The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(4/5/97)
If we are going to teach our children the principle of forgiveness, we
need to begin with our own lives. We must set our children a good
example. In dealing with family or friends, we hurt them when we are
selfish or thoughtless. But if we change our ways to avoid giving
offense in the future, it is easier to receive forgiveness. Repentance
is a change of behavior which invites forgiveness. If father and mother
forgive each other quickly and afterwards show increased love and
consideration for each other, their children will quickly learn to act
likewise. Repentance and forgiveness will become standards within that
family. — Elder Theodore M. Burton, General Conference, April 1983
(4/6/97)
If we learn to forgive one another within the family, we will be able to
forgive more readily within the Church and within the community. Like
many good things, forgiveness begins in the home. We must remember to
teach our children that even if others fail to be kind and considerate,
we ought to be slow to condemn and very quick to forgive. We need not be
tolerant of sin, but we must become tolerant and forgiving of the
sinner. Jesus Christ gave his life to reconcile us to God so that
through his atonement we can repent and receive forgiveness of our sins.
We owe our Savior a great debt. Part of that debt is the obligation we
have to forgive one another. — Elder Theodore M. Burton, General
Conference, April 1983
(4/7/97)
"How I hate him!" she told me, and her voice breathed venom and
bitterness and her dark eyes flashed. To think that an able-bodied man
would defraud a young widow with a family to support! "How I loathe
him!" she repeated over and over. Then I told her my Bishop Kempton
story where a man forgave the murderer of his father. She listened
intently. I saw she was impressed. At the conclusion there were tears in
her eyes. and she whispered: "Thank you. Thank you sincerely. Surely I,
too, must forgive my enemy. I will now cleanse my heart of its
bitterness. I do not expect ever to receive the money, but I leave my
offender in the hands of the Lord." — President Spencer W. Kimball,
General Conference, October 1977
(4/8/97)
Now, brothers and sisters, let us go to our homes and dismiss from our
beings--and purge from our souls--the venom of any feeling of ill will
or bitterness toward anyone. Let us strike from our hearts the
unwillingness to forgive and forget; and, instead, approach men in the
spirit of the Master, even those who "despitefully use you." (Matt.
5:44.) Let us pray--rather, let us plead for the spirit of forgiveness.
Let us look for the good in each other--not the flaws. — Bishop H. Burke
Peterson, General Conference, October 1983
(4/10/97)
Likewise, I appeal to us all to consider anew this counsel from Jesus:
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him
his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast
gained thy brother." (Matt. 18:15.) To win a point does not compare with
"gaining" a brother! Let us all take extra care to avoid both giving and
taking offense. Let us be loving, kind, and forgiving--helping these
friends to become, as Peter and Paul said, grounded, rooted,
established, and settled! (See Eph. 3:17; 1 Pet. 5:10.) "The time is far
spent." (Hymns, no. 184.) Savor these words quoted by a magnanimous and
forgiving Prophet Joseph Smith to a repentant and returning W. W.
Phelps: Come on, dear brother, since the war is past, For friends at
first, are friends again at last. (Quoted in History of the Church,
4:164.) — Elder Neal A. Maxwell, General Conference, April 1982
(4/11/97)
Are there any of us here that, if it were necessary, would not get down
on our knees and humble ourselves in the most abject manner before our
brethren and sisters to obtain their forgiveness? I am proud, I know;
but I have never yet seen an hour, and I hope I never shall, that I
would not get down on my knees to my brethren and ask their forgiveness,
if it were necessary to obtain it in that way. I want the forgiveness of
my brethren and sisters when I do wrong; I want the forgiveness of my
family; I want the forgiveness of my children, and of course I want the
forgiveness of my Father in heaven. I want my sins blotted out day by
day, so that they will not stand against me. I do not want my brethren
to have feelings against me. I do not want the sun to go down before I
have made everything right with them, if it is within my power to do so;
and I certainly do not want to retire to rest without the forgiveness of
my God. Pardon these personal allusions, but I mention them to emphasize
if possible the feeling that I think we should have as Latter-day
Saints. — Elder George Q. Cannon, Collected Discourses, Vol. 4, April
21, 1895
(4/12/97)
You will also discover the greatest friend of all, Jesus the Christ, our
Savior and Redeemer, full of perfect love and boundless compassion, with
the power to forgive and forget. It is difficult for me to speak of Him,
for I love Him so deeply. May the Spirit bear witness of that love and
somehow touch your heart that you may find the courage to take those
steps that will bring you peace and tranquility, that will restore your
feelings of self-worth and place you on the path to happiness. — Elder
Richard G. Scott, General Conference, April 1986
(4/1/04)
"The question is frequently asked, 'How can I know when I am forgiven?
