From a previous post * Repentance: An Idea Out of Style . . . This message of repentance has been met with different reactions often depending on the time in history. ~Neal L. Anderson (or the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles), now continuing . . . .
More frequently during wars, plagues, natural disasters, and severe economic downturns, believers humbly received the message of repentance. As they walked out the church doors, they resolved to change their lives and try to make restitution for the harm they had done. Pleading with God for forgiveness from offending Him and for having made His burden heavier seemed right, because they were feeling their own burdens. And the preachers sermon to abandon their follies rang true because they needed the blessings of heaven. In their hours of difficulty, there was a humbleness of spirit that took them to their knees to recognize Almighty God.
Of course, there have always been those who were offended and left their churches, but especially during times of difficulty, the people were generally more willing to look inward and consider the need to change for the better. People more readily accepted that repentance was a message they needed to hear as they felt a greater dependence upon God and receiving His blessings.
At other times in history, during times of peace, health, intellectual enlightenment, and the forecast of long-term prosperity, the message was often met with indifference.8 During these times the proud and powerful were slow to acknowledge the One who had paid the price for the sins of all mankind and who had instituted commandments, allowing the children of God to return to their heavenly home.
Today’s Environment
The world today more closely parallels past times of prosperity and intellectual enlightenment, and the message of repentance is often met with indifference or ridicule. Interestingly, the September 11, 2001, terror attacks sent a spike in church attendance. The spike, however, did not last. One author explained: People thought this type of national significance would lead people to be more religious, and it did. But it was very short-lived. There was a blip in church attendance and then it went back to normal.”9 In our day the Lord has said: “They seek not to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world.”
With uncertainty or indifference in what is right and wrong, many believe that each should construct his or her own path. They ask, “Why should we be asked to change?” “Shouldn’t the messages from church pulpits just be encouraging without bringing guilt?” “God may not like everything we do, but we are generally good people, and He is going to love us for who we are. He will accept us into heaven and love us forever.” These voices of today sound very much like the prophecy of Nephi: “Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and last and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.”11
. . . .Isaiah said, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” In today’s environment, you find yourself facing a crowd that does not just passively disagree with the idea of repentance, but who at times will ridicule your desire to change and return to God. It isn’t easy. It isn’t comfortable.
10 ~Neal L. Anderson, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness (Salt Lake City:Deseret Book, 2019), 41-42. . . . continued
