From a previous post, and Elder Neil L. Anderson’s book ‘The Divine Gift of Forgiveness’ . . .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.
An Essential Part of God’s Plan
Different from how it is in the world, repentance is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Before the restored church was officially organized in 1830, these words were given to a repenting Joseph Smith after losing 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript: “Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth a cometh unto me, the same is my church [and] whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.”13 When we are repenting, we are His!
Do not be discouraged by the lack of faith around you. As evil increases in the world, there is a compensatory spiritual power for righteousness. As the world slides from its spiritual moorings, the Lord prepares the way for those who seek Him, offering them greater assurance, greater confirmation, and greater confidence in the spiritual direction they are traveling. The gift of the Holy Ghost becomes a brighter light in the emerging twilight.”14
When you hear the word repent and feel the voices that both encourage you and discourage you, take a deep breath and lift your eyes to the heavens or bow your head for a moment, and through the Holy Spirit, the voice of your Father in Heaven will tell you what you should do. I promise you as you seek repentance through your Heavenly Father and His Divine Son, you will be given strength to keep the commandments of God. You will be given the power that will lift and comfort you as you rejoice in your new life and trust in God. As the Lord’s servant, I affirm to you that repentance is a true and essential part of the plan. The Lord needs you—a humble you—a clean you—a pure you—a covenant keeping, commandment-honoring you—to use your talents and greatest abilities, increased exponentially by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, to prepare yourself and others for the Second Coming of the Son of God.15 ~Neal L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019), 42-43
(I apologize to Elder Anderson and Elder Rasband . . . . for sharing their profound insights, but mixing up credit where credit is due. Precautions are in place where this won’t happen again. kdm)
