I wish today to speak of forgiveness. I think it may be the
greatest virtue on earth, and certainly the most needed.
Pres. Gordon B Hinckley, Forgiveness, October 2005
Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can
happen in no other way.
Pres. Gordon B Hinckley, Forgiveness, October 2005
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute
you” (Matt. 5:38–44).
Those are very strong words.
Do you really think you could follow that injunction? They are the words of the Lord Himself, and I think they apply to each of us.
Pres. Gordon B Hinckley, Forgiveness, October 2005
Satan tries to counterfeit the work of God, and by doing this he may deceive many. To make us lose hope, feel miserable like himself, and believe that we are beyond forgiveness, Satan might even misuse words from the scriptures that emphasize the justice of God, in order to imply that there is no mercy.
Pres. Dieter F. Utchdorf, Point of Safe Return, April 2007
It is not repentance per se that saves man. It is the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us. It is not by our sincere and honest change of behavior alone that we are saved, but “by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). True repentance, however, is the condition required so that God’s forgiveness can come into our lives. True repentance makes “a brilliant day [out] of the darkest night” (Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 362).
Pres. Dieter F. Utchdorf, Point of Safe Return, April 2007
We will receive the joy of forgiveness in our own lives when we are willing to extend that joy freely to others. Lip service is not enough. We need to purge our hearts and minds of feelings and thoughts of bitterness and let the light and the love of Christ enter in. As a result, the Spirit of the Lord will fill our souls with the joy accompanying divine peace of conscience (see Mosiah 4:2–3).
Pres. Dieter F. Utchdorf, Point of Safe Return, April 2007
If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being.
Pres. James E. Faust, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, April 2007
Teach that family relationships start with the love of a husband for his wife, and of a wife for her husband. Marriage brings two very different and imperfect people together. Husbands and wives deal with their imperfections best with patience and a sense of humor. Each should stand ready to say, “I’m sorry! Please forgive me.” And each should be a peacemaker.
Elder Russel M. Nelson,
The Doctrinal Importance of Marriage and Children,
Worldwide Leadership Training
Each personal imperfection is an opportunity to change—to repent. Repentance, at any age, provides needed progress. It leads to a mighty change of heart, which leads to a love of God and your neighbor, especially that neighbor to whom you are married. Repentance includes forgiveness, and forgiveness is a commandment. The Lord said, “I … will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). When repentance is complete, you even forgive yourself.
The Miracle of Forgiveness,
Chapter 4
Each personal imperfection is an opportunity to change—to repent. Repentance, at any age, provides needed progress. It leads to a mighty change of heart, which leads to a love of God and your neighbor, especially that neighbor to whom you are married. Repentance includes forgiveness, and forgiveness is a commandment. The Lord said, “I … will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). When repentance is complete, you even forgive yourself.
Elder Russel M. Nelson,
The Doctrinal Importance of Marriage and Children,
Worldwide Leadership Training
Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 2006,
President Spencer W. Kimball taught that
“repentance is ever the key to a better,
happier life. All of us need it.”
“repentance is ever the key to a better,
happier life. All of us need it.”
The Miracle of Forgiveness,
Chapter 4
Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us.
ReplyDeleteHistory of the Church, 3:383.