How Can I Find Joy?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 18 in a lesson titled “The Worth of Souls Is Great.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

There are many different ways to try to measure a person’s worth. Talent, education, wealth, and physical appearance can all affect how we evaluate each other—and ourselves. But in God’s eyes, our worth is a much simpler matter, and it is stated clearly in Doctrine and Covenants 18: “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (verse 10). This simple truth explains so much of what God does and why He does it. Why did He instruct Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to establish the Church of Jesus Christ in our day? (see verses 1–5). Because the worth of souls is great. Why does He “command all men everywhere to repent” and send Apostles to preach repentance? (verse 9). Because the worth of souls is great. And why did Jesus Christ suffer “death in the flesh” and “the pain of all men”? (verse 11). Because the worth of souls is great. If even one of these souls chooses to accept the Savior’s gift, He rejoices, for “great is his joy in the soul that repenteth” (verse 13).

The scripture block taught several principles, including the following: (1) “Build up my church” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:1-5), (2) “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-13), (3) The Lord rejoices when I repent (Doctrine and Covenants 18:11-16), (4) Joy comes from helping others come unto Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 18:14-16), and (5) I can hear the Lord’s voice in the scriptures (Doctrine and Covenants 18:34-36).

I feel prompted to discuss the fourth principle, “Joy comes from helping others come unto Christ.” I will begin by sharing the scripture block.

14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints calls young men and women as well as older couples to serve missions. The purpose of their missions is to teach people about Jesus Christ and to call them to repentance – or “cry repentance” as stated in verse 14.

Besides serving in the mission field, members of the Church of Jesus Christ “cry repentance” by teaching their children and other family members about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how to access its powers by repenting of sins. Other ways include teaching classes and serving in the organizations of the Church of Jesus Christ. Still other ways include doing family history work and temple work for loved ones on the other side of the veil.

I did not serve in the mission field, but I supported my husband-to-be in his missionary work. I also taught my sons about missionary work and encouraged them to go into the mission field to “cry repentance” to people in the Tempe, Arizona, and in south Salt Lake City. I have taught many classes and ages over my fifty plus years of adulthood. I also do family history work and temple work to give deceased family members and opportunity to choose to repent.

Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke about joy in a talk titled “There Can Be Nothing So Exquisite and Sweet as Was My Joy” and said the following. 

We were created to have joy. It is our intended destiny as children of a loving Heavenly Father. He wants to share His joy with us. The prophet Lehi taught that God’s plan for each of us is that we “might have joy.” Because we live in a fallen world, enduring joy or everlasting joy often seems beyond our reach. Yet in the very next verse, Lehi continues by explaining that “the Messiah [came to] … redeem [us] from the fall.” Redemption, by and through the Savior Jesus Christ, makes joy possible.

The gospel message is a message of hope, of “good tidings of great joy,” and the means whereby all can experience peace and occasions of joy in this life and receive a fulness of joy in the life to come.

The joy we speak of is a gift for the faithful, yet it comes with a price. Joy is not cheap or casually given. Rather, it is bought “with the precious blood of [Jesus] Christ.” If we really understood the value of true, godly joy, we would not hesitate to sacrifice any worldly possession or make any necessary life changes to receive it.

How Can We Obtain a Change of Heart?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Alma 5-7 in a lesson titled “Have Ye Experienced This Mighty Change in Your Hearts?” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Alma did not know about today’s lifesaving heart transplant surgeries, which replace a damaged or diseased heart with a healthy one. But he knew about a more miraculous “change of heart” (Alma 5:26) – one in which the Savior gives us a newness of spiritual life, like being “born again” (see Alma 5:14, 49). Alma could see that this change of heart was exactly what many of the Nephites needed. Some were rich and others poor, some prideful and others humble, some persecutors and others afflicted by persecution (see Ama 4:6-15). But all of them needed to come unto Jesus Christ to be healed – just as we all do. Whether we are seeking to overcome pride or to endure afflictions, Alma’s message is the same: “Come and fear not” (Alma 7:15). Let the Savior change a hardened, sinful, or wounded heart into one that is humble, pure, and new.

