Repentance is a powerful balm we can access when we need to turn away from sin and come back to the light. 

Heavenly Father, in His profound love, offers repentance as a path to relief and renewal. Through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we can acknowledge our mistakes and be freed from their burden. This act of grace allows us to embrace forgiveness and find peace, guiding us back to divine love and happiness.

“But, repentance is hard. I want to feel God’s love again, but how can I do that when I have sinned so much, and I’m terrified I can’t be forgiven anymore?” 

Have you ever felt this way about repentance? 

Even though repentance is a beautiful gift from a loving Heavenly Father, the thought of going through the repentance process can be challenging and overwhelming for some. 

Apart from the commitment and the effort we need to put into asking God for forgiveness, we also have to deal with the fears that come with repentance. 

How do we overcome these fears? And how do we find the strength to continue even if repentance is hard? 

The Road to Repentance is Hard Because It Requires Effort

Repentance is like going back up after slipping downhill during a hike. 

The slip brings you down fast, but the hike back up – where you get to see stunning views and the majestic skies – requires double the effort. 

Just like sliding down the hill, falling into sin is easy. 

Getting back up through repentance takes great courage, strength, humility, tears, and perseverance.  

Because true repentance will cause us a “mighty change of heart,” it will ask us to make mighty efforts. Repentance will change us, but before we experience this change, we must work. 

Repentance is Hard Because Satan Works to Make It Harder

Our Heavenly Father absolutely understands that repentance is not easy, but He also knows that forgiveness for our sins is possible. 

Satan, however, wants to flip the truth. 

Another reason why repentance is hard is because Satan – the great adversary – wants us to believe it is so much more complicated. 

He whispers lies telling us “Why do you need to repent? You’ve sinned so much.” 

“You’re a lost case.” 

“You aren’t even a good person.” 

Satan wants us to doubt the Lord’s capacity to hear us, forgive us, and see us for who we are beyond the mistakes we have committed. 

And he is committed to doing that because he “for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” 

Without repentance, we fall into misery. 

And one of the most potent ways that Satan stops us from really repenting is by instilling fear in our minds. These fears are – in reality – built on lies. 

8 Fears That Makes Repentance Hard

Fear #1: God Won’t Listen to Me Anymore

Finding hope for forgiveness becomes difficult when we feel that Heavenly Father has turned His back on us because of our mistakes. 

Unintentionally, we begin to see Him as this boss we need to please rather than a loving Father in Heaven who has been waiting for us to come back to Him. 

Just like the Father in the Story of the Prodigal Son, Heavenly Father is eagerly waiting, and looking forward to our return! All we need to do is take the first step. 

Fear #2: God Sees My Sin, So I Don’t Think He’ll Find Hope in Me

When discussing second chances, it’s best to remember the story of Saul, who later became Paul. As a stalwart persecutor of Christ’s believers, Saul had done seemingly unforgivable things. 

But the Lord sees differently. When talking to Ananias in a vision, He reminded the man that Saul – despite His mistakes – was still a chosen vessel to Him. 

He saw beyond Saul’s mistakes. He can see beyond ours. 

Fear #3: Repentance is Hard Because God Has Ran Out of Patience for Me

God’s forgiveness is infinite. But He does expect us to forsake our sins. Some of us can do it immediately, while others might take a while to reach their goal. 

The blessing of repentance is that it’s available for those who choose to repent, even through small, simple steps. 

God knows that in our journey toward becoming better, there will still be moments when we will fall short. The principle of repentance is a constant reminder that no failure ever needs to be final because the chance to start again is always there. 

Fear #4: I’ve Traveled So Far From God’s Light

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, worded this comforting process beautifully: 

“But however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.” 

Satan works twice as hard to make us believe that we have become so bad, so unworthy, and so undeserving of God’s forgiveness. However, if we only listen again to our Father in Heaven, we will know that even before we step back into the light, God already has His hands outstretched.

Fear #5: I’m Going to Do It Again

The fear of repeating sins can be daunting. Yet, remember, repentance is a journey, not a one-time act. God’s mercy is boundless; He welcomes our sincere efforts to change, no matter how often we falter. His grace empowers us, turning our fears into stepping stones for growth. Embrace this continuous path with hope, knowing that each step towards repentance is a step closer to divine love and transformation.

