Lesson for March 8, 2015

Today our lesson today was given by Maggie Kopp on Principles of True Repentance. Today’s lesson is taken from an Ensign article President Benson wrote about repentance. Forgiveness can only come from divine help. It is important to forgive, regardless. To forgive takes a lot of emotional energy. Emily Campbell said to repent quickly before things pile up. Sister Laycock said sometimes it takes a long time and a lot of work. It also takes a lot of work to carry a grudge. Even if you forgive, it doesn’t mean you have to allow that person into your life and to be able to harm you again. To not forgive yourself is a type of vanity that means you think yourself above the atonement. Sometimes in certain situations you have to put distance between yourself and the abuser. However, over time, sometimes you can work through a situation. It’s so very hard, but we have to think of the good. If we have offended someone and they want to rub it into your face, it might take a lot of prayer and work through effort. Don’t close the door. It might be easy to say you will never forgive yourself or the person, because you might change and they might change. True repentance is a fresh view, a turning of the heart toward God. Without this, there can be no repentance and it is a commandment of God. Sometimes when we think of repentance, we think of pain and guilt, but it is supposed to make us feel fresh and new. President Benson said that if we wish to truly repent, we must come to realize that the gospel plan is the plan of happiness and wickedness never was happiness. Repentance is also a way for us to learn and learning is a basic principle of the gospel. Sister Bahr was invited to the Church by member in Ukraine. One of them was not keeping the commandments, but she had to realize that those things are personal to that person. Repentance has to be complete and clean to be worthy of happiness. President Benson said that the principle of repentance is tied to the principle of faith. If you don’t have faith in the Lord, how can you have faith in repentance. What is the use of repenting? Faith doesn’t have to be huge. It can be the seed or a spark that can grow. Pondering and thinking about it can be helpful. Another principle is that repentance does not include just a change of action, but a change of heart. Then it is a desire to do good. Another principle is that we feel Godly sorrow. We are genuinely sorry for what we have done. A lot of life is learning to cope. These emotions are what we need to feel. Life is hard, but that is required to feel happiness. Just considering consequences can make us sorry, but to truly feel sorry puts us on a higher plane so we can feel what our Heavenly Father feels. Sister Marriott learned that attending the temple can help us feel lighter and not be self-absorbed. Another principle is that Heavenly Father and Jesus are anxious for us to ask for help. They don’t even wait for us to knock on the door and ask. Sometimes they step in and help when we make the least little movement toward them. We need to ask for help. Sister Lamb said she needed help forgiving her father for separating from her mother. She had to pray about it and one day, her anger was gone and she could love her father again. Another principle is to keep hoping that change will occur. We must be cautious not to think we will be like Paul and have a public miracle occur, but that our repentance may be quiet and steady. As we move closer and closer and pray, many miracles and tender mercies will occur in our lives and our lives will be happier.