God loves all of His children.
That love is manifest in His “tender mercies” (1 Nephi 1:20), which we all experience, probably more frequently than we realize. It is also manifest in His willingness to reveal truth to everyone (see Title Page of the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 26:13), and in His promise to receive everyone who seeks a closer relationship with Him (2 Nephi 26:33).
It is also manifest in His transformative power. When the apostle Paul told the Athenians, “God…commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30), he was not only urging them to take action, but also expressing confidence in their ability to change and improve. When Jesus visited the Americas after His resurrection, He taught the same principle:
I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
3 Nephi 11:32-33
In an 1829 revelation to Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer, the Lord expanded upon this concept. “The world is ripening in iniquity,” He said, “and it must needs be that the children of men are stirred up unto repentance, both the Gentiles and also the house of Israel.” Addressing them both by name, He said, “I speak…by the way of commandment; for, behold, I command all men everywhere to repent. … For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer … suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:6, 9, 11).
President Russell M. Nelson once posed the question, “Does everyone need to repent?” His answer, of course, was “yes.” He explained:
Too many people consider repentance as punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered by Satan. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ, who stands with open arms, hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purify, and sanctify us.
“We Can Do Better and Be Better,” General Conference, April 2019
So He commands us all to repent, but you might also say that he invites us all to repent and experience the joy of being healed and transformed by Him.
Today, I will remember that God’s universal love is manifest in His universal invitation to repent. I will choose to do better and to be better, with gratitude that the Savior’s sacrifice makes repentance possible for everyone.
Leave a Reply