223. We are to forgive each other without condition, limitation, or exception.
224. When offended, we are to forgive the offending person and seek reconciliation.
225. God forgives those who forgive others.
226. The Church receives back into fellowship those transgressors who repent.
223. We are to forgive each other without condition, limitation, or exception.
also quoting Joseph Smith
The Lord has said, "I, the Lord will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men." (D&C 64:10) We are further admonished to forgive many times, even seventy times seven. We should stop and ask ourselves if we are prepared to ask the Lord to forgive us of our sins and trespasses only as we forgive our friends and neighbors. How wonderful it would be if we would all forgive and love our neighbors. Then it would be much easier for us to call upon the Lord to forgive us of any of our wrongdoings, and as we repent and bring forth fruits meet for repentance, we can expect God's forgiveness and mercy to be extended in our behalf. CR1974Apr:76
One of the most pleasing scenes that can transpire on earth, is, when a sin has been committed by one person against another, to forgive that sin: and then, according to the sublime and perfect pattern of the Savior, pray to our Father in heaven, to forgive also. ("A Friendly Hint to Missouri," Times and Seasons, March 15, 1844, p. 473) TLDP:206
I bear you my humble testimony, as one of the humblest among you: I know there are powers that can draw close to one who fills his heart with . . . love. . . . I came to a night, some years ago, when on my bed, I realized that before I could be worthy of the high place to which I had been called, I must love and forgive every soul that walked the earth, and in that time I came to know and I received a peace and a direction, and a comfort, and an inspiration, that told me things to come and gave me impressions that I knew were from a divine source. CR1946Oct:146
recorded in Matthew
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Jesus teaches his disciples the principle of forgiveness) Matthew 18:21-22
Until seventy times seven That seems very difficult indeed for us mortals, and yet there are still harder things to do. When they have repented and come on their knees to ask forgiveness, most of us can forgive, but the Lord has required that we shall even forgive them if they do not repent nor ask forgiveness of us. CR1949Oct:129
Remember we must forgive even if our offender did not repent and ask forgiveness. Stephen yet in his young life mastered this principle. His accusers, unable to find anything against him other than fancied blasphemy, stoned him to death. Not waiting for them to repent, Stephen displayed his saintliness by using his last breath to forgive them saying: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (Acts 7:60) They had taken his very life, and yet he forgave them. . . . The Lord Jesus also gave to us the lesson. Before they asked forgiveness, before they repented, while they were still in their murderous passion, he found it in his heart to forgive them and to ask his Father to ". . . forgive them; for they know not what they do." He did not wait till his crucifiers . . . should have a change of heart, but forgave them while they were yet covered with his life's blood. CR1949Oct:132
also quoting Jesus
If we would have peace as individuals, we must supplant enmity with forbearance, which means to refrain or abstain from finding fault or from condemning others. . . . We shall have power to do this if we really cherish in our hearts the ideals of Christ, who said: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." (Matthew 5:23-24
Note the Savior did not say if you have ought against him, but if you find that another has ought against you. CR1938Oct:133
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
Do not throw away a man or a woman, old or young. If they commit an evil today, and another tomorrow, but wish to be Saints and to be forgiven, do you forgive them, not only seven times, but seventy times seven in a day, if their hearts are fully set to do right. Let us make it a point to pass over their weaknesses and say, "God bless you in trying to be better in time to come, and act as wise stewards in the Kingdom of God." (In Tabernacle, March 17, 1871, JD8:368) DBY:277
There is a divinity within ourselves that is immortal and never dies. Thousands and thousands of years hence we will be ourselves, and nobody else. . . . We are as children growing and increasing in knowledge and wisdom. Some of the . . . great prophets advanced themselves to that degree of knowledge, and develop[ed] their immortal possibilities to an extent that is perfectly astonishing. And you and I will have to advance in this line until we control those things that the world cannot possibly do.
