Repentance AND Forgiveness {Wordfull Wednesday}

June 23 - Repentance and Forgiveness - If any of you have never done anything wrong please raise your hand!  All of us have had need to seek out forgiveness, to give forgiveness and to repent. How do you teach your children about repentance and forgiveness? "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness," (Family Proclamation, paragraph7)

I think this is funny to come up right now.  This week in Sunday school at church we are talking about Samuel.  This is the question that caught my eye: What does 1 Samuel 16:7 teach about how the Lord evaluates us? What does the Lord look for in our hearts? How can we improve our ability and commitment to see beyond the outward appearance of others and look on the heart?

In Chapter 15 it talks about how Saul obeyed the Lord in killing all the Amalekites and he was supposed to destroy ALL possessions, including livestock.  Saul didn't want to see such fatted calves and such go to waste so he kept them and gave them as a burnt offering to God. While offering the best is what God wants He wants us to be obedient even more.  While this is a side note the second part of the question is what caught my attention.  I have a real problem of judging people.  Not in a way that I automatically assume who they are but, "Why would they do that?  I would do..." kind of a way.  It is not good and it is something with this lesson that really was brought to the fore front of my thoughts, it is something that I need to repent of.  This is for this reason that I am grateful for the gift of repentance, I don't need to be perfect, but I need to do my best to be obedient to the commandments that have been given to me.

I love the topic of repentance and forgiveness.  We use it all the time in our home.  On a scale that the kids can grasp I teach them how it works.  When the so called innocent was wronged and they come tattle I ask if the "wrong-doer" apologized, if the answer is yes, then I explain that we are required to forgive, and it is now between the other person and Heavenly Father.  I have said this so many times that I wasn't sure they were listening anymore.  Then I heard one of my children (pick one) say "Logan, I am sorry" Logan responded with "I forgive you."  I thought that was awesome.  In their sweet innocent childlike understanding, they get it.  After that they walk away and are friends again.


Although this is a gospel principle that I have a testimony of and believe in wholeheartedly, it is hard for me to use.  I kneel down and say my prayers and share those things I am grateful for and the things that I pour my heart out about.  It is very rarely that I think about my numerous mistakes.  Lucky for me there is no time expiration on the gift of the Atonement!


I loved the talk from Pres. Uchtdorf when he educated us about flying.  He explained that when piloting there is always "a point of safe return" or more commonly know as the "point of no return."  Before this point the plane will have enough fuel to make it safely back to the airport.  He goes on to share this:

It’s Never Too Late

Satan wants us to think that when we have sinned we have gone past a “point of no return”—that it is too late to change our course. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the gift of God to His children to correct and overcome the consequences of sin. Christ came to save us. If we have taken a wrong course, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can give us the assurance that sin is not a point of no return. A safe return is possible if we will follow God’s plan for our salvation.

There Is Always Hope

Wherever you find yourselves on this journey through life, whatever trials you may face, there is always a point of safe return; there is always hope. You are the captain of your life, and God has prepared a plan to bring you safely back to Him, to your divine destination.
The gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ provides us at all times and at all places with the blessings of repentance and forgiveness. Because of this gift, the opportunity to make a safe return from the disastrous course of sin is available to all of us. Happiness in this life and eternal joy in a life to come will be our reward if we choose to accept and apply this gift of our Heavenly Father.

Doesn't that bring you peace of mind? It does not only for me but knowing my children have this gift as well.

Thank you Cocoa at Chocolate on My Cranium, for presenting a topic!