June 2, 2013

June: Learn: Forgiveness

In Luke 7:36-50 we read this story about the Savior, "...and he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.  And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.  And [when Simon saw this] he spake within himself saying...what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner."  The Savior taught Simon about the principle of forgiveness by saying to him, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much."  And then he turned to the woman and said, "Thy sins are forgiven...Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."


There are numerous examples of the Savior offering forgiveness to the people with whom he walked and talked while upon the earth.  Through His Infinite Atonement He continues to reach out in love and forgiveness to all of God's children on the earth.  He desires us to be like this woman to seek Him out and offer to Him a broken heart and contrite spirit.

He also wants us to be able to forgive ourselves of our own faults and weaknesses, and turn them into strengths.  President Uchtdorf has said, "God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect...[He] is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not.  Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others.  Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.  Our journey toward perfection is long, but we can find wonder and delight in even the tiniest steps in that journey."

The Savior has also commanded us to forgive others.  He said, "I the Lord will forgive whom I will for give, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10).  Forgiving others frees us from a heavy burden that can impede our progress toward becoming more like the Savior.  President Monson said, "We need to bear in mind that people can change.  They can put behind them bad habits.  They can repent from transgressions.  We can help them to overcome their shortcomings.  We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present, but as they may become."

Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive forgiveness for our sins, and because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can and should forgive ourselves, and because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can have the strength to forgive others as well.