. . . . The Lord requires that men should forgive one another, even seventy times seven. And even if the party does not ask forgiveness, we are to forgive for a certain number of times. He that forgives not his brother, we are told, there remaineth in him the greater sin—that is, he is a greater sinner than the person that offended him. CR1898Apr:63
It is extremely hurtful for any man holding the Priesthood, and enjoying the gift of the Holy Ghost, to harbor a spirit of envy, or malice, or retaliation, or intolerance toward or against his fellowmen. We ought to say in our hearts, let God judge between me and thee, but as for me, I will forgive. I want to say to you that Latter-day Saints who harbor a feeling of unforgiveness in their souls are more guilty and more censurable than the one who has sinned against them. CR1902Oct:86-7; DGSM:40
Related Witnesses:
We are required to forgive all men, for our own sakes, since hatred retards spiritual growth. (Gospel Themes, p. 144) TLDP:206
receiving the Word of the Lord
[V]erily 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.
8. My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.
9. Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. (Revelation for the elders of the Church at Kirtland, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1831) D&C 64:7-10
Author's Note: There are two separate recorded statements, that on the surface appear contrary to this Doctrinal Statement (D-223). These are isolated statements that I have not found repeated elsewhere (which means they do not appear to comply with the Law of Witnesses). However, when understood in the context of each statement, neither appears to be contrary to this important doctrine that requires us as individuals to render unconditional forgiveness.
The first is from President Heber J. Grant: In a General Conference speech President Heber J. Grant made a statement that, unless understood in context of the audience he was addressing, could appear contrary to this restated doctrine. President Grant was speaking to a restricted audience composed of general authorities of the Church and other presiding priesthood holders. The general public was not invited to the conference session due to the war emergency. He said, "There is nothing in the world that is more splendid than to have in our hearts a desire to forgive the sinner if he only repents. But I want to say, do not forgive the sinner if he does not repent. 'By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold he will confess them and forsake them.' It is up to the Lord, however, and unless they confess their sins we [the Church] are not obliged to forgive, but when they really and truly repent, it is one of the obligations that rest upon us [the Church] to forgive those who have sinned." (CR1944Apr:11)
This statement, then, can easily be seen as not being contrary with this Doctrinal Restatement because President Grant is saying, in effect, do not offer the Church's forgiveness (i.e. fellowship) to a man unless he truly repents. As individuals we are to still required to forgive without condition, limitation or exception.
The second statement appears in the Doctrine and Covenants and is on the subject of war. The Lord, through Joseph Smith, tells us as a people what to do when an enemy attacks us—it does not address how we as individuals should feel toward our enemies: "[I]f after thine enemy has come upon thee the first time, he repent and come unto thee praying thy forgiveness, thou shalt forgive him, and shalt hold it no more as a testimony against thine enemy—." This we should do up to the fourth time. "But if he trespass against thee the fourth time thou shalt not forgive him, but shalt bring these testimonies before the Lord." A people oppressed by an enemy nation must forgive the enemy when it repents. But when the enemy fights and repents repeatedly, then, on the fourth time, the people must no longer trust the "repentance" of the enemy and are thereafter to leave the matter in the hands of the Lord.
Even thereafter, if the enemy repents and additionally makes restitution, the people are to forgive the enemy. Notwithstanding that, the Lord is telling us as a people at what point we should cease to trust the aggressor, that there is a time when we must cease to grant the enemy Christian forgiveness—as a matter of preservation and defense. He yet emphasizes in the end this important principle of forgiveness that he wants us to learn. (See D&C 98:39-45.)
224. When offended, we are to forgive the offending person and seek reconciliation.
And if thy brother or sister offend thee, thou shalt take him or her between him or her and thee alone; and if he or she confess thou shalt be reconciled. (Revelation "embracing the law of the Church," Feb. 9, 1831) D&C 42:88
quoted by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Ever keep in exercise the principles of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us. (Joseph instructs the Apostles and seventies who are about to depart on their missions to Great Britain, July 2, 1839) TPJS:155
It frequently happens that offenses are committed when the offender is not aware of it. Something he has said or done is misconstrued or misunderstood. The offended one treasures in his heart the offense, adding to it such other things as might give fuel to the fire and justify his conclusions. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the Lord requires that the offended one should make the overtures toward peace. [Citing D&C 42:88.]. . . .
