List of Doctrines on "Repentance: Steps of Repentance"
Author's Note: Elder Spencer W. Kimball is quoted hereafter stating repentance seems to fall into five steps. The Doctrinal Restatements that follow cover each of these five steps. They are:
1. Sorrow for sin.
2. Abandonment of sin.
3. Confession of sin.
4. Restitution for sin.
5. Doing the will of the Lord.
629. Sorrow for sin is essential to the spirit of repentance.
630. Abandonment of sin is a necessary part of repentance.
631. Confession of sin is a necessary part of repentance.
632. Confession of sins is to be made to the appropriate persons—not all sins are to be confessed publicly but are to be confessed where the confession belongs.
633. Making restitution, as much as is possible, is part of complete repentance.
634. Obedience—living the commandments of the Lord—is one of the requisites for repentance.
634a. Forgiving others is a necessary part of repentance.
629. Sorrow for sin is essential to the spirit of repentance.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Abraham H. Cannon
Elder Joseph F. Smith
George Q. Cannon
Orson Pratt
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Richard G. Scott
King Benjamin
James E. Talmage
King Benjamin
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Repentance seems to fall into five steps:
1. Sorrow for sin.
2. Abandonment of sin.
3. Confession of sin.
4. Restitution for sin.
5. Doing the will of the Lord. ("Be Ye Clean," Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, Provo, 1954, pp. 8-9) TLDP:550
Abraham H. Cannon
Then we want them [men] to be filled with the spirit of repentance, which follows faith, and which is the natural result of faith in God; for if men are filled with faith in the Father and in the Son, they will naturally desire to place themselves in a condition to be fit associates for such holy beings, and they will look back upon their past lives with sorrow—with a sorrow which will prompt them to be more righteous, more God-fearing, more upright, in the future. Then repentance of sin will come upon them; . . . a repentance that prompts men to make restitution, as far as it is possible for them to do so, for the sins which they have committed, and to restore four-fold, if necessary, in order to obtain pardon for the wrong done. (Millennial Star, July 18, 1895, p. 453) TLDP:546
Elder Joseph F. Smith
True repentance is not only sorrow for sins, and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them, a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from darkness to light. Not only so, but to make restitution, so far as it is possible, for all the wrongs we have done, to pay our debts, and restore to God and man their rights—that which is due them from us. This is true repentance, and the exercise of the will and all the powers of body and mind is demanded, to complete this glorious work of repentance. (Gospel Doctrine, pp. 100-01) TLDP:549; DGSM:40, in part.
George Q. Cannon
If you and I and all who profess to be the followers of the Lord Jesus will bow down before him with humble hearts, each of us with a broken heart and contrite spirit, what will be the effect? Why, we will confess our faults to him, because they will be plain in our sight, we will see ourselves in the light of the Spirit of God, and the spirit of repentance will rest down upon us. (In Tabernacle, July 27, 1879, JD20:289) TLDP:546
Orson Pratt,
quoted by James E. Talmage
quoted by James E. Talmage
Repentance, then, is not only a confession of sins, with a sorrowful, contrite heart, but a fixed, settled purpose to refrain from every evil way. AF:102
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley
Before leaving this matter I should like to add that if there be any here who have so sinned, there is repentance and there is forgiveness, provided there is “godly sorrow.” (CR 1983Oct; Be Not Deceived, Ensign, November 1983, p.44)
Richard G. Scott
To feel sorrow and be motivated to confess is a proper beginning, but it is not sufficient. When confession is voluntary, the action required for repentance is greatly simplified. It does no good for an individual to stonewall efforts of a judge in Israel to encourage repentance by denying that a real transgression has occurred or by being otherwise unyielding. Lehi taught, “He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.” There must be humility and sorrow. (CR 2000Oct; The Path to Peace and Joy, Ensign, November 2000, p.25)
Related Witnesses:
King Benjamin,
quoted by Mormon
quoted by Mormon
And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them. 11. And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. 12. And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true. (King Benjamin addresses his people, about 124 B.C.) Mosiah 4:10-12
James E. Talmage
As soon as one has come to recognize the existence and authority of God, he feels a respect for divine laws, and a conviction of his own unworthiness. His wish to please the Father, whom he has so long ignored, will impel him to forsake sin; and this impulse will acquire added strength from the sinner's natural and commendable desire to make reparation, if possible, and so avert the dire results of his own waywardness. With the zeal inspired by fresh conviction, he will crave an opportunity of showing by good works the sincerity of his newly developed faith; and he will regard the remission of his sins as the most desirable of blessings. AF:99
King Benjamin,
quoted by Mormon
quoted by Mormon
And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you. (King Benjamin addresses his people, about 124 B.C.) Mosiah 2:25
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Repentance is the key to forgiveness. It opens the door to happiness and peace and points the way to salvation in the kingdom of God. It unlocks the spirit of humility in the soul of man and makes him contrite of heart and submissive to the will of God. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 133) TLDP:553
Author's Note: In the process of repentance we remind ourselves of the greatness of God, his goodness and longsuffering toward us, and in comparison we recognize we are nothing, thus humbling ourselves before God in the depths of humility and sorrow for sins.
