REPENTANCE D) D D ) KS
C o p y r i g h t © 1 9 8 4 b y C o r p o r a t i o n of the P r e s i d e n t of T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s All R i g h t s R e s e r v e d P r i n t e d in t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s of A m e r i c a P u b l i s h e d by T h e C h u r c h of J e s u s C h r i s t of L a t t e r - d a y S a i n t s Salt L a k e City, Utah
REPENTANCE FORGIVENESS President S p e n c e r W. Kimball A n a d a p t a t i o n of a n a d d r e s s g i v e n to s t u d e n t s at Brigfiam Y o u n g University, May 4, 1 9 5 4
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y o u n g c o u p l e k n o c k e d o n tfie door of ttielr bishiop's f i o m e . T t i e bislnop, w t i o w a s kiome a l o n e , invited ttiem in. T h e b o y ' s
d e e p p l e a s a n t v o i c e w a s j u s t w h a t o n e might e x p e c t f r o m the tall, a t h l e t i c y o u t h w h o p o s s e s s e d It. With him w a s a lively girl with g l i s t e n i n g b l a c k hair, slight of f r a m e a n d beautiful of f a c e a n d f o r m . A f t e r all w e r e s e a t e d , t h e boy s p o k e w i t h a low a n d h e s i t a n t v o i c e . " W e h a v e b r o k e n t h e l a w of c h a s t i t y . W e f e e l s o r r y a n d k n o w that w e s h o u l d c o m e to y o u . " After a f e w s e c o n d s of s i l e n c e the girl s p o k e . " I d i d n ' t think I'd e v e r c o m m i t this s i n . At c h u r c h I h a v e h e a r d that n e c k i n g a n d petting w e r e s i n s , but I g u e s s I d i d n ' t b e l i e v e it." T h e b i s h o p l i s t e n e d w i t h o u t interrupting. T h e boy s p o k e a g a i n . " T h a t d a t e w h e n w e w e n t to the fair w a s a v e r y s p e c i a l o n e , but It t u r n e d out to be t h e b e g i n n i n g of our t r o u b l e . W h e n I w e n t to get her that d a y , I t h o u g h t no girl w a s e v e r s o b e a u t i f u l a n d s o s w e e t . After the d a t e w e s p e n t a long time b e f o r e s h e w e n t Into her h o u s e . W e started kissing and necking,
" N e i t h e r of u s r e a l i z e d w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g to u s . B e f o r e w e k n e w it, w e w e r e petting. After that w e petted e v e r y time w e w e r e to g e th e r . W e told o u r s e l v e s that it w a s not s o w r o n g b e c a u s e w e sort of b e l o n g e d to e a c h other a n y w a y . It kept getting w o r s e , a n d finally the terrible t h i n g h a p p e n e d . W e d i d n ' t think it e v e r w o u l d , a n d it w a s n ' t until after It h a p p e n e d that w e b e g a n to r e a l i z e h o w w r o n g it w a s . W e h a t e d o u r s e l v e s . S h e s u g g e s t e d w e p r a y , but I told h e r I felt too u n w o r t h y . I w a n t e d to hide f r o m t h e L o r d , from e v e r y b o d y . " T h e b i s h o p s a t d e e p In t h o u g h t , p r a y i n g f e r v e n t ly that t h e L o r d w o u l d I n s p i r e him to help t h e m .
