Forgiveness

Forgiveness is something I've found to be really difficult.  Sometimes I don't want to forgive this person because they offended or hurt me.  There are times I think it is totally unfair that they get away with it.  But when I think in such a way as that, I'm forgetting the blessings that follow Forgiveness.





Painting by Howard Lyon

There is a story in the New Testament where the Savior was confronted by the Pharisees with a woman caught in the act of Adultery.  In a possible attempt to trick Christ into saying something wrong, they asked what shall we do with this woman?  The response was simple and clear, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."  Condemned by guilt the priests walked away, beginning at the oldest to the youngest.  A woman who committed a great crime was promptly forgiven.  But what responsibility does that leave me?

 

We are all sinners, and have fallen short of the Glory of God.  But Christ enables us to be exalted so long as we repent and follow him through the Atonement.  However, some of us stop our own progression short.  Forgiveness is letting go of a burden we ourselves taken or others might have given.  It is letting go of the past and moving on with life.  Look at the picture above.  Notice how everyone on the right is carrying a red robe.  The woman is dropping hers.  The red robes represent sin.  The Pharisees are holding on to theirs.  Their pride is keeping them from enjoying the love of the Savior.  By being unforgiving is like holding onto that robe.  The Savior says it best when he asks, why do you judge your fellow men when you are no more perfect than them?

 

Forgiveness allows us to love our fellow men.  It helps us see the good in others and accepting them as part of God's family.  When we cease to find fault with our neighbor we put on a Mantle of Charity, and wish for their good rather than their punishment.  It uncovers our eyes enabling us to see their true self rather than their outward appearance.  If you really think about it, you don't need to forgive ANYONE.  But God does NOT need to give you ANY of the blessings you would receive if you did forgive.  So if you want God to bless you, or even forgive your wrongs, stop holding onto your hurt and move on.  Why? Because how we judge is how we will be judged in return (See also 3 Nephi 14:1).  It is not our place to judge but God.  Only he knows the truth behind everything.

 

Stop carrying your stones of hate, shed your robes of sin and hate, and put on a Mantle of Charity.  Stop finding fault with others and learn to love even your enemies.  The Savior did it and he had every reason not to.  But we are required to forgive and we are reward for each of our actions.  The speed of your progression is determined by how my rocks you have in your bag.  Lose those rocks and enjoy the journey.



 

 See how one man was able to forgive:

 

Christ Forgives:

Repentance

What does it mean to Repent?  You've probably run into that word reading a book of some kind or a movie with some preacher giving a "crazy" sermon.  To Repent is to turn from our old destructive behavior to a more healthy behavior.  It is turning back to Christ and allowing him to work with us.  True repentance is more than feeling sorry or being told you've done wrong.  It is an act of faith to change yourself for the better.  You repent by:

1. Recognizing you've done something wrong. If you don't know realize you have done wrong, you are not going to change.  A moral compass (conceince) helps here.
2. Feel remorse (sorrow) for what you have done wrong. If you don't recognize the weight of the problem you are still not going to change and will go right back to the very thing that got you in trouble.  You're behavior will be, "Oh, I've done something bad.  But it wasn't that bad."  Not a good thought process.
3. Quit the behavior. Get out and stay out before it's too late.  Feeling sorry and knowing you've done wrong requires action against the behavior.  If your house was on fire are you going to let it burn?
4. Confess your wrong.   Depending of the gravity of the mistake will depend on who you need to confess your wrong to. A simple wrong against yourself, you confess to God in Prayer, and make an effort to fix it.  (Refer back to 3.)  Against someone else, you admit your wrong to the person you've done wrong to. Anything involving morality, addictions, or civil law; you better talk to your spiritual leader (bishop), parent or a trusted individual who can help you get help to resolve the problem.  It is important not to go back to the thing that got you in trouble in the first place.
5. Make restitution. Repairs will need to be made whether with yourself or someone else you need to make sure everything is restored to order.  I read a quote once that said, ‎"Until we take responsibility for what we have done, the Atonement can't help us."  Unless you clean up the mess it is still a problem.  It hinders your ability to progress.
6. Resolve never to do it again. just because the problem is fixed doesn't mean you won't come back to it. You need to decided NOW that you will never ever do that again for you own health and safety.  You are not going to have a snake bite you after getting treated for it the first time.  You should treat bad behavior the same way.

Sin is not being caught in the act and feeling bad. Sin is breaking a law.  God has set down rules for our prgression, not damnation.  As we obey these rules it makes it possible to excel. There isn't a grey area between justice and mercy.   You have done something bad or good.   Sometimes we make a mistake out of ignorance, that's okay.  Just don't do it again and everything will be fine.   Repentance is a way to become a more perfect person. 