630. Abandonment of sin is a necessary part of repentance.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Joseph Smith
President Joseph F. Smith
President Brigham Young
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Hugh B. Brown
King Benjamin
President Brigham Young
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
There is one crucial test of repentance. This is abandonment of the sin. Providing that a person discontinues his sin with the right motives—because of a growing consciousness of the gravity of the sin and a willingness to comply with the laws of the Lord—he is genuinely repenting. This criterion has been set by the Lord: "By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them." (D&C 58:43) (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 163) TLDP:548
Joseph Smith
By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them. (Revelation for the elders of the Church, Aug. 1, 1831) D&C 58:43
President Joseph F. Smith
True repentance is not only sorrow for sins, and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them, a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from darkness to light. Not only so, but to make restitution, so far as it is possible, for all the wrongs we have done, to pay our debts, and restore to God and man their rights—that which is due to them from us. (Gospel Doctrine, p. 100) DGSM:40
President Brigham Young
Now, my brethren, you who have sinned, repent of your sins. I can say to you in regard to Jesus and the atonement (it is so written, and I firmly believe it), that Christ has died for all. He has paid the full debt, whether you receive the gift or not. But if we continue to sin, to lie, steal, bear false witness, we must repent of and forsake that sin to have the full efficacy of the blood of Christ. Without this it will be of no effect; repentance must come, in order that the atonement may prove a benefit to us. (In Bowery, April 8, 1867, JD11:375) TLDP:544
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Now, when people come into this Church they should, by all means, subscribe to the regulations which the Lord himself has laid down by commandment. But does that mean that after we are in the Church, after we have confessed our sins and have forsaken them, that we can return to them after membership has been secured? That would not be consistent. Woe unto all those who are disobedient after they have made the preparation which is expressed in this commandment [2 Nephi 9:27] which I have read to you—woe unto them. CR1941Oct:93
Hugh B. Brown
When we speak of the continual need of repentance, let it not be understood that we refer to a cycle of sinning and repenting and sinning again. That is not complete repentance. We must see the right and follow it, recognize the wrong and forsake it with a "Godly sorrow" if we would obtain the blessing of complete repentance. A growing conception of the good life must be accompanied by constant adjustment thereto if one would achieve harmony with the will of God. (Eternal Quest, pp. 99-102) DGSM:39
King Benjamin,
quoted by Mormon
quoted by Mormon
And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them. (King Benjamin addresses his people, about 124 B.C.) Mosiah 4:10
President Brigham Young
You cannot constantly be sinning a little and repenting, and retain the Spirit of the Lord as your constant companion. (In Tabernacle, Feb. 16, 1862, JD9:220) TLDP:546
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
The abandonment of sin is an important part of repentance and is a requirement before forgiveness can be expected. The Lord says we may know a man has repented if he confess and forsake his sins.( CR 1949Oct; Third Day—Morning Meeting, p.127)
Related Witnesses:
Joseph Smith
Go ye out from Babylon. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. (Revelation received Nov. 3, 1831; the Saints are to prepare for the Second Coming) D&C 133:5
Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord
receiving the Word of the Lord
Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; (Revelation received at Kirtland, Ohio, May 6, 1833) D&C 93:1
Joseph Smith
Repentance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression and daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God. (Joseph instructs the brethren at a conference of the Twelve, June 1839) HC3:379; DGSM:39; TPJS:148