T h e y s e e m e d to w a n t to talk a n d r e l e a s e their sadness. " I a m s o a s h a m e d , " s h e s a i d . " A f t e r it h a p p e n e d I h a t e d m y s e l f . I kept thinking w h y ? w h y ? w h y ? I c o u l d n ' t s l e e p that night. I felt s o u n c l e a n . I b a t h e d a g a i n , s c r u b b e d , w a s h e d m y hair, put on f r e s h c l o t h e s . B u t I still s e e m e d filthy. I felt like hiding. I w o n d e r e d w h y I w a s s o s a d a n d a s h a m e d . O t h e r p e o p l e h a d d o n e this ugly thing. It did not s e e m to w r e c k t h e m . T h e y s e e m e d to p a s s it off with a s h r u g of t h e s h o u l d e r s , but I — " A n d n o w t h e y s a t v e r y still, v e r y c l o s e , w a i t ing. T h e b i s h o p w a s d e e p In t h o u g h t . His h e a r t w a s s o b b i n g for t h e m . " P l e a s e , F a t h e r , b l e s s m e that I m a y help t h e m , " he s a i d silently. " C a n w e e v e r be f o r g i v e n ? " t h e y a s k e d . " Y e s , " he r e p l i e d , " t h e L o r d a n d h i s c h u r c h c a n f o r g i v e , but not e a s i l y . ' T h e w a y of t h e s i n n e r is h a r d . ' It h a s e v e r been—it a l w a y s will b e . T h e L o r d himself s a i d ; 'I tell t h e e , th o u s h a l t not d e p a r t t h e n c e , till t h o u h a s t p a i d the v e r y last mite.' ( L u k e 1 2 : 5 9 . ) " B u t in his g o o d n e s s , G o d p r o v i d e d for u s a w a y to f o r g i v e n e s s . O n e m a y b r e a k the l a w s , but he c a n n o t a v o i d p e n a l t i e s . G o d is just. P a u l s a i d : ' B e not d e c e i v e d ; G o d Is not m o c k e d : for w h a t s o e v e r a m a n s o w e t h . that s h a l l he a l s o reap.' (Galatlans 6:7.) " S e r i o u s a s Is the t h i n g y o u h a v e d o n e , t h e r e is f o r g i v e n e s s if y o u totally r e p e n t . T h e L o r d s a i d : ' B e h o l d , h e w h o h a s r e p e n t e d of his s i n s , the s a m e is f o r g i v e n , a n d I, the L o r d , r e m e m b e r t h e m no m o r e . ' ( D & C 5 8 : 4 2 . ) " H e a l s o p r o m i s e d : ' T h o u g h y o u r s i n s be a s s c a r l e t , t h e y s h a l l be a s w h i t e a s s n o w ; t h o u g h t h e y be r e d like c r i m s o n , t h e y s h a l l be a s w o o l . ' " (Isaiah 1:18.) T h e y o u n g m a n s p o k e In a hopeful v o i c e , " H o w do w e r e p e n t ? " T h e b i s h o p a n s w e r e d , " Y o u m u s t c o m e to a r e a l i z a t i o n of t h e s e r i o u s n e s s of the e r r o r . T h e r e a r e s i n s w h i c h c a n n o t be f o r g i v e n , but f o r t u n a t e l y m o s t c a n b e . T h e s h e d d i n g of I n n o c e n t blood a n d d e n y i n g t h e Holy G h o s t a r e both u n f o r g i v a b l e . N e i t h e r of y o u h a s c o m m i t t e d the sin a g a i n s t t h e Holy G h o s t , for that r e q u i r e s m o r e k n o w l e d g e t h a n e i t h e r of y o u h a s . N e i t h e r of y o u h a s c o m mitted m u r d e r , a n d t h e r e f o r e w e m a y s a y that e v e r y s i n that y o u m a y h a v e c o m m i t t e d c a n be f o r g i v e n . " N e x t to t h e u n f o r g i v a b l e s i n s c o m e s e x u a l s i n s . S o m e s u c h s i n s m a y be c o m m i t t e d with
