From Neil L. Anderson’s book, “The Divine Gift of Forgiveness we read,
“. . . change is not just changing our behavior. This return is to be coupled with a deeper faith in Christ. Elder Dale G. Renlund said, “Without the Redeemer, the inherent hope and joy evaporate, and repentance becomes simply a miserable behavior modification.”10
We then are able to give our gift, our feeble and small gift, our gift of sacrifice to the Savior. You remember that in olden times, there were actually burnt offerings that were placed on alters of the temples. After His Atonement, the Lord said that He would no longer accept burnt offerings but asked instead that we give our “broken heart and . . . contrite spirit.”11 When we turn to the Savior and determine to give up that part of our life that is sinful and unworthy, or when we determine to embrace a higher and holier life of kindness, unselfishness, and love, we are giving a gift to the Savior.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, “Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!”12
Turning toward the Savior
We offer our lives to Him. We change and come unto Him, and He, in return, gives us so much more. He gives us His love, His approval,—most of all, His forgiveness. It is not an easy thing that we give, but it is an infinitely greater thing that we receive.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “The path of repentance is not easily begun nor painlessly traveled. But the Savior of the world will walk that journey with you. He will strengthen you when you waver. He will be your light when it seems most dark. He will take your hand and be your hope when hope seems all you have left. His compassion and mercy, with all their cleansing and healing power, are freely given to all who truly wish for complete forgiveness.”13
We must never be discouraged in this process of becoming. Sometimes we feel like we are repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. It is as if we are climbing a tree-covered mountain and we can’t see our progress until we get closer to the top and look back from the high ridges. Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting.14
Elder Gary E. Stevenson spoke of the patience needed in our becoming who the Lord would have us become: “Along the way you will most likely stumble and fall—perhaps many, many times. You are not perfect; falling is part of the qualifying process that allows you to refine your character and serve in a more compassionate way. The Savior and His infinite Atonement provide the way to overcome our mistakes through sincere repentance.”15
~Neil L. Anderson, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019), 143-44
