From Neil L. Anderson’s book ‘The Divine Gift of Forgiveness’. . .
A most egregious (outstandingly bad) example of a checklist for repentance was told by Elder David A. Bednar. He said, “When president of BYU Idaho, I spoke with a bishop and he shared this experience. He had received a confession from a young person who said, ‘I was involved in immorality Friday night. You are the last thing on my list. Now that I have confessed to you, I feel great.'” Elder Bednar then explained, “That is not repentance. It cannot really be repentance unless it involves the Redeemer even if a person confesses. This was a confession with no regard for the Redeemer.”(8-below) Of course those reading this book would never offend the process of repentance and forgiveness the way this young person did, but we need to be cautious about checklists.
As Primary children we learned the “five R’s” of repentance(9) but often did not include the role of our Redeemer in those five R’s. Without including the name of Jesus Christ, the five R’s could become a checklist void of the available spiritual power.10 Speaking of the name of the church, President Russell M. Nelson said, “When we discard the Savior’s name we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus did for us—even His Atonement.”11
Here is how we might include the Savior’s name in the five R’s of repentance:
- Recognize that what I have done wrong has offended Jesus Christ.
- Feel remorse that my actions have offended God, caused Jesus Christ to suffer, and caused suffering to God’s children.
- Resolve to change my behavior, realizing that my own willpower is not enough. Without the help of Jesus Christ, I am powerless to repent.
- Reform, change, repent, appealing for the grace of Jesus Christ, His mercy and His power to help me never to repeat the offense.
- Make restitution to those I have hurt and offended, most importantly the Savior, who suffered the pains of all. In this way, I am repenting.
There is one more “R” that brings light to our perspective on how to see repentance: Rely on the Redeemer. The five R’s come alive when they are centered in Jesus Christ. ~From Neil L. Anderson’s book, “The Divine Gift of Forgiveness” Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019), 136-37
References 8. Conversation with Elder David a. Bedbar 9. “The Five ‘R’s’ of Repentance,” The Instructor, February 1961, 66-67
10. See Mosiah 3:17; 5:8
11. Russell M. Nelson: ‘The Correct Name of the Church’
