In his temple dedicatory prayer, Solomon repeatedly pleads with God to hear the prayers of repentant sinners, acknowledging that everyone sins. Joseph Smith echoed this sentiment in the Kirtland Temple dedicatory prayer. In the Book of Mormon, God provides an answer to this plea: as often as we repent, He will forgive.
Psalm 51 and 2 Nephi 4
David and Nephi each wrote psalms that illustrate the process of repentance. In both psalms, remorse leads to pleading, followed by assurance. Nephi highlights God's role throughout the process, as the source of his former joy, the provider of miracles, and the only one worthy of his trust.
Convinced of Our Ungodly Deeds
The Greek word "elegcho" has no exact English equivalent. It means to bring a fault to light, awakening an internal desire to correct it. When the Savior told John Murdock that He comes to "convince" us of our ungodly deeds, He meant that He will show us our faults so that we want to repent.
The Former Sins
The Lord said, "Unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return." He wasn't threatening to reinstate a penalty He had erased; He was cautioning against sliding back into harmful habits. Sin brings sorrow, and the Savior can help us not only eliminate sin but also keep it away permanently.
“The Rod of My Mouth”
In the scriptures, a rod represents correction, protection, and guidance. Nephi taught that the iron rod represents the word of God. Isaiah prophesied that God would smite the wicked with "the rod of his mouth." He always speaks the truth, and His words can prompt us to change and return to the path that leads to Him.
“All Men [and Women] Everywhere”
God's universal love is manifest in many ways. One of those ways is via a universal commandment to repent. This commandment is really an invitation to change and experience His healing and transformative power.
Repentance and Remission of Sins
Moroni tells us that priests were charged with preaching "repentance and remission of sins." Repentance is an invitation; remission of sins is an assurance. Because of Jesus, we can let our old selves go. We don't have to be burdened by our sins any more.
“He Began to Remember”
Coriantumr refused to respond to prophetic warnings from Ether for a long time. When he finally saw the wisdom in those warnings, it was too late to avoid the consequences of his unwise decisions. It is so much better to heed warnings and repent early!
Lists of Sins
Three times in 3 and 4 Nephi, we find lists of sins, which represent the many sins we abandon as we approach Jesus. When we do so, He will purify us, fill us with power, and include us in a community of believers.
“Loose Thyself”
Do we make repentance harder than it needs to be by thinking of it as the beginning of the process instead of the end? The Savior has already paid the price for our sins in full. All we have to do is set aside our chains, let them go, and walk away.