Close Topic Options

The Unforgivable? - Page 2

That brings up this thought: If you don't accept the Savior's forgiveness, what you are doing in a way is saying that the atonement doesn't work for you. In effect, you might say that the Savior suffered in vain. So, if you believe that the Savior atoned for your sins, you must accept that you have been forgiven those sins AND you must forgive yourself and move on.

Unforgivable The

Yes a very good point. Actually addressed in the recent conference. I believe it was by Elder Hales. He spoke of repentance pleading with all those who feel far lost to come home. He mentioned the "gears of repentance" and how they turn slowly but turn exceedingly well. We definently must forgive ourselfs.

The Unforgivable? Studies Doctrine Mormon

"Some worry endlessly over missions that were missed, or marriages that did not turn out, or babies that did not arrive, or children that seem lost, or dreams unfulfilled, or because age limits what they can do. I do not think it pleases the Lord when we worry because we think we never do enough or that what we do is never good enough.

"Some needlessly carry a heavy burden of guilt which could be removed through
confession and repentance."

--President Boyd K. Packer, "The Least of These," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 87

Page 2 Unforgivable The

I think that this highlights one of the adversary's strongest tools - despair. We have come to think that we must be perfect BEFORE the Atonement can help us, and every time we slip, our despair of ever changing grows.

Eventually, we start to think that since we don't have any chance at all of reaching the Celestial Kingdom, we might as well give up and settle for much less. Thus despair leads to a feeling of worthlessness, and we spiral downwards.

I think that this is a very common problem among all of us.

Unforgivable The

It seems that the cycle of despair, by which so many feel unforgiveable, begins the moment soon after sin when prayer is the best option, but the sinner feels unworthy to pray. Procrastinating prayer because one feels too unclean to approach God is probably the most common first step to self-destruction. The sin itself is probably not more serious than the decision not to pray and seek to correct the problem.

The Unforgivable?

"Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. . . ."

-- Elder David A. Bednar, "The Tender Mercies of the Lord," Ensign, May 2005, 99-100

The Unforgivable - Page 2

"Sometimes we carry unhappy feelings about past hurts too long. We spend too much energy dwelling on things that have passed and cannot be changed. We struggle to close the door and let go of the hurt. If, after time, we can forgive whatever may have caused the hurt, we will tap 'into a life-giving source of comfort' through the Atonement, and the 'sweet peace' of forgiveness will be ours ("My Journey to Forgiving," Ensign, Feb. 1997. 43). Some injuries are so hurtful and deep that healing comes only with help from a higher power and hope for perfect justice and restitution in the next life. . . . You can tap into that higher power and receive precious comfort and sweet peace."

-- James E. Faust, "Instruments in the Hands of God," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 115

The Unforgivable Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 2

"Is it possible to reclaim a life that through reckless abandon has become so strewn with garbage that it appears that the person is unforgivable? Or what about the one who is making an honest effort but has fallen back into sin so many times that he feels that there is no possible way to break the seemingly endless pattern? Or what about the person who has changed his life but just can't forgive himself? . . .

"The Atonement of Jesus Christ is available to each of us. His Atonement is infinite. It applies to everyone, even you. It can clean, reclaim, and sanctify even you. That is what infinite means--total, complete, all, forever."
(Shayne M. Bowen, "The Atonement Can Clean, Reclaim, and Sanctify Our Lives," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 33-3)