Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote:
“Experiencing the miracles of God, and experiencing the profound repentance that leads to forgiveness, begins building a sure foundation that leads to Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ brings the necessary power to ignite true repentance. President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “If we really understood and could feel to a small degree, the love and gracious willingness on the part of Jesus Christ to suffer for our sins we would be willing to repent of all our transgressions and serve him.” (* below)
If you find yourself making the same mistakes, struggling to be firm in your desire to change, express to your Heavenly Father your love for Him and strengthen your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Learn of Him, study about His great Atonement, and think deeply about what He suffered for you. Keep His commandments with more exactness. As you do your part to build your faith in the Savior, I promise you that Heaven will compound this gift of faith, and you will have the spiritual strength to repent of your sins and not return to them.
With your faith growing and with the power and gifts of God working within you, you will sense deep within yourself the ability and divine help to change your behavior. You will have a greater desire and strength to keep the commandments, to discard those things that do not bring goodness into your life. As you do these things, suddenly there is another power: the power of Christ and His Atonement, bringing increasing forgiveness for past sins. You begin feeling His approval because of what you are doing. Then miraculously, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly, you feel the gift of His forgiveness.
I confirm that the Savior’s love for you is certain. He never retreats from His promise to you. As you do your part day after day and forsake your sins, I promise you that the guilt and pain that have been so much a part of your spirit because of the wrong actions you have taken will be lifted and you will feel clean and pure before Him.” (Mosiah 4:2-3 see below) ~Elder Neil L. Anderson, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019). 104-05
Mosiah 4: 2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. 3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.
*Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith ( Salt Lake City, 2013),89.
