“R” is for Repentance
In Mosiah 15:26 Abinadi warns “. . . the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against
him and die in their sins.” He is trying to get the people to repent. Repentance is the second principle of the
gospel and essential for each one of us as well as for our investigators.
The Lord further
instructs “I command you to repent – repent, lest I smite you . . .” (D&C
19:15) “For behold, this life is the
time for men to prepare to meet God;” (Alma
34:32) We all
inwardly know we must repent. However,
for various reasons we delay, refuse, or don’t know how to repent. Repentance can be facilitated as we study and
teach more effectively. President
Kimball taught that Pompeii was in the “same lamentable situation as Sodom and
Gomorrah” and was destroyed because the people did not repent.
As a youth in
seminary I learned about the steps to repentance and feel that sharing them
with you might help you understand repentance so you can more effectively teach your investigators to
repent and be worthy of baptism.
Recognize
is the first step. We must recognize we
have sinned and acknowledge that repentance is necessary.
Regret
must follow. Do not rationalize! Sorrow for sin is prompted by our
conscience.
Remorse
for the sin is the deepening of our regret which moves us along the path to
repentance.
Realizing
the seriousness of sin helps us feel true remorse.
Rejection
of the sin and the circumstances that tempt us to sin is an important step. Have we completely rejected the sin if we
allow it to repeat itself? (D & C
82:7, James 4:7)
Resist
temptation. The temptation will come
again. Resist the temptation to sin!
Resolve
to abandon the sin. Never do it again.
Relay
your conviction to repent by confessing the sin to God and when necessary, to the
appropriate priesthood leaders. Apologize
to those you have offended. We often
deceive ourselves by thinking that a confession to God in a brief private
prayer is sufficient, but it is not enough.
(James 5:16, Mosiah 26: 29,35-36)
Restore,
Repay and Restitution As much as
possible, we must put things back as they were.
Return stolen goods. Some things
like life, virtue and honor cannot be fully replaced and we must plead for the
atonement to make up for our short comings.
Resist
the temptation to return to old ways.
Never give up hope.
Receive
His atonement as we complete the steps and truly have a change of heart.
Rejoice
in the Saviors atonement and in His acceptance of our repentance.
President and Sister Waddoups
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