How will I feel?' Many scriptural examples provide understanding. Enos
found that his 'guilt was swept away' (Enos
1:6). He no longer approached God or man feeling guilt-ridden.
King Benjamin's people were 'filled with joy, having received
a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience,
because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ' (Mosiah
4:3; emphasis added)." - C. Max Caldwell, "The
Path
That Leads to Christ," Ensign, Apr. 1996, p. 30
(10/22/04)
"Our Lord gave us an example of the true spirit of forgiveness when he
said from the cross, '... Father, forgive them; for they know not what
they do.' (Luke 23:34.)
We read also of that faithful disciple, Stephen, who was persecuted and
stoned, 'And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.' (Acts
7:60.)" - N. Eldon Tanner, "The
Importance
of Prayer," Ensign, May 1974, p. 53
(8/31/05)
"Closely related to our own obligation
to repent is the generosity of letting others do the same—we are to
forgive even as we are forgiven. In this we participate in the very
essence of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Surely the most majestic
moment of that fateful Friday, when nature convulsed and the veil of
the temple was rent, was that unspeakably merciful moment when Christ
said, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' (Luke
23:34.) As our advocate with the Father, He is still making that same
plea today—in your behalf and in mine." - Jeffrey R. Holland, "The
Peaceable Things of the Kingdom," Ensign, Nov. 1996, 83
3/9/06
Topic: Do We Take Offense?
"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....
"To the Nephites the Lord said:
"...if ...thy brother hath aught against thee-
"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. (III Nephi
12:23-24.)...
"Do we follow that commandment or do we sulk in our bitterness, waiting
for our offender to learn of it and to kneel to us in remorse?" -
Spencer W. Kimball, "Conference Report," October 1949, Third Day—Morning
Meeting, p.132
3/19/06
"Not too long ago a young wife spoke at her husband's funeral and said,
'We came to realize that unimportant things really are unimportant. When
the spirit is sick, there can be no true healing, no matter how strong
the physical body. If the spirit is well, then physical impairment is
unimportant, regardless of the effects of a debilitating disease.'
"The Lord has provided the way whereby our spiritual sicknesses can be
healed. In the first
chapter of Isaiah, verse 18, we read, '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.'
"And, again in the Doctrine and Covenants, 'Nevertheless, he that
repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven' (D&C
1:32).
"Also, 'Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven,
and I, the Lord, remember them no more' (D&C
58:42).
