Take a guess on when and where this picture was taken. I’ll announce the answer tomorrow. For those of you who don’t recognize the book, it is The Miracle of Forgiveness.
Update:
Drumroll… here is the answer. The picture was taken yesterday (May 28, 2009) at the Fort Union, UT LDS Distribution Center.
That’s a lot of shelf space for one man’s “opinion”, isn’t it?
The Barnes and Noble at Mountain Meadows?
Utah Lighthouse Ministry?
The Lamanite Generation Tour Bus/Deseret Bookmobile.
Hill Cummorah Pageant?
Well since your at ‘Compassionate Boldness’ my guess is there. Or at least some LDS countermeasure outside.
Hint: the location is pro-Mormonism territory.
I say: the visitor’s center at Temple Square.
Haha… You guys really hate that book, don’t you…
I was told not to read that book right before going (or being ) on a mission – it might make me think I’m not worthy…
I read it anyways, and it was a surprisingly (because of all the stigma attached to it) uplifting and powerful message on the omnipotence and compassion of the Savior.
Nope, I don’t hate it. I love it. It’s a great tool for witnessing to Mormons who are fed up with the Mormon “hamster wheel” of trying to be perfect and become a god (page 2) all the while getting nowhere. I don’t love to see Mormons weep like the time I watched an elderly Mormon woman weep like a kid on “fast/testimony” Sunday of how she had prayed for months and months for forgiveness, but still didn’t know if she had been forgiven (page 324-325). When she was done she just slumped and slowly walked off the stage and everyone just looked at her. The usual “amen” wasn’t mumbled when she left. But hey, if one is a “god in embryo” and the Lord demands perfection from the Mormons NOW (page 286), then it’s hard to have sympathy, right?
I had sympathy for her because I knew where she had gotten the idea: from Kimball’s book. It’s too bad nobody in the ward leadership bothered opening up their Bible and pointing to 1 John 1:9 and Hebrews 10:17. I guess if that would have happened then book sales for Kimball’s “Mircale of Forgiveness” would go down. I’m always puzzled and somewhat amused at the facial reactions that I observe from the arrogant, self-righteous Mormons when I pull out Kimball’s book. They sure don’t like seeing that book. Why the looks of disgust? I guess it’s feels better to look at a Millet or a Robinson book. Those BYU professors seem to have a way of connecting with modern Mormons today unlike past prophets of the church like Kimball.
Pingback: Sunday in Outer Blogness: Back again edition! | Main Street Plaza
Berean,
Thank you for your comments. I am going to finally say something I never said here. I was once involved with the LDS faith. Its a good call, I often felt like mormons have a stone instead of a heart on certain matters.
However, I have found that many non-lds christians can also be just as bad, even very liberal christians. But when I was a mormon I often wished I could be a regular ‘saved by grace’ christian, as they never seemed to be worried about being perfect or never committing a sin again.
Dear iamse7en,
Thank you for describing your experience with this book. I believe its author gets closer than other LDS authors to identifying what is truly required of those who would seek a righteousness by the law.
Just a few comments on your observations:
1. You’ve noticed a stigma attached to the book. For clarity, is this from people who are LDS, or people who are not?
2. You were told you might feel unworthy if you read it. The Bible teaches us that the purpose of the law is to reveal our sins. As we come to know God’s standards better, it becomes more and more clear that we are sinners.
3. You’ve spoken of a savior who is omnipotent. Perhaps I could share with you my thoughts on this. To me, Jesus Christ is my Savior. Not as an empty title. But by His actions: He saved me. What did He save me from? Judgment. He was judged for my sins on the Cross. Not because I deserved to have another judged in my place. (If I were deserving, and another were judged in my place, I suppose they would be honored, not killed on a cross.) No, but out of the bounty of His love he saved me. If I were not saved, I would not have a savior. When I consider the blood of Jesus Christ, I know that I stand forgiven of all my sins. Forgiven forever by the blood. That is indeed omnipotent.