While instructing the people, Alma asked dozens of questions to help the people examine their own hearts. He asked questions such as, “Have ye spiritually been born of God?” and “Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?” “If so, do you still have a change in heart?” He also asked questions such as, “Are you stripped of pride?”, “Are you stripped of envy?”, and “Do you mock your neighbor or persecute him?” His questions in Alma 5 can be considered to be a spiritual EKG to determine the condition of our spiritual hearts.

Alma 5 is a good chapter to study, but I feel impressed to discuss a principle found in Alma 7:7-16: “The Savior took upon Himself my sins, pains, and afflictions.” Have you ever felt that no one understands your struggles, challenges, or pains? Alma taught truths that may help you and I in such situations. We will first look at the scripture block.

7 For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people.

8 Behold, I do not say that he will come among us at the time of his dwelling in his mortal tabernacle; for behold, the Spirit hath not said unto me that this should be the case. Now as to this thing I do not know; but this much I do know, that the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word.

9 But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.

10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.

15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.

16 And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me. [Emphasis added.]

The Savior took upon Himself all the sins, pains, afflictions, and temptations for all mankind. He knows what it feels like to be shamed, to be deceived, and to be betrayed. Through His Resurrection, Jesus Christ made it possible for all mankind to be resurrected and to overcome death – to become immortal and to live forever. Through His atoning sacrifice, He made it possible for all mankind to become clean from their sins and to live with Heavenly Father forever.

What Does Repentance Mean?

            My Come, Follow Me studies took me to Psalms 49-86. The book of Psalms is not my favorite book of scripture, but it has some good teachings. This lesson was introduced by the following information. 

The writers of the Psalms shared deeply personal feelings in their poetry. They wrote about feeling discouraged, afraid, and remorseful. At times, they even seemed to feel abandoned by God, and some psalms carry a tone of frustration or desperation. If you’ve ever had feelings like these, reading the Psalms can help you know that you aren’t the only one. But you’ll also find psalms that can encourage you when you’re having such feelings, because the psalmists also praised the Lord for His goodness, marveled at His power, and rejoiced in His mercy. They knew that the world is burdened by evil and sin but that the Lord is “good, and ready to forgive” (Psalm 86:5). They understood that having faith in the Lord doesn’t mean that you’ll never struggle with anxiety, sin, or fear. It means that you know Who to turn to when you do.

            The lesson material and scriptures contain several principles, but this discussion will consider only one: I can be forgiven of my sins because of the Savior’s mercy (Psalms 51; 85-86). King David was guilty of adultery and murder (see the story in 2 Samuel 11), and he pleads for mercy for his sins in Psalm 51. You and I might not be guilty of either adultery or murder, but we should be able to relate to King David’s need for mercy as he expressed in this psalm.

            Psalms 51; 85-86, teach us about the attitude that me need for true repentance. They teach us about the effect of the Atonement of Christ in one’s life as well as phrases that describe the Lord. All of these help us to learn more about the Lord Jesus Christ.

            In the April 2019 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson spoke on the topic of repentance. His address to the brethren of the Church of Jesus Christ was titled “We Can Do Better and Be Better.” He said the following in the opening minutes of his address. 

The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means “change.” The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean “mind,” “knowledge,” “spirit,” and “breath.”

Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to “repent,” He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit – even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies.

Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Whether you are diligently moving along the covenant path, have slipped or stepped from the covenant path, or can’t even see the path from where you are now, I plead with you to repent. Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance – of doing and being a little better each day.

When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy – the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!

            I have written about agency many times in past posts. Heavenly Father gave agency to each of His spirit children, while we lived with Him in the pre-earth world. We brought agency with us when we were born into mortal life. Agency means the right or freedom to choose – what we say, where we go, and what we do. The Constitution of the United States protects agency because no one can be truly free without agency.

            The Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ contains part of the history of an ancient American prophet by the name of Lehi and his posterity. Shortly before his death, Lehi taught his children and grandchildren about the principle of agency. As part of those teachings, he taught the following:

Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself (2 Nephi 2:27).

