Book of Mormon: Day 217: Repentance

Today’s Reading: Alma 39

Now my son {or daughter}, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things.

This chapter talks about Corianton’s sins. Specifically going after the harlot Isabel. Because of Corianton’s actions, no one believed in the words of Alma or the other missionaries. Coritanton was leading away the hearts of the people by his actions.

Actions speak louder than words.

How many of you have seen a member of the church doing something that doesn’t align with the standards or commandments of the church? Have you ever heard a nonmember say, “but he/she is a member of your church and does that” when you are talking about things we do or don’t do?

We are commanded to repent. The Savior taught that unless we repent and “become as a little child, … [we] can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.”9 We must not let one little cup of coffee, one bad habit, one bad choice, one wrong decision derail us for a lifetime.

Sometimes people get casual about repenting. I have heard some people say that repenting is too hard. Others say they are tired of feeling guilty or have been offended by a leader who was helping them repent. Sometimes people give up when they have made mistakes and come to believe that there is no hope for them. Some people imagine that they will feel better about themselves if they just leave the restored gospel and go away.{i}

To some our religion seems controlling, overbearing, like a ball and chain. But to me, it’s freedom, peace, health and happiness. We need to strive to align our actions with the standards of the church and repent of our sins, great or small. We, too, need to ‘cross {ourselves} in all these things’. We need to abstain from acting in ways that discourage those from wanting to learning about the word for God.

It is Satan who puts hopeless thoughts into the hearts of those who have made mistakes. The Lord Jesus Christ always gives us hope. He says:

“Thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall.

“But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work.”10

The easiest, quickest path to happiness and peace is to repent and change as soon as we can. {ii}

We need to not only be LDS but LIVE LDS lives. If our actions don’t align with the gospel of Jesus Christ then we are basically leading away the hearts of many. It’s easy to talk the talk. But can you really walk the walk?

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