“If Ye Will Repent…”

Samuel the Lamanite came to Zarahemla with a stern warning, so stern that they kicked him out. (See Helaman 13:2, 26.) But the Lord sent him back, and he delivered his message while standing on the wall of the city. (See Helaman 13:4.)

He warned them that their current behavior was leading to serious consequences. He spoke of their “utter destruction.” He told them that God would visit them in his “fierce anger” and that their treasures would be cursed, becoming “slippery.”

But throughout the sermon, he also taught that all of this sorrow and heartache can be avoided if they choose to repent. For example:

• “If ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord” (Helaman 13:11).
• “Blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare” (Helaman 13:13).
• “I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent and be saved” (Helaman 13:39).
• “If ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits” (Helaman 14:13).

It’s a stern message but not a hopeless one. It is still possible to avoid the looming calamities, he assured them, and God will honor your decision to change.

Was his sermon successful? The majority of the people did not believe his words, even when he was miraculously spared from their rocks and arrows. (See Helaman 16:6.) But those who did believe “went forth and sought for Nephi; and when they had come forth and found him they confessed unto him their sins and denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord” (Helaman 16:1). Samuel’s message of repentance did find a receptive audience.

I was in a church meeting yesterday where a speaker said that his favorite scripture is Moroni 6:8: “As oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.” He said, “It really is that simple.”

Today, I will be grateful for the gift of repentance. I will remember that God can help me overcome my poor decisions and become better tomorrow than I am today. I will choose to change, believing that His forgiveness is always always available to those who repent.