Repentance a Positive Perspective

 

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.

Straight to the Source. The Book of Mormon

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:

• Elder Holland's Testimony of The Book of Mormon

Another Bloggers Testimony:

• Refocus, Al Fox

"Have ye inquired of the Lord?"

To advance spirituality and temporally we need to inquire of the Lord. Pray! There is a great example of how we need to inquire of the Lord in The Book of Mormon. (1 Nephi 15)  Nephi's brothers were gathered around talking with one another about their fathers vision. Nephi's older brother's didn't understand what their father had taught them concerning the gathering of Israel. Nephi walks up to them while their talking and says, "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" (see 1 Nephi 15:7) In order for Nephi's brothers to progress in understanding they needed to ask God in prayer. "knock and it shall be opened unto you." (see 3 Nephi 14:7) Prayer opens that door for revelation (see link for understanding revelation). When we receive revelation we can better understand our question to God. No matter what question we have we need to inquire to someone who knows more then us. I have an experience when I inquired to my boxing coach, who had more knowledge then me, for an answer to my question.

There was a time in my life when I was focused on improving my skills as a boxer. I would constantly push myself to improve by training and sparring with boxers who were better and more experienced then me. I remember a specific sparring session that helped me improve dramatically. I was sparring with a southpaw. A southpaw is a boxing term that designates the stance where the boxer has his right hand and right foot forward, leading with right jabs, and following with a left cross. It was my first time fighting up against a southpaw so I was not use to reacting to the acquired punches he threw. My opponent was punching me with a left cross. This punch I caught with my face. I didn't see the punch coming and it landed on my nose and knocked me backwards onto my back. With my stubbornness and competitive nature I would quickly get back up on my feet and continue fighting. And again he would hit me with the same punch landing me on my back. This continued three times in a row. My face was looking beat up with black and blue bruises surfacing on my cheek. After the third time I realized I could not beat him without some further guidance and instruction from my trainer. I inquired of my trainer. He gave me some coaching on how to counter my attacker. I returned to the sparring session with confidence and hope knowing I had a plan of attack. My opponent sticking with what was working threw the same left cross. I duct under the punch and countered with a punch of my own. My punch landed right on the side of his ear causing him to fall to the canvas. 
           

Nephi prays for guidance.
(see 1 Nephi 16:23  )

In my experience, I inquired of someone who knew more then me to help me improve in my boxing technique. Its a basic principal that if we ask someone who knows more then us we will learn from them. "O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it." (see 2 Nephi 9:20) God knows and understands everything. Imagine how much we can learn if we continually ask God for understanding. God can help us through anything. All we need to do is "knock". We all go through trials in life and God can help us but its our job to ask. Satan has "left crosses" that he throws at us causing us pain and affliction. We may have limitations like an illness that limits us from doing normal activities, the loss of a loved one, the burden of sin or any other trial we're going through. Sometimes we are in the mitts of a trial and don't have answers or understanding on how to over come it. There is always hope. If we ask God in humble prayer with all the sincerity and energy of our heart the Holy Ghost can provide coaching and guidance during our trials. Giving us strength to help us endure and answers to help us over come. With the Holy Ghost as our coach we can learn how to counter our opponent.

How do I recognize answers to my prayers? (see link below)

The Voice of the Lord
By: President Henery B. Eyring
First Counselor in the First Presidency

Thank you for Reading,

Elder Guzik

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