The word gospel means good news or good news, the ultimate hope for all of God`s children. An important part of the gospel is repentance, which makes the hope of eternal life viable for all who practice it. However, unrepentant sin breeds despair (see Moroni 10:22). The most basic principles of the gospel are sometimes the least understood. And one of the most fundamental principles of the gospel is repentance. Let`s analyze these three stages of repentance. The first is commitment – “restoring the promise.” This is the most difficult step in the repentance process. What does “Restoration of the Promise” mean? Alma related how he repented of his sinful past: What is repentance? In fact, in some ways, it is easier to understand what repentance is than to understand what it is. Alma counseled his son Corianton, who had been unfaithful to his missionary calling and had committed grave sins: “Let your sins trouble you with this affliction that will lead you to repentance. Make no effort to apologize in the slightest” (Alma 42:29–30).
The scriptures also counsel us not to justify our sinful practices (see Luke 16:15–16). Invite a family member to stretch out their right arms and hold a heavy object in each hand as you discuss with other students how sin can be like a heavy burden. Place heavier objects on the member`s hands during the discussion. Remove the items and ask the military to share what they have learned about sin and repentance from this lesson. Full obedience brings all the power of the gospel into our lives, including the strongest power to overcome our weaknesses. This obedience includes actions that we may not initially consider part of repentance, such as attending a meeting, paying tithing, serving, and forgiving others. The Lord promised, “He that repenteth and fulfills the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven” (D&C 1:32). “We must accept a warning and not wait for the deathbed to repent, just as we see the child swept away by death, the young man, the middle-aged parent, and the child are suddenly called into eternity. May it therefore prove to be a warning to all not to postpone repentance or to wait until his deathbed, for it is God`s will that man should repent and serve him in health and in the strength and power of his Spirit to obtain his blessing, and not wait until he is called to die” (Smith, Teaching, 197).
President Spencer W. Kimball said, “There is no silver bullet to repentance, no preferred path to forgiveness. Every person should follow the same path, whether rich or poor, educated or uneducated, great or small, prince or beggar, king or citizen” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 38; Emphasis added). “And now, I say to you, what will be most precious to you is to declare repentance to this people, that you may bring souls to me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.” (D&C 15:6; D&C 16:6; Emphasis added.) The Lord rejoices when we repent (see 2 Peter 3:9; Luke 15). Do not rationalize your sins or postpone repentance. Amulek warned, “This life is a time for people to prepare to meet God; Yes, behold, the day of this life is the day when men can do their work. Please do not delay the day of your conversion until the end; For after this day of life, which is given to us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time in this life, then comes the night of darkness, in which no work can be done. (Alma 34:32–33.) In heaven there is joy for a repentant sinner, Luke 15:7. Part of repentance is making amends.
This means that, to the extent possible, we must right the wrongs we have caused. For example, a thief should return what he stole. A liar should tell the truth. Gossip that has slandered a person`s character should work to restore the good reputation of the person it has harmed. If we do, God will not tell us about our sins when we are judged (see Ezekiel 33:15–16). Invite students to share their thoughts about the Savior and what it means to receive God`s gift of repentance. Ask them to examine their lives and determine what they need to change. Every time they repented, they were forgiven, Moro. 6:8 The privilege of repentance is made possible by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
In ways we don`t fully understand, Jesus paid for our sins. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: Our efforts to repent can also cost us mental and physical anguish, but our commitment to Heavenly Father to do His will will make repentance possible and bearable for us. In our repentance, we must remember that the Lord does not punish us for our sins; He simply refuses His blessings. We punish ourselves. Scripture keeps telling us that the wicked are punished by the wicked. A simple illustration can show how we do this. “Every principle and ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ is important and important in contributing to the progress, happiness, and eternal life of man. But there is nothing more essential to the salvation of the human family than the divine and eternal principle of conversion.