Recently, while traveling on an unfamiliar road, I encountered a large
temporary sign declaring Rough Road Ahead, and indeed it was. Had I not been
warned, that experience would have been disastrous. Life is like that. It’s
full of rough spots. Some are tests to make us stronger. Others result from
our own disobedience. Helpful warnings in our personal life can also save us
from disaster. A damaged road presents the same obstacles to every traveler
until others repair it. The highway of life is different. Each one of us
encounters unique challenges meant for growth. Also, our own bad choices can
put more barriers in the path. Yet we have the capacity to smooth out the
way, to fill in the depressions, and to beautify our course. The process is
called repentance; the destination is forgiveness.
If you have ignored warnings and your life has been damaged or disabled by a
rough road, there is help available. Through that help you can renew and
rebuild your damaged life. You can start over again and change your course
from a downward, twisting, disappointing path to a superhighway to peace and
happiness.
I want to help you find that relief. To do that it is necessary to give you
some background information that will make the remedy more logical and the
steps to healing more meaningful.
Every incorrect choice we make, every sin we commit is a violation of
eternal law. That violation brings negative results we generally soon
recognize. There are also other consequences of our acts of which we may not
be conscious. They are nonetheless real. They can have a tremendous effect
on the quality of our life here and most certainly will powerfully affect it
hereafter. We can do nothing of ourselves to satisfy the demands of justice
for a broken eternal law. Yet, unless the demands of justice are paid, each
of us will suffer endless negative consequences.
Only the life, teachings, and particularly the atonement of Jesus Christ can
release us from this otherwise impossible predicament. Each of us has made
mistakes, large or small, which if unresolved will keep us from the presence
of God. For this reason, the atonement of Jesus Christ is the single most
significant event that ever has or ever will occur. This selfless act of
infinite consequence, performed by a single glorified personage, has eternal
impact in the life of every son and daughter of our Father in Heaven—without
exception. It shatters the bonds of death. It justifies our finally being
judged by the Master. It can prevent an eternity under the control of the
devil. It opens the gates to exaltation and eternal life for all who qualify
for forgiveness through repentance and obedience.
The Redeemer can settle your individual account with justice and grant
forgiveness through the merciful path of repentance. Full repentance is
absolutely essential for the Atonement to work its complete miracle in your
life. By understanding the Atonement, you will see that God is not a jealous
being who delights in persecuting those who misstep. He is an absolutely
perfect, compassionate, understanding, patient, and forgiving Father. He is
willing to entreat, counsel, strengthen, lift, and fortify. He so loves each
of us that He was willing to have His perfect, sinless, absolutely obedient,
totally righteous Son experience indescribable agony and pain and give
Himself in sacrifice for all. Through that atonement we can live in a world
where absolute justice reigns in its sphere so the world will have order.
But that justice is tempered through mercy attainable by obedience to the
teachings of Jesus Christ.
Which of us is not in need of the miracle of repentance? Whether your life
is lightly blemished or heavily disfigured from mistakes, the principles of
recovery are the same. The length and severity of the treatments are
conditioned to fit the circumstances. Our goal surely must be forgiveness.
The only possible path to that goal is repentance, for it is written:
“There is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the
atoning blood of Jesus Christ. …
“The Lord … [will] not come to redeem [His people] in their sins, but
to redeem them from their sins.
“And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from
their sins because of repentance.”
Obedience and faith in the Savior give you power to resist temptation.
Helaman taught: “It is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son
of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send
forth his mighty winds, … when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat
upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to … endless wo,
because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, …
whereon if men build they cannot fall.”
Forgiveness comes through repentance. What is repentance? How is it
accomplished? What are its consequences? These may seem to be simple
questions, but it is clear that many do not know how to repent.
In The Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball gives a superb
guide to forgiveness through repentance. It has helped many find their way
back. He identifies five essential elements of repentance.
Sorrow for sin. Study and ponder to determine how serious the Lord
defines your transgression to be. That will bring healing sorrow and
remorse. It will also bring a sincere desire for change and a willingness to
submit to every requirement for forgiveness. Alma taught, “Justice
exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own;
and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.”
Abandonment of sin. This is an unyielding, permanent resolve to not
repeat the transgression. By keeping this commitment, the bitter aftertaste
of that sin need not be experienced again. Remember: “But unto that soul who
sinneth shall the former sins return.” Joseph Smith declared: “Repentance is
a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression and daily
repentance is not … pleasing in the sight of God.”