"For one to be forgiven of sin, the Lord requires that he come unto him,
mourn over his sins, forsake the sins, be teachable, forgive others, and
confess." - Vaughn J. Featherstone, "Forgive
Them, I Pray Thee," Ensign (CR), November 1980, p.29
12/16/06
"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 Gods
forgiveness and mercy to be extended in our behalf." - N. Eldon Tanner,
"The
Importance of Prayer," Ensign (CR), May 1974, p.50
4/20/07
"Let us remember that we need to forgive to be forgiven. In the words of
one of my favorite hymns, 'Oh, forgive as thou wouldst be e'en forgiven
now by me.' ("Reverently
and Meekly Now," Hymns, no. 185.) With all my heart and soul, I
believe in the healing power that can come to us as we follow the
counsel of the Savior "to forgive all men.' (D&C
64:10.)" - James E. Faust, "The
Healing Power of Forgiveness," General Conference, April 2007
1/3/08
"Brothers and sisters and
friends, if we will sue for peace, taking the initiative in settling
differences—if we can forgive
and forget with all our hearts—if
we can cleanse our own souls of sin, accusations, bitterness, and guilt
before we cast a stone at others—if
we forgive all real or fancied offenses before we ask forgiveness for
our own sins—if we pay our own
debts, large or small, before we press our debtors—if
we manage to clear our own eyes of the blinding beams before we magnify
the motes in the eyes of others—what
a glorious world this would be! Divorce would be reduced to a minimum;
courts would be freed from disgusting routines; family life would be
heavenly; the building of the kingdom would go forward at an accelerated
pace; and the peace which passeth understanding would bring to us all a
joy and happiness which has hardly "entered into the heart of man.'"
- Spencer W. Kimball, "Conference
Report," October 1949, Third Day—Morning
Meeting, p.133
6/9/08
"In
the battle of life, the adversary takes enormous numbers of prisoners,
and many who know of no way to escape and are pressed into his
service. Every soul confined to a concentration camp of sin and guilt
has a key to the gate. The adversary cannot hold them if they know how
to use it. The key is labeled Repentance. The twin
principles of repentance and forgiveness exceed in strength the
awesome power of the adversary."
- Boyd K. Packer, "Our
Moral Environment," Ensign (CR), May 1992, p.66
10/8/08
"It
remains only for you and me to both seek and tender
that forgiveness—to both repent and to extend charity to others—which
enables us to pass through the door the Savior holds open, thus to
cross the threshold from this life into exaltation. Today is
the day to forgive others their trespasses, secure in the knowledge
that the Lord will thus forgive ours. As Luke significantly recorded,
“Be ye therefore merciful” (Luke
6:36; emphasis
added). Perfection may elude us here, but we can be merciful. And in
the end, repenting and forgiving are among God’s chief requirements of
us." - Lance B.
Wickman, "Today," Ensign, May 2008
1/2/09
"Now, in case someone has
forgotten the extent of our obligation in forgiving that wayward
neighbor, just remember 70 times 7 is 490. But we will never make it to
490, because if we follow the Lord's formula with sincerity, something
very special always comes into our lives and into the lives of our
neighbors long before we achieve 70 times 7." — Robert
L. Simpson, "Conference
Report," October 1966,
Afternoon Meeting, p.12
1/3/09
"Each of us should daily resolve
that with God's help we will not allow careless words from others to
shape our destiny or control our daily course. How tragic it is to see,
on occasion, a life of usefulness lost because we have allowed an unkind
comment to cause a wound or hurt. We let the injury become an open sore
and fester rather than treat it with prompt skill and maturity. Some try
to get even with their offenders by dropping out of life's race. How
weak, how damaging, how self-restricting is the often used
statement, 'I'll never go
back as long as that person is
there!' On occasion some of us
seem to stand on the sidelines waiting to be hurt, offended, or ignored.
We listen for careless words from others and remember the unsaid hellos
and read into the said or unsaid words a totally unintended message.
"One
of the finest basketball players of all time was asked what had
contributed the most to his outstanding success. His answer was, "I
learned to play in pain. Although injuries, bruises, and bumps came, I
never allowed myself the luxury of slowing down or quitting.
"The
greatest teacher and leader also showed the world an example of proper
conduct when He was the victim of unkind words and cruel deeds. He
simply said, 'Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do'
(Luke 23:34)."