            Agency is a free gift to each of us from God, and He expects each of us to use our agency to make righteous decisions. However, He knows that none of us will choose the right every single time, so He prepared a way to make corrections in our life. He sent His Son, even Jesus Christ, to be our Savior. Through His death and resurrection, He overcame death and sin, and He made it possible for each of us to overcome death and sin.

All mortals will eventually be resurrected because of the Atonement of Christ. However, we “are free choose liberty and eternal life … or the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27). Our decisions will determine our destiny, or where we spend eternity. The choice is ours. If we want eternal joy, we choose to repent, change, and become like the Savior.

What Is the Worth of a Human Soul?

             My Come, Follow Me lesson for this week comes from Doctrine and Covenants 18-19. Joseph Smith knew that Jesus Christ would reestablish His Church on the earth again. The Lord might have revealed this information as early as 1828 (see Doctrine and Covenants 10:53-55.) However, the time had not yet come.

            Meanwhile in June 1829, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had moved to the home of Peter Whitmer Sr. in Fayette, New York, and there they continued to translate the Book of Mormon. Peter, James, and John had conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood on Joseph and Oliver previous to their move. At this time, they were seeking knowledge about how to exercise the keys of that priesthood.

            One day Joseph and Oliver were praying in the room they used in the Whitmer home, and the word of the Lord came to them. They were directed to use the priesthood to ordain elders, administer the sacrament, and bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. However, Joseph and Oliver were to wait until a group of believers could assemble to perform the ordinances.

            Joseph and Oliver waited for the Lord’s command to organize the Church. At the same time, they were near the completion of the translation of the Book of Mormon. They learned as they translated the books of 3 Nephi and Moroni that these books contained information about the priesthood ordinances as well as the procedures of the Church of Jesus Christ. This information inspired and guided them as they awaited the time to organize the Savior’s Church.

            Those were the circumstances of Joseph and Oliver when the Lord revealed the information now known as Doctrine and Covenants 18. The revelation came through Joseph Smith and was addressed to Joseph, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer. It gave directions for building up the Church and contained instructions for the men that would be called as the Twelve Apostles. Much of Sections 18 and 19 are about repentance, and Doctrine and Covenants 18 contains these powerful verses (10-11, 15-16):

10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of the God.

11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him….

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

            The Lord said that the worth of a soul is great in His sight. What does the word “great” mean to the Lord? What is the worth of a human soul? This is a question that was asked by Paul C. Child in the following experience related by President Thomas S. Monson.

In March 1967, early in my service as a member of the Council of the Twelve, I was attending a conference of the Monument Park West Stake in Salt Lake City. My companion for the conference was a member of the General Church Welfare Committee, Paul C. Child. …

When it was his opportunity to participate, President Child took in hand the Doctrine and Covenants and left the pulpit to stand among the priesthood brethren to whom he was directing his message. He turned to section 18 and began to read [verses 10 and 15]. …

President Child then raised his eyes from the scriptures and asked the brethren: “What is the worth of a human soul?” He avoided calling on a bishop, a stake president, or a high councilor for a response. Instead, he selected the president of an elders quorum – a brother who had been a bit drowsy and had missed the significance of the question.

The startled man responded, “Brother Child, could you please repeat the question?”

The question was repeated: “What is the worth of a human soul?”

… I prayed fervently for that quorum president. He remained silent for what seemed like an eternity and then declared, “Brother Child, the worth of a human soul is its capacity to become as God.”

All present pondered that reply. Brother Child returned to the stand, leaned over to me, and said, “A profound reply; a profound reply!” He proceeded with his message, but I continued to reflect on that inspired response” (“May Brother’s Keeper,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 43).

[President Monson later declared:] We have the responsibility to see individuals not as they are but rather as they can become. I would plead with you to think of them in this way” (“See Others as They May Become,” Ensign, Nov. 2012, 70).

