Discussion 2 Principle 4:
Repentance![]()
"The second principle of the Gospel is repentance. (Read and discuss Alma 34:17). As our faith in Christ grows, our desire to emulate Him increases. We desire to repent of our sins."
"In repenting, we acknowledge to God our unrighteous actions. We do all that is possible to correct the problems caused by our actions. With sincere repentance, we feel ashamed of our sins and do not do them any more. The desire to sin no longer arises."
"Find out: Do the investigators understand what repentance is and how a person repents."
"Sincere repentance brings forgiveness and peace in this life. It prepares us for a new life with our Father in the next life."
"Even after accepting Christ and having repented of our sins, we continue to sin because of our imperfections. Over the course of all of our lives, we must repent of every sin or failure to follow the example of Christ. It is imperative to change our conduct and our heart. We must begin to emulate Jesus Christ with great conviction."
"Testify: Express your feelings about: The peace that comes through repentance and forgiveness. The
important role of forgiveness in attaining happiness and salvation."
Investigators must understand that there is no forgiveness without keeping the Lord's commandments. Repenting requires recognition, sorrow, and, when applicable, confession, but this is not enough. We cannot receive forgiveness for shortcomings we continue to commit. When we truly repent, we modify our lives in a fashion that precludes repetition of the sin. As President Spencer W. Kimball stated, "true repentance does not allow repetition."
King Benjamin taught that only by continuing to fulfill the Lord's commandments can we "always retain a remission of [our] sins." In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord teaches that "unto the soul that sinneth shall the former sins return." Therefore, forgiveness is always contingent upon future obedience. If we fall into transgression
again, our past remission of sins is nullified.Most adherents of non-LDS Christianity, and altogether too many LDS, have an incomplete understanding of the repentance process. The miracle of repentance is real, but repentance is not to be taken lightly. Repentance akes great effort and sincerity. As President Kimball taught, it is always better not to sin than to sin and repent.
While sincere repentance can bring forgiveness to help us to avoid the heavy condemnation for our transgressions, repentance is not a substitute for obedience. It does not bring the blessings that we could have obtained through consistent obedience. Obedience that was never there cannot be restored. As Alma taught, "the word restoration more fully condemns the sinner, and justifies him not at all." The Lord taught through the prophet Nathan that the Lord loves "to obey is better than to sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Our goal must not be to end life simply with a blank balance sheet where we have cancelled out all of our negatives by repenting (this attitude towards repentance demonstrates insincerity anyway), but to do bring about good by consistent obedience.
To avoid copyright infringement, the principles from the discussion are paraphrased in an approximate form (actually, this is a back translation from a foreign language version of the discussions).
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