A Divine Gift

Whoever you are and whatever you have done, you can be forgiven. Every one of you young men (young women) can leave behind any transgression with which you may struggle. It is the miracle of forgiveness; it is the miracle of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. But you cannot do it without an active commitment to the gospel, and you cannot do it without repentance where it is needed.-Elder Holland


Elder Christofferson spoke on The Divine Gift of Repentance this last conference and several of his thoughts impressed me. I only felt love, hope, and motivation when he spoke of repentance.

"Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration."

"Repentance is an expansive subject, but today I would like to mention just five aspects of this fundamental gospel principle that I hope will be helpful.
First, the invitation to repent is an expression of love.
Second, repentance means striving to change...Real repentance, real change may require repeated attempts, but there is something refining and holy in such striving.
Third, repentance means not only abandoning sin but also committing to obedience.
Fourth, repentance requires a seriousness of purpose and a willingness to persevere, even through pain...“By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:43).
Fifth, whatever the cost of repentance, it is swallowed up in the joy of forgiveness."

Such a good talk, so I will post the whole thing for you below. I was also talking to my Dad this week about repentance. When he served a mission before arriving in Indonesia he went to the LTM (Language Training Mission) in Hawaii. He taught me since many Polynesian or Tropical cultures have never seen snow it is harder to comprehend the scripture in Isaiah that says "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;" so they would change that to though your sins be as blood, they shall be as white as coconut. I love that analogy! Everyone can be saved through the Atonement. I know that everyone needs to repent, and everyone deserves forgiveness if they go through the process.