Do we follow that command or do we sulk in our bitterness waiting for our offender to learn of it and to kneel to us in remorse? CR1949Oct:132
also quoting President Joseph F. Smith
A common error is the idea that the offender must apologize and humble himself to the dust before forgiveness is required. Certainly, the one who does the injury should totally make his adjustment, but as for the offended one, he must forgive the offender regardless of the attitude of the other. Sometimes men get satisfactions from seeing the other party on his knees and grovelling in the dust, but that is not the gospel way. . . .
In this regard the admonition of President Joseph F. Smith in 1902 is as applicable now as then:
"We hope and pray that you will . . . forgive one another and never from this time forth . . . bear malice toward another fellow creature.
". . . . It is extremely hurtful for any man holding the gift of the Holy Ghost to harbor a spirit of envy, or malice, or retaliations, or intolerance toward or against his fellow man. We ought to say in our hearts, 'Let God judge between me and thee, but as for me, I will forgive.' I want to say to you that Latter-day Saints who harbor a feeling of unforgiveness in their souls are more censurable than the one who has sinned against them. Go home and dismiss envy and hatred from your hearts: dismiss the feeling of unforgiveness; and cultivate in your souls that spirit of Christ which cried out upon the cross, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' This is the spirit that Latter-day Saints ought to possess all the day long."
Yes, to be in the right we must forgive, and we must do so without regard to whether or not our antagonist repents, or how sincere is his transformation, or whether or not he asks our forgiveness. . . .
Sometimes the spirit of forgiveness is carried to the loftiest height—to rendering assistance to the offender. Not to be revengeful, not to seek what outraged justice might demand, to leave the offender in God's hands—this is admirable. But to return good for evil, this is the sublime expression of Christian love.
In this regard we have the stimulating example of President George Albert Smith. It was reported to him that someone had stolen from his buggy the buggy robe. Instead of being angry, he responded: "I wish we knew who it was, so that we could give him the blanket also, for he must have been cold; and some food also, for he must have been hungry." (The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 282-84) TLDP:206-07
quoted by Mormon
[I]f ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee—
24. Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you. (The resurrected Jesus Christ teaches the Nephite people, A.D. 34) 3 Nephi 12:23-24
recorded in Matthew
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24. Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Jesus teaches the multitude, about A.D. 30) Matthew 5:23-24
also quoting Jesus
If we would have peace as individuals, we must supplant enmity with forbearance, which means to refrain or abstain from finding fault or from condemning others. . . . We shall have power to do this if we really cherish in our hearts the ideals of Christ, who said: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." (Matthew 5:23-24
Note the Savior did not say if you have ought against him, but if you find that another has ought against you. CR1938Oct:133
225. God forgives those who forgive others.
recorded in Matthew
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Jesus teaches the disciples the Lord's Prayer) Matthew 6:14-15
The first step toward the blessed state of forgiveness consists in the sinner confessing his sins; the second, in his forgiving others who have sinned against him; and the third in his showing his acceptance of Christ's atoning sacrifice by complying with the divine requirements. AF:99
The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs. . . . If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another. (In Relief Society meeting, at the Grove, Nauvoo, Ill., June 9, 1842) HC5:24
receiving the Word of the Lord
My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.
9. Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. (Revelation for the elders of the Church at Kirtland, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1831) D&C 64:8-9
And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation. (The voice of the Lord comes to Alma ) Mosiah 26:31
That becomes especially difficult when others hurt us and we feel justified in our anger. It is a lie that our anger justifies our impulse to hurt or ignore our antagonists. We are to forgive to be forgiven. To wait for them to repent before we forgive and repent is to allow them to choose for us a delay which could cost us happiness here and hereafter. (CR 1999Oct; Do Not Delay, Ensign, November 1999, p.33)
Related Witnesses:
I want to say to you that Latter-day Saints who harbor a feeling of unforgiveness in their souls are more guilty and more censurable than the one who has sinned against them. CR1902Oct:86-7; DGSM:40
226. The Church receives back into fellowship those transgressors who repent.
And whosoever repented of their sins and did confess them, them he did number among the people of the church;
36. And those that would not confess their sins and repent of their iniquity, the same were not numbered among the people of the church, and their names were blotted out. (Alma judges those taken in iniquity according to the word of the Lord received by him, about 120-100 B.C.) Mosiah 26:35-36
also quoting Joseph Smith
I would like to point out that to me there is a great difference between confession and admission, after transgression is proved. I doubt much the efficacy of an admission as a confession.