            The Lord wants us to cry repentance to the people of the world because He desires that they all return to His presence. He knows that they cannot enter the presence of God without being cleansed by repentance. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that “crying repentance simply means helping people return to God” (“Preparing for Your Spiritual Destiny” [Brigham Young University fireside address, Jan. 10, 2010], 7 speeches.byu.edu).

            Doctrine and Covenants 19 was a revelation given through Joseph Smith to Martin Harris. As the completion of the translation of the Book of Mormon neared in June 1829, Joseph Smith and Martin Harris hired the printer Egbert B. Grandin to do the printing. The price for printing 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon was $3,000. Grandin refused to start printing the book without a guaranteed payment for the job.

            The farm of Martin and Lucy Harris was one of the finest farms in Palmyra, New York. They worked for years to acquire and establish the farm, and the farm had provided for their family as well as given them good standing in the community. Martin made a verbal agreement to pay for the printing of the 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon by mortgaging some of his farm. Later, he became concerned about the mortgage. In Doctrine and Covenants 19, the Lord commanded Martin to mortgage his farm and then revealed some important truths about His own atoning sacrifice. In Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-20, the Lord said the following.

15 Therefore I command you to repent – repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore – how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all that they might not suffer if they would repent;

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit – and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink –

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

20 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

            Jesus Christ knew that the worth of a soul was great because He paid the price for each and every soul when He made His atoning sacrifice. Then-Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified why Jesus Christ was willing to suffer for our sins.

In some incredible way that none of us can fully comprehend, the Savior took upon Himself the sins of the world. Even though His life was pure and free of sin, He paid the ultimate penalty for sin – yours, mine, and everyone who has ever lived. His mental, emotional, and spiritual anguish were so great they caused Him to bleed from every poor (see Luke 22:44; D&C 19:18). And yet Jesus suffered willingly so that we might all have the opportunity to be washed clean – through having faith in Him, repenting of our sins, being baptized by proper priesthood authority, receiving the purifying gift of the Holy Ghost by confirmation, and accepting all other essential ordinances. Without the Atonement of the Lord, none of these blessings would be available to us, and we could not become worthy and prepared to return to dwell in the presence of God” (“The Atonement and the Value of One Soul,” Ensign, May 2004, 85).

            What is the worth of a human soul? It is worth the suffering of a God! The Savior made the atoning sacrifice, but Heavenly Father also made a sacrifice. “For God loved us, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The worth of every human soul is great because it is the price paid by the Father and the Son that we may all repent and return to their presence.

Godly Sorrow

            In my scripture study this week, I am reading the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. As I study, I look for principles that I can apply in my life. I found a particularly powerful principle in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 that brought back some memories for me. Paul was writing a second epistle to the people in Corinth because of the way that they received his first letter. He was sorry for making them feel bad, but he was not sorry that his letter caused them to repent of their sins.

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

            The principle that I found in those verses is, “I must feel godly sorrow for my sins in order to truly repent.” As I thought about this principle, I remembered an experience of some years ago. I always understood that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins, but I never understood what I could do about it. One day an idea suddenly came into my mind. It was a revolutionary idea, but one that I took to heart. The thought was that I could decrease the Savior’s suffering two thousand years ago by decreasing my sins today. I wondered how many drops of blood that He shed specifically for my sins, and I determined that I would cause Him as little pain as possible. I committed to watch myself better in order to lessen his pain because I love Him.

            President Ezra Taft Benson taught that it is a gift of the spirit to feel godly sorrow for sin. This means that we should feel sorrow for committing the sin and causing the Savior pain rather than just be sorry that we got caught or embarrassed or whatever. President Benson continued, “It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having `a broken heart and a contrite spirit.’” (See “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989, 4.) 

            When we feel godly sorrow, it is different than regular sorrow because it comes from the Holy Ghost working in our hearts to purify us from our sins. It comes when we are humble enough to receive the Spirit. Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles says, “Pride prefers cheap repentance, paid for with shallow sorrow. Unsurprisingly, seekers after cheap repentance also search for superficial forgiveness instead of real reconciliation.” (See “Repentance,” Ensign, Nov. 1991, 31.) 

