By Sister Kristin M. Yee, Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency
To live in such a way that you give beauty for the ashes of your life is an act of faith that follows the Savior.
The book of 1 Samuel includes a lesser-known story of David, the future king of Israel, and a woman named Abigail.
After Samuel’s death, David and his men went away from King Saul, who sought David’s life. They provided watchcare for the flocks and servants of a wealthy man named Nabal, who was mean-spirited. David sent ten of his men to salute Nabal and request much-needed food and supplies.
Nabal responded to David’s request with insult and sent his men away empty-handed. Offended, David prepared his men to go up against Nabal and his household, saying, “He hath requited me evil for good.”1 A servant told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, about her husband’s ill treatment of David’s men. Abigail quickly gathered the needed food and supplies and went to intercede.
When Abigail met him, she “fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, “And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be. …
“Now therefore, … the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand. … “… Now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men. …“I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid. …“And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
“And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. … “So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; … I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.”2 They both departed in peace.
In this account, Abigail can be seen as a powerful type or symbol of Jesus Christ.3 Through His atoning sacrifice, He can release us from the sin and weight of a warring heart and provide us with the sustenance we need. Just as Abigail was willing to take Nabal’s sin upon herself, so did the Savior—in an incomprehensible way—take upon Him our sins and the sins of those who have hurt or offended us.5 In Gethsemane and on the cross, He claimed these sins. He made a way for us to let go of a vengeful heart. That “way” is through forgiving—which can be one of the most difficult things we ever do and one of the most divine things we ever experience. On the path of forgiveness, Jesus Christ’s atoning power can flow into our lives and begin to heal the deep crevasses of the heart and soul.
President Russell M. Nelson has taught that the Savior offers us the ability to forgive: “Through His infinite Atonement, you can forgive those who have hurt you and who may never accept responsibility for their cruelty to you. “It is usually easy to forgive one who sincerely and humbly seeks your forgiveness. But the Savior will grant you the ability to forgive anyone who has mistreated you in any way. Then their hurtful acts can no longer canker your soul.”6
Abigail’s bringing an abundance of food and supplies can teach us that the Savior offers to those who have been hurt and injured the sustenance and help we need to be healed and made whole.7 We are not left to deal with the consequences of others’ actions on our own; we too can be made whole and given the chance to be saved from the weight of a warring heart and any actions that may follow.
The Lord has said, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.”8 The Lord requires us to forgive for our own good.9 But He does not ask us to do it without His help, His love, His understanding. Through our covenants with the Lord, we can each receive the strengthening power, guidance, and the help we need to both forgive and to be forgiven. (From October 2022 general conference, November 2022 Liahona pg 36.)
