My time here at the MTC has really got me thinking about repentance. What is repentance? What dose that mean and why would we need it? I remember growing up , I always thought of repentance as a bad word, a scary word. "Doesn't that mean I would have to tell others and God that I made a mistake? That I messed up?" These were the thought that would go through my head. I saw it as a sign of weakness. If I repented what would I have left? Even though I knew that Heavenly Father knew what I had done, "the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror." (Alma 36:14). I know many of you might have the same perspective I had. I want to help the Spirit open your mind as you read this and to see with a new view of what repentance really is. Repentance isn't scary, its not a sign of weakness. It's actually a sign of strength and humility, by showing God that we are willing to throw away our old and imperfect self, and to become as He is. Pure, Virtues, all loving and all caring. And by doing that we are actually showing The Lord how much we truly, truly love Him. Gods very, "work and.. glory—[is] to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39). This would be impossible without repentance, for we know that, "salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." (Mosiah 3:12).
Through my studies, wonderful
teachers, and experience. I have come to know that two things are necessary for
repentance to happen. Nephi told us that, "as many as should look upon the
Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that
life which is eternal." (Helaman 8:15). We must first have faith in
Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and we must have a broken heart and a contrite
spirit. Without faith in our Savior the repentance process is a false,
unsatisfying procedure where we may have stopped doing the thing we know is
bad, but because Christ is not involved guilt and shame continue to cloud our
lives and our memories. We must bring our Savior into it and "partake of
His salvation." Because of Him, "though [our] sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be
as wool." (Isaiah 1:18). Through Christ we can be washed clean, and
feel his unabounding love in our lives. Faith leads us to repentance because we
love our Savior and what he has done for us.
Another critical element is a broken heart
and a contrite spirit. These two things are preconditions to repentance.
"When we sin and desire forgiveness, a broken heart and a contrite spirit
mean to experience “godly sorrow [that] worketh repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
This comes when our desire to be cleansed from sin is so consuming that our
hearts ache with sorrow and we yearn to feel at peace with our Father in
Heaven. Those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit are willing to do
anything and everything that God asks of them, without resistance or
resentment. We cease doing things our way and learn to do them God’s way
instead. In such a condition of submissiveness, the Atonement can take effect
and true repentance can occur." The Savior is our perfect example of a
broken heart and a contrite spirit. "Christ’s example teaches us that a
broken heart is an eternal attribute of godliness. When our hearts are broken,
we are completely open to the Spirit of God and recognize our dependence on Him
for all that we have and all that we are. The sacrifice so entailed is a
sacrifice of pride in all its forms. Like malleable clay in the hands of a
skilled potter, the brokenhearted can be molded and shaped in the hands of the
Master." Through our broken hearts and our contrite spirits, we desire
forgiveness.This happens through repentance, by which we can ultimately become
who He wants us to be. Our best. Our full potential.
Repentence,"points us to freedom,
confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of
repentance is the cause for true celebration.". "Without repentance,
there is no real progress or improvement in life." The Guide tot the
Scriptures tells us that "A change of mind and heart that brings a fresh
attitude toward God, oneself, and life in general. Repentance implies that a
person turns away from evil and turns his heart and will to God, submitting to
God’s commandments and desires and forsaking sin. True repentance comes from a
love for God and a sincere desire to obey his commandments. All accountable
persons have sinned and must repent in order to progress toward salvation. Only
through the atonement of Jesus Christ can our repentance become effective and
accepted by God." When we repent, we are striving to change: To become a
better person and to become more like Christ.
We must always realize that repentance
is only possible because of what Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer, did for
us. He is the reason any of this joy and progression is possible. "...the
Savior “descended below all things” (D&C 88:6) as He bore the burden of sin
for every human being. At Golgotha, He “poured out his soul unto death” (Isaiah
53:12), and His great heart literally broke with an all-encompassing love for
the children of God. When we remember the Savior and His suffering, our hearts
too will break in gratitude for the Anointed One."
I know my Savior Lives I would
incourage all of you to repent. (remember its not a bad thing!) I love
all of you!
Elder Philip R. Bredsguard
The
Missionary Training Center (MTC)
Provo,
UT
