The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life's Experiences

by Bruce C. Hafen

This book considers the role of the Lord's saving grace in the mortal experience. Comprising collected essays, some written previously and some written especially for this volume, Bruce Hafen writes of the important doctrine of the Atonement. A bestseller in hardback, The Broken Heart will encourage, uplift, and inspire.

Genres: Lds, Religion, Nonfiction, Inspirational

320 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2008

About the author

Bruce C. Hafen has been a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy since 1996, having served recently as Area President of the Australia/New Zealand area. Earlier he was president of Ricks College, Dean of the BYU Law School, and the number two administrator (Provost) at BYU. Elder Hafen is known to Deseret Book readers for his frequent Ensign articles and his bestselling trilogy on the Atonement, which includes the award-winning book The Broken Heart.

Reviews

[Camala · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the very best books I have ever read. Read it and am turning around and rereading it. May continue to reread it for years. Love it.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read on the Atonement. I gained some new insights on this most important of all subjects. Definitely worth the read for anyone seeking greater understanding of how to apply the atonement in their everyday life. A few places were a little difficult for me to take in all at once, so I had to go back and reread them to make sure I got the message I was supposed to receive. Not a book I could just race through. Some parts really made me think. The thoughts here made me stop and do a little self evaluating. Some things I decided I wasn't doing as bad as I thought, and others....need some work. But, that's how we learn. Line upon line....right?

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best books on the Atonement and its daily application that I have found.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful look at the Atonement applied in our daily lives. A great piece of my study of the Atonement.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book, narrated by the author, and am now ready to read it. There were many instances as I listened where I needed to pause to ponder on whether or not I agreed with a concept or principle and why or why not.

At the end the couplet I loved the most was "it is possible to give without living but not possible to love without giving." When I obey the commandments is it a checklist obedience or a heart obedience? Am I doing it because I was told I must or because I truly want to please God? I think there is merit in obeying as a matter of duty because as one acts one sees the fruit of one's labor. But God doesn't only desire our hours, he desires me (and all His children) to willingly choose to give their hearts and actions, minds and might to Him.

The repetitive nature of mortality gives me frequent opportunities to continue pondering over and refining my choice and my heart and my God.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good discussion of Jesus Christ's atonement and the role it can actively play in our lives, especially in a few areas we may not have thought like pain and disappointment. I was glad to see some ideas that reflect my own and have them expanded and related to other ideas in ways I hadn't considered. Some chapters, like the one on hope, were disappointing in their failure to communicate a deep understanding. Still, this is very readable for such an intellectual discussion, and I will probably read it again.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce Hafen is a great writer. He gives clear explanations and teaches great gospel truths. The subject matter is exactly what the title describes - how to apply the atonement in our life. He has written other books that are along this same theme - The Believing Heart and The Belonging Heart. I have yet to read them. So many books to read!

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took me a long time to read. It gives you a lot to think about. I felt like the depth of the book was so significant that at times I put it down for a few days to just ponder what I was reading. At times I felt like it was a cerebral perspective on things but could feel the strength of the authors testimony and it added to my own

[Wachlin007 Hotmail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is full of hope. It talks about how we all fall short of perfection. Sometimes this frustrates us and we don't even feel like trying to improve. This book shows how we can accept ourselves and others as we are, while continually trying to improve ourselves.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book (outside of the scriptures) that I have read on applying the atonement in your life, and that the atonement is much more broad and all encompassing in our lives than we normally think.

Meg's and I are reading it together right now.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

New insights into the Atonement.

[Amanda Packer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but I would really like to re-read it again and again to learn more.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written treatment of the atonement of the Savior. A subject that deserves intense study. Tad Callister's The Infinite Atonement is another stellar example.

[Chrisanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done. I especially loved his chapters on Hope and "the gap" and Charity.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. It was alright. Didn't get much out of this.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comforting, thought provoking, honest.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this was really good, it took me quite a while to get through. Glad I read it though.

[Alexia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually part of a Trilogy about the atonement of Jesus Christ, but this was the best of the Trilogy. Well written, great insight to the atonement and how it applies to us. I would recommend it to anyone struggling to really apply the atonement.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very good. It had a lot of fantastic sections. Like any book about the Atonement it can become dry but overall it was a great message and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to adding it to my collection.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, but make sure you get the expanded edition. The expansion chapters are some of the best. Discussability was about average, with some good insights into the Tree of Life and the atonement.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent thoughts on the atonement!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to give it 5 stars because of the first two chapters, so amazing.

[Anneliese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing description of the Atonement and how to apply it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It had a lot of different topics and was a great way to start exploring the Atonement as more than just a way to erase sin.