Fear #6: People Will Know and They Will Talk

One common fear is the worry about others discovering our transgressions and the subsequent judgment that may follow. 

This fear can be paralyzing, causing us to shy away from seeking forgiveness. 

However, it’s essential to remember that repentance is a personal journey between you and God. 

The opinions of others, while they may seem daunting, hold no power over God’s infinite mercy and love.

Fear #7: I’m Scared of Facing My Mistakes

Confronting our past actions can be incredibly painful. 

The guilt and shame associated with acknowledging our wrongdoings often deter us from repentance. 

Yet, facing our mistakes is a crucial step towards healing and growth. It’s about understanding the impact of our actions and developing a genuine desire to change. 

Remember, this fear is a sign of your conscience at work, indicating that you can choose better and, therefore, the potential for real, profound change.

Fear #8: Fear of the Next Steps

The uncertainty of what lies ahead can make the journey of repentance seem overwhelming. 

Questions like “What if I can’t change?” or “What if I fail again?” may cloud your mind. 

But the beauty of repentance lies in the process itself – it’s a step-by-step journey, not a sudden leap to perfection. 

Embrace each step with faith, knowing that with the Atonement, you are never alone. Each effort, no matter how small, is significant in the eyes of God.

3 Ways to Find Strength to Repent When You Have a Hard Time Repenting

#1: Trust in the Knowledge That God Wants You to Repent

Why did God send Noah, Moses, and even Jesus Christ to the world? One of their biggest callings was to call people to repentance. 

Because in truth, no matter how dark our choices have been, God wants us to repent, to change, to come back to Him and feel the happiness of choosing Him once again. 

#2: Know That The Atonement Makes Repentance Absolutely Possible

One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible can be found in Isaiah 1:18. It talks about the promise that even though our “sins be as scarlet, it shall be as white as snow.” 

How is this even possible? It is all because of the Atonement. 

Christ died for us, so we can always, always go back to our Heavenly Father. His Atonement makes repentance a gift, not a punishment. 

#3: Ask for Guidance from Heavenly Father

Humbly ask for help from our Heavenly Father. He will lead you to the right people, give you the strength to face your mistakes and persevere no matter how hard repentance gets, and help you feel His love as you go through repentance. 

Receiving help from the heavens can sustain us when people talk, when the steps become difficult, and when we stumble along the way. 

You Can Repent No Matter How Hard It Is

Contrary to the lies of Satan, repentance is the better choice. Although it is hard, it is – ultimately – the only sure way to happiness in this life and in the life to come. 

If you have questions about repentance, we’re here to help. You can talk to us by sending us a message on our social media channels or by contacting us here.

The post These Fears Make Repentance Hard + How to Find Strength appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Saying “sorry” is only the beginning. Apologizing is just the start of the process of restitution. Whether it is at restitution of trust, stolen things or stolen time – it is only the first step of many.

Apologize ASAP

Whether you are at fault or not, take the initiative to apologize first and apologize quickly. Relationships become strained when late apologies are common. Don’t be afraid to say sorry because you are too occupied with looking for the perfect words. Look people in the eye and acknowledge your mistake. In simple words, say why you are apologizing and do so calmly, perhaps after taking a few deep breaths.

Validate Others’ Emotions

In the rush to gain back favor from people, it is usual to say something like, “Don’t make a big deal out of it,” or “Just forget it! It’s nothing…” Yes, taking offense is a choice; but to fully dismiss that you have hurt someone by telling them to forget what they are going through, is like rubbing salt in the wound. We are human and being such we sometimes feel hurt, betrayal, offense, and many others. I don’t think feeling these things is wrong. It is natural. We need to acknowledge that. The Savior has felt all of these emotions as well. He felt pain and wept when He knew that his friend, Lazarus, had died. (John 11:35) He must have been very frustrated when He saw that the Temple had been made into “a house of merchandise”. (John 2:13-16) Even the Son of God went through all these human emotions, for that is how He is able to understand and succor us. Must we not acknowledge those same emotions in the people we are dealing with especially among those that we have offended? “The son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than He?” (Doctrine & Covenants 122:8)

