When I was younger I viewed repentance (What is repentance? see link) as a long excruciating painful process of changing habits I don't want to change. I cringed when I heard the word. Repentance. I don't wanna! I had a negative perspective. I was not committing any grievous sins that would cause me to be unworthy in the sight of God but I understood that I was not perfect.
I was an immature teenager and every now and then finding myself in trouble. At that time in my life repentance was like getting in trouble with my parents. Whenever I did anything wrong my parents grounded me. Repentance meant I did something wrong so it brought the same feelings of when I was grounded by my parents. Of course I didn't like repentance. I didn't understand it.
As I grew up and focused studying Jesus Christ's Gospel in the scriptures. I developed in understanding. Not that I became a genius. Well, only if your comparing me to my teenage-self then, yes, I am a genius. My perspective on repentance changed. I realized repentance is positive.
It is much more then acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments. I am so grateful for repentance. I am able to sincerely and sufficiently repent for my shortcomings and mistakes and receive forgiveness This is possible because of Jesus Christ. I can repent and be forgiven. President Packer in the General Conference October 2010 address gives some great advice on repentance.
(Doctrine and Covenants 58:42) "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." "Even after confession and paying penalty's the most difficult part of repentance is to forgive ones self. Please remember that forgiveness means forgiveness." (Mosiah 26:30) "Yea as often as my people repent will I forgive there trespasses against me."
Today is the day for repentance. It is a day to take a hold of our crumbling situations and change our lives as necessary. It is a great opportunity to fell the peace of repentance and the joy of forgiveness. Nowhere are the generosity and the kindness and mercy of God more manifest than in repentance. My heart is filled with joy. I am grateful for knowing that my Father in Heaven does forgive. Repentance is positive. I know that Jesus is the Savior of the world and through Him we can repent and live with God again.
Learn more about repentance!!!
Mormon Messages:
You Will Be Freed
Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all can be transformed, cleansed, and freed from addiction.
I wanted to share with you my overwhelming gratitude for the Book of Mormon. I have read this book cover to cover 6 times in my life. What is in this book has changed my view on life. It is not just a book of enjoyable stories but the words of God. The Book of Mormon has tremendously deepened my belief in God and Jesus Christ. A central purpose of the Book of Mormon is to convince all people that Jesus is the Christ. By reading the Book of Mormon I have grown in understanding of who my Redeemer truly is. What the Book of Mormon teaches is real. The words in this book have healed my soul. Strengthened me. Helped me to press on in times of hard ship. The Book of Mormon uplifts. I am so grateful God still communicates to His children as I have learned from the Book of Mormon.
You may ask, How can just a book heal you?
It's not the Book that heals you, but how much closer the Book of Mormon brings you to your Savior. Your Savior heals you not the book. Have you read the Book of Mormon how it is intended to be read? Do you want to know if the Book of Mormon is true? If you do not have an answer, ask yourself if it's truth is a possibility. Is it possible the book is true? I suggest you read it. How can anyone form a trust worthy opinion for themselves if all they hear and believe is from a secondary source. The only way you can form a trust worthy opinion of the Book of Mormon is to read it for yourself. The early Mormon saints willingly gave up their beloved belongings and careers to follow the prophet Joseph Smith. Why would anyone put themselves through such hardship, unless they knew God was real. What is in the Book of Mormon is real. Joseph Smith was martyred because he testified of Jesus Christ. Why would Joseph Smith go to his grave over a made up story? All your questions will be answered if you just read it. There is a promise the prophet Moroni gives at the end of the Book of Mormon.
Moroni's Promise:
3. Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
I know of the reality of Jesus Christ because I have read His words in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I have felt the Holy Ghost testify truth to me as I have read. I have come to know the healing power of the Atonement Christ provides. All I want is for you to know likewise. Missionary's all over the world work tirelessly to persuade people to believe in Christ. 2 (Nephi 25:23) "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." I promise you that as you read the Book of Mormon you will better understand who your Savior Jesus Christ is. You will grow or even begin in your relationship with God. I know my Redeemer lives. Jesus is the Christ. I challenge you to do as Moroni says and ponder and pray in your hearts to know for yourself (whether you are a member of the Church or not) you can receive the same witness I have received.
