March 8 Relief Society Lesson - Principles of True Repentance

Today's lesson was Chapter 5, Principles of True Repentance, from our Ezra Taft Benson manual.  We went over how it is every prophet's duty to call people to repentance and also discussed this quote from the lesson:

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. …“Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.” 
The church welfare program is a good example of this quote in action.  The Lord's program is meant to be short-term as recipients work towards self-sufficiency.  Christ and his servants assist recipients in changing their lives so they no longer need help.

This lesson outlined six principles of true repentance.  Here is a shot of what our chalkboard looked like after we discussed each principle:

Principle #1: To truly repent, we must first realize that the gospel plan is the plan of happiness.
By understanding the gospel plan's purpose is to bring about happiness, we gain hope, receive joy in the Savior and realize that repentance is not a punishment; it's for our betterment.

• Psalms 119: 97-98
•  O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Principle #2: Faith in Jesus Christ Precedes True Repentance

Faith in Jesus Christ provides a sure foundation for the repentance process.  Faith also provides us with the desire to repent and do what it takes to return to Christ. 

• 2 Nephi 2:8
• Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

Principle #3: Repentance involves a mighty change of heart.

Someone who has experienced a true change of heart no longer has the desire to do wrong.  The temptations may remain and still be hard to battle but the desire is gone.  We can pray for the desire to change when we don't have much of a desire to begin with; we can also pray to know what the Lord would have us change.  Humility and a learning heart/mind are required.  The spirit is necessary to help us complete this change.

• Mosiah 5:2
• And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

 

Principle #4: Godly sorrow leads to true repentance.

Godly sorrow is a selfless sorrow; it's not sorrow for the scrape we've gotten ourselves in but a sorrow for how our actions have impacted others, most importantly, our God.  It's easy to feel like we shouldn't have done something but it's another matter entirely to feel the depths of the wrong we have committed against Christ and the sorrow we caused Him as He atoned for our sins.  It's the kind of sorrow that firms our desire to never do wrong again.

"Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having “a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”

• Mormon 2:13-14
• But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin. 
  

   And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives.

Principle #5: Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are anxious to see us change our lives, and They will help us.

Heavenly Father wants us to return to live with Him again; He loves us.  This is why He is not just willing to help us but wants to help us.  He respects our free agency, however, and won't force change upon us.  We never have to be alone as we repent; when things are too tough, we can always cry out to our Maker for comfort and peace.  He will be excited to hear from us and be invited into our lives. 

• Ether 12:27
• And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Principle #6: We must not lose hope as we seek to become Christlike.

Life is hard but it's not hopeless.  A loss of hope is a crisis of faith.  Faith provides our foundation so if we feel hope waning, we need to go back and strengthen our faith and testimonies.  All positive actions move outward from our faith.  Negative thoughts are from Satan; our Heavenly Father will never use discouraging words or make us to feel hopeless and discouraged.  Recognize those thoughts as Satan tempting you and fight back.  You are strong and have Christ on your side.  Don't lose hope in your quest to become Christlike.

 

"Hope is an anchor to the souls of men. Satan would have us cast away that anchor. In this way he can bring discouragement and surrender. But we must not lose hope. The Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny, daily ones in which we strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on the road to perfection, we must not give up hope.

 

• Isaiah 1:18
• Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

In summary, the words of Ezra Taft Benson:

 

"My beloved brothers and sisters, as we seek to qualify to be members of Christ’s Church—members in the sense in which He uses the term, members who have repented and come unto Him—let us remember these six principles. First, the gospel is the Lord’s plan of happiness, and repentance is designed to bring us joy. Second, true repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. Third, true repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior. Fourth, part of this mighty change of heart is to feel godly sorrow for our sins. This is what is meant by a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Fifth, God’s gifts are sufficient to help us overcome every sin and weakness if we will but turn to Him for help. Finally, we must remember that most repentance does not involve sensational or dramatic changes, but rather is a step-by-step, steady, and consistent movement toward godliness.

If we will strive to incorporate these principles into our lives and implement them on a daily basis, we shall then qualify to be more than members of record in the Church of Jesus Christ. As true members, we have claim to His promise: “Whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.” (D&C 10:69.)

My prayer is that we may all win that promise for ourselves."