Repentance and Forgiveness in Family Life (Chapter 20)

To start off this blog, I would like to define what repentance and forgiveness is. Repentance means sincere turning away, in both the mind and heart, from self to God. In a biblical context, repentance is recognizing that our sin is offensive to God. Repentance can be shallow, such as the remorse we feel because of fear of punishment or it can be deep, such as realizing how much our sins cost Jesus Christ and how his saving grace washes us clean. The Savior suffered for our sins and gave His life for us. This great sacrifice is called the Atonement. Through the Atonement, you can receive forgiveness and be cleansed from your sins when you repent. Repentance is more than simply acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments.

To forgive is a divine attribute. It is to pardon or excuse someone from blame for an offense or misdeed. The scriptures refer to forgiveness in two ways. The Lord commands us to repent of our sins and seek His forgiveness. He also commands us to forgive those who offend or hurt us.Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive forgiveness for our sins through sincere and complete repentance. Sinfulness brings suffering and pain, but the Lord's forgiveness brings relief, comfort, and joy. The Lord has promised:
“Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42).

Now that we know the definition of repentance and forgiveness we can put it together in the family life. In the text, it states that "Repentance and forgiveness are two sides of the same coin and are frequently addressed together. For example, apologies facilitate forgiveness, and forgiveness motivates repentance." (Holeman, 2008, p. 201, as cited in Walton & Hendricks). An example from my own family, my dad and I use to not get a long very often and it was very hard on the both of us, but I had to learn to forgive him and let go of what was said and done even when he failed to apologize because the bottom line is, he is my dad and I am not perfect and neither is he, and when we fight or argue and no matter how mad I am at him or how mad he is at me, I love him so much and so I am willing to forgive and forget and move on because that is what you do in families and learn to love and build each other up through difficult experiences.

In a conference talk called "Point of Safe Return" given by President Uchtdorf he stated that "For our own good, we need the moral courage to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Never is the soul nobler and more courageous than when we forgive. This includes forgiving ourselves.

Each of us is under a divinely spoken obligation to reach out with pardon and mercy and to forgive one another. There is a great need for this Christlike attribute in our families, in our marriages, in our wards and stakes, in our communities, and in our nations.

We will receive the joy of forgiveness in our own lives when we are willing to extend that joy freely to others. Lip service is not enough. We need to purge our hearts and minds of feelings and thoughts of bitterness and let the light and the love of Christ enter in. As a result, the Spirit of the Lord will fill our souls with the joy accompanying divine peace of conscience."

"Repentance and Forgiveness are divine expectations that are particularly relevant to family life." (Walton & Hendricks, 2012, p. 210).The gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ provides us at all times and at all places with the blessings of repentance and forgiveness. this is so important within families because no matter what our families are always there for us through everything and we are sealed together for eternity as families and as we learn to repent and forgive within our families we will grow closer to the Lord and his celestial kingdom as a family unit.

References:

• Youth Standards/Repentance. (n.d.). Repentance. Retrieved July 21, 2014, from https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth/repentance?lang=eng
• Forgiveness. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2014, from https://www.lds.org/topics/forgiveness?lang=eng&query=Forgiveness
• Uchtdorf, D. F. (2007, April). Point of Safe Return - general-conference. Retrieved July 21, 2014, from https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/point-of-safe-return?lang=eng&query=Repentance+and+Forgiveness+in+Family+Life
• Walton, E., & Hendricks, H. M. (2012). Repentance and Forgiveness in Family Life. InSuccessful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives (pp. 201-211). Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University.