— Marvin
J. Ashton, "Roadblocks
to Progress," Ensign
(CR), May 1979, p.67
6/23/09
“There are those among us who torture themselves through
their inability to show mercy and to forgive others some supposed
offense or slight, however small it may be. At times the statement is
made, ‘I never can forgive [this person or that person].’ Such an
attitude is destructive to an individual's well-being. It can canker
the soul and ruin one's life. In other instances, an individual can
forgive another but cannot forgive himself. Such a situation is even
more destructive.” - Thomas S. Monson,
“Mercy- The Divine Gift,” Ensign (CR), May 1995, p. 54
3/29/10
“When our little children handle things that are in their way, the
knives, forks, pins, needles, anything, and scatter, waste, and lose
them, and these little faults are committed every few minutes throughout
the day, shall we forgive the children or whip them? We will always
forgive them until they are taught better, and learn to know good from
evil, right from wrong. Our Father in heaven deals with us his children
upon this principle.” – Brigham Young, “Journal of Discourses,” 26
vols., 9:308
4/21/12
May I add a footnote here? When the Lord requires that we forgive all
men, that includes forgiving ourselves. Sometimes, of all the people in
the world, the one who is the hardest to forgive—as well as perhaps the
one who is most in need of our forgiveness—is the person looking back at
us in the mirror. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Merciful Obtain Mercy,"
Ensign (CR) May 2012
8/17/12
Christ’s love
was so pure that he gave his life for us: “Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John
15:13.) But there was another gift he bestowed while he was on
the cross, a gift that further measured the magnitude of his great
love: he forgave, and asked his Father to forgive, those who
persecuted and crucified him. - Marion D. Hanks, "Forgiveness:
The Ultimate Form of Love," Ensign (CR) November 1973
7/12/13
A
kind priesthood bearer—or any individual in a position to
influence another—realizes that the power to influence others
for good comes through love and praise and patience. In
relationships where there is forgetting and forgiving, joy and
trust are nurtured. - H.
Burke Peterson, "Preparing
the Heart," Ensign (CR) May 1990
3/15/14
It remains only for you and me to both seek and tender that
forgiveness—to both repent and to extend charity to others—which
enables us to pass through the door the Savior holds open, thus to
cross the threshold from this life into exaltation. Today is the day
to forgive others their trespasses, secure in the knowledge that the
Lord will thus forgive ours. As Luke significantly recorded, “Be ye
therefore merciful” (Luke
6:36). Perfection may elude us here, but we can be merciful.
And in the end, repenting and forgiving are among God’s chief
requirements of us. - Lance B.
Wickman, “Today,”
Ensign (CR) May 2008
3/18/14
President Brigham
Young once compared being offended to a poisonous snakebite. He said
that “there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten
by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue
the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom
out of his system.” He said, “If we pursue the latter course we will
likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not
be around long enough to finish it. - David
E. Sorensen, “Forgiveness
Will Change Bitterness to Love,” Ensign (CR) May 2003
3/28/2014
To forgive yourself and
others, you must trust the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The prophet
Zenock prayed, “Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because
they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon
them because of thy Son.” Our Father in Heaven is saddened when we
limit the power of His Son’s atoning sacrifice. As you exercise
faith in Jesus Christ, you can have your guilt “swept away.” If
guilt remains after sincere repentance, believe your priesthood
leaders when they declare you to be worthy. - Anthony
D. Perkins, “The
Great and Wonderful Love,” Ensign (CR) November 2006
8/29/14
He set up a new code for living—to love one another, even
one’s enemies. He enjoined us to judge not, to forgive, and to
give all men a second chance.
Think what a change this would make in the world today if we
as individuals and the nations of the earth could live up to
this code. We have often heard people say, “Well, I will
forgive, but I won’t forget,” which, of course, means they do
not forgive. - O.