631. Confession of sin is a necessary part of repentance.
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Joseph Smith
Marion G. Romney
Mormon
Recorded in Proverbs
John
Richard G. Scott
Richard G. Scott
Neal A. Maxwell
Mormon
Joseph Smith
By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them. (Revelation for the elders of the Church, Aug. 1, 1831) D&C 58:43
Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord
receiving the Word of the Lord
Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, . . . (A commandment of God for Martin Harris, March 1830) D&C 19:20
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
It follows that the ideal confession is voluntary, not forced. It is induced from within the offender's soul, not sparked by being found out in the sin. Such confession, like the voluntary humility of which Alma spoke (Alma 32:13-16, is a sign of growing repentance. It indicates the sinner's conviction of sin and his desire to abandon the evil practices. The voluntary confession is infinitely more acceptable in the sight of the Lord than is forced admission, lacking humility, wrung from an individual by questioning when guilt is evident. Such forced admission is not evidence of the humble heart which calls forth the Lord's mercy: " . . . For I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts." (D&C 61:2italics added) (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 181) TLDP:551
Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord
receiving the Word of the Lord
Nevertheless, he has sinned; but verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death. (Revelation for the elders of the Church at Kirtland, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1831) D&C 64:7
Marion G. Romney
[T]here are many among us whose distress and suffering are unnecessarily prolonged because they do not complete their repentance by confessing their sins. . . .
Repeatedly he [the Savior] says that he forgives the sins of those who confess their sins with humbleness of heart, " . . . who have not sinned unto death." CR1955Oct:124
Mormon
Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also.
30. Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. (The voice of the Lord to Alma, about 120-100 B.C.) Mosiah 26:29-30
Recorded in Proverbs
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13
John
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (Letter to the churches in Asia) 1 John 1:9
Richard G. Scott
To feel sorrow and be motivated to confess is a proper beginning, but it is not sufficient. When confession is voluntary, the action required for repentance is greatly simplified. It does no good for an individual to stonewall efforts of a judge in Israel to encourage repentance by denying that a real transgression has occurred or by being otherwise unyielding. Lehi taught, “He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.” There must be humility and sorrow. (CR 2000Oct; The Path to Peace and Joy, Ensign, November 2000, p.25)
Richard G. Scott
Confession of sin. You always need to confess your sins to the Lord. If they are serious transgressions, such as immorality, they need to be confessed to a bishop or stake president. Please understand that confession is not repentance. It is an essential step, but is not of itself adequate. Partial confession by mentioning lesser mistakes will not help you resolve a more serious, undisclosed transgression. Essential to forgiveness is a willingness to fully disclose to the Lord and, where necessary, His priesthood judge all that you have done. Remember, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (CR 1995Apr; Finding Forgiveness, Ensign, May 1995, p.75)
Neal A. Maxwell
True repentance also includes confession: “Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers.” (Ezra 10:11.) One with a broken heart will not hold back. As confession lets the sickening sin empty out, then the Spirit which withdrew returns to renew. (CR 1991Oct; Repentance, Ensign, November 1991, p.30)
Related Witnesses:
Mormon
And it came to pass that they did preach with great power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who had gone over from the Nephites, insomuch that they came forth and did confess their sins and were baptized unto repentance, and immediately returned to the Nephites to endeavor to repair unto them the wrongs which they had done. (Nephi and Lehi, sons of Helaman, preach to the Lamanites and convert Nephite dissenters in Zarahemla, about 30 B.C.) Helaman 5:17
632. Confession of sins is to be made to the appropriate persons—not all sins are to be confessed publicly but are to be confessed where the confession belongs.