o n e s e l f a n d s o m e with a n o t h e r p e r s o n . C o n s c i e n c e tells the Individual w h e n he Is c o m m i t t i n g this s i n . T h e s e u n h o l y p r a c t i c e s a r e c o n d e m n e d by t h e L o r d a n d his c h u r c h . S o m e m a y be w o r s e t h a n o t h e r s , but all a r e s i n . T h e L o r d ' s p r o p h e t s d e c l a r e that t h e s e s i n s a r e not n o r m a l . S o m e p e o p l e In the w o r l d m a y s a y p r e m a r i t a l s e x e x p e r i e n c e s a r e all right, but the L o r d a n d his c h u r c h c o n d e m n them. E v e r y s e x relationship o u t s i d e of m a r r i a g e is w r o n g . S u c h evil p r a c t i c e s w e r e c o n d e m n e d by a n c i e n t p r o p h e t s a n d a r e t o d a y c o n d e m n e d by the C h u r c h . " T h e s i n y o u c o m m i t t e d is w r o n g , a n d the L o r d h o l d s y o u both r e s p o n s i b l e . Y o u c a n n o t b l a m e a n y o n e for y o u r m i s t a k e e x c e p t y o u r s e l v e s . T o b l a m e our s i n s u p o n the L o r d , s a y i n g It is inherent a n d c a n n o t be c o n t r o l l e d , is c h e a p a n d w e a k . T o b l a m e our s i n s u p o n our p a r e n t s a n d our u p b r i n g i n g is the w a y of the c o w a r d . O n e ' s p a r e n t s m a y not h a v e t a u g h t him. his b a c k g r o u n d m a y h a v e b e e n b a d , but a s s o n s a n d d a u g h t e r s of a living G o d w e h a v e within ours e l v e s the p o w e r to r i s e a b o v e our c i r c u m s t a n c e s , to c h a n g e our lives. W e will be p u n i s h e d for our s i n s . W e must a c c e p t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y for our s i n s . W e must c o n t r o l a n d m a s t e r s e l f . " T h e lovely girl n o w s a i d , " W e k n e w that w h a t w e did w a s w r o n g , but w e did not fully r e a l i z e h o w v e r y s e r i o u s it w a s . " " I a m s u r e of t h a t , " t h e b i s h o p s a i d . " T h a t is w h y I h a v e e x p l a i n e d . S o m e c o u p l e s think that w h e n they a r e g o i n g s t e a d y or b e c o m e e n g a g e d t h e y c a n do t h i n g s t h e y c o u l d n ' t do b e f o r e . T h e y r e l a x their s t a n d a r d s . T h e y turn t h e m s e l v e s l o o s e to n e c k i n g with Its intimate c o n t a c t s a n d Its p a s s i o n a t e k i s s i n g . It Is a d a n g e r o u s p r a c t i c e l e a d i n g to other trouble. N e c k i n g l e a d s to petting. Petting is s u r e l y the s i n c o n d e m n e d by t h e S a v i o r : ' Y e h a v e h e a r d that It w a s s a i d by t h e m of old time. T h o u s h a l t not c o m m i t a d u l t e r y : But I s a y unto y o u , T h a t w h o s o e v e r l o o k e t h o n a w o m a n to lust after her hath c o m m i t t e d a d u l t e r y with her a l r e a d y in his h e a r t . ' ( M a t t h e w 5 : 2 7 , 2 8 . ) " T h u s petting is like unto a d u l t e r y . T h e L o r d r e c o g n i z e d that this s i n Is the d e v i l ' s w a y of leading us to the final a c t s of a d u l t e r y . C a n a p e r s o n In t h e light of the L o r d ' s s c r i p t u r e s e n g a g e in petting with c l e a r c o n s c i e n c e ? C a n a n y o n e c o n v i n c e himself that it is not d e e p s i n ? " T h e young couple now had many questions w h i c h c a r r i e d t h e b i s h o p on in e x p l a n a t i o n .
We musl a c c e p t respcnsibility cr cur scs,
" A r e f o r n i c a t i o n a n d a d u l t e r y the s a m e ? " they a s k e d . " S e x u a l s i n is c a l l e d f o r n i c a t i o n w h e n c o m mitted by t h o s e w h o a r e u n m a r r i e d a n d a d u l t e r y w h e n c o m m i t t e d by the m a r r i e d . T h e t w o t e r m s a r e often i n t e r c h a n g e d in s c r i p t u r e . " W h e n w e s a y that t h e s e x u a l s i n s a r e forg i v a b l e , this d o e s not m e a n It is e a s y to g a i n f o r g i v e n e s s . E v e n t h o u g h it is h a r d to g a i n forg i v e n e s s , it is s o m e t h i n g that m u s t be d o n e . F o r a s P a u l s a y s : ' N o w h o