In ancient days, men made sacrifice that they might be forgiven. Today we are told that we must bring to the Lord for our forgiveness a humble heart and a contrite spirit. As to forgiveness, the Lord has said, "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men," (D&C 64:10) which means, as I understand it, that where there is repentance, we shall forgive and receive into fellowship the repentant transgressor, leaving to God the final disposition of the sin. CR1950Apr:166-67
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 Jesus Christ, full and effective confession would, in my judgment, require confession by the repentant sinner to his bishop or other proper presiding Church officer—not that the Church officer could forgive the sin (this power rests in the Lord himself and those only to whom he specifically delegates it) but rather that the Church, acting through its duly appointed officers, might with full knowledge of the facts take such action with respect to Church discipline as the circumstances merit. CR1955Oct:125
There is nothing in the world that is more splendid than to have in our hearts a desire to forgive the sinner if he only repents. But I want to say, do not forgive the sinner if he does not repent. "By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold he will confess them and forsake them." It is up to the Lord, however, and unless they confess their sins we are not obliged to forgive, but when they really and truly repent, it is one of the obligations that rest upon us to forgive those who have sinned. (Instructing a selected body of priesthood officers of the Church in their ecclesiastical capacities) CR1944Apr:10
receiving the Word of the Lord
For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance;
32. Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; (Revelation received during conference of elders of the Church, Nov. 1, 1831) D&C 1:31-32
I want to repeat to be sure that I am well understood. The Lord said, "Wherefore all manner of sins should be forgiven unto men, except the sinning against the Holy Ghost and the committing of murder." (See Matthew 12:31.) None of us will commit sin against the Holy Ghost (generally we do not know enough), and few of us will ever be involved in a murder. Therefore, the sins of mankind can be forgiven. But not by ignoring them; one must go to the proper ecclesiastical officials and clear his problems. The Lord offered a concluding thought, "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord." (D&C 38:42) All of us bear the vessels of the Lord, so that command is to every man, woman, youth, and child. ACR(Amsterdam)1976:4
We must remind ourselves of how the law of forgiveness operates, for the Lord, who himself ordained the laws, is also himself bound to uphold and sustain and conform to them. The Lord forgives sins, but he does it in harmony with the laws he ordained before the world was.
All men sin and fall short of the glory of God; all need repentance; all need forgiveness; and all can become free from sin by obedience to the laws and ordinances that comprise the cleansing process. For those who have not accepted the gospel . . . the course of forgiveness is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, to repent, to be baptized by immersion for the remission of sins, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. The Holy Ghost is a sanctifier, and those who receive the baptism of fire have sin and evil burned out of their souls as though by fire.
For those whose sins have thus been remitted and who sin after baptism—as all baptized souls do—the path to forgiveness consists of repenting and renewing the covenant made in the waters of baptism. Godly sorrow for sin, complete abandonment of the wrongful acts, confession to the Lord and to the church officers where need be, restitution if such is possible, and renewed obedience—these are all part of the cleansing process for those who, after baptism, fall from the strait and narrow path leading to eternal life. By doing these things and by then partaking worthily of the sacrament, so that the Spirit of the Lord will come again into the lives of the penitent persons, members of the kingdom gain forgiveness of sins. (The Mortal Messiah, 2:50-51) TLDP:205
Our loving Father has given us the blessed principle of repentance as the gateway to forgiveness. All sins but those excepted by the Lord—basically, the sin against the Holy Ghost, and murder—will be forgiven to those who totally, consistently, and continuously repent in a genuine and comprehensive transformation of life. There is forgiveness for even the sinner who commits serious transgressions, for the Church will forgive and the Lord will forgive such things when repentance has reached fruition.
