The Ten-Day Daughter

by S. Michael Wilcox

When a young woman, nine months pregnant and homeless, wanders into an LDS Institute building, the director has no idea how this chance meeting will change his life-and the lives of all who meet her. Based on a true story, The Ten-Day Daughter is a poignant examination of how we treat the "stranger within the gate," and a reminder that giving, no matter what the result, can be its own reward.

Genres: Fiction, Lds Fiction

134 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2012

About the author

S. Michael Wilcox is an instructor at the institute of religion adjacent to the University of Utah. A frequent speaker at Brigham Young University Education Week, Michael also conducts tours of the Holy Land, Church history sites, Europe, China, and Central America. He received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Brigham Young University, a master’s in media from the University of Arizona, and his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in educational philosophy. He is the author of House of Glory and When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

How sad, but how healing and another one of a loving Heavenly Father's mercies to me. Thank you Bro. Wilcox for sharing your heart so that I could have another little glimpse of why I should keep serving and giving of myself to others, when the ones I love the most I can't take the pain or hurt away no matter how much I try. I too have dealt with the anger from the use of agency of some used to hurt innocents, i feel helpless to stop the wrong in the world, but that doesn't mean I stop helping. I am one person and I will not stop fighting to help those that I can and try helping those that don't want to be. It's all about the enduring and learning as we go to rise above and continue on. thank you for your life's experience and lessons.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and powerful read that caused me to think and reflect on my willingness to serve and extend myself without thought of reward or any kind of mutuality. The author's conclusions are interesting and probably correct. He states that the book is written in an effort to find some answers to unanswerable situations - and he's right. Though it's short, it has stayed with me. It packs a punch.

[K Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea of this story, caught hold of me, and the writing was clear and engaging. The end left me questioning why it was written.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the lesson taught in this book, but I feel like a different story would tell the lesson better. This story is depressing and the ending is sudden and has no closure. It doesn’t need a happy ending, but at least some closure would have been nice. Mostly, I want to know if that little baby was okay and found a nice family. However, I’m sure the author himself didn’t know otherwise he would’ve shared something.

[Ranee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart wrenching story with not probably the ending you'd want but very real.

[Cherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can't save everyone you meet, but you can help them along their path, and learn from the experience.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea is this book caught my attention. It was quick & engaging. The end left me questioning why it was even written.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a story. Really made me think about my interactions and how I treat others. So beautiful. I recommend to all.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the most tender books I have ever read!
Filled with urgency, love and hope for understanding. Questions of WHY and HOW play throughout the book. Answers seem to be held back. Knowledge never given.

Only the thought of "Be still and know that I am God" AND "is not the giving enough?"

Continual seeking for understanding and hoping for acceptance.

Based on true events Brother Wilcox tells of two individuals that come into his life.

Both are transients.
Both have troubled past.
Both seek for help.
Both seem to lack the ability to stay.

Adam sought help in the past. He comes in and out of the Institute directors life.

When a pregnant young girl needs help, Adam suggests she go see the Institute director.

The story that unfolds is reverent and heart-touching.
So many conflicts within one's soul.
So much love offered, yet never fully accepted.

Sometimes we need to do what we can and then turn it over to the Lord.

Above all we need to remember that "giving, no matter what the results, can be its own reward."

[Ada · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for an uplifting, fairytale-ending story, this won't fulfil those desires. However, if you're looking for a book that helps you see a loving Heavenly Father working through his servants, look no further. We will never know the other side of the stories, nor will we know the ending, but we see the important parts - where a complete stranger is willing to serve and love a Brother and Sister in need.

"That which you have done is not lost. Do you need an answer for your love? Is not the giving enough?" Sometimes we think we have failed when we've given our all. We need to remember our Heavenly Father has merely asked us to do: to give love, service, and charity. We may never know how much we've helped someone, and we shouldn't quit or fail to help for fear of not reaching our own limited, ideal outcome. We need to do our best, and leave the rest to Him.

Most people from the book club did not like this. I walked away feeling like it was a fireside talk in a book. I got the message I think he was trying to send, and that message is what I enjoyed.

[Jenny's · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are experiences and people, that are so difficult some would tend to turn away. Which is what makes the book so heartbreakingly honest and amazing. Bro. Christianson, his wife, and children, open themselves most vulnerably to two damaged souls. When you give everything and it isn't enough, where do you take that pain? This book asks some of the hardest questions. And tries to answer them. The book is a true account, names and details changed.

[Shauna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this one - it's about an LDS institue director and his family that takes in a pregnant stranger and tries to help her overcome her fears. It's based on true events and I guess truer to real-life, it doesn't have a fairy-tale ending. There are loose ends that don't feel tied up at the end of the book and it's a rather sad story.

[Neida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because this book was based on a true story I found it interesting and couldn't stop reading it. I love S. Michael Wilcox as a speaker and author of inspirational and spiritual books, but I felt his writing style was lacking in this book. But the experience he wrote about in the book was very touching.

[Rachael Baggett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult book to read, but good in the fact that you learn that some of life's difficulties don't always have clear cut answers and that it takes faith and love to keep going. This was based on a true story where an institute teacher in Boulder, Colorado tries to help two lost individuals.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book is a true story. It is about an institute teacher who helps a lot of transit people. It talks about the hardships in their life and the frustrations that institute teacher and his family go through. I rated this book lower, because it is a slow read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick easy read but to me the ending was a little depressing. I guess I think every story should have a happy ending. It did, however, make me think about how I would respond in a situation like this and how willing I would be to serve others.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story, a young girl who is pregnant and close to delivery physically yet far from it mentally comes into an institute building looking for the pastor. This is a heart wrenching quick read story that will make you wonder about loving strangers.

[Sherilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching story, but did not have a happy ending, much like many peoples lives.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this one and I could never figure out why. Maybe it's because I really, really like happy endings and do not like open endings?

Quick, easy read.

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

It didn't seem like the story ended, it was just over.

[ScrappyDiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a true LDS story so there wasn't a happy ending which made it sad, but good lesson learned. Easy, quick read

[Anitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking, made me wonder if I actually use my Christian beliefs the way I should in the service of others.