As I
started way back in the spring, a few steps on the road to happiness are
developing the attributes described in "The Family: A Proclamation to the
World". It seems I did not get as far along as I had thought; in
fact, only two have been shared. (See links below.)
The
next attribute in the proclamation is repentance. Repentance is
acknowledgement of a wrongdoing, an ill thought, a harsh word....and making
amends to correct the effects of such actions. It is more than simply
saying "I'm sorry" (although that is a great place to start).
But repentance is turning away from that which is unbecoming to the Lord.
President
Monson said "Our task is to become our best selves. One of God's greatest
gifts to us is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be
final." There is great hope in that statement..."no failure
ever need be final." IF we repent we can be forgiven...and move
forward.
In the
most recent General Conference, Elder Todd Christofferson spoke of
repentance, and gave 5 aspects to help in understanding this fundamental principle
of the gospel.
1. "The invitation to repent is an expression
of love. " In a past General Conference, Elder Neil Andersen
said "The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but
rather a loving appeal to turn around and to “re-turn” toward God."
When our friends, leaders, or our own conscience suggests there is need
to repent, we should not become offended. We should feel grateful they
love us enough to want to help us.
2. "Repentance means striving to change." Repentance
is more a journey than a one-time event. Change is hard. We will falter.
We will struggle. And, sometimes in our repentance, in our daily
efforts to become more Christlike, we find ourselves struggling over and over
with the same difficulties. Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and
working to repent, you are in the process of repenting. And the Lord
is there to help us; as long as we continue and do not give up, we will
succeed. Repentance becomes part of our daily lives.
3. "Repentance means not only abandoning sin but also
committing to obedience." The forsaking of sins implies never
returning. Forsaking requires time. To help us, the Lord at times allows the
residue of our mistakes to rest in our memory. As long as we remember what
we did, and the effect it had/has on those around us, we will be less likely to
repeat the same offense.
4. "Repentance requires a seriousness of purpose and a
willingness to persevere, even through pain." This is much more than
a casual “I admit it; I’m sorry.” 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.
5. "Whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up
in the joy of forgiveness." Repentance always means that there is
greater happiness ahead.
There
is a quote I saw recently that said "Don't apologize if you're still
going to do the things you're sorry for." The opportunity to repent
is readily available, but it is not designed to be a forethought...we shouldn't
begin our day with the thought that I'm going to mess up, but I can repent
later. That is a mockery of the Savior's atonement and suffering in
Gethsemane and on the cross. We should instead begin (and end) each day
with the prayer that the Lord will guide our thoughts and actions to be those
becoming of a child of God.
I am
grateful for the gift of repentance (and subsequent forgiveness...a topic to be
revisited next time). While I shudder to think that even one drop of
Christ's blood was shed for me...I know that His sufferings in Gethsemane were
on my behalf. I will continue to strive to live so that I may return to
live with Him. I challenge you to do the same, to welcome the opportunity
to repent for what it is, a gift and not a reprimand.
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