r e m o n g e r , nor u n c l e a n p e r s o n , . . . hath a n y i n h e r i t a n c e in the k i n g d o m of C h r i s t a n d of G o d . ' ( E p h e s i a n s 5 : 5 . ) " A n d N e p h i w r i t e s : ' T h e k i n g d o m of G o d is not filthy, a n d t h e r e c a n n o t a n y u n c l e a n t h i n g e n t e r into t h e k i n g d o m of G o d : w h e r e f o r e t h e r e m u s t n e e d s be a p l a c e of f l l t h i n e s s p r e p a r e d for that w h i c h is filthy.' (1 N e p h i 1 5 : 3 4 . ) " T h e L o r d c o m m a n d s : ' T h o u s h a l t not c o m m i t a d u l t e r y : a n d h e that c o m m l t t e t h a d u l t e r y , a n d r e p e n t e t h not, s h a l l be c a s t out.' ( D & C 4 2 : 2 4 . ) T h e y o u n g m a n a s k e d , " D o e s ' c a s t out' m e a n e x c o m m u n i c a t i o n — b e i n g c u t out of t h e C h u r c h ? " T h e b i s h o p e x p l a i n e d , "If a s i n n e r c o n t i n u e s r e b e l l i o u s , he s h o u l d be d i s f e l l o w s h i p e d or e x c o m m u n i c a t e d . O n e d i s f e l l o w s h i p e d Is f o r b i d d e n to e x e r c i s e his p r i e s t h o o d a n d is d e n i e d the b l e s s i n g s of t h e C h u r c h s u c h a s s a c r a m e n t , t e m p l e p r i v i l e g e s , a n d C h u r c h activity. E x c o m m u n i c a t i o n is a c o m p l e t e cutting of all t i e s . O n e loses m e m b e r s h i p , the Holy G h o s t , priesthood, s e a l i n g s , a n d all C h u r c h p r i v i l e g e s . " T h e y o u n g folks w e r e listening intently but with g r o w i n g c o n c e r n , a n d s h e finally a s k e d , " H o w t h e n c a n w e e v e r get into the k i n g d o m of h e a v e n ? " T h e b i s h o p a n s w e r e d , "It Is t r u e — n o u n c l e a n thing c a n e n t e r the k i n g d o m , but a totally r e p e n tant p e r s o n Is no l o n g e r a n u n c l e a n p e r s o n . A fully f o r g i v e n a d u l t e r e r is no lo n g e r a n a d u l t e r e r . H e is p r e s u m e d to be f r e e f r o m filth ." T h i s s p l e n d i d y o u n g c o u p l e h a d m a d e their d e c i s i o n . T h e y w e r e r e a d y to c o m p l y with a n y r e q u i r e m e n t no matter h o w h a r d it m a y b e . T h e y d r e w a little c l o s e r to e a c h other a n d a s k e d . B i s h o p , w h a t d o w e h a v e to d o ? " T h e b i s h o p c o n t i n u e d . " R e p e n t a n c e s e e m s to fall into five s t e p s : 1 . S o r r o w for sin 4 . R e s t i t u t i o n for s i n 2 . A b a n d o n m e n f of sin 5. D o i n g the will 3 . C o n f e s s i o n of s i n of t h e L o r d
1. Sorrow for Sin
W
i E N w e b e c o m e fully a w a r e of tfie s e r i o u s n e s s of tfie w r o n g w e h a v e d o n e , w e d e c i d e with all our h e a r t s to do w h a t e v e r is n e c e s s a r y to rid o u r s e l v e s of the e f f e c t s of the s i n . W e a r e totally s o r r y . W e a r e willing to p a y p e n a l t i e s , to suffer e v e n to e x c o m m u n i c a t i o n If n e c e s s a r y . P a u l w r o t e : ' F o r godly s o r r o w w o r k e t h r e p e n t a n c e to s a l v a t i o n not to be r e p e n t e d of: but the s o r r o w of the world worketh death.' (2 Corinthians 7:10.) "If o n e is s o r r y only b e c a u s e s o m e o n e found out a b o u t his s i n , his r e p e n t a n c e is not c o m p l e t e . G o d l y s o r r o w c a u s e s o n e to w a n t to repent, e v e n t h o u g h he h a s not b e e n c a u g h t by o t h e r s , a n d m a k e s him d e t e r m i n e d to do right no matter w h a t h a p p e n s . T h i s kind of s o r r o w brings right e o u s n e s s a n d will w o r k t o w a r d f o r g i v e n e s s .