            “Cheap repentance” and “shallow sorrow” will not relieve the pain and guilt that are the result of sin. In order to truly rid ourselves of sin, we must feel sorrow for committing the sin and causing the Savior more pain. Even though I am a mortal and still commit sins, I am positive that I am committing fewer sins than I would have without this understanding. I am grateful that the Holy Ghost brought this insight to me, and I am attempting to eliminate sin from my life.

People Can Change

            Repentance is the act of changing – changing thoughts, words, and behaviors into better ones. Christians are commanded to repent, and there are many calls for repentance in the scriptures. There are also numerous stories in the scriptures that teach the importance of repentance. Two of these stories clearly illustrate the possibility of repentance for even the vilest of sinners. These stories are the experience of Alma the Younger in the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Mosiah 27) and the experience of Saul of Tarsus in the New Testament (Acts 9).

            As I am currently studying the book of Acts, this post will be about Saul. He was a devout Jew who thought that the Christian movement was wrong and wanted to stamp it out. He went about persecuting the Christians and “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1). He obtained “letters” from the high priest allowing him to hunt Christians and to bring them bound to Jerusalem.

            As Saul journeyed near Damascus, he suddenly saw a bright light from heaven about him, and he fell to the earth. Then he heard a voice speaking to him.

Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do (Acts 9:4-6).

            I have heard and/or read this story many times in my life. I always considered Saul to be quite wicked because he was persecuting the Christians, and I do not believe that I am the only one to think this way. When I studied these verses this time, I had some different thoughts about Saul. Maybe he was not as wicked as I assumed. Maybe he was just focused on the wrong thing. Maybe something happened to make him more teachable. My thoughts were similar to the following words by President David O. McKay.

Perhaps during those few days of comparative leisure, [Saul] began to wonder whether what he was doing was right or not. Perhaps the shining face of the dying Stephen and the martyr’s last prayer began to sink more deeply into his soul than it had done before. Little children’s cries for their parents whom Saul had bound began to pierce his soul more keenly, and make him feel miserably unhappy as he looked forward to more experiences of that kind in Damascus. Perhaps he wondered whether the work of the Lord, if he were really engaged in it, would make him feel so restless and bitter. He was soon to learn that only the work of the evil one produces those feelings, and that true service for the Lord, always brings peace and contentment (Ancient Apostles, 2^nd ed. [1921], 148, as quoted in New Testament Student Manual, Religion 211-212, 295) 

            This statement by President McKay helped me to understand Saul and his story a little better. Saul’s conversion story is more dramatic than most of us will ever experience. Most of us do not go around persecuting the covenant people of God like Saul (his name in Hebrew), nor will we become Special Witnesses of Jesus Christ as Paul (his name in Greek) did. However, we all have the need to change and to become more like the Savior.

            I always thought that repentance took time, but I am thinking in a different way since I read a statement shared by a classmate. The following statement is from a devotional address given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland on March 18, 1980, at Brigham Young University. 

You can change anything you want to change and you can do it very fast. It is another Satanic falsehood to believe that it takes years and years and eons of eternity to repent. It takes exactly as long to repent as it takes you to say, “I’ll change” – and mean it. Of course there will be problems to work out and restitutions to make. You may well spend – indeed, you had better spend – the rest of your life proving your repentance by its permanence. But change, growth, renewal, and repentance can come for you as instantaneously as it did for Alma and the sons of Mosiah.

            Reason tells us that we can repent of our sins and mistakes just as Saul and Alma the Younger did. They were among the vilest of sinners because they tried to destroy the Church of Christ. For Saul it took a visit from Christ, and for Alma it took a visit from an angel. Both of these men went forward and did great work for God. Paul became an Apostle, and Alma became a Prophet. For whatever reason, God decided that they needed special teaching methods.

