As a missionary it was so easy to believe in forgiveness for those whom I taught. I knew that the Lord would forgive them for any misdeed they committed before they obtained the gift of the gospel. I also knew that they would be forgiven by the Savior as they continued on a path of righteousness and strived to live the gospel. I felt great conviction when I bore testimony of these truths to investigators and members. Sometimes however, it is difficult to extend those promises to myself.
The Lord comes to the Brother of Jared in Ether 2:14 and speaks to him for three hours. The Lord chastens him for his forgetfulness. The brother of Jared repents and the Lord forgives him with an admonition to not sin anymore. Sometime it is hard to come to the Lord with repentance. Sometimes feelings of unworthiness or embarrassment prevent us from going to Him. There are times when we know very well not to do something and yet we do it, not only once but we make the same mistake over and over again. How could the Lord want to forgive us when He has seen our repetitive nature? It reminds me of overeating or indulging in treats. It tastes great while we savor the food and treats, we feel sick by the end, promise ourselves that we will never eat that much or a specific food again, and eventually eat the very same food in the same quantity!
The Lord is always ready to forgive though. He is waiting with open arms and in some instances even comes to us. I love the words of the Lord in the book of Isaiah which read, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”(44:22) The Lord comes to us and asks that we return to Him.
We do not have to carry the burden of regret of guilt. We can return to the Lord because He has come to us and redeemed us. We can find peace and be tools in the Lord’s hand as we regularly repent and strive to be better.
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