Review
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Title: The Contrite Spirit: How the Temple Helps Us Apply Christ’s Atonement
Author: Bruce C. Hafen and Marie K. Hafen
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Atonement, temples
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 269
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN13: 978-1-62972-158-3
Price: $25.99
Reviewed by Elizabeth W. Roach for the Association for Mormon Letters
The journey of a lifetime, or rather, the journey of our lifetime, or rather, the journey of several people’s lifetimes forms the path and direction of Bruce and Marie Hafen’s latest co-authored book, “The Contrite Spirit: How the Temple Helps Us Apply Christ’s Atonement.” Before the preface and prologue, even before the contents page, there is a quoted scripture, an invitation from our Savior to COME and with that invitation, His assurance that we may receive His promised blessings. This journey starts now with wherever we are and whoever we are, whatever situations we are in right now. Although it is our journey to take, Christ has authored a map for us to follow and has literally marked out a path for us. His Atonement is what makes it possible for us to travel this path of discipleship.
In Part 1, The Hafens discuss the Atonement’s purpose and scope, what the Atonement does and what it doesn’t do as well as what we can do as disciples to follow Christ’s map. After becoming acquainted with the map, the journey, our journey begins in Part 2. Throughout the scriptures, mountains and temples are frequently linked. “Come up to the mountain of the Lord so the Lord can instruct and teach us” is a familiar pattern. We leave the world and earthly cares behind as we climb up to seek His face and His counsel. The Hafens discuss how coming to Christ is an ascending journey. We are meant to be able to see more, understand more, and necessarily stretch more on this journey of a lifetime.
Our covenantal path necessarily takes us through the halls of the temples as we seek to follow Christ’s map and then as we complete our journey through this life, learning and refining as we go, we step across where the path leads into eternity. That makes it sound easy, but anyone who has been on the path for a time can tell you, it’s not as easy as it looks. There are definite pitfalls and setbacks as well as plain human weaknesses that get in our way. This is why we need to access the power of the Atonement to help us through the rough and rocky moments, days, and sometimes, years.
The Hafens include several personal stories, family stories, and accounts of pioneers from several countries, who lived during the early days of the Restoration, as well as pioneers who are currently alive, as examples of courage and consecration, to illustrate key ideas throughout the book. Several interesting stories and personal accounts are included from several generations of the Joseph Knight, Senior family descendants, as well as many from past and present residents of the St. George, Utah area.
Additional support material for this volume is current and varied. The chapter on marriage and the temple includes a discussion on the decimation of the family and the huge cultural shifts over the last several decades from social interests to a greater emphasis on individual interests. Through census records, Harvard research on marriage and even the June 2015 US Supreme Court decision regarding same-sex marriage, the discussion shows the devastating impact the shift away from committed family life, with both a mother and a father teaching and providing for their children, has had throughout our society. Among those most devastated are those in poverty, the undereducated and our children. The conclusion: our families and society are less stable and more fragmented than has been seen in decades.
While the current family struggles are real and urgent, and can seem overwhelming and devastating, there is hope. There is a way to wipe the faulty systems clean and reboot. The Hafens include a message of hope that individually and collectively we can return to the path that Christ has marked. By seeking Christ’s help, we can become agents of transformative change to help heal past, present and future generations as we literally seek to turn the hearts of children to fathers and vice versa.
There are chapters on how other topics, like missionary work, the reach of the sealing power, and consecration relate to and can be enriched by the temple. I like lists and in the chapter on sanctification I found an illuminating list of scriptures to study further on how to become meek and lowly of heart in order to be able to develop charity. The same chapter also includes a discussion on attitudes we can cultivate a little bit at a time that will lead to developing permanent attributes of Divinity.
This is a wonderful book, not to be hurried through, but one that can show how interactive Christ intends His map to be for us. We are truly not on this path alone. There are markers and help along the way. Much of what is gained through the temple is dependent on what we as individuals bring to it, namely a broken heart and a contrite spirit, in order to be transformed as we follow Christ’s invitation to COME to the temple and how that gradually changes us into more dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ.