I was asked to give a talk in church, this is what i said! I did how ever give my testimony which i did not type.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, is the God of miracles, on one occasion, he said to the Jewish believers “and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Can any miracle compare with that one which is provided by Jesus? He healed the sick, cast out devils, calmed the storm and even raised the dead. But can any miracle be equal to that one which frees men from fetters of ignorance, superstition, and transgression? The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “It is better to save a man then raise a one from the dead.”
Repentance and forgiveness are part of the glorious climb toward exaltation. In God’s plan, a man must voluntarily make this climb, for the element of free agency is basic. Man chooses for himself, but he cannot control the penalties. They are immutable. Little children and mental incompetents are not held responsible, but all others will receive either blessings, advancements, and rewards, or penalties and deprivation, according to their reaction to God’s plan when it is presented to them and to their faithfulness to that plan. The Lord wisely provided for this situation and made it possible that there might be good and evil, comfort and pain. The alternatives give us a choice and thereby growth and development.
Before the many elements of repentance are set in motion there has to be a first step. That first step is the turning point at which the sinner consciously recognize his sin. This is the awakening, the conviction of guilt. Without this there can be no true repentance because there is no acknowledgement of sin.
There are many souls too stubborn to admit their sins even to themselves. They have no escape.
We have to become aware of the gravity of our sins, we can condition our minds to follow such process as will rid us of the effects of the sin. Alma tried to convey this to Corianton when he said: “let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.. Goes on to say, Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point.” Alma 42:29-30
Being truly sorrow full is when a man is sorry before he is apprehended. He is sorry even if his secret is never known about. You need to have the full desire to make voluntary amends. Repentance of the godly type means that one can recognize the sin and voluntary and without pressure from the outside sources begins his transformation.
The recognition of guilt should give one a sense of humility, of a "broken heart and contrite spirit," and bring him to the proverbial "sackcloth and ashes" attitude. This does not mean that one must be servile and self effacing to the destructive point, but rather one must have a honest desire to right the wrong.
It is not real repentance until one has chose to abandoned the error of his way and started a new path. Someone once said that there is only one way to quit a bad habit, and that is to stop. The saving power does not extend to him who merely wants to change his or her life.
D&C 58: 43 By this ya may know if a man repenteth of his sins, behold, he will confess them and forsake them.
One must not be surprise that effort is required, and merely desire. Ralph Parlette puts it this way:
Strength an struggle go together. The supreme reward of struggle is strenght. Life is a battle and the greatest joy to overcome. The pursuit of easy things make men weak. Do not equip yourselves with superior power and hope to escape the responsibility and work. It cannot be done. It is following the lines of least resistance that makes rivers and men crooked. Again that was from Ralph Parlette.
The Lord cannot save men in their sins but only from their sins, and only when they have shown true repentance.
I am going to summarize a story. Ok so this family had been trying to get to the temple for some time now, the father was a slave to alcohol most of his adult life, but though the church programs he must give it up. With such great effort he quit drinking. He had moved many miles away from the area where his drinking friends had lived. Over time he and his wife were able to go to the temple, something the wife had dreamed about for years. This is what she has always wanted. The happy day came and they went into the city for the great event. They each had some errands to run. As it happened, the husband ran into some old friends who had invited him to a bar. No, he would not go he had said, he had other important things to do. Well, he could take just a soft drink, they kept urging. So finally he relented. But by the time he was to meet his wife at the temple he was so incapacitated that the family went home in disgrace and sorrow and major disappointment. Months had passes and a new reformation had taken place and was ready again for the temple. Sad to say the same experience was repeated. He knew he was strong enough now to resist, but again the temple opportunity had to wait. Sadly enough, he had passed away before another reformation could come.
Repentance is in inseparable from time. That is why we should not wait for the life beyond this, but should abandon bad habits and weaknesses while on this earth.
President Joseph F. Smith put restitution in it's proper place as a part of the pattern of repentance: True repentance is not only sorrow for sins, and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them. a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue from darkness to light. Not only so, but make restitution, so far as possible, for all the wrongs we have done, to pay our debts, and restore to God and their rights- that which is due them from us.
In the process of repentance we must restore completely where possible, otherwise restore to the maximum degree attainable. And through it all we must remember that the pleading sinner, desiring to make restitution for his acts, must also forgive others of all offenses committed against him. The Lord will not forgive us unless our hearts are fully purged of all hate, bitterness and and accusation against our fellowmen.
Since we all sin in greater or lesser degree we are all in need of constant repentance. One can hardly keep all the commandments in one day, a week, a month, or a year. This is a effort which must be extended through the remainder of one's years. We need to have major dedication to the Lord through many years. When we are repenting for something we must do it wholehearted, the scripture uses the phrase,: " with all his heart" When we repent we must involve an all out, total surrender to the program of the Lord. The transgressor is not truly repentant who neglects his tithing, misses church meetings, breaks the sabbath, fails in family prayers, and does not sustain the authorities of the church. God cannot show forgiveness unless the transgressor shows true repentance which speads to all area's of his life.
In the church we have learders who are called upon to judge members in their transgression. They carry a heavy burden of responsibility, with their aid and though sincere repentance, the sinner may make the adjustments which will restore him to full fellowship with the church. The same kind of repentance will assure him the miracle of God's forgiveness.
Being forgiven of or sins is one of the most glorious principles God ever gave to man. Just as repentance is a Divine principle, so is forgiveness. If we didn't have this principle there would be no point in crying repentance. Because this principle is so divine an invitation is held out to all. Come, repent of your sins and be forgiven.
The church has a mission to call people everywhere to repent. Whether you be a member or non member of the church you can partake of the miracle of forgiveness. God can wipe away tears of anguish, and remorse and consternation and fear and guilt. Dry eyes will replace the wet ones, and smiles of satisfaction will replace the worried and anxious look.
It is such a relief, such a comfort, and a great joy. Just knowing that your sorrow and sin can be forgiven and cleansed and purified if we can return to the Lord, learn of him and keep his commandments. Everyone needing to repent on a daily basic can share this wonderful miracle.
The Lord has been pleading with man for thousands of years to come unto him. The Lord was speaking about forgiveness though repentance, and the relief that comes from the tenseness of guilt, when he followed his glorious prayer to his Father with the sublime entreaty and Promise:
"Come onto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