I
2. Abandonment of Sin T I S best w h e n o n e s t o p s s i n n i n g b e c a u s e he b e c o m e s a w a r e of the s e r i o u s n e s s of his s i n . He then s h o u l d w a n t to c o m p l y with all the l a w s of G o d . T h e thief m a y a b a n d o n his evil in p r i s o n , but true r e p e n t a n c e w o u l d h a v e him f o r s a k e it before his a r r e s t a n d return w h a t h e h a d stolen voluntarily. T h e s e x offender w h o voluntarily s t o p s his sin is h e a d e d t o w a r d forg i v e n e s s . A l m a s a i d : ' B l e s s e d a r e they w h o h u m b l e t h e m s e l v e s without being c o m p e l l e d to be h u m b l e . ' ( A l m a 3 2 : 1 6 . ) "And the L o r d s a i d : ' B y this y e m a y k n o w if a m a n repenteth of his s i n s — b e h o l d , he w i l l . . . forsake them.' (D&C 58:43.) " T h e f o r s a k i n g of sin must be a p e r m a n e n t o n e . T r u e r e p e n t a n c e d o e s not permit m a k i n g the s a m e m i s t a k e a g a i n . P e t e r s a i d : ' F o r if after t h e y h a v e e s c a p e d the pollutions of the w o r l d . . . . t h e y a r e a g a i n e n t a n g l e d t h e r e i n . . . . it h a d b e e n better for t h e m not to h a v e k n o w n the w a y of r i g h t e o u s n e s s , t h a n , after they h a v e k n o w n it, to turn from the holy c o m m a n d m e n t . . . ( l i k e ) the dog is turned to his o w n vomit a g a i n : a n d the s o w that w a s w a s h e d to her w a l l o w i n g in the mire. (2 Peter 2 : 2 0 - 2 2 . ) " T h e L o r d s a i d : ' G o y o u r w a y s a n d sin no m o r e ; but unto that soul w h o s i n n e t h s h a l l the former sins return.' ( D & C 8 2 : 7 . ) " T h e S a v i o r s a i d to the a d u l t e r e s s t a k e n in the a c t of s i n : ' G o thy w a y a n d sin no m o r e . ' " A n d P a u l : ' L e t him that stole s t e a l no m o r e . ' (Ephesians 4:28.)
Blessed ore they who humble themselves without being compelled c be humble." Almc 32.'16)
3. Confession of Sin
T
H E c o n f e s s i o n of s i n is a n important part of r e p e n t a n c e . M a n y s i n n e r s f i a v e s e e m e d to f e e l that a f e w p r a y e r s to the L o r d w e r e all that w a s n e c e s s a r y . T h e y h a v e t h u s e x c u s e d t h e m s e l v e s a n d h i d d e n their s i n s . S o l o m o n o b s e r v e d : ' H e that c o v e r e t h his s i n s s h a l l not p r o s p e r : but w h o s o c o n f e s s e t h a n d f o r s a k e t h t h e m shall have mercy.' (Proverbs 2 8 : 1 3 . ) " T h e L o r d s a i d : ' B y this y e m a y k n o w if a m a n r e p e n t e t h of his s i n s — b e h o l d , h e will c o n fess them and forsake them.' (D&C 58:43.) "Especially serious errors s u c h a s sexual s i n s s h a l l be c o n f e s s e d to t h e b r a n c h p r e s i d e n t or b i s h o p a s w e l l a s to t h e L o r d . T h e r e a r e two r e m i s s i o n s w h i c h o n e might w i s h to h a v e . F i r s t , the f o r g i v e n e s s of t h e L o r d ' s c h u r c h t h r o u g h its p r o p e r l e a d e r s . A n d s e c o n d , the f o r g i v e n e s s of t h e L o r d . " A s s o o n a s o n e h a s a n inner c o n v i c t i o n of his s i n s , he s h o u l d go to the L o r d In ' m i g h t y p r a y e r ' a s did E n o s a n d n e v e r c e a s e his p r a y e r until h e s h a l l , like E n o s , r e c e i v e the a s s u r a n c e that his s i n s h a v e b e e n f o r g i v e n by the L o r d . It I S u n t h i n k a b l e that G o d f o r g i v e s s i n s w h i c h a r e s e r i o u s after just a f e w p r a y e r s . H e Is likely to wait until t h e r e h a s b e e n a long, s u s t a i n e d r e p e n t a n c e a s s h o w n by a w i l l i n g n e s s to live all his c o m m a n d e m e n t s .