Consistent Effort

Strive to mend broken relationships and strengthen them continuously. Make apologies an opportunity to give true sincerity instead of just taking forgiveness. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, keep working on your relationships. Investing in human connections empowers us to repair lives. It empowers us to repair the world. No effort is ever wasted. When we sincerely  acknowledge our mistakes, saying “sorry” is more meaningful. Showing remorse and empathy makes saying “sorry” more acceptable. Working hard to restore of what has been lost – may it be good reputation, material things, or confidence – makes saying “sorry” more active and effective.

There is beauty in apologies. In our quest to be forgiven and make things alright again, we find ourselves changed. That is where the power lies. For it doesn’t just make the offended one feel better, it makes the offender become a better person. It is a refining process through which the natural tendencies of man are replaced by heavenly virtues. So we see, saying “sorry” is never enough, but it is a very good place to start.

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To the unfaithful spouse who has broken the hearts of his family and friends, it is also a difficult time for you. Since all empathy may be directed to the betrayed, it is no surprise that you are left with the blame and harsh labels. You are broken as well. But as to all sinners, the Savior calls to you to come unto Him and know that He can make you whole again. But you need to pay the price.

You Have Offended God

When Alma counseled his son Corianton, he made it clear that adultery is “an abomination in the sight of the Lord… most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost…” (Alma 39:5) Like other sins, infidelity in marriage offends our Heavenly Father. The damage that is caused by this offense is far reaching and, in a way, meddles with the Plan of Salvation. This is so because it is an attack on the family which is the most important unit in Heavenly Father’s Plan. The bitter fruits of infidelity do not only affect the betrayed spouse, but all people that are connected to the couple. The family unit is threatened as well as the structure of a community, a nation, and mankind as a whole. The work and the glory of God is the welfare of mankind. To do something that would endanger that is truly an offense to Him. An offending spouse must realize this truth because, hopefully, this will lead him or her to repentance.

You can Be Forgiven

In the Plan of Salvation, the healing power of the Atonement encompasses all sins and all sorrows. We can always look to the Savior’s great sacrifice so we can be made whole again. The offending spouse can hope for forgiveness. But there is a process. He or she needs to go through the process of repentance. To be forgiven is not easy but it is possible. Take the first step of accepting that your acts have offended God and your fellow beings – your family and the people involved. Once in the path, hold on to the hope that everything will make sense eventually – the pain, the hardships, the sacrifices – all of these things will make your path to forgiveness more meaningful. Most importantly, you needn’t feel that you are all alone in the process. The Savior has promised to succor us in times of need. During this time, He is always there to sustain and help his prodigal children come back home.

Understand What the Betrayed is Feeling

Respect how your spouse feels on the matter. Understand that he or she is probably using a biological response to defend himself or herself from the trauma. He or she may fight, flee, or freeze. Care for your spouse and, however hard it is not to be defensive, try to truly listen. There must be a questioning/communication process wherein you can ask your spouse what you can do to help. Your infidelity may cause your spouse to react violently, to leave you or to just take time to be alone. Respect that. Try hard not to impose your thoughts or your feelings. This is part of the process of making things better. The road you are traveling with your spouse is not going to be easy. There is no specific amount of time this process will take, but know that these things must be endured with patience and an understanding heart.

There is Life after Infidelity

Let’s face it. However hard we hope, we cannot be 100% sure that all offending spouses will be able to keep their marriage intact. Whether the marriage can be saved or not, life must go on. It is sad to know that some marriages do not survive the aftermath of infidelity but it is noteworthy that there are a good number of couples who have gone through the process and are living their lives together, having learned and grown from the experience. All wounds heal in time. It is all up to us if we let the scars pull us down or push us forward. Continue faithfully in the path of repentance and no matter what happens, strive hard to be better every single day. Life is not only limited to our mortal existence so let us keep on moving forward for there is an eternity waiting.

We do not openly talk about the issue of infidelity. Maybe because we don’t feel comfortable talking to the unfaithful spouse or the betrayed spouse. It may even be seen as gossiping by some if we talk about this problem. But it is something we need to address, so that when we know someone who is suffering from these things, whether directly or indirectly, we may know how to help them.

Amid all the brokenness, the Savior offers a bond that can heal things back together again – whether as a family or as an individual. Only He can bind the hearts that have been shattered and the souls that have been torn apart by the sin of infidelity. We cannot expect a perfect world now but we can hope for a bright future where all things will make sense and where everyone will have gained the experience needed to be worthy to be with Heavenly Father again.

To those who have been been betrayed by a cheating spouse, you can take these steps towards healing:

4 Steps You Need to Take If You Find Out Your Spouse is Cheating On You: A Look Into the Issue of Infidelity (Part 1 of 2)

The post Things an Offending Spouse Needs to Keep in Mind In Order to Save their Marriage: A Look Into the Issue of Infidelity (Part 2 of 2) appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Life constantly confronts us with choices we have to make. Some are big choices that define a milestone in our lives, while the more common are the seemingly small choices that we make every day. Choices like the scoop of ice cream, few episodes, and a few minutes of social media browsing, that may appear so small that we do not give it much thought and consideration. But from these small choices often come habits that are hard to break.

On our journey of Christlike discipleship, there will be many seemingly small choices like these that could break our faith. Snoozing our alarm on a Sunday morning could be the reason we miss sacrament meeting.  Watching one inappropriate media could lead to pornographic addiction. Swearing a little could lead to using profane language more often. Not praying one night could turn into many nights without prayer.

These small choices that we think cannot destroy the foundations of our testimony might be already eating away at our faith slowly, even without our awareness. Sometimes, all it takes is just one look, one taste, one experience to lead us ever so slowly away from the Savior. The idea of “just one more or just a little more”, can trap us until we have dug a pit so deep for ourselves that we can no longer get back out without help.

Another trap that we get into sometimes that increases our chances of making small incorrect choices is living on the edge. Living on the edge happens when we try to walk the boundary between righteousness and wickedness, assuming that we will always be alright as long as we don’t cross the line. But when we do this, the adversary intensifies his work, enticing us to move just one inch closer to the edge and then one more inch. The next thing we know, we may have already put our souls at risk of a tragic fall.

So what do we do when we find ourselves farther from God than we intended to go? The Savior, through His infinite Atonement, made sure that there is always a way back. And there is no other way than the way He provided for us. So how do we start?

First, we must have a desire in our hearts to follow Christ and repent of our sins. In the words of the prophet Alma, exercising even just “a particle of faith” is enough, “even if [we] can no more than desire to believe,” the Lord encourages us to cling to this desire and let His Atonement mend our brokenness.

Second, we must resolve to change the things that we can change. One of the most powerful counsels we have been given is to “avoid, not only evil, but even the appearance of evil.” This means that we must, by all means, avoid every circumstance that could possibly tempt us to make even a small choice that would start us on a journey of despair and misery.

Third, we must commit to take upon ourselves His name again and follow His commandments. It is important to note that for us to be made whole again, we must take every step to mend our brokenness, and then let God take it from there. Our daily actions should be a living testimony that we are willing to follow the Savior as He bids us to come follow Him.

As we strive to come back to His fold, He will magnify our desires to become part of His flock once again. As we make the seemingly small choices every day in our lives, we must always look back at the lessons we have learned: that trying to take a small detour from the Lord’s way can take us farther away from the Lord than we ever originally intended. May the Lord bless us all as we make these small choices and may we never intentionally move even an inch away from Him again.

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Cheating Financially

Earnings and spending between spouses need to be transparent. If spouses hide how much money is coming in or going out, it can result in unanswered questions. Husbands and wives need to work together towards financial security and self-reliance. There is much wisdom in this counsel because most marriages that fail have problems or disagreements with money one way or another. The burden of managing finances falls upon both husband and wife NOT just on one of them. To hide information about money matters is cheating in a way.

