The Miracle of Repentance ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on June 2013 BYU Devotional, and it is called "The Miracle of Repentance" by D. Kelly Ogden." This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. I hope that you would be able to learn something whilst reading through this post. 

Brother Ogden has mentioned the following; "There is no principle of the gospel more important than repentance. ... Driven by faith, repentance is the single most important principle to live in order to make the Savior’s Atonement effective and meaningful in our lives. 

Repentance is not just feeling guilty for having sinned, nor is it mere “forgetfulness,” pushing the sin way back in our mind to conveniently not be reminded of it. ... We repent not only of sins but also of sinning, and we are willing to do whatever is necessary to remove the stain and the pain. We turn to the Savior. He is the only one who can take away our sins because He paid the price for them.

Godly Sorrow and Suffering Are Necessary

In true repentance, godly sorrow and suffering are necessary. ... We have all been through the anguish. ... We hurt inside. And it is not just guilt for being caught or feeling the embarrassment for having to confess. It is godly sorrow we are feeling.

... Alma said, “Let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance” (Alma 42:29). Be glad to suffer the godly sorrow now so you won’t have to suffer the full effects of your sins later.

Confession Is Necessary

President Spencer W. Kimball taught: No one can ever be forgiven of any transgression until there is repentance, and one has not repented until he has bared his soul and admitted his intentions and weaknesses without excuses or rationalizations. He must admit to himself that he has grievously sinned. 

When he has confessed to himself without the slightest minimizing of the offense, or rationalizing its seriousness, or soft-pedaling its gravity, and admits it is as big as it really is, then he is ready to begin his repentance. [“Love Versus Lust,” BYU devotional address, 5 January 1965; ...] We have a worry these days. 

... But Elder Richard G. Scott warned, “The thought of intentionally committing serious sin now and repenting later is perilously wrong. . . . Premeditated sin has greater penalties and is harder to overcome” (“Making the Right Choices,” Ensign, November 1994, 38–39). We must confess and forsake our sins now and not put off our repentance. 

Alma warned us not to procrastinate the day of our repentance. As the old rabbis used to say: You cannot repent the day before you die, because you don’t know what day you will die. ... The fact is, none of us knows exactly when we will be departing this mortal sphere, so we should be ready always never procrastinating the day of 

our repentance but repenting daily and keeping ourselves prepared to meet God.

Don’t wait until the pressure situations of mission and marriage arrive to do your repenting. If the announcements and invitations have already been sent out and you have the interview with the bishop and a member of the stake presidency, and then you realize together that you are not ready for the sacred covenant-making in the house of the Lord then what do you do? 

It could be pretty embarrassing, couldn’t it? The embarrassment doesn’t matter; you don’t ever want to enter the holy temple if you are not worthy. To take upon yourself the most sacred covenants and make the most binding promises of your whole life when you are not spiritually prepared or worthy to do so would bring upon you serious condemnation.

Before going to the temple, before going to sacrament meeting, even before kneeling to pray, be reconciled to Heavenly Father and to the Savior and if there is any conflict or friction between you and any other person, get it resolved now.

REPENTANCE is both our path to FORGIVENESS
and the response that blooms from it."

Forsaking Our Sins Is Necessary

The scriptures teach that forsaking our sins is necessary. ... To forsake means to give up, abandon. Indeed, we must abandon all sin as soon as we can and it might require a lengthy and mighty struggle to rid ourselves of our toughest and most perplexing weaknesses. 

It is essential, as soon as possible, to expel sin from our lives. That is forsaking. ... Although the great majority of the missionaries were prepared and worthy to be there learning to represent the Lord Jesus Christ—I noticed that even among them there were some who caught themselves agonizing over past sins. 

They had fully repented, but they still had a bright recollection of their recent (and sometimes distant) sins, and they became depressed as they remembered the gross sins of their past. 

... Sometimes people will sincerely desire to repent and secure Heavenly Father’s complete forgiveness ... When you have totally repented, you must forsake those sins, forget about them, bury them away, and not bring them up again. ... In other words, when you have planted your life in a more spiritual furrow, keep your eyes straight ahead and don’t look back to the old sins, the old people, the old places. 

Someone has suggested that when Satan reminds you of your past, just remind him of his future! Keep your eyes looking ahead and on the Savior. ... Everyone has problems growing up some worse than others but it is imperative that we forget the shame of our youth. Repent, put it behind you, and move on. "

Stay Tuned until next time.