            We are given the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us choose the right in this life. When we listen to the promptings that come from Him, we will know what the Lord requires of us to do with our lives. The first thing that He requires is that we have faith in Him, and the second is that we repent of our sins. As we repent, we will be changed into the kind of people that God can use to build up His kingdom on earth, just as Saul the persecutor of Christians became a great missionary and Apostle of Jesus Christ who went by the name of Paul.

Repentance

                The Lord told Adam to “teach [repentance] unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence” (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 6:57).

                One of the reasons we came to earth was to get experience, grow, and progress.  As we get experience, we sometimes make mistakes or even sin.  In order to grow and progress, we must recognize our sins and repent of them.  This is a daily experience, not simply something we do on our death bed. 

                There are three basic reasons why we sin:  (1) ignorance, (2) weaknesses, and (3) willful disobedience.  No matter the reason for the sin, we are guilty of committing the sin; therefore, we need to repent in order to grow and progress.  Jesus Christ is the only person who ever lived on the earth that was without sin, and He is the only person who does not need to repent.

                Heavenly Father loves all of His children, but He knew we would sin.  He provided a way for us to overcome our sins and become clean once again.  He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to provide a way for all of His children to return to His presence.  He provided the principle of repentance.  The privilege of repenting is possible only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ; the Atonement makes it possible for all mankind to repent and to become clean and worthy to enter the Kingdom of God.

                When we sin, our progress slows or even stops.  When we repent, we remove the obstacle standing in our way, and we can begin to move forward once again.  Repentance is not easy and often requires great courage, strength, tears, sincere prayer, and obedience to God’s commandments.

                President Spencer W. Kimball declared:  “There is no royal road to repentance, no privileged path to forgiveness.  Every man must follow the same course whether he be rich or poor, educated or untrained, tall or short, prince of pauper, king or commoner….  There is only one way.  It is a long road spiked with thorns and briars and pitfalls and problems” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 149).

                Repentance includes several very important steps.  The first step is to recognize that we sinned.  We have to admit to ourselves that we goofed up.  We cannot repent until we complete this very important step.

                The second step is to feel sorrow for our sins.  We must feel sorrow for the sin, not simply for being caught in the sin.  We must feel sincere sorrow as well as to feel the sins are disgusting and loathsome.  We must want to overcome the sin.

                The third step is to forsake the sin or to stop committing the sin.  When we truly repent of sins, we will commit the sins no more.  The Lord told Joseph Smith, “By this ye may know if a man repents of his sins – behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:43).

                The fourth step is to confess our sins.  This is a very important step because the Lord has commanded us to confess our sins.  Confession removes a heavy burden from the sinner.  We must confess all of our sins to God – even though He already knows about them.  Any sins that affect our standing in the Church – such as adultery, fornication, robbery, etc. – must be confessed to the proper priesthood authority.  In addition, if we sin against another person, we must confess our sin to the person we have hurt.

                The fifth step is to make restitution.  Restitution means to do everything possible to make all wrong right again.  Examples: a thief returns the stolen items, a liar makes the truth known, and a gossip monger works to restore the character and good name of anyone he has hurt.

                The sixth step is to forgive those who have sinned against us.  We cannot be forgiven by God unless we forgive other people.  We must cleanse our hearts of all hate, bitterness, and bad feelings toward other people.

                The seventh step is to keep the commandments of God.  President Kimball taught, “Repentance means not only to convict yourselves of the horror of the sin, but to confess it, abandon it, and restore to all who have been damaged to the total extent possible; then spend the balance of your lives trying to live the commandments of the Lord so he can eventually pardon you and cleanse you” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 200).

                When we repent, we activate the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives and receive forgiveness for our sins.  We are then able to put down the burden of carrying the sins and move forward to happiness and joy.

                Repentance should be a day to day process.  We should review our lives each morning to determine if the Holy Ghost is with us.  If not, we should determine why.  At night we should review our acts of the day and ask God to help us see any sins we committed.  When we start the repentance process early, we can catch our sins when they are still small ones.  By repenting daily, we can experience the cleansing effect daily.

                Alma, an ancient American prophet, taught, “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma 34:32).