Secrets

It is said that the more secrets, the more lies. Secrets do not need to be about sexual relations outside marriage to be considered dangerous. It can be as simple as not saying where you’re at or what you are doing when your spouse asks. One may rationalize that he or she is not doing anything bad. “I just want to have my own space and I don’t want anyone asking me about it,” they might say. Nevertheless, it is still keeping things from your spouse. It is not an issue of trust but of personal integrity. Your spouse may believe what you tell him or her because he or she trusts you, but would you really be doing the right thing in such a situation?

Backstabbing

Speaking ill of your spouse is a form of cheating. A spouse is supposed to be the one that builds up and protects their partner. Talking behind your spouse’s back is destroying his or her reputation. This is even worse if you are saying bad things about your spouse in front of your children. Again, one may rationalize that they are just telling the obvious truth or just describing their children’s father or mother, but the question is, “Will that do any good? Will that help?” Concerns between a husband and wife need to be settled between the husband and wife. Bringing it up to other people may create a bigger problem than what is already plaguing the couple.

Complete fidelity is required in a marriage relationship. “Fidelity to one’s marriage vows is absolutely essential for love, trust, and peace.” In these times, infidelity can guise itself in different subtle forms that, if we are not careful, will take a toll on our marriages. Many can fall captive to these not-so-obvious snares of the adversary. May we watch our thoughts and examine our hearts to check if we are already cheating on our spouses. More importantly, may we have the courage to admit if we have done wrong and ask the Lord for help to repent, mend our ways, and strengthen our marriages.

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When we choose to leave it all up to God and do nothing. When we are faced with a difficult situation, we sometimes think that it is all God’s will and He will make it better in His own due time so we say, “Thy will be done”. While it is true that sometimes God puts us in a difficult situation for our growth and development, He does not want us to idle away our time and do nothing about it. Waiting for God to take away our difficult circumstances is not what He wants for us. What He really wants us to do is to determine how we can make our situation better, learn from our experiences, increase our faith, and trust that He will help us as we make conscious efforts to rise through our difficulties.

When we don’t take accountability for our actions. Some difficulties in our lives come as a direct result of disobedience or unwise choices we have made. Saying “Thy will be done” in this kind of situation is dangerous because it is not actually because of God’s will that we are in a difficult situation. It will not only lead us to believing that we did not do anything wrong but will also rob us of the opportunity to repent and ask for forgiveness. God’s will in this situation is for us to acknowledge what we did wrong, repent, and resolve to not repeat the same mistake again.

When we have not done our best yet. When we fail at something, we may be tempted to think that maybe it’s just not for us and it is God’s will, so we just let it be. Sometimes saying “Thy will be done” in this situation can put us at ease. But if we have not really done our best yet to achieve this goal, saying “Thy will be done” is just an excuse we use to escape an unfulfilled goal. Many young adults use this to escape the dating and marriage discussion, thinking that maybe it is God’s will that they are not dating or marrying yet. While it is true that sometimes it is God’s will, some young adults have not done their best yet in finding a potential eternal companion. Saying “Thy will be done” when we haven’t exhausted all our resources can diminish our desire to fulfill our goal, thinking that we can’t do anything about it since it is already God’s will.

The saying “when we do our best, God will do the rest” may be a cliché to some, but when we truly stretch ourselves to our full potential, God will magnify our efforts and do the rest. God’s will is that we do all that we can and He will provide a way for us to accomplish our goals.

We are all counseled to be submissive as a little child to God’s will but when we do so, may we always remember to do it when we have already done our part in the work and learned what He wants us to learn in the process.

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One of the main focuses for me and my family in 2018 was to better our financial stewardship. I then searched out materials that helped us improve in that area.

One of the things that I focused on is how to recover from bad investments or bad choices when it comes to money. I realized that the principles I have learned with regards to money are also applicable when it comes to our spirituality. To the Lord there is no demarcation line between the temporal and the spiritual, because to Him everything is spiritual. We are still striving to improve, financially and spiritually, but my positivity that the future is bright has increased substantially.

So here are some tips I learned about how to recover from bad choices (financial and spiritual):

1. Don’t Lose Faith

2. Immediately Try for a Refund

3. Don’t Fall for the Sunk Cost Trap

4. Factor in the Opportunity Cost

5. Be Grateful You Know Better

If money is the currency for financial investment, the currency we use in our day to day lives is TIME. Time is the currency of life but unlike money, once time is spent, we cannot take it back. So how do we relate the principles I have shared to our progression in this mortal probation?

