Why should I repent and forgive?
Repentance and forgiveness have been common themes found throughout the Bible, The Book of Mormon, and other religious documents. It is even commonly practiced among many irreligious people now as well.
From a doctrinal standpoint, the need for repentance and forgiveness are made clear by the Lord through His servants. President David O. McKay once stated that no "principle or ordinance of the gospel" is "more essential to the salvation of the human family than the divine and eternally operative principle [of] repentance." Forgiveness is spoken of in a similar fashion, especially since the two go hand in hand. Christ clearly taught that in order to be forgiven, we too must forgive (Mark 11:25-26). Repentance and forgiveness are not always easy, but are made possible through Christ. Each is an essential prerequisite for our eternal salvation, and from a doctrinal standpoint, that is why we should repent and forgive.
Additional blessings of repentance and forgiveness are more universal to those of differing faiths, including the irreligious. Repentance and forgiveness can repair relationships, and also increase one's emotional and physical health. When we withhold forgiveness, the opposite becomes true - there are greater risks to our emotional and physical health.
How do I repent and forgive?
Repentance and forgiveness are very personal, and the process of each is never exactly the same for everyone. The Church of Jesus Christ has provided some wonderful resources regarding both though. Each has been broken down into steps that we can follow. They have been very beneficial to me personally, so I feel it is important to share these steps with others as well.
5 Steps of Repentance:
- Recognize the sin.
- Feel sorrow for the sin.
- Forsake the sin.
- Confess.
- Make restitution.
*For more detail on each of these steps, visit the following link at LDS.org: https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-19-repentance?lang=eng
The following steps provided regarding forgiveness were created by Everett Worthington, and can be found in scholarly literature, as well as in some online platforms.
5 Steps of Forgiveness:
- Recall the hurt.
- Empathize.
- Offer the altruistic gift of forgiveness.
- Commit publicly to forgive.
- Hold on to forgiveness.
*For more on each of these steps, follow the following link: http://www.evworthington-forgiveness.com/research/
I have experienced a great deal of repentance and forgiveness in my personal life, and I know that as I continually repent, and find it in my heart to forgive, I have been much happier. There is a power of healing and peace that comes when we repent and forgive, and I know that it is because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. While not always easy, the Lord makes it possible. My hope and prayer is that the truths I have shared in this blog entry may bless and help you, as they have blessed and helped me.
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