The Miracle of Forgiveness contains non-doctrinal and incorrect information that is not taught by or practiced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Forty-four years after its publication, this outdated book is still frequently recommended by some local leaders; others, recognizing the harm caused, have made efforts to remove the book from reading lists.  As with the cessation of publishing of Mormon Doctrine (1958), we, the undersigned, ask that you cease publishing this book.

Much better alternatives that are correctly aligned with Church doctrine on salvation, repentance, and the Atonement are currently published by and available through Deseret Book. These excellent books include:

1. Believing Christ, by Stephen E. Robinson; http://deseretbook.com/Believing-Christ-Parable-Bicycle-Other-Good-News-Stephen-E-Robinson/i/4499076
2. The Infinite Atonement, by Elder Tad R. Callister of the Presidency of the Seventy; http://deseretbook.com/Infinite-Atonement-Tad-R-Callister/i/5089794
3. Following Christ, by Stephen E. Robinson; http://deseretbook.com/Following-Christ-Parable-Divers-More-Good-News-Stephen-E-Robinson/i/4752774
4. The Continuous Atonement, by BYU Prof. Brad Wilcox; http://deseretbook.com/Continuous-Atonement-Brad-Wilcox/i/5086387
5. Jesus the Christ, by James E. Talmage under the direction of the First Presidency; http://deseretbook.com/Jesus-Christ-Paperback-James-E-Talmage/i/4972164

The misinformation contained in the book has shown itself to be harmful to members of the Church, particularly those who have been victims of sexual abuse and gay members of the Church.  

Example 1:  "Restitution for Loss of Chastity: Also far-reaching is the effect of loss of chastity. Once given or taken or stolen it can never be regained. Even in a forced contact such as rape or incest, the injured one is greatly outraged. If she has not cooperated and contributed to the foul deed, she is of course in a more favorable position. There is no condemnation where there is no voluntary participation. It is better to die in defending one's virtue than to live having lost it without a struggle."

Chastity and virtue cannot be taken or stolen. Along with other suffering that a victim of rape or sexual abuse experiences, guilt for having "lost chastity" should not be among them. Further, the notion that one would be better off dead than having lost their virtue causes victims to feel that their lives are worthless; rape and kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart alluded to this problem recently. The LDS Church's response from official doctrine contained in For the Strength of Youth and the Church Handbook of Instructions demonstrated clearly that these cultural notions of lost virtue and chastity are not in keeping with LDS doctrine.

Stories from victims' advocates of fellow church members questioning the 'legitimacy' of a rape if the rape victim isn't wounded unto death or in the ICU are unfortunately common.  This is not in keeping with official LDS doctrine at all, but is in keeping with non-doctrinal ideas promoted in The Miracle of Forgiveness.