1. Don’t Lose Faith

This one is simple. With the bad choices we made in 2018, we may feel discouraged and feel like giving up. But I hope that despite the fact that we made a number of mistakes, we do not forget that we are children of God. And that we are here on earth to learn. The best teacher sometimes is our mistakes. According to studies, the best way to learn is by doing things in real life and actually exercising our agency. So don’t lose faith in yourself, because the moment you do, you are holding back from the good things ahead. It is natural to feel sad, angry, or frustrated but all of these are a matter of choice. You can choose to recover from negative things. Regain the confidence that you can still get to your future goals. It helps if you sing “I Am A Child of God” over and over again.

2. Immediately Try for a Refund

This one is a bit ironic since time cannot be taken back. So how do we get a refund then? For me, this means to immediately repent. Yes, it is true that we cannot take back time but we can repent immediately because for me repentance is a reset button. It does not instantly get things back to normal, but it begins the process so that no matter how long it takes, you have already started on the path. It does not matter who we are, whether we have made huge mistakes, or we have been diligent in obeying the commandments, we all need to repent. Repentance is a continuous process of change and improvement, because being subject to the Fall, we all need to work to progress and be worthy to be with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again. As fallen creatures, it must be our goal to progress every single day of our lives and repentance is the way. If we are at the first rung of the ladder today, we need to strive to be better tomorrow, however small the steps are. Sometimes we make bad choices, and fall back a few steps, but we can get up, shake off the dust and continue moving up the ladder. Repentance does that. You can confidently claim your right for second chances, because that’s what the Atonement is for. The Savior of the world died so we can have second chances, so we can have our refund.

3. Don’t Fall for the Sunk Cost Trap

What is a sunk cost? A sunk cost is something that you cannot get back. An example is a downpayment you can’t get back once you have signed a contract. In life, we also have sunk costs. The could-have-beens, if-onlys, I-wish-I-could-turn-back-times, etc. We just need to move on. Like Lot’s wife, let us not look back at the things that could hinder our progression. We are blinded to the future if we only keep looking toward the past.

4. Factor in the Opportunity Cost

An opportunity cost is the value of the opportunities that are given to you. Example, you lose your opportunity to learn in school if you choose to spend your time skipping classes. In life, we are faced with a lot of choices, every single day. There are consequences to every choice we make. If we know how to factor in Opportunity Costs, we will be able to make right choices. Here’s a scenario. We are all given 24 hours every single day. How we spend those 24 hours is how we are spending life’s currency. So if you choose to use social media upon waking up and not read the scriptures, the cost of receiving divine revelation first thing in the morning is lost to you. Or if you choose to play video games instead of studying for your lessons, the opportunity of getting good grades is lost to you. I hope we understand that in everything we think, say or do, there is a cost. With each cost is attached an opportunity that we either gain or lose.

5. Be Grateful You Know Better

We should be grateful that we have learned from our mistakes. Hopefully, we are better people because of the experiences we have gone through. I hope that every single mistake last year will be a badge we can wear, not because we made them but because we have overcome them, or are striving to, and we can rise up as stronger and better individuals. For that’s what this life is all about: learning and growing.

We have a lot of opportunities to grow. We have things we can look forward to because we have the Savior on our side. I know He is cheering us on despite our shortcomings. I am grateful I know of the Plan of Salvation, for it guides the choices I make every single day. I have my triumphs and I have my downfalls but I am grateful all the same. May we all look forward with faith and not just work hard, but work smart. Let us be worthy of the Holy Ghost so we will be guided to make right choices. I know that Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and He is always ready to bless us with success and abundance if we do our end of the bargain.

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Can I Indulge Again?

I am a chips lover. Despite my desire to be fit, I still couldn’t resist my wanting for potato crisps. However, after giving birth, my perception on health changed. I suddenly want to become a healthy mom for my son. I started my change of eating habits with my grocery list. While at the store, I picked only the healthy options: whole what-bread, fruits, nuts, no pasta, no sweets. Then I came to the aisle of chips. Without second thought, I grabbed a tall can of Pringles. I even said to myself “This one bad thing won’t hurt.”

