D&C 19 Follow Up 10 Questions about Repentance

Process of Repentance  Recognize  Remorse  Guilt  Godly Sorrow  Confess  God  Bishop  Those involved  Restitution  Forsake  Forgive others

“Attempts to create a list of specific steps of repentance may be helpful to some, but it may also lead to a mechanical, check-off-the-boxes approach with no real feeling or change. True repentance is not superficial. The Lord gives two overarching requirements: “By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:43). Elder Christofferson, October 2011 Ensign

“Many times a bishop will write, “I feel he has suffered enough!” But suffering is not repentance. Suffering comes from lack of complete repentance. A stake president will write, “I feel he has been punished enough!” But punishment is not repentance. Punishment follows disobedience and precedes repentance. A husband will write, “My wife has confessed everything!” But confession is not repentance. Confession is an admission of guilt that occurs as repentance begins. A wife will write, “My husband is filled with remorse!” But remorse is not repentance. Remorse and sorrow continue because a person has not yet fully repented. Suffering, punishment, confession, remorse, and sorrow may sometimes accompany repentance, but they are not repentance.” (Elder Theodore Burton, August 1988 Ensign)

Repentance is…. Repentance is not…

10 Questions about Repentance

“The Lord has declared that the bishop is a common judge in Israel (see D&C 107:72, 74). He has the responsibility to determine the worthiness of the members of his ward. By ordination and righteous living, the bishop is entitled to revelation from the Holy Ghost regarding the members of his ward, including you. “Your bishop will counsel you on what to do to strengthen your ability to resist temptation. He may encourage you to study a doctrinal topic, such as repentance, and then to share with him what you have learned. He may ask you to visit with him each week to report how you are doing in removing yourself from tempting situations.” Why do I need to see a Bishop after I commit a ‘big’ sin? Why can’t I talk to my parents? Elder C. Scott Grown, “Why and What Do I Need to Confess to My Bishop?” October 2013 New Era

The short answer: ‘Your conscience will tell you.’ When you feel the sting of conscience, act immediately” (see Alma 34:31–34). How can I tell if I need to talk to the Bishop? Elder C. Scott Grown, “Why and What Do I Need to Confess to My Bishop?” October 2013 New Era

“Don’t try to excuse yourself or rationalize your way out. You may be thinking, “It would be too embarrassing to tell the bishop what I have done. He thinks I am a better person than that. He will be shocked if I tell him what I did.” “When you confess and forsake your sins, the Lord will forgive you. You will not have to account to Him for those sins when the time comes for you to be judged.” What if I am too embarrassed to see my Bishop? Elder C. Scott Grown, “Why and What Do I Need to Confess to My Bishop?” October 2013 New Era

“Sometimes a person will stop doing wrong but never confess. As a consequence, the person continues to carry the burden of sin alone, instead of letting the Savior take away the burden. “If you have feelings of guilt but are not sure if you need to confess to your bishop, go see him. Let him help you. Don’t risk carrying an unnecessary burden through your life, which will leave you feeling miserable.” Why is confession necessary? Elder C. Scott Grown, “Why and What Do I Need to Confess to My Bishop?” October 2013 New Era

One evening a few years ago, I was interviewing adults for renewal of their temple recommends. A middle-aged woman came in for her interview. She had been married in the temple and was active in the Church all her life. As the interview progressed, I received a spiritual impression. I said to her, “Sister, I have the impression that you made a serious mistake when you were a teenager that you haven’t confessed to a priesthood leader. Would you be willing to tell me about it?” She immediately began to cry. She told me that was true, but she had always felt too embarrassed to confess it to a bishop. As she confessed what she had done, she shared sufficient detail for me to make a determination of her worthiness. Why is confession necessary? Elder C. Scott Grown, “Why and What Do I Need to Confess to My Bishop?” October 2013 New Era

The confession of her sin to a priesthood leader marked the end of her repentance process rather than the beginning. She had unnecessarily carried the burden and sorrow of that sin for more than 30 years. I want you to know that I do not remember her name. The Lord can remove such memories from bishops. What I do remember is that through confession to her priesthood leader, a middle-aged woman was relieved of feelings of guilt that she had carried far too many years. Why is confession necessary? Elder C. Scott Grown, “Why and What Do I Need to Confess to My Bishop?” October 2013 New Era