Leslie Stone, “Commandments
to Live By,” Ensign (CR) November 1979
12/15/14
Recently, while traveling on an
unfamiliar road, I encountered a large temporary sign declaring
Rough Road Ahead, and indeed it was. Had I not been warned, that
experience would have been disastrous. Life is like that. It’s full
of rough spots. Some are tests to make us stronger. Others result
from our own disobedience. Helpful warnings in our personal life can
also save us from disaster. A damaged road presents the same
obstacles to every traveler until others repair it. The highway of
life is different. Each one of us encounters unique challenges meant
for growth. Also, our own bad choices can put more barriers in the
path. Yet we have the capacity to smooth out the way, to fill in the
depressions, and to beautify our course. The process is called
repentance; the destination is forgiveness. - Richard
G. Scott, “Finding
Forgiveness,” Ensign (CR) April 1995
4/16/15
In His mercy, God
promises forgiveness when we repent and turn from wickedness—so much
so that our sins will not even be mentioned to us. For us, because
of the Atonement of Christ and our repentance, we can look at our
past deeds and say, “’Twas I; but ’tis not I.” No matter how wicked,
we can say, “That’s who I was. But that past wicked self is no
longer who I am.” - Dale G.
Renlund, “Latter-day
Saints Keep on Trying,” Ensign (CR) April 2015
10/9/15
Here, as in all things, Jesus set the standard for us to follow.
Life is too short to be spent nursing animosities or keeping a box
score of offenses against us—you know, no runs, no hits, all errors.
We don't want God to remember our sins, so there is something
fundamentally wrong in our relentlessly trying to remember those of
others. - Jeffrey R. Holland, "The
Peaceable Things of the Kingdom," Ensign (CR), November
1996, p. 82
2/1/16
Real and deep-seated love for God and Jesus Christ comes into the
human soul when forgiveness of sin and weakness comes from the
atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice and atonement
becomes more genuine and purposeful when one repents and receives
divine relief and forgiveness from sin and weakness. - Bernard
P. Brockbank, "Conference Report," April 1965, Afternoon Meeting,
p.132
Tolerant humans are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Whether or
not their antagonist forgives them in turn, they freely forgive,
leaving judgment to God. They know that not all problems can be
solved and are willing to walk away from situations without
bitterness or recrimination. This does not mean that they lack
intelligence, judgment, or backbone, or that they handle their
affairs loosely and without regard to their families' well-being,
but rather that their action results from a Christ-like character
trait. -
4/11/16
One key
to forgiving others is to try to see them as God sees them. At
times, God may part the curtain and bless us with the gift to see
into the heart, soul, and spirit of another person who has offended
us. This insight may even lead to an overwhelming love for that
person. - Kevin R. Duncan, “The
Healing Ointment of Forgiveness,” Ensign (CR) May 2016
8/29/16
If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have
caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of
self-esteem and well-being. Some recent studies show that people who
are taught to forgive become "less angry, more hopeful, less
depressed, less anxious and less stressed," which leads to greater
physical well-being. Another of these studies concludes "that
forgiveness . . . is a liberating gift [that]people can give to
themselves." - James
E.
Faust, “The
Healing
Power of Forgiveness,” Ensign (CR) May 2007
9/15/16
Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount the virtues of the heart
such as love, forgiveness, and compassion. He taught us as His
disciples to take His name and character upon us. This changes our
hearts and blesses our relationships with others. Elder Marvin J.
Ashton said, “When we truly become converted to Jesus Christ,
committed to Him, an interesting thing happens: our attention turns
to the welfare of our fellowman, and the way we treat others becomes
increasingly filled with patience, kindness, [and] a gentle
acceptance” (“The
Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword,” Ensign, May 1992, 20). - Susan
W. Tanner, “Steadfast
in Our Covenants,” Ensign (CR), May 2003, p.100
10/25/16
Jesus Christ can forgive because He paid the price for our sins.
Our Redeemer chooses to forgive because of His incomparable
compassion, mercy, and love.
Our Savior wants to forgive because this is one of His
divine attributes.
And, like the Good Shepherd He is, He is joyful when we choose to repent. – Dale G. Renlund, “Repentance: A Joyful Choice,” Ensign (CR) November 2016