When we came home from the store, I laid out all my purchases and undeniably, the can of Pringles stood out. I opened the can, ate several of the chips, and the next thing I know, I already ate half of it. I have not even started my lifestyle change and there I was, already done with the 900 calories worth of chips. I felt ashamed and terribly guilty. Slowly, my desire to start a healthy diet waned. What’s the use when I already indulged in something bad?

One Simple Choice Can Make A Difference

That experience taught me a lot about our efforts to repent of transgressions. Repentance is not an easy process. It requires that you give up habits that cause you to sin. One important process of repentance is forsaking the sin. When we repent of something, we must do all we can not to commit the same sin again.

However, in our journey towards repentance, we can sometimes include cans of Pringles into our bags. These cans of Pringles can come in the form of a hidden magazine, a bookmarked site on the internet, or activities that may look harmless. Like me, you can also say “This one bad thing won’t hurt.” However, most of the time, they do.

When we do the same mistakes again, our resolve to totally repent wanes, too. Once we are consumed with guilt, we often wonder if it is worth another try. Completely forsaking the sin is an integral part of repentance. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said:

“Forsaking sins is more than resolving not to repeat them. Forsaking involves a fundamental change in the individual.”

A Lesson On Repentance, A Lesson Of Hope

However, the Lord knows that sometimes, we can really fall back to the very sin that we repented from. Despite that, He is still going to accept us as long as we do our part to repent once more. Elder Spencer W. Kimball said:

“Sometimes … when a repentant one looks back and sees the ugliness, the loathsomeness of the transgression, he is almost overwhelmed and wonders, ‘Can the Lord ever forgive me? Can I ever forgive myself?’ But when one reaches the depths of despondency and feels the hopelessness of his position, and when he cries out to God for mercy in helplessness but in faith, there comes a still, small, but penetrating voice whispering to his soul, ‘Thy sins are forgiven thee.’” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, p. 344.)

My dear friends, I hope you are not as foolish as I am. In our resolve to change, may we look beyond the potato chip aisle and never look back. With the help of the Savior and the strength given by His atonement, we can slowly but surely ignore the cans of Pringles in our life. May we always find the courage to choose the better part every day.  

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Stefanie is a young woman of incredible humor. She loves to laugh, she enjoys making other people happy. In fact, in her yearbook, her classmates dubbed her as the beautiful class clown. When you’re with Stef, there is no dull moment. The happy view she has of life is contagious.

However, Stef wasn’t that bubbly girl anymore when she sat down with me one day. With tears in her eyes, she confided in me that she had broken a commandment she had known since she was a child. With a voice of resignation, Stef said: “I feel like it’s too late for me to come back to the Lord. To be honest, it seems like my chance to change has been used up. I don’t think any repentance can bring back my confidence.”  

You can imagine how heartbreaking it was for me to see one of the young women I love and admire sink into hopelessness and desperation. With an aching heart that reached out to her, I lovingly told her that her chance to change isn’t used up yet, none of ours are. For every Stefanie out there, for everyone who feels that they’re too late, and that all hope is lost for them—it isn’t.

When God the Father presented the Plan of Salvation, all His children were there. You and I were there. He explained “all about earth and eternal salvation for man.” Since the Father knew that earth life wouldn’t be easy or free from trials and temptations, He sent a Savior in the personage of Jesus Christ. Father knew exactly that although we would know right from wrong, we would still make unwise decisions.

In this world we are subject to Satan’s temptations, and give in at times. But not only are we susceptible to his cunning enticements, we are also a target for his lies. And one of the greatest lies he could ever whisper to our minds is this:  that we can no longer repent and come back to the presence of the Father.

Like Stefanie, when one commits a serious sin, the first question that they often feel to ask is, “How can I possibly get out of this predicament?” This question is followed by desperate inquiries as to whether there is still a chance to change, if there is a way to combat the shame, or if they could ever be forgiven. Satan grabs the opportunity to whisper lies like “It’s too late for you to change” or “You are already so deep in sin, what makes you think that you can be forgiven?” Undoubtedly, these are some of the worst lies you can listen to. Those who succumb to these deceptions often lose hope of changing, or repentance and continue in sin.

