"TWICE BLESSED: The Beauty of Forgiving and Forgiveness," by S. Michael Wilcox, Deseret Book, $18.99, 140 pages (nf)
LDS author S. Michael Wilcox was once asked, "What are the three most important phrases a person can say?"
Wilcox refers to the answer he gave as "the grand three" — "I love you. I appreciate you. I forgive you."
"Over the years I have come to realize that these three sentiments — love, gratitude and forgiveness — constitute the major themes of scripture and of revealed truth," Wilcox writes.
His latest book, published by Deseret Book this summer, focuses on the third phrase of forgiveness. "Twice Blessed: The Beauty of Forgiving and Forgiveness" takes readers into what he calls the "mansion of forgiving" and uses various scriptural stories to illustrate and teach principles of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the one thing people must never run out of, Wilcox writes.
"Forgiveness is one of the highest mountains we are asked to climb, yet the view is glorious. It can be a hurdle that most stumble over as they run the race of life," Wilcox writes in the book's introduction. "But at its core, forgiveness is one of life's most pleasing feelings — that of love, of compassion, of benevolence."
Drawing upon scriptural accounts such as Adam and Eve, the Prodigal Son and the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, Wilcox discusses forgiveness within the family, forgiving others, forgiving oneself, receiving divine forgiveness and forgiving deep wounds.
"Most people don't want to talk about forgiveness — they want to feel it, especially if there is an immediate need in their own life. Discussion and diagrams, formulas and formats, lessons and lectures often are of little help," Wilcox writes. "You can't think or will your way into forgiveness. Believe me, I've tried. … Forgiveness is love. It is felt in the soul. … Being able to forgive others instills within us the assurance that God can and will forgive us. The more we forgive, the more we feel forgiven."
Wilcox is a retired instructor of LDS Church education. For years he has been a popular speaker at Brigham Young University's Campus Education Week and authored many books on gospel topics. He has hosted tours in the Holy Land, at historical sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other places around the world.
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