Forgiving Others

Jesus made it very clear that to obtain forgiveness for our sins, we must forgive others:

Matt. 6: 12, 14-15

12 And forgive us our ^adebts, as we ^bforgive our debtors.

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14 For if ye ^aforgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15 But if ye ^aforgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

One of the unique ideas that has come from modern revelation, is the insight that the atonement of Jesus Christ helps us with more than just gaining forgiveness of our own sins. It also helps us with our "infirmities".

An infirmity could be anything from a sickness (mental or physical), pain, sorrow, guilt, temptation, fear, or any other thing that would make us infirm. This includes the grace to forgive others.

In the Book of Mormon we read:

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and ^aafflictions and ^btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Before carrying out the atonement, the Lord surely knew "all things." However, when he actually carried out the atonement, He experienced all the pain, sickness, and other infirmities of every person who has ever lived, and will live on the earth. The scriptures don't explain how this actually works, but they are clear that He did this so "that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities."

For Jesus to fully pay the price for both our sins, and the sin of Adam he had to plumb the depths, breadth, and heights of human suffering, sorrow, and infirmity. So when we say that God understands what you are going through, He really does. He doesn't just understand in some academic way. But He understands from experience.

Yet, He is still willing to forgive us of our sins. How could you not love a God who knows everything bad you have ever done, who has felt every pain you have ever felt, who has suffered everything you have ever suffered, and who still loves you fully and completely.

There are some things that others do to us that are not all that hard to forgive. But there are other grievances that cause us such sorrow, pain, and suffering that we simply don't have the ability to forgive without the help of the Lord.

I will not try to make a list of these items here because this depends on the individual, and the "trespass" involved.

But I will say that when we refuse to forgive others, it holds us back. In fact, from modern revelation we learn that:

D&C 64:9

9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to ^aforgive one another; for he that ^bforgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.

The words "for there remaineth in him the greater sin." should give us all something to think about. The Lord actually views the sin of not forgiving as a greater sin than anything that another might do to us.

That is a hard pill to swallow. However, when we view these words through the lenses of the atonement we understand that God can give us power to forgive others. If we will humbly ask Him to help us forgive, He will, in His own way, help us be liberated from the shackles of hurt others have caused. He will heal our wounded souls. He will give us power to forgive.

This may not come over night. But if we continually seek this blessing, it will come. The first step is deciding to forgive, then asking God to help you do so fully. God uses the process of forgiveness to help us heal and grow. If we refuse to forgive we are cutting off our personal progression.

Please don't get the wrong idea. I'm not saying this is easy. I'm not trying to comdemn anyone who is struggling with forgiving others. I am, however, saying that there is peace, healing, progression, and happiness if we will seek the Lord's help and grace to forgive others.

Without God, I believe this is impossible. With God all things are possible.

I once met a lady who wanted to be baptized. She had read the Book of Mormon, she had a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But she felt like she couldn't be baptized because she couldn't bring herself to forgive a man who had sexually abused her as a child and all through her growing up years.

My heart breaks when I think of this experience because it is a misunderstanding of scripture. God does not require us to be perfect to enter into His covenant of Baptism. He just requires a "broken heart and a contrite spirit" Baptism is just one of the first principles of the gospel. The ability to forgive fully others does not disqualify a person from getting baptized. In fact, the covenant of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost will help you on your way to heal from such terrible crimes against you. They give one greater access to the grace and healing power of the atonement.

I testify that healing can come through the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of forgiving others. I testify that we can forgive, with the help of God. I testify that He will forgive you, if you will seek him.

There is peace on this side of baptism. I invite you to come unto Christ through faith, repentance, baptism, and the receiving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I invite you take advantage of the healing power of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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