The
Divine Gift of Repentance
October
2011 General Conference
Elder
D. Todd Christofferson
The Book of Mormon contains the account of
a man named Korihor. It is easy to understand why Mormon, in abridging a
thousand years of Nephite records, thought it important to include something
about this man and the enduring influence of his doctrine. Mormon was seeking
to warn us, knowing that this philosophy would surface again in our day.
The Book of Mormon records that “he was
Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies …
concerning the coming of Christ.”Korihor’s preaching was to the effect “that
there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in
this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man
prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to
his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime” (Alma 30:17). He did not
believe in repentance.
Quote
#1: Similarly, in our day the message of
repentance is often not welcomed. Some profess that if there is a God, He makes
no real demands upon us. Others maintain that a loving God forgives all sin
based on simple confession, or if there actually is a punishment for sin, “God
will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom
of God.” Others, deny the very existence of Christ and any such thing as sin.
Thus, whatever one feels is right for him or her cannot be judged by others to
be wrong or sinful. On the surface such philosophies seem appealing because
they give us license to indulge any appetite or desire without concern for
consequences.
I remember having a conversation with
someone about this. There was a movie that came out that I was choosing not to
see, because I did not agree with the things it promoted. Then I had a person
tell me just because I didn’t agree with that lifestyle, didn’t make it wrong.
But that is not the case. The scriptures have told us over and over again there
is wrong and there is right. I have also heard people say, well Jesus says love
everyone, so if he were here he would embrace these sins with open arms. No, he wouldn’t. He would
love the person, but not condone the sin. There is a difference.
By using the teachings of Korihor, we can
rationalize and justify anything. When prophets come crying repentance, it
“throws cold water on the party.” In the book of Mormon Nephi calls his
brothers to repentance and they become angry with him. Let’s read his response
to them:
1
Nephi 15:2 “And it came to pass that I
said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked,
according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that
they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth
to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.”
*How do we receive the
call to repentance in our own lives?
Elder Christofferson says “Repentance is a
divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it.”
*Why would he refer to
repentance as a gift?
The
prophetic call to repentance should be received with joy. It points us to
freedom, confidence, and peace. Without repentance, there is no real progress
or improvement in life.
Repentance is an option only because of the
Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is His infinite sacrifice. Repentance is the
necessary condition, and the grace of Christ is the power by which “mercy can
satisfy the demands of justice.” Only through repentance do we gain access to
the atoning grace of Jesus Christ and salvation.
First,
the invitation to repent is an expression of love.
Quote
#2: When the Savior “began to preach, and to
say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), it was a
message of love, inviting all who would to qualify to join Him “and enjoy the
words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life [itself] in the world to
come” (Moses 6:59). If we do not invite others to change or if we do not demand
repentance of ourselves, we fail in a fundamental duty we owe to one another
and to ourselves.
As parents we have a responsibility to
teach our children how to repent. What are some ways you have found
effective in teaching your children about repentance?
(Teaching them to ask for forgiveness in
their prayers. Example. When it comes to the end of the day it can be SO hard
to make it that last little bit. I am tired from having cared for my 4 children
alone all day. There are nights when I am not very patient with them. But I
always apologize to them and they are always so willing to forgive. They say
it’s alright mommy, we know you are tired.)
A permissive parent, an indulgent friend, a
fearful Church leader are in reality more concerned about themselves than the
welfare and happiness of those they could help. Yes, the call to repentance is
at times regarded as intolerant or offensive and may even be resented, but
guided by the Spirit, it is in reality an act of genuine caring (see D&C
121:43–44).
Second,
repentance means striving to change.
It would mock the Savior’s suffering in the
Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross for us to expect that He should transform
us into angelic beings with no real effort on our part.
Perhaps as much as praying for mercy, we
should pray for time and opportunity to work and strive and overcome. Surely
the Lord smiles upon one who desires to come to judgment worthily, who
resolutely labors day by day to replace weakness with strength. The sacrament meeting song today
reminded me of this when it says: “Pardon faults oh Lord we pray. Bless our
efforts day by day.”
None of us are perfect in this life, we
continue to make mistakes. *Should we give up hope? Is it ever to6o late to
repent?
Real repentance, real change may require
repeated attempts, but there is something refining and holy in such striving.
“He who is not able to abide the law of a
celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory” (D&C 88:22). The Celestial kingdom is compared with the
brightness of the sun. Have you ever been sleeping and had
someone come in and flip on the lights? It can be painful to your eyes. But if
you wake up with perhaps a night light on, then turn on the lamp, then turn on
the overhead light, then open up your windows and allow the bright sunshine in
you will not feel that same jarring pain. You will gradually adjust to the
light and become more and more comfortable in it. If we expected to live in
spiritual darkness and then enter the blazing light of the Celestial kingdom we
would not be comfortable there unless we had lived our lives in such a way as to
allow the light of the gospel and the Savior in one degree at a time.
Third, repentance means not only abandoning
sin but also committing to obedience. The
Bible Dictionary states, “Repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and
will to God, [as well as] a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally
inclined.”
In the Book of Mormon Alma tells his sons:
Refrain from your iniquities; “Turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and
strength”
Jacob
6:5 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech
of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose
of heart, and cleave unto God as he
cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the
light of the day, harden not your hearts.
Cleave:
To adhere, cling, or stick fast. This is the one time you DO want
that static cling effect. We will stick with the Lord and his teaching and not
attach ourselves to the world’s teachings.
For our turning to the Lord to be complete,
it must include nothing less than a covenant of obedience to Him. Without this
covenant, repentance remains incomplete and the remission of sins unattained.
Professor Noel Reynolds said: “The choice to repent is a choice to burn
bridges in every direction [having determined] to follow forever only one way,
the one path that leads to eternal life.”
Fourth,
repentance requires a willingness to continue, even through pain.
Quote
#3: Attempts to create a list of specific
steps of repentance may be helpful to some, but it may also lead to a
mechanical, check-off-the-boxes approach with no real feeling or change. True
repentance is not superficial. The Lord gives two requirements: “By this ye may
know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake
them” (D&C 58:43).
Forsaking means to leave or abandon the
sin. “Actions speak louder than words. We can apologize over and over, but if
our actions don’t change our words are meaningless.”
Quote
#4: Confessing and forsaking are powerful
concepts. They are much more than a casual “I admit it; I’m sorry.” Confession
is a deep, sometimes agonizing acknowledgment of error and offense to God and
man. Sorrow and regret and bitter tears often accompany one’s confession,
especially when his or her actions have been the cause of pain to someone or,
worse, have led another into sin.
Any pain entailed in repentance will always
be far less than the suffering required to satisfy justice for unresolved
transgression. The Savior spoke little about what He endured to satisfy the
demands of justice and atone for our sins, but He did make this revealing
statement:
“For behold, I, God, have suffered these
things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;
“But if they would not repent they must
suffer even as I;
“Which suffering caused myself, even God,
the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore,
and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter
cup” (D&C 19:16–18).
Fifth,
whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness.
Alma
36:17-20
16
And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains
of a damned soul.
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus
racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins,
behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people
concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins
of the world.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this
thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me,
who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting
chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I
could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my
sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light
I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
“‘Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the
same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more’ [D&C 58:42].”
I have a testimony that if we take these
steps and do it with sincerity then we will be forgiven. I also have a
testimony of the Lord and our Saviors love for each of us. They want us to come
back to them. They wait with open arms to receive us. Let us each evaluate our
actions and determine where we can improve and what things we need to repent
of. If we do this I know we will find happiness in our lives.