A man came to me for a temple recommend and said, “Forty-two years ago, before my wife and I were married, we committed fornication once, the week prior to our going to the temple. We did not lie to the bishop, who was my wife’s father; he simply talked with us and signed our recommends. We then went to the stake president, and he did not interview us. He signed our recommends, and we went to the temple unworthily. While we were on our honeymoon,” he continued, “we decided to make it up to the Lord. We decided we would pay more than our share of tithing and fast offering; we would accept every assignment to the welfare farm and do all else we were asked to do. It has been forty-two years since the transgression, and we have lived as near Christlike lives as we know how. I believe we have been forgiven, but I know that confession is necessary.” Why is confession necessary? Elder Vaughn J Featherstone, November 1980 General Conference

I listened to his confession. I wept with him, and when he finished the confession, I told him on behalf of the Church that he was forgiven. He need not discuss it, think about it, or be concerned about it anymore. I told him never to mention it to me again, for I would not remember it and had no desire to. To this day, I cannot remember who it was, although I do remember the case. Why is confession necessary? Elder Vaughn J Featherstone, November 1980 General Conference

We got up and walked to the door together. I said, “Where is your wife?” He said, “She is in the car.” I asked, “Is she coming in?” He replied, “No, she can’t even think about it except it almost destroys her.” I said, “You tell your wife that I would like to visit with her now. Tell her I want to take this off her heart and close it. Tell her I know what it was that was done, and I will close it, and it need not be opened again. Tell her I will make it as easy as possible for her.” He said, “I’ll tell her, but I don’t think she will come in.” I answered, “You tell her that if I have to sit here all night, I will not go home until she comes in. I can’t bear the thought of her carrying this on her heart one more day in this life; forty-two years is long enough.” He said, “Well, I’ll tell her, but I don’t think she’ll come in.” Why is confession necessary? Elder Vaughn J Featherstone, November 1980 General Conference

He left and was gone fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, and forty-five minutes; then I heard a timid knock at the door. I went to the door, and there was this sweet woman standing there. Her eyes were wet from crying. I took her by both hands and led her across the room. I sat across the corner of the desk, and then I said, “Your husband confessed to a transgression that happened over forty- two years ago of which you were a part. I want to make it easy for you. I know what the transgression is. You tell me, and I will take it off your heart.” It was like pulling wild horses to get a confession. Finally, about fifteen minutes later, she confessed. I wept; she wept. I said, “How do you feel?” She stopped, looked up at me and, with tears in her eyes, and said, “President, I feel clean for the first time in forty-two years.” Why is confession necessary? Elder Vaughn J Featherstone, November 1980 General Conference

“Satan will try to make us believe that our sins are not forgiven because we can remember them. Satan is a liar; God did not promise that we would not remember our sins. Remembering will help us avoid making the same mistakes again. “If we stay true and faithful, the memory of our sins will be softened over time. “It is our responsibility to avoid anything that would bring back old sinful memories.” (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Point of Safe Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 101). What if I still ‘remember’ my sin? Am I not forgiven?

“Repent, lest … your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain and to bleed at every pore. “Wherefore, I command you again to repent, … and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken” (D&C 19:15–17, 20). How bad will it really be if I don’t confess and repent?

“Guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body—a warning of danger and a protection from additional damage. From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt. This salve can only be applied through sincere repentance. “Your bishop is the spiritual physician’s assistant who is authorized to help you repent and heal.” What is the purpose of the pain associated with repentance? Elder David A. Bednar, “We Believe in Being Chaste,” Ensign May 2013, 44.

"In a real though figurative sense, the book of life is the record of the acts of men as such record is written in their own bodies. It is the record engraven on the very bones, sinews, and flesh of the mortal body. That is, every thought, word and deed has an effect on the human body; all these leave their marks, marks which can be read by Him who is Eternal as easily as the words in a book can be read. (Bruce R McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 97.) Is there really a book that angels write that has a list of everything we’ve done?

“We are spinning our own fates good or evil, and never to be undone. Every smallest stroke of virtue or of vice leaves its ever so little scar. Down among his nerve-cells and fibers the molecules are counting it, registering and storing it up to be used against him when the next temptation comes.” (Psychology, Henry Holt I Co., N. Y. 1892, p. 150.) Is there really a book that angels write that has a list of everything we’ve done?

“When a person has gone through the process of repentance, the Savior not only cleanses that person from sin, but he also gives him or her new strength. To be admitted to his presence, we must be more than clean. We must also be changed from a weak person who has transgressed into a strong person with the spiritual stature to dwell in the presence of God.” What blessings come because of repentance? Elder Dallin H. Oaks, The Lord's Way, p.226

MORMON MESSAGE: Reclaimed

Who can testify of the blessings of Repentance?