Confession of sin. You always need to confess your sins to the Lord.
If they are serious transgressions, such as immorality, they need to be
confessed to a bishop or stake president. Please understand that confession
is not repentance. It is an essential step, but is not of itself adequate.
Partial confession by mentioning lesser mistakes will not help you resolve a
more serious, undisclosed transgression. Essential to forgiveness is a
willingness to fully disclose to the Lord and, where necessary, His
priesthood judge all that you have done. Remember, “He that covereth
his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall
have mercy.”
Restitution for sin. You must restore as far as possible all that
which is stolen, damaged, or defiled. Willing restitution is concrete
evidence to the Lord that you are committed to do all you can to repent.
Obedience to all the commandments. Full obedience brings the complete
power of the gospel into your life with strength to focus on the abandonment
of specific sins. It includes things you might not initially consider part
of repentance, such as attending meetings, paying tithing, giving service,
and forgiving others. The Lord said: “He that repents and does the
commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven.”
I would add a sixth step: Recognition of the Savior. Of all the
necessary steps to repentance, I testify that the most critically important
is for you to have a conviction that forgiveness comes because of the
Redeemer. It is essential to know that only on His terms can you be
forgiven. Witness Alma’s declaration: “I was … in the most bitter pain and
anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ
for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But … I did cry unto him
and I did find peace to my soul.” You will be helped as you exercise
faith in Jesus Christ. That means you trust Him and you trust His
teachings. Satan would have you believe that serious transgression cannot be
entirely overcome. The Savior gave His life so that the effects of all
transgression can be put behind us, save the shedding of innocent blood and
the denial of the Holy Ghost.
The fruit of true repentance is forgiveness, which opens the door to receive
all of the covenants and ordinances provided on this earth and to enjoy the
resulting blessings. When a repentant soul is baptized, all former sins are
forgiven and need not be remembered. When repentance is full and one has
been cleansed, there comes a new vision of life and its glorious
possibilities. How marvelous the promise of the Lord: “Behold, he who has
repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them
no more.” The Lord is and ever will be faithful to His words.
Do not take comfort in the fact that your transgressions are not known by
others. That is like an ostrich with his head buried in the sand. He sees
only darkness and feels comfortably hidden. In reality he is ridiculously
conspicuous. Likewise our every act is seen by our Father in Heaven and His
Beloved Son. They know everything about us.
Adultery, fornication, committing homosexual acts, and other deviations
approaching these in gravity are not acceptable alternate lifestyles. They
are serious sins. Committing physical and sexual abuse are major sins. Such
grave sins require deep repentance to be forgiven. President Kimball taught:
“To every forgiveness there is a condition. The plaster must be as wide as
the sore. The fasting, the prayers, the humility must be equal to or greater
than the sin.” “It is unthinkable that God absolves serious sins upon a few
requests. He is likely to wait until there has been long, sustained
repentance.”
If you have seriously transgressed, you will not find any lasting
satisfaction or comfort in what you have done. Excusing transgression with a
cover-up may appear to fix the problem, but it does not. The tempter is
intent on making public your most embarrassing acts at the most harmful
time. Lies weave a pattern that is ever more confining and becomes a trap
that Satan will spring to your detriment.
Sometimes the steps of repentance are initially difficult and painful, like
the cleansing of a soiled garment. Yet, they produce purity, peace of mind,
self-respect, hope, and finally, a new person with a renewed life and
abundance of opportunity.
This scripture will help you know what to do: “Nevertheless they did fast
and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and
firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with
joy and consolation, … because of their yielding their hearts unto God.”
In closing, with all the tenderness and sincerity of heart I invite each one
of you to thoughtfully review your life. Have you deviated from the
standards that you know will bring happiness? Is there a dark corner that
needs to be cleaned out? Are you now doing things that you know are wrong?
Do you fill your mind with unclean thoughts? When it is quiet and you can
think clearly, does your conscience tell you to repent?
For your peace now and for everlasting happiness, please repent. Open your
heart to the Lord and ask Him to help you. You will earn the blessing of
forgiveness, peace, and the knowledge you have been purified and made whole.
Find the courage to ask the Lord for strength to repent, now. I
solemnly witness that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer. I know that He lives. I
testify that He loves you personally and will help you.
Obtain His forgiveness by repenting, now. In the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.
© 1995 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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