One type of behavior that is just as destructive is saying "I can repent (or clean it up) later."  Such behavior makes a mockery of Christ's sacrifice for us because we are indugling in degenerate bahavior and expecting good to come from it.  Christ said, 'be ye perfect.'  Christ make it possible for us to be perfect.  But we need to become perfect ourselves by becoming a better person.  You can't turn refuse back into something good.  You have to remove it.  We just need to cast out burdens on him and follow him.  Christ had already paid the price for sin.  We need to take advantage of this gift NOW, so that we can enjoy the blessings of exaltation.  Once you are freed from your burdens you can enjoy life much more fully.  You become a more perfect person and are no longer held down by your past mistakes.

Greater than the Enemy before you

There is a story in the bible of Elisha the Prophet that I really enjoy.  The Israelite Nation and the Assyrian's were at war with each other.  At a critical time the Israelite camp was surrounded by the enemy and all hope of victory was gone.  The Servant of Elisha asked in desperation "What are we going to do?"  Elisha responded by saying, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." Elisha then prayed to God that his servant's eyes could be opened so that he could see.  When the servant looked at the Assyrian army, he saw chariots of fire and the angels of God in greater number than that of the Assyrians.

Joshua 1:9

As we go through life we are going to have times where we feel as if the very world surrounds us giving us no hope for survival.  Standards are dropping, and everyone in the earth seems happy with it.  Many are pressuring you to do the same.  We can catch ourselves asking, "is this right?"  It must seem hopeless to try living in a world where your standards are regarded as pathetic.  But we do not need to despair.  We are not alone to go through blindly.  In fact God has provided us the means so as we are not alone in this world.  Christ told his Apostles after his resurrection, "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."  The same thing applies to us today.  Christ didn't send us out do the impossible.  He sent us out so that we may learn how we can become like him.  He has already accomplished the impossible.

Even though God will stand by ready to help us when in need, we may be discouraged by what we do not see.  Some of us may believe that we stand alone in a world of changing or different views.  There is a story from President Thomas S. Monson when he was in Navel Boot Camp during WWII.  He was standing at attention with his group when his petty officer began splitting everyone up into their religious groups so they could worship. Catholics to one area, Protestants to another, and Jews to some place else.  President Monson realized he was none of those, and decided to stand there.  He felt alone.

It never crossed his mind that there were others behind him till the Petty Officer ask, “And just what do you guys call yourselves?”  In unison the handful of sailors answered, "Mormons."  The Petty Officer then sent them someplace to where they could worship.

D&C 10:5

You are not the only one who thinks the way you do.  I've felt like I was the only one with my beliefs before.  As I grew older I found more people who felt the same I did, and those times alone helped me treasure the times I was grouped.  If you ever feel like you are completely and utterly alone, turn to the Savior and He will give you comfort and maybe even lead you to others just like you.  Prayer is your most powerful tool God has given you.  Use it.  You don't receive help unless you call for it.  God will send you the help you need when you ask for it.  Don't give up, keep moving forward.  The Reward is near.

For the full story and talk by President Thomas S. Monson, click here.

A Day of Restoration

"Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name." - 2 Nephi 25:13

April 6th has a lot of meaning to me.  Two very important events happened on this day. The first is the most commonly known. This was the day the Savior died for us.  Just hours before he was killed he suffered in Gethsemane.  He was then resurrected Three days later and showed himself to His Apostles.  He took upon him all the sins of the World.  He died so that we may live again, the chains of death were broken so the earth would hold not it's dead.  Christ's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane removed our punishment for sin from us so that we can make it into the Kingdom of Heaven. To this sacrifice I have a eternal debt with great mercy attached for me.  For that I am truly grateful for the Saviors sacrifice.

The second event was the Restoration of Christ's church as it was organized when Christ was one the Earth. (See also The Articles of Faith.)  Under the direction of the Prophet Joseph Smith, under inspiration from God the Father, the church was officially organized on April 6th, 1830.  With the Restoration of the Lord's Church, The Priesthood (the Authority to act in God's name) was placed back on the earth.  A prophecy made by the Prophet Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar about the going of the Church of God that would fill the whole earth, never to be destroyed again.  To this day, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown from a congregation of thirty to 15 million and growing.  It has never been lead by men, but by God.  Prophets speak to us today, like prophets of old, revealing God's word to us.  I am grateful in taking part in this "Marvelous work and a Wonder" as prophesied by Isaiah.

On this date, our restoration to heaven was completed and The Lord's Church was restored.  Truly this day is a glorious day.

For a special Easter presentation (From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) click here.

Here are the Events of the Savior's Atonement:

Christ the Good Shepherd

For some time have have been studying the Gospel of John.  In the tenth chapter, verses 1-5, Christ tells his listeners a parable.  He told them that he was like a shepherd.  He said his sheep will hear his voice, and will follow him.  He also mentioned a gate and a wall.  What has a wall got to do with anything involving a shepherd and his sheep?  Let me show you.