Elder Harold B. Lee
Marion G. Romney
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
President Brigham Young
President Brigham Young
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Elder Harold B. Lee
That confession must be made first to him or her who has been most wronged by your acts. A sincere confession is not merely admitting guilt after the proof is already in evidence. If you have "offended many persons openly," your acknowledgment is to be made openly and before those whom you have offended that you might show your shame and humility and willingness to receive a merited rebuke. If your act is secret and has resulted in injury to no one but yourself, your confession should be in secret, that your Heavenly Father who hears in secret may reward you openly. Acts that may affect your standing in the Church, or your right to privileges or advancement in the Church, are to be promptly confessed to the bishop whom the Lord has appointed as a shepherd over every flock and commissioned to be a common judge in Israel. He may hear such confession in secret and deal justly and mercifully, as each case warrants. The unbaptized who is in sin may by following a similar course receive at the hands of an authorized elder of the Church, if otherwise prepared by an understanding of the gospel, baptism for the remission of his sins. (Decisions for Successful Living, p. 99) TLDP:551
Marion G. Romney
We are to confess all our sins to the Lord. For transgressions which are wholly personal, affecting none but ourselves and the Lord, confession to ourselves and him would seem to be sufficient. . . .
For misconduct which affects another, confession should also be made to the offended one and his forgiveness sought.
Finally, where one's transgressions are of such a nature as would, unrepented of, put in jeopardy his right to membership or fellowship in the Church of Christ, full and effective confession requires confession by the repentant sinner to his bishop or other proper presiding Church officer—not that the Church officer could forgive him the sin (for this power rests in the Lord himself and those only to whom he specifically delegates the power), but rather that the Church, acting through its duly appointed officers (the power is not in the officer but in the Church), might with full knowledge of the facts take such action with respect to Church discipline as the circumstances require and merit. CR1980Oct:71; DGSM:40
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Knowing the hearts of men, and their intents, and their abilities to repent and regenerate themselves, the Lord waits to forgive until the repentance has matured. The transgressor must have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit" and be willing to humble himself and do all that is required. The confession of his major sins to a proper Church authority is one of those requirements made by the Lord. These sins include adultery, fornication, other sexual transgressions, and other sins of comparable seriousness. This procedure of confession assures proper controls and protection for the Church and its people and sets the feet of the transgressor on the path of true repentance.
Many offenders in their shame and pride have satisfied their consciences, temporarily at least, with a few silent prayers to the Lord and rationalized that this was sufficient confession of their sins. "But I have confessed my sin to my Heavenly Father," they will insist, "and that is all that is necessary." This is not true where a major sin is involved. Then two sets of forgiveness are required to bring peace to the transgressor—one from the proper authorities of the Lord's Church, and one from the Lord himself. This is brought out in the Lord's clarification of Church administration as he gave it to Alma : "Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also." (See Mosiah 26:29.)
From this, and from the Lord's word to modern Israel— " . . . confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord" (See D&C 59:12.)—it is plain that there are two confessions to make: one to the Lord and the other to "the brethren," meaning the proper ecclesiastical officers. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 179-80) TLDP:552-53
President Brigham Young,
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
. . .I believe in coming out and being plain and honest with that which should be made public, and in keeping to yourselves that which should be kept. If you have your weaknesses, keep them hid from your brethren as much as you can. You never hear me ask the people to tell their follies. But when we ask the brethren, as we frequently do, to speak in sacrament meetings, we wish them, if they have injured their neighbors, to confess their wrongs; but do not tell about your nonsensical conduct that nobody knows of but yourselves. Tell to the public that which belongs to the public. If you have sinned against the people, confess to them. If you have sinned against a family or a neighborhood, go to them and confess. If you have sinned against your Ward, confess to your Ward. If you have sinned against one individual, take that person by yourselves and make your confession to him. And if you have sinned against your God, or against yourselves, confess to God, and keep the matter to yourselves, for I do not want to know anything about it. (In Tabernacle, March 10, 1860, JD8:362) DBY:158
