30 Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.
(Mosiah 26:30)
This week, I’m studying the second principle of the gospel: repentance. Today, I’m thinking about the optimism and hope this principle can and should bring into our lives. Inherent in the principle of repentance is the opportunity for second chances. We never need to feel that all is lost — we have the promise from our Heavenly Father that He will forgive us “as often as [we] repent.”
As D. Todd Christofferson has taught:
Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration (“The Divine Gift of Repentance,” General Conference, October 2011).
I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who wants to help me grow and progress and who is willing to ignore my past mistakes when I am willing to acknowledge them, accept responsibility for them, and turn away from them.
I love this scripture. Elder Robbins referenced it in his last General Conference address ” Until Seventy Times Seven” (April 2018). The principle of repentance truly is a gift to be rejoiced in because it gives us all the second chances we need to learn and grow in our quest to become more like Heavenly Father.
Thanks for the comment. I really enjoyed Elder Robbins’s talk as well.