The Book of Moron: An Introduction (see link)
The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and serves as a companion scripture to The Holy Bible. It draws people nearer to God.
Testimony From an Apostle of God:
Another Bloggers Testimony:
(as Elder Hollend says, "Here I ask your indulgence as I take some nonscriptual liberty in my partial of this exchange." Bare with me as I summarize my studies with you.)
MAT 26:37-45 (to read verses see link)
I was reading in The Gospel of Mathew the other day where he writes about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. After Jesus prays to God for the first time he comes back to find his disciples asleep. Jesus says to Peter, could you not stay awake with me for just one hour? If you look at the word "could", in the verse, under the Joseph Smith Translation it reads "are you so powerless that you could not stay awake with me."
Peter falls into the mortal temptation of sleep deprivation. He is pulled from his duty, which is being with Christ, by falling victim to Satan's temptations and tricks. We are all victims. I'll admit it. It happens to me. What is holding you back from fulfilling your duty as a member of the Church?
How often do we "fall asleep" like Peter did? (meteorically fall asleep) How often are we distracted from our duty of building up Gods Kingdom? Satan works very hard to divert us from our purpose here on earth. If Satan can't fully divert us off course he uses other means to slow our effectiveness towards fulfilling our duty to God. Today's message is about staying on course to fulfilling our duty's in the Church by not falling victim to Satan's tricks.
Strengthen Self-worth
Satan tries to destroy self-worth with negative thinking. Giving into negative thinking can cripple our self-worth and slow our effectiveness in fulfilling our duty to God. Satan attempts to have us focus on our own faults and short comings. Do not ever doubt your worth. Think positive. Be Positive. Remove from your mind how the world teaches you to think. (Proverbs 1:10) "...if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." Do not listen to those negative thoughts. Don't fall victim to this. Stay strong by praying to God for strength. I know it can be hard sometimes. I go through hard times but knowing that I can turn to the Lord through prayer for strength refuels my soul. Fight back!!!
During 11th grade in high school I had a football game against our school rivals. We dragged ourselves into the locker room after the 2nd quarter for halftime. The score board read 7-21. We had gotten our butts kicked all game long. The entire team sat in the locker room and not a word was said. We lost hope and doubted ourselves. I remember the coach got up in front of us and gave a speech. He asked us some questions that recharged our motivation and pierced our hearts. I'll never forget it. Our Coach said, Do you know what your capable of? Do you remember what we've achieved together before? After his speech we went on to win a come back victory 27-28.
Imagine if the Savior was asking you these questions:
- Do you know what your capable of?
- Do you remember what we've achieved together before?
In the premortal life you choose to join Christ. (for more information see link) We have fought on the Saviors side before and won. You won the first battle and were given the opportunity to have a body here on earth. You are capable of so much. Start seeing yourself how the Savior views you. "The greatest gift I could give you is for you to see yourself the way I do." "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." (D&C 18:10) Do you know how much the Savior loves you? President Uchtdorf tells us why we matter to Christ in a talk published in the October 2011 General Conference, he says,
"No matter where you live, no matter how humble your circumstances, how meager your employment, how limited your abilities, how ordinary your appearance, or how little your calling in the Church may appear to you, you are NOT invisible to your Heavenly Father. He loves you. He knows your humble heart and your acts of love and kindness. Together, they form a lasting testimony of your fidelity and faith."
President Uchtdorf continues to encourage us,
"Please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. you will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him. Have hope and faith in that promise. Learn to love your Heavenly Father and become His disciple in word and in deed."
The message our Church brings to the world is a message of encouragement. A message of happiness. A message of hope. A message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. As members of the Church we carry this message with us. Lift up you hearts. "Awake and arouse your faculties..." (Alma 32:27) Remember who you are and who you represent. You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. (3 Nephi 5:13) I wrote this post so that you may awake to a sense of your duty to God. Do all you can in your power to magnify this mighty calling. Walk blameless before Him with no regrets. You can receive all the Father has. I know this to be true.
A STRONG RECOMMENDATION
Ways to Boost Self-worth:
- READ YOUR SCRIPTURES. Grow in knowledge to better understand your purpose.
- Live all the commandments of God
- Cast out negative thinking
- Read some of Elder Callister's words on how to improve your self worth