" T h e L o r d h a s a c o n s i s t e n t , orderly p l a n . E v e r y s o u l Is g i v e n a b r a n c h p r e s i d e n t or b i s h o p w h o , by the v e r y n a t u r e of his c a l l i n g a n d o r d i n a tion, is a ' j u d g e in I s r a e l . ' T h e b i s h o p c a n be o n e ' s b e s t e a r t h l y f r i e n d . H e will h e a r the probl e m s , j u d g e t h e s e r i o u s n e s s thereof, d e t e r m i n e the d e g r e e of the p e r s o n ' s r e p e n t a n c e , a n d d e c i d e if it w a r r a n t s a n e v e n t u a l f o r g i v e n e s s . H e d o e s this a s t h e e a r t h l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of G o d If r e p e n t a n c e Is s u f f i c i e n t h e m a y w a i v e p e n a l t i e s , w h i c h is s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d f o r g i v e n e s s . W h e n o n e t a l k s to t h e b r a n c h p r e s i d e n t or b i s h o p , he k n o w s that t h e l e a d e r will not tell a n y o n e a n y t h i n g a b o u t w h a t t h o s e i n v o l v e d told him u n l e s s d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n is r e q u i r e d .
4. Restitution for Sin
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H E N o n e is h u m b l e in s o r r o w , h a s c o m p l e t e l y s t o p p e d the s i n , a n d h a s c o n f e s s e d to t h o s e a s s i g n e d by the L o r d , h e s h o u l d next r e s t o r e i n s o f a r a s p o s s i b l e
that w h i c h w a s d a m a g e d . If h e h a s s t o l e n , h e s h o u l d return to the rightful o w n e r that w h i c h w a s s t o l e n . P e r h a p s o n e r e a s o n m u r d e r is unforg i v e a b l e is that h a v i n g t a k e n a life, t h e m u r d e r e r c a n n o t r e s t o r e it. R e s t i t u t i o n in full is not p o s s i b l e . A l s o h a v i n g r o b b e d o n e of v i r t u e , it is i m p o s sible to give It b a c k . • H o w e v e r , the truly r e p e n t a n t p e r s o n will u s u a l l y find t h i n g s w h i c h c a n be d o n e to r e s t o r e to s o m e e x t e n t . T h e t r u e spirit of r e p e n t a n c e d e m a n d s this. M o s e s t a u g h t : 'If a m a n s h a l l s t e a l a n ox. or a s h e e p . . . . h e s h a l l r e s t o r e five o x e n for a n ox. a n d four s h e e p for a s h e e p . ' (Exodus 22:1.) " A n y o n e a s k i n g f o r g i v e n e s s must a l s o forgive t h o s e w h o might h a v e s i n n e d a g a i n s t h i m . T h e L o r d I S u n d e r no obligation to f o r g i v e u s u n l e s s our h e a r t s a r e free f r o m all h a te a n d b i t t e r n e s s a g a i n s t all o t h e r s . T h e L o r d ' s P r a y e r m a k e s this c l e a r : ' O u r F a t h e r w h i c h art in h e a v e n , H a l l o w e d be thy n a m e . T h y k i n g d o m c o m e . T h e y will be d o n e In e a r t h , a s it is m h e a v e n . G i v e u s this d a y our dally b r e a d . A n d f o r g i v e u s our d e b t s , a s w e forgive o u r d e b t o r s . A n d l e a d u s not into t e m p t a t i o n , but d e l i v e r u s from evil: F o r t h i n e Is the k i n g d o m , a n d the p o w e r , a n d the glory, for e v e r . Amen,' (Matthew 6:9-13.)
