Embrace the Gift of Repentance

15 minutes ago5 min read

April T Giauque

Elder Jorge Alvarado General Conference Oct 2024

Repentance. What does it matter if we repent or not? It’s a simple answer. Yes, it matters. Heavenly Father is your father. He wants us all to return home. We are here on earth to learn of Him and how to choose the path that will lead us home. Repentance works as we humble ourselves and share our shortcomings with an all-mighty God who is a Father who listens and then blesses us with the gift of being forgiven that fills your soul until every fiber of your being is filled with light!

For Elder Jorge Alvarado, when he was called to be a member of the 70, the hymn “I Stand All Amazed” pierced his heart and soul:

“I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,

That he should extend his great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.”

He understood fully that the Savior did that for him, and stood at the pulpit in October os 2024 and testified that “I know he can do it for you!” He felt that despite his inadequacies and flaws, the Lord blessed him to know that “in his strength, I can do all things.”

Here is where Satan strikes all of us. We have weaknesses and inadequacies, which he emphasizes with doubt and fear. The common feeling of inadequacy, weakness, or even unworthiness is something with which many of us sometimes struggle.

Prophets have felt inadequate

Here is something interesting that Elder Alvarado points out, “I am not alone in that….even Prophets have felt that way….Nephi did as well. He says, “Even obedient and worthy Nephi cried out, ‘O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.’”

Elder Alvarado then shares some insight about the prophet Joseph Smith. “For Joseph…in his youth, for [his] weakness and imperfections.’ But Joseph’s feelings of inadequacy and worry were part of what led him to ponder, study, learn, and pray.”

He goes on to say, “Joseph heard the Lord say: ‘Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments. Behold, I am the Lord of Glory. I was crucified for the world that all those who believe on my name may have eternal life.’”

The key to truly repenting is to believe that there is a God and to humble ourselves sufficiently to approach him. Elder Alvarado shares, “If we are humble, this will help us come to recognize our dependence upon Jesus Christ and stir within our hearts a sincere desire to turn to the Savior and repent of our sins.”

Repentance is Sweet!

But there is sweetness in repentance. It is a true joy to feel that feeling of forgiveness. Elder Alvarado states, “My friends, repentance is joy! Sweet repentance is part of a daily process through which, ‘line upon line, precept upon precept,’ the Lord teaches us to live a life centered in His teachings.”

If you think about the first two examples of Joseph and Nephi, we too can “cry unto [God] for mercy; for he is mighty to save.” Elder Alvarado then shares a story about two very different people and how a copy of the Book of Mormon changed the lives of both.

A Thief and a Book

The story takes place in Puerto Rico. Sister Cruz had a Book of Mormon wrapped in her purse to gift to a friend. On the way, a thief approached her and stole her purse. She thought about the book inside. She told a friend, and she said, “Who knows? Maybe this was your opportunity to share the gospel!” A few days later, she received a letter from the thief. He had read the book, and this is what he shared:

“Mrs. Cruz:

“Forgive me, forgive me. You will never know how sorry I am for attacking you. But because of it, my life has changed and will continue to change.”

“That book [the Book of Mormon] has helped me in my life. The dream of that man of God has shaken me. … I am returning your five [dollars,] for I can’t spend them. I want you to know that you seemed to have a radiance about you. That light seemed to stop me [from harming you, so] I ran away instead.”

“The message you wrote in that book brought tears to my eyes. Since Wednesday night, I have not been able to stop reading it.”

“I have prayed and asked God to forgive me [and] I ask you to forgive me. … I thought your wrapped gift was something I could sell. [Instead,] it has made me want to [change] my life. … Forgive me, forgive me, I beg you.”

Repentance runs deep

If you look at this experience as one of a kind, it might be, but the message runs deep. First of all, everyone can change their heart if they choose to, and we can all turn to God! Elder Alvarado says, “Brothers and sisters, the light of the Savior can reach us all, no matter our circumstances.

“It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines,”—President Jeffrey R. Holland.

Suppose we are drawing closer to the Savior by serving regularly in the house of the Lord and striving to keep our sacred covenants. In that case, there will be an increase in both our desire and our ability to experience the change of heart, might, mind, and soul necessary for us to become more like our Savior.

President Russell M. Nelson has testified: “

Nothing will open the heavens more [than worshipping in the temple]. Nothing!”

Elder Gerrit W. Gong has taught:

“Our Savior’s Atonement is infinite and eternal. Each of us strays and falls short. We may, for a time, lose our way. God lovingly assures us [that] no matter where we are or what we have done, there is no point of no return. He waits, ready to embrace us.”

Embrace the Gift of Repentance Now!

Elder Alvarado begs us to start the repentance process now—today—and to not wait until the end of our mortal lives to truly repent. We need to embrace the joy of repentance today! It doesn’t matter which part of the covenant path we are on. We just need to start if we take advantage of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and on Heavenly Father’s desire for us to return to Him.

Thinking about becoming one or using Christ’s atonement or that process of “at-one-ment” with God may feel challenging. However, Elder Alvarado says, “But you and I can pause, be still, look to the Savior, and seek to find and act on what He would have us change. If we do so with full intent, we will witness His healing. And think of how our posterity will be blessed as we embrace the Lord’s gift of repentance!”

Let’s return to the hymn, “I Stand All Amazed!”

“Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!”

I, too, stand all amazed!

I testify of God’s love and of the infinite power of His Son’s Atonement. We can feel it profoundly as we sincerely and wholeheartedly repent. I know Jesus Christ lives and that He is the Master Healer of our souls. I know, and I testify that these things are true, in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.