The following are two of about twenty true, life changing accounts shared by Elder Neil L. Anderson through his book ‘The Divine Gift of Forgiveness,’ from the second chapter: “Experiences to Strengthen Our Righteous Desires”:
We learn and are strengthened by the experiences of one another. The true stories that follow. . . remind us of the love of God for His children: the sadness, the suffering, and the sorrow of sin; the readiness of Heavenly Father to hear and respond to prayer; the joy in repentance even for young children; the incalculable gift of forgiveness as the Savior lifts ones burdens; and the happiness in embracing the Savior’s invitation, “Come unto me.” (Matthew 11:28)
“While serving as a bishop, I received a phone call very early one morning that a man in his forties had broken into the homes of several families in our ward in the night in a desperate search for prescription drugs. He really traumatized several families as he went on a rampage though the houses. He fled into the forest, and a police manhunt resulted in his capture.
I immediately drove to the home of one of the families. There were numerous cars and many police officers there as the suspect was handcuffed. (I recognized the man. He had been staying with a family in the ward for a few weeks to help him sort out his life.) I found the traumatized family quite distraught. After comforting them for some time, I went to leave. I remember looking at this man who had caused such grief to the wonderful families in the ward and thinking to myself. “How dare you come to our ward and terrorize these wonderful families. I hope they lock you up and throw away the key.”
I drove home, and just as I was about to drive into my driveway, I heard a very distinct voice in my head that said: “How dare you judge him. He is my son. Go back and tell him that his Heavenly Father loves him.”
I was completely startled by the power and overwhelming feeling of this manifestation. I had never in my life felt such a distinct and powerful reprimand from heaven. I immediately hit my brakes and did a U-turn.
I introduced myself to the police officers as the man’s bishop. After insuring that his hands were secure, they sat him down on the curb and I sat next to him as the police officers backed off to give us a little privacy. This man, being high on drugs, had been yelling obscenities immediately before I sat down with him. As I started speaking, he immediately calmed down as if the Spirit of the Lord had descended upon him. I looked him in the eyes and said, “I have a message to deliver to you.” I was quite surprised that he remained calm as I walked toward my car and drove away.
Months later, as I was visiting this man in jail, while separated by a wall of glass and on the phone, he told me with tears in his eyes, “Bishop, I want you to know that I remember nothing from that fateful night when I broke into those homes—except for one thing. I remember you looking into my eyes and telling me that my Heavenly Father loves me—and that thought has been the only thing that has gotten me through these last several months in jail.” ~Robert B. Walker (Personal Correspondence from President Robert B. Walker, Hawaii Honolulu mission)
“I totally relate to [the experience of Alma the younger] because I too went through a rebellious phase and for a time wanted nothing to do with the truths I had been taught. I was NOT going around and trying to destroy the Church, but I wasn’t keeping the commandments. I was full of anger and darkness. It was the most miserable time of my life. I learned the hard way that wickedness never was happiness.
I know that my family spent countless hours pleading to Heavenly Father that I would be humbled and have a desire to change. The hoped that I would have an Alma the Younger experience but would never have imagined that instead of being visited by an angel, I would be visited by cancer. There have been many times when I have lain in bed unable to speak or move my arms and legs because I was so sick, but I am grateful because it has given me the chance to change my life. I’ve learned that our Heavenly Father’s blessings often come in ways that are not our ways. It may seem strange, but even if I were able to go back and change my situation I wouldn’t. I am really grateful for cancer because it has brought me back to my family and convinced me of the power of God in my life.
I have come to know the love that the Savior has for me. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I have been so blessed.” —Luke De La Mare (Sacrament meeting talk given by Luke DeLaMare, Sunday, June 16, 2019. Luke completed his mortality September 11,2019).
The above two accounts are from Neil L. Anderson’s book, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019) 17-19.