5. Do the Will of the Father
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H E L o r d , in his p r e f a c e to the D o c t r i n e a n d C o v e n a n t s , g a v e u s the fifth a n d o n e of the most difficult r e q u i r e m e n t s to f o r g i v e n e s s . H e s a y s : ' F o r I the L o r d c a n n o t look u p o n sin with least d e g r e e of a l l o w a n c e : N e v e r t h e l e s s , he that r e p e n t s a n d d o e s the c o m m a n d m e n t s of the L o r d s h a l l be f o r g i v e n . ' ( D & C 1 : 3 1 . 3 2 . ) " T h e r e p e n t i n g p e r s o n m u s t start on the n e v e r - e n d i n g t a s k of k e e p i n g the c o m m a n d m e n t s of the L o r d . C b v i o u s l y this c a n h a r d l y be d o n e in a d a y . a w e e k , a m o n t h , or a y e a r , but m u s t go on all o n e ' s life. If th o u wilt d o g o o d , y e a , a n d hold out faithful to the e n d , th o u s h a l t be s a v e d in the k i n g d o m of G o d . ' ( D & C 6 : 1 3 . ) " W h e n o n e d o e s g o o d w o r k s , it is e v i d e n c e of his r e p e n t a n c e . J e s u s e x p r e s s e d t h i s t h o u g h t : ' Y e s h a l l k n o w t h e m by their fruits. Do m e n g a t h e r g r a p e s of t h o r n s , or figs or t h i s t l e s ? A g o o d tree c a n n o t bring forth evil fruit, n e i t h e r c a n a c o r r u p t tree bring forth g o o d fruit. W h e r e f o r e by their fruits y e s h a l l k n o w t h e m . ' ( M a t t h e w 7 : 1 6 , 18, 2 0 . )
orgive us our debts OS we orgive eur debtors." (Matthew 6^2)
" T h e L o r d s a i d : ' B u t h e that h a s c o m m i t t e d a d u l t e r y a n d r e p e n t s with all his h e a r t , a n d fors a k e t h It, a n d d o e t h it no m o r e , t h o u s h a l t f o r g i v e . ' (D&C 42:25.) " N o w the p h r a s e 'with all his h e a r t ' Is vital. T h e r e c a n be no h o l d i n g b a c k . If t h e s i n n e r n e g l e c t s his tithing, m i s s e s his m e e t i n g s , b r e a k s the S a b b a t h , or fails In his p r a y e r s a n d other r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , he is not c o m p l e t e l y r e p e n t a n t . T h e Lord knows, a s d o e s the individual, the degree of s o r r o w f u l r e p e n t a n c e , a n d his f o r g i v e n e s s will be a s g r e a t or a s little a s t h e p e r s o n d e s e r v e s . G o d Is just. F a k i n g r e p e n t a n c e or bluffing d o e s n ' t do a n y g o o d at a l l , for both the t r a n s g r e s s o r a n d the L o r d c a n r e c o g n i z e f a l s e or limited r e p e n t a n c e . O n e m a y fool other p e o p l e s o m e t i m e s , but he c a n n o t fool himself or t h e L o r d . " J a m e s i n d i c a t e d that e a c h g o o d d e e d , e a c h t e s t i m o n y , e a c h m i s s i o n a r y effort, e a c h help g i v e n to o t h e r s is like a b l a n k e t o v e r o n e ' s o w n s i n s , or like a d e p o s i t a g a i n s t a n o v e r d r a f t in the b a n k : ' B r e t h r e n , if a n y of y o u do err f r o m the truth, a n d o n e c o n v e r t h i m : . . . he w h i c h c o n v e r t e t h the s i n n e r f r o m the e r r o r of his w a y s h a l l s a v e a s o u l f r o m d e a t h , a n d s h a l l hide a multitude of s i n s . ' ( J a m e s 5 : 1 9 , 2 0 . ) " A n d so, beloved young people, remember that to obtain f o r g i v e n e s s f r o m the L o r d a n d his C h u r c h one must: ( 1 ) realize the s e r i o u s n e s s of the s i n a n d p r a y in g r e a t humility a n d s o r r o w , ( 2 ) f o r s a k e t h e s i n a n d not r e p e a t it, ( 3 ) c o n f e s s the sin to the b i s h o p or other C h u r c h a u t h o r i t y , ( 4 ) r e s t o r e a s far a s p o s s i b l e that w h i c h w a s d a m a g e d , a n d ( 5 ) live all t h e c o m m a n d m e n t s of the L o r d . " A n d w h e n he h a s f a s t e d e n o u g h , p r a y e d e n o u g h , s u f f e r e d e n o u g h , a n d w h e n his h e a r t is right, he m a y e x p e c t that f o r g i v e n e s s will c o m e a n d with it that g l o r i o u s p e a c e that p a s s e t h understanding." T h e c o u p l e a n d the b i s h o p knelt, a n d e a c h prayed sincerely. The young couple—humble, r e p e n t a n t , a n d d e t e r m i n e d — e x p r e s s e d their thanks and departed hand-in-hand. G o d bless you all, y o u n g brothers and sisters, that y o u m a y s e e with y o u r o w n e y e s a n d h e a r with y o u r e a r s a n d u n d e r s t a n d with y o u r h e a r t s a n d p r o t e c t y o u r s e l v e s f r o m the s i n s of the w o r l d . T h i s I p r a y in t h e n a m e of J e s u s C h r i s t . Amen.
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