But the Lord’s encouragement is the complete opposite of Satan’s lies; He invites us to come back to His presence so He can heal us. One example of this is when Christ visited the Nephites. Before His coming, wickedness was rampant among the Nephites. Murder, corruption, and pride were all over. When Christ came, He asks them:

“…will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi 9:13)

Contrary to Satan’s lies, it is the Savior’s desire for us to change and come back to Him. This was lovingly illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son taught by the Savior Himself. Despite the son’s transgressions (and they were heavy ones), the Father still welcomed his long-lost child with open arms and a heart full of happiness and love.

When our hearts are full of guilt, we are especially vulnerable to Satan’s deceptions. After disappointing the Lord, it is difficult to kneel down once again and ask for forgiveness. The guilt, the regret, and the fear that we have already sinned too much can weigh us down. However, this beautiful quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that inspiration to doubtful souls:

“…however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s atonement shines.”

What a beautiful message especially for those who feel they’re too late. To Stefanie and to others who feel that it’s no longer worth it, listen more to the voice of the Savior inviting you to come back to Him. There is nothing else that He wants for you than to see you freed from the burden of guilt and regret. He wants you to change and heal. Listen to His voice.

This new year, may we all find the courage, the faith, and the testimony of the Atonement to help us come back to the Lord’s open arms. There will always be a chance to change waiting for us. I know the Lord loves us and He wants us back. Let us trust that love more than Satan’s lies.

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We hear this all the time. After seeking and receiving forgiveness from God and ourselves for our past sins or transgressions, we are counseled that we must forget them. But do we really forget them, the way we forget where we placed our car keys the other night? No. We cannot actually forget unless we are suffering from a medical condition that makes it possible to do so. Then what does forgetting really mean?

Forgetting past sins and transgressions means forgetting the pain and guilt we have felt and not letting them have any power over us. Sometimes we tend to look back and ask ourselves why did we do such a terrible thing, when we knew it was wrong. But we must not continue asking ourselves these questions because we cannot undo the past. Dwelling on our past only stagnates our progress and cripples our hopes for brighter days to come. Forgetting means letting go of the past and moving forward with a renewed commitment to follow God’s commandments. It also means turning away from the thought that Satan has power over us because we have sinned.

How then do we forget our past sins or transgressions? When the prophet Enos prayed mightily and sought for a remission of his sins, God forgave him and his guilt was “swept away” because of his faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. We too, like Enos, can be cleansed from our sins or transgressions if we call upon the Lord and access the powers of His Atonement to heal our wounds and soothe our conscience. If we rely on the tender mercies of the Lord, we, like Alma the Younger, will also be able to declare that we can “remember [our] pains no more”.

While some might have forgotten the pain and guilt from past sins and transgressions, some of us might still remember them. We must know that still regretting them does not mean that we have not fully repented or we are not worthy to receive forgiveness. Perhaps it is God’s way of warning us to not commit that sin or transgression again, by reminding us of the pain and misery it can bring to our lives. It is a spiritual trigger that stops us when we think of disobeying the commandments of God. The memory of our pain and guilt is meant to protect us from going down the path of disobedience.

Furthermore, the memory of our pain and guilt does not mean that we have not been forgiven. If we feel the Spirit back in our lives, we have been forgiven or are in the process of cleansing. When we are forgiven and cleansed, the Spirit can sanctify our souls and there can be no greater testimony of forgiveness than that.

The possibility of physically forgetting past sins and transgressions, if any, is likely very minimal. But these memories from our past can become something much more as we take important lessons we learned from the experience and ensure that we stand guard and don’t make the same mistakes again. It also can become a sweet memory of the mercy and forgiveness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, as well as the love and support of our family and friends when we were down with grief and pain. Ultimately, it can be a powerful testimony of the power of the Atonement in repairing one’s heart that has been broken by the deep hollows of sin or transgression.

As we try to forgive ourselves and forget the pain and guilt we have felt, our faith in the Lord and His Atonement will increase and our capacity to embrace our divine nature will be enlarged.

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