to decency will never cease until men have cleansed their minds and cease to require and pay for such vile stuff. When the customer is sick and tired of being drowned in filth by the comedians, he will not pay for that filth and its source will dry up.”
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Very well written r...more
19. Dezember, 20:36 Uhr