President Brigham Young,
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
If children have sinned against their parents, or husbands against their wives, or wives against their husbands, let them confess their faults one to another and forgive each other, and there let the confession stop; and then let them ask pardon from their God. Confess your sins to whoever you have sinned against, and let it stop there. If you have committed a sin against the community, confess to them. If you have sinned in your family, confess there. Confess your sins, iniquities, and follies, where that confession belongs, and, learn to classify your actions. (In Tabernacle, Nov. 9, 1856, JD4:79) DBY:204
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
While the major sins such as those listed earlier in this chapter call for confession to the proper Church authorities, clearly such confession is neither necessary nor desirable for all sins. Those of lesser gravity but which have offended others, marital differences, minor fits of anger, disagreements and such—should instead be confessed to the person or persons hurt and the matter should be cleared between the persons involved, normally without a reference to a Church authority. And if one confesses his sins, there is an obligation on the part of the Church membership to accept and forgive, to eradicate from their hearts the memory of the transgression or ill feelings. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 185) TLDP:551-52
Related Witnesses:
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Generally it is unwise and quite unnecessary to confess the same sin over and over again. If a major transgression has been fully confessed to and cleared by the proper authority, the person may usually clear himself in any future interview by explaining that this is so and giving the authority's name. Providing there has been no repetition of the offense, nor a commission of any other serious transgression, usually the matter may be considered settled. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 187-88) TLDP:552
633. Making restitution, as much as is possible, is part of complete repentance.
Elder Joseph F. Smith
Recorded in Leviticus
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
Ezekiel
President Harold B. Lee
Abraham H. Cannon
Recorded in Numbers
Russell M. Nelson
Boyd K. Packer
Mormon
Elder Joseph F. Smith
When we commit sin, it is necessary that we repent of it and make restitution as far as lies in our power. When we cannot make restitution for the wrong we have done, then we must apply for the grace and mercy of God to cleanse us from that iniquity.
Men cannot forgive their own sins; they cannot cleanse themselves from the consequences of their sins. Men can stop sinning and can do right in the future, and so far their acts are acceptable before the Lord and worthy of consideration. But who shall repair the wrongs they have done to themselves and to others, which it seems impossible for them to repair themselves? By the atonement of Jesus Christ the sins of the repentant shall be washed away; though they be crimson they shall be made white as wool. This is the promise given to you. We who have not paid our tithing in the past, and are therefore under obligations to the Lord, which we are not in position to discharge, the Lord requires that no longer at our hands, but will forgive us for the past if we will observe this law honestly in the future. That is generous and kind, and I feel grateful for it. CR1899Oct:41-42
Recorded in Leviticus
Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
5. Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. (To Moses, the Lord reveals his laws for ancient Israel) Leviticus 6:4-5
Elder Spencer W. Kimball
One may trespass in ignorance. Should anyone be in sin yet be unaware of the evil nature of his actions, he should be required to make restitution so far as possible when brought to a realization of his sin. . . .
A thief or burglar may make partial restitution by returning that which was stolen. A liar may make the truth known and correct to some degree the damage done by the lie. A gossip who has slandered the character of another may make partial restitution through strenuous effort to restore the good name of the person he harmed. If by sin or carelessness the wrongdoer has destroyed property, he may restore or pay for it in full or in part.
If a man's actions have brought sorrow and disgrace to his wife and children, in his restitution he must make every effort to restore their confidence and love by an overabundance of filial devotion and fidelity. This is true also of wives and mothers. Likewise if children have wronged their parents, a part of their program of repentance must be to right those wrongs and to honor their parents.