The Judean Shepherd during the time of Christ spent all his time with his sheep.  They were part of his life, part of his family and his only means of substance.  The Shepherd has an infinite love for all of his sheep, even the ones that have "little to no" use.  Great care was taken in raising the sheep.  There was an inseparable bond between the master and the sheep.  The Shepherd not only cares for, but protects his sheep, even to the loss of his own life.  The Sheep willingly follow him and trust him.  When he calls they will come.  Those not belonging to that shepherd will not come.  When the night comes the shepherd will lead the sheep into a pen.  The pen would be made out of stone and surrounding the wall was brush making it hard to jump over the wall.  There was only one place to enter the pen and that was the gate.  The only thing standing in the way of that gate, was the Shepherd.  Any thieves or wolves not willing to deal with the shepherd may try jumping the wall.  But once the shepherd hears commotion among his sheep, the intruder will soon face the wrath of the shepherd.



D&C 18:11-12



How fitting is the comparison between our Lord and Savior, and the Shepherd.  Christ has an infinite love for all of us, despite our circumstances.  He took upon himself the sins of the world in Gethsemane.  He did that so that we would have a chance to return to God's presence. He laid down his life for us on Calvary's cross.  He broke the bands of death so that we can be resurrected.  He gave us the Gospel and commandments for us to follow so that we may be led to "green pastures."  When we have done wrong in our life, he will forgive us on conditions of repentance.  How great a love he had for us, that he was willing to go through all that for us.  Because he suffered for us, and paid the price for sin.  All He asks of us is to repent of our sins, become as a little child, and follow him (John 8:12) even as a child submits to his father.  Following Christ is having faith in him and doing what he asks of us, because "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26).  We may not understand why Christ asks us to do what we need to do.  But by placing our trust in him we are able to grow to greatness.  Sheep that do not follow the voice of the Shepherd are lost.  When we ignore the Savior and his teachings, we become "lost".  If the sheep will allow the Shepherd to care for them, they are kept safe.  The same thing applies with the Savior.  If we will listen to him, obey his word, and allow him to work within us, we will be saved at the last day.

Learn more about the Jesus Christ by going to: http://mormon.org/jesus-christ/

Bourn into Adversity, Raised a Hero

Have you ever heard of a "Smoke Jumper"?  Smoke Jumpers are firefighters who jump out of airplanes right next to forest fires to put them out.  Their job is very dangerous, but they understand what their job is and are willing to do it.  They'll do everything they can to help stop the fire from spreading, and when the job gets too dangerous they are airlifted out.  They are right in the heat of the fire.  There must be a lot of stress in the job.

Sometimes you may feel like you were purposely placed where you are meant to suffer.  Not true.  We were born into this earth to gain experience.  Those experiences may be hard, but they are here to teach you things you will need to become great.  Before this earth was created you were told of the experiences you would have in this life, but you were promised that if you would be diligent and have faith in Jesus Christ, your reward in heaven would be great.  Smoke Jumpers don't simply walk into a plane and just jump out.  Before they are loaded into the plane, they are briefed over what is going on and are given the equipment they need to complete the job.  They are then loaded into the plane and flown to where they need to be.  Once they are at the drop point they jump out.  They are confident in the training they received before they made their first jump.  You don't remember your life before this one.  If we did we wouldn't learn anything in this life.  We have to go through this life by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:6-9).  We were prepared before the world was created for this life.  We understood the task at hand and were willing to do so.

God didn't leave us to just go about trying to be good all by ourselves.  He gave us commandments to follow to lessen the many bruises we may receive on earth.  Smoke Jumpers are given orders what they need to do, and we have commandments so that we know what to do.  Communication is something else we are not left without either.  Smoke Jumpers will carry radios with them so that if the situation gets too dangerous, they can be rescued.  When we pray to God, we establish a line of communication with him and make it possible to receive help.  Even though God knows what we need, he wants us to learn what we need.  Prayer helps us see what we need so that it is possible for us to learn and grow.

It may seem at times that you are right in the heat of everything.  I've felt that way too.  But I was taught that before I reached my adult age, I was being prepared for my mission in life.  Every hard moment, every struggle, and every time I felt pain was not to treat me like trash.  It was to prepare me for the purpose God had for me.  I have always found comfort in D&C 121:7-8 where the Lord comforts the Prophet Joseph amid a great and trying time in his life.  Joseph in despair cried, "My God, where art thou!"  The Lord's response was to take heart, and do not despair, the hard times are soon to end.  AND if he endured to the very end, God will reward him a Hero's reward.  In D&C 122:7 he said all our trials are for our good, so that we may be ready to carry out the work God has need for us to do.

The Savior has felt the pain of the Whole World and is ready to give you aid when you fell like you can go no further.  He has suffered more than any man alive.  I've seen the how my hard times have trained me for the task I have been and soon will be entrusted with.  So when you have a time where you feel like you can't go on, remember this: you are the hero in your own personal study.  You are a vital key in God's work and he needs YOU.  Remember that you are important and there is no one on this earth that can take your place.