Repentance and forgiveness are part of the glorious climb toward godhood. In God's plan, man must voluntarily make this climb, for the element of free agency is basic. Man chooses for himself, but he cannot control the penalties. They are immutable. Little children and mental incompetents are not held responsible, but all others will receive either blessings, advancements, and rewards, or penalties and deprivation, according to their reaction to God's plan when it is presented to them and to their faithfulness to that plan. The Lord wisely provided for this situation and made it possible that there might be good and evil, comfort and pain. The alternatives give us a choice and thereby growth and development. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 14) TLDP:203
The fruit of true repentance is God’s forgiveness, which opens the door to receive all of the covenants and ordinances provided on this earth and to enjoy the resulting blessings. When repentance is full and one has been cleansed, there comes a new vision of life and its glorious possibilities. (CR 2004Oct; Peace of Conscience and Peace of Mind, Ensign, November 2004, p.15)
Related Witnesses:
receiving the Word of the Lord
[V]erily 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
Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; (Revelation received during conference of elders of the Church, Nov. 1, 1831) D&C 1:32
The Wintry Day, Descending to Its Close HYMNS:37
The wintry day, descending to its close,
Invites all wearied nature to repose,
And shades of night are falling dense and fast,
Like sable curtains closing o'er the past.
Pale through the gloom the newly fallen snow
Wraps in a shroud the silent earth below
As tho 'twere mercy's hand had spread the pall,
A symbol of forgiveness unto all.
I cannot go to rest, but linger still
In meditation at my window sill,
While, like the twinkling stars in heaven's dome,
Come one by one sweet memories of home.
And wouldst thou ask me where my fancy roves
To reproduce the happy scenes it loves,
Where hope and memory together dwell
And paint the pictured beauties that I tell?
Away beyond the prairies of the West,
Where exiled Saints in solitude were blest,
Where industry the seal of wealth has set
Amid the peaceful vales of Deseret,
Unheeding still the fiercest blasts that blow,
With tops encrusted by eternal snow,
The tow'ring peaks that shield the tender sod
Stand, types of freedom reared by nature's God.
The wilderness, that naught before would yield,
Is now become a fertile, fruitful field.
Where roamed at will the fearless Indian band,
The templed cities of the Saints now stand.
And sweet religion in its purity
Invites all men to its security.
There is my home, the spot I love so well,
Whose worth and beauty pen nor tongue can tell.
Father in Heaven, We Do Believe
HYMNS:180
Father in Heav'n, we do believe
The promise thou hast made;
Thy word with meekness we receive,
Just as thy Saints have said.
We now repent of all our sin
And come with broken heart,
And to thy covenant enter in
And choose the better part.
O Lord, accept us while we pray,
And all our sins forgive;
New life impart to us this day,
And bid the sinners live.
Humbly we take the sacrament
In Jesus' blessed name;
Let us receive thru covenant
The Spirit's heav'nly flame.
We will be buried in the stream
In Jesus' blessed name,
And rise, while light shall on us beam
The Spirit's heav'nly flame.
Baptize us with the Holy Ghost
And seal us as thine own,
That we may join the ransomed host
And with the Saints be one.
How Long, O Lord Most Holy and True HYMNS:126
How long, O Lord most holy and true,
Shall shadowed hope our joy delay?
Our hearts confess, our souls believe
Thy truth, thy truth, thy light,
thy will, thy way
Thy truth has made our prison bright;
Thy light has dimmed the dying past.
We bend beneath thy loving will
And seek thy onward, onward path at last.
Eternal Father, gentle Judge
Speed on the day, redemption's hour.
Set up thy kingdom; from thy house
Unlock for us, for us the prison tow'r.
From grim confusion's awful depth
The wail of hosts, faith's urgent plea:
Release our anguished, weary souls;
Swing wide, swing wide the gates, and set us free