As a rule there are many things which a repentant soul can do to make amends. "A broken heart and a contrite spirit" will usually find ways to restore to some extent. The true spirit of repentance demands that he who injures shall do everything in his power to right the wrong. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 194-95) TLDP:550
Ezekiel
If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. (Ezekiel preaches the word of the Lord) Ezekiel 33:15
President Harold B. Lee
If the time comes when you have done all that you can to repent of your sins, whoever you are, wherever you are, and have made amends and restitution to the best of your ability; if it be something that will affect your standing in the Church and you have gone to the proper authorities, then you will want that confirming answer as to whether or not the Lord has accepted of you. In your soul-searching, if you seek for and you find that peace of conscience, by that token you may know that the Lord has accepted of your repentance. CR1973Apr:177; DGSM:41
Abraham H. Cannon
Then repentance of sin will come upon them; . . . a repentance that prompts men to make restitution, as far as it is possible for them to do so, for the sins which they have committed, and to restore four-fold, if necessary, in order to obtain pardon for the wrong done. (Millennial Star, July 18, 1895, p. 453) TLDP:546
Recorded in Numbers
Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. (Revelation to Moses for the children of Israel) Numbers 5:7
Russell M. Nelson
In your journey through life, you meet many obstacles and make some mistakes. Scriptural guidance helps you to recognize error and make the necessary correction. You stop going in the wrong direction. You carefully study the scriptural road map. Then you proceed with repentance and restitution required to get on the “strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life. (CR 2000Oct; Living by Scriptural Guidance, Ensign, November 2000, p.16)
Boyd K. Packer
Your repentance cannot be accepted unless there is a restitution. If you cannot undo what you have done, you are trapped. It is easy to understand how helpless and hopeless you then feel and why you might want to give up, just as Alma did. ¶ The thought that rescued Alma, when he acted upon it, is this: Restoring what you cannot restore, healing the wound you cannot heal, fixing that which you broke and you cannot fix is the very purpose of the atonement of Christ. (CR 1995Oct; The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness, Ensign, November 1995, p.18)
Related Witnesses:
Mormon
And it came to pass that they did preach with great power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who had gone over from the Nephites, insomuch that they came forth and did confess their sins and were baptized unto repentance, and immediately returned to the Nephites to endeavor to repair unto them the wrongs which they had done. (Nephi and Lehi, sons of Helaman, preach to the Lamanites and convert Nephite dissenters in Zarahemla, about 30 B.C.) Helaman 5:17
634. Obedience—living the commandments of the Lord—is one of the requisites for repentance.
President Spencer W. Kimball
John A. Widtsoe
Joseph Smith
George Teasdale
President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant
Richard G. Scott
Richard G. Scott
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Smith
President Spencer W. Kimball
One of the requisites for repentance is the living of the commandments of the Lord. Perhaps few people realize that as an important element; though one may have abandoned a particular sin and even confessed it to his bishop, yet he is not repentant if he has not developed a life of action and service and righteousness, which the Lord has indicated to be very necessary: "He that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven." (D&C 1:32) ("What Is True Repentance?" EN1974May:4; The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 105) TLDP:548
John A. Widtsoe
To repent is first to turn from old practices. Thus, he who violates any of God's laws renders himself liable to certain punishment, but, if he repents, and sins no more, the punishments are averted. Naturally, such a change of heart and action can come only after faith has been established. No man will change a habit without a satisfactory reason. In fact, all the actions of men should be guided by reason. Repentance then is a kind of obedience or active faith; and is great in proportion to the degree of faith possessed by the individual. Certainly, the repentance of no man can transcend his faith, which includes his knowledge. . . .
To repent is more than to turn from incorrect practices. It implies also the adoption of new habits. The man who has turned from his sins, may learn of a law, which he has never violated, yet which if obeyed, means progress for him. If he does not follow such a law, but remains neutral in its presence, he certainly is a sinner. To repent from such sin, is to obey each higher law as it appears. In the spiritual life, it is impossible for the person who desires the greatest joy to remain passive in the presence of new principles. He must embrace them; live them; make them his own. . . .
The obedience yielded to the new knowledge is a kind of repentance. When a person, in religion or science, ceases to break law, he ceases from active evil; when he accepts a new law, he ceases from passive evil. No repentance can be complete which does not cease from both active and passive evil.
Viewed in this manner, then, repentance is obedience to law and is active faith. The law, before it is obeyed, must be understood—that is, faith must precede repentance. Therefore, the obedience yielded can increase only with the knowledge or faith of the individual. As the Prophet Joseph Smith stated it, "No man can be saved in ignorance" and "a person is saved no faster than he gains intelligence."
