Neil L. Andersen - The Divine Gift of Forgiveness

2019 Neil L. Andersen

Book design Deseret Book Company

Cover painting by Heinrich Hofmann

Interior author photograph by Busath Photography

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Andersen, Neil L., 1951 author.

Title: The divine gift of forgiveness / Neil L. Andersen.

Description: Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019041783 | ISBN 9781629727417 (trade paperback) | eISBN 978-1-62973-928-1 (eBook)

Subjects: LCSH: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsDoctrines. | ForgivenessReligious aspectsThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. | RepentanceThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Classification: LCC BX8643.F67 A53 2019 | DDC 234/.5dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019041783

Printed in the United States of America

Publishers Printing, Salt Lake City, UT

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Book design Deseret Book Company

Cover painting by Heinrich Hofmann

Interior author photograph by Busath Photography

Contents

Introduction

With my sacred call to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have felt an increased love for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and a greater understanding of His love for men and women, young women and young men, and for children on every continent, in every city and town, in every home and place of dwelling across the world. My sincere hope is that through this book, The Divine Gift of Forgiveness , you will again feel, as you have already felt, the priceless love your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son have for you, and that Their love will encourage you to move even more conscientiously toward Them.

Gods love knows no bounds. Lasting happiness, peace, and eternal life come only through increasing our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ.

As our faith grows, our vision of why we are here becomes clearer and we seek additional heavenly direction and approval. We pray with more intent, and we plead with our Heavenly Father for forgiveness through the atoning grace of His Son. We begin to repent.

The blessing to repent is given to each of us by our Redeemer as part of the plan of salvation. But it is more than that. It is also a spiritual gift that strengthens our desire and decisions, allowing us to await the heavenly grace of the Savior and to receive the miraculous gift of forgiveness.

I promise you that as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, the Saviors divine gifts of repentance and of forgiveness, offered in the beauty of His encompassing love, are certain for those who come unto Him with full purpose of heart. Mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive.

I have always appreciated the words attributed to the Jesuit philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience. that await us beyond the veil.

We may feel very little when reading a textbook about the law of gravity, but reading about Jesus Christ and His teachings can have a powerful impact upon our soul.

The chapters that follow will attempt to enlarge your mind and spirit to the spiritual foundation, sacred principles, and personal choices that allow the Saviors incomparable gift of forgiveness to give added purpose in your life. For us to truly progress in this life and to obtain eternal life in the world to come, we must set aside the wisdom of this world and come humbly before God, recognizing that sincerely repenting and humbly pleading for forgiveness are not simply options in the buffet of admirable virtues.

Repentance is not punishment or oppression. It is just the opposite. It is a wondrous gift from God that will bring joy to the sorrowful and relief to the spiritually infirm.

Even if you feel like you are at the very bottom of lifes ladder, there is something you can do. You can look up. If all you can manage is to simply lift your eyes to Him, you have done something in an effort to return to Him. You will come to know that He reaches [your] reaching. More important than where you are is the direction you face, and especially Whom you face.

The divine gift of forgiveness can never be earned; it can only be received. Yes, commandments must be obeyed and ordinances observed to receive forgiveness, but personal effort, no matter how great, pales in comparison to the cost of redemption. In fact, there is no comparison. Forgiveness is a gift, and the only One who can give the gift is the Redeemer and Savior of the World, Jesus Christ.

This book is divided into six parts: First, a section entitled Encouragement to Seek Forgiveness from God; next, Why a Savior and Redeemer; third, The Incomparable Gift of Jesus Christ; fourth, Finding Our Way to the Savior; fifth, Returning to the Redeemer through Repentance; and finally, a section entitled The Saviors Divine Gift of Forgiveness. As you prayerfully read or listen, open your heart to God with a prayer and a desire to believe. Faith is not developed by chance, but by choice. Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

In the pages that follow, each of the standard works of scripture is quoted. The Book of Mormon is referenced extensively, as it teaches with such clarity the doctrine of the Saviors Atonement, His grace and mercy, and the promises of His forgiveness through our repentance. As I ponder these sacred teachings of our Heavenly Fathers plan, powerfully presented in the Book of Mormon, I find my spirit openly declaring, Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah. I solemnly witness of the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Further confirming the teachings of holy scripture, I have intentionally included the words of each prophet of this dispensation and the Apostles currently serving in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, as they are commissioned by the Lord to speak in His name of repentance and forgiveness.

By design this book focuses on those awakening unto God, but the Saviors gifts of repentance and forgiveness are not only for times of major transgression but also for our daily progression. The principles of repenting are a vital part of overcoming those daily sins of commission and omission, of living and growing, and of worshiping each Sunday as we partake of the Lords sacrament.

My prayer is that as you open more completely your heart to God and thoughtfully consider the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ found in this book, you will be stirred with even greater attention to the remarkable adventure of becoming a more devoted disciple of the Savior. Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained, If we choose... the course of discipleship, we will... move from what may be initially a mere acknowledgment of Jesus on to admiration of Jesus, then on to adoration of Jesus, and finally to emulation of Jesus. In that process of striving to become more like Him... we must be in the posture of repentance.