The Miracle of Forgiveness
by Spencer W. Kimballpublished
January 1993
by Bookcraft Pubs
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binding
Paperback
isbn
0884944441
(isbn13: 9780884944447)
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Read in June, 2005
"The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none." ~Carlyle
"There is never a day in any man's life when repentance is not essential to his well-being and eternal progress."
"Repentance is for every soul who has not yet reached perfection."
"No person would injure one he truly loves, and sexual sin can only result in injury."
"Conscience is a celestial spark which God has put into every man for the purpose of saving his soul." ...more
"There is never a day in any man's life when repentance is not essential to his well-being and eternal progress."
"Repentance is for every soul who has not yet reached perfection."
"No person would injure one he truly loves, and sexual sin can only result in injury."
"Conscience is a celestial spark which God has put into every man for the purpose of saving his soul." ...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
Mormons with strong dispositions
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 Chapter 6 is an out-of-date view on homosexuality.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 ...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 ...more
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Read in August, 1995
recommended to Roasterx by:
A former bishoprecommends it for: LDS scholars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in June, 2008
I don't think this book is for everyone, especially those who have a hard time forgiving themselves or that linger on all of their faults. It certainly is a humbling book that opens your eyes to just how carnal and sinful the natural man is. It also gives you a sense of how hard it is to truely be Christlike and how much further we need to go for our eternal welfare. However, I think that the book does it's job well as it teaches us how important the atonement really is and how we need to utiliz...more
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Read in January, 1992
recommends it for:
Emotional Masochists
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...more
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Read in June, 2006
recommended to Christiane by:
Bryan Woernerrecommends it for: All those whose mortal souls are in danger ;)
This book focuses on how to go through the proper steps of repentance. In order to begin the process correctly, you must realize the magnitude of your sin. That's what makes this text difficult since you feel like scum through the first half of it. The "negative" beginning is why it took me over two years to finish reading it. Thankfully, as you continue to read it, you realize that the Lord loves you and wants you to be happy. He also wants your obedience and that is what this book cl...more
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Read in January, 2001
recommends it for:
People who are perfect
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 ...more
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Read in January, 2006
Before I read the book, I heard people felt so darn guilty and terrible after reading this book. Yes, it does make you feel a bit like crap, but it's not angry nor aggressive. I think Kimball did a very good job with being honest and blunt with the reader but hopeful at the same time. This book is mainly about sinning and what affects it has on a person and the whole scheme of things. Basically, the Miracle of Forgiveness, is just that. It's the possiblity of being "clean" again, and ...more
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Read in March, 1993
recommends it for:
people who think guilt is virtuous
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...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...more
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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."
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No particular reason to read, just heard it was good and decided to read it.
It's uh...very humbling to read. <gulp> 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. <gulp> 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.
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Read in January, 2003
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.
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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.
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Read in April, 1999
recommended to J.B. by:
My Bishop
During the time I was reading this book I was going through some very tough times and trying to better myself. This book is hard to get through but well worth it. It is a lot like military basic training. Spencer W. Kimball starts off like many books on the subject of repentance. He addresses the fact that you have sinned against God and the guilt that you feel and for some it will bring a lot of pain to your remembrance. But as you make your way through the pages he goes from breaking you ...more
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Read in January, 2004
I am not a big fan of this book. It was ok, but I feel like its treatment of Forgiveness is a bit harsh, making guilt and shame such saintly attributes that our lives should be forever filled with them. I like the idea that man is capable of changing for the better, I just don't know how much I like the idea of using guilt as a motivating factor. I believe man can be motivated to change using higher ideals than guilt and shame. For some I suppose it would work fine, but it does seem almost l...more
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I think the first time I read this book I was given the best advice. Read the entire book. It is not a good one to just read parts of the book. Read it the whole way through, Cover to cover. It was a little difficult for me about the topic of rape. As I wondered if it was better to be dead after a rape. I felt that after reading the entire book I had a better understanding of what President Kimball was saying about that and how my Father in Heaven felt. How grateful I am to have the miracle of f...more
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Read in April, 2003
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.
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Read in January, 2002
recommends it for:
Everyone since no one is perfect
Even the most perfect person should read this book. My mission president invited us to read this as part of our certification and then have an interview with him. Although I thought I was doing pretty great in the repentance category, this book helped me to do better. It helps us learn to forgive ourselves so we can become better, and also to forgive others so we can have peace of mind. Sometimes we, coupled with some old guilt, are the only ones that hold us back from try spirituality. Great bo...more
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I've heard a lot of people characterize this book as harsh. I think that anyone who does so is missing its real point. The point is not how easy it is for humans to sin (although it does make that abundantly clear), the point is that it is possible for us to repent of those sins. And the fact that we commit so many sins just makes the ability to repent and be forgiven even more of a blessing and a miracle. I found The Miracle of Forgiveness encouraging and motivating rather than guilt-inducing.
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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.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.60 (1507 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.48 (1462 ratings) number of reviews: 174
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