Repentance is as truly the second principle of action for individuals, in the domain of science as of theology. (Joseph Smith as Scientist, pp. 80-82) TLDP:547-48
Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord
receiving the Word of the Lord
Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; (Revelation received at Kirtland, Ohio, May 6, 1833) D&C 93:1
George Teasdale
Our message to the sinner is that if he will repent, cease to do evil and learn to do well, he shall receive a remission of his sins, through obedience to the Gospel and dedicating the rest of his life to the service of God. What a bright and glorious outlook, to be redeemed from sin and to have the privilege of walking in the light, receiving salvation, and obtaining a glorious resurrection CR1903Oct:50
President Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Jedediah M. Grant
(First Presidency)
To all the honest in heart throughout the world, both of high and low degree, we say "repent, and be baptized for the remission of your sins," obey the ordinances of the Gospel through the administrations of the servants of the living God, for the judgments of the Almighty are upon you, flee therefore from the sinks of iniquity and corruption, lest the fiery indignation of the Lord also consume you with the wicked, of whom He has decreed that He will empty the earth. (Twelfth General Epistle of the Presidency, Aug. 11, 1855) (Deseret News, April 25, 1855) MOFP2:171; TLDP:544-45
Richard G. Scott
I testify that when a bishop or stake president has confirmed that your repentance is sufficient, know that your obedience has allowed the Atonement of Jesus Christ to satisfy the demands of justice for the laws you have broken. Therefore you are now free. Please believe it. To continually suffer the distressing effects of sin after adequate repentance, while not intended, is to deny the efficacy of the Savior’s Atonement in your behalf. (CR 2004Oct; Peace of Conscience and Peace of Mind, Ensign, November 2004, p.15)
Richard G. Scott
He guides it. He has given His life that even in our weakness, we may overcome our mistakes through repentance and obedience to His gospel. (CR 1999Oct; He Lives, Ensign, November 1999, p.87)
Related Witnesses:
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Now, when people come into this Church they should, by all means, subscribe to the regulations which the Lord himself has laid down by commandment. But does that mean that after we are in the Church, after we have confessed our sins and have forsaken them, that we can return to them after membership has been secured? That would not be consistent. Woe unto all those who are disobedient after they have made the preparation which is expressed in this commandment [2 Nephi 9:27] which I have read to you—woe unto them. CR1941Oct:93
Joseph Smith
For unless a person does know that he is walking according to the will of God, it would be offering an insult to the dignity of the Creator were he to say that he would be a partaker of his glory when he should be done with the things of this life. But when he has this knowledge, and most assuredly knows that he is doing the will of God, his confidence can be equally strong that he will be a partaker of the glory of God. (Lectures on Faith delivered to the School of the Prophets, 1834-35) LOF6:6
634a. Forgiving others is a necessary part of repentance.
Richard G. Scott
Jesus Christ
Henry B. Eyring
Jeffrey R. Holland
Richard G. Scott
When needed, full repentance will require action on your part. If you are not familiar with the classic steps to repentance, such as confession and abandonment of sin, restitution, obedience, and seeking forgiveness, talk to a bishop or study a source such as President Spencer W. Kimball’s masterly work The Miracle of Forgiveness. In addition to fulfilling those requirements, the return of your peace of conscience will be hastened by careful attention to another step that is sometimes not recognized. The Savior has made it clear that to receive forgiveness you must forgive others their offenses against you. (CR 2004Oct; Peace of Conscience and Peace of Mind, Ensign (CR), November 2004, p.15)
Jesus Christ
"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven." (Luke 6:37)
Henry B. Eyring
Then the Savior set for us this standard of personal purity: “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” (Luke 11:4). The strengthening we are to give those we watch over comes from the Savior. We and they must forgive to be forgiven by Him (see Matt. 6:14). We and they can only hope to remain clean with His protection and with the change in our hearts that His Atonement makes possible. (CR 2000Apr; Watch Over and Strengthen, Ensign May 2000, p.66)
Jeffrey R. Holland
Closely related to our own obligation to repent is the generosity of letting others do the same—we are to forgive even as we are forgiven. In this we participate in the very essence of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. (CR 1996Oct; “The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom”, Ensign November 1996, p.82)
