Forgiveness

Doctrine and Covenants, section 64, verse 10 reads, “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.” I have pondered on the subject of forgiveness quite a bit these past few months. As I have prayed to forgive someone close to me, I have wondered what it means to forgive and how do I know if I’ve forgiven her. She and I don’t always see eye to eye, in fact, we rarely do, but I want to forgive her for the hurt she’s caused me because I love her and because my Savior commanded me to. I appreciate what James M. Harper and Susanne Frost Olsen said in their book, “Creating Healthy ties with In-laws and Extended Families, “Forgiveness means you let go of consuming feelings of animosity, bitterness, and hatred.” Forgiveness occurs in my heart. As I let go of the hurtful feelings and allow my heart to heal, it will be filled with love and peace. That’s what forgiveness is all about. Letting go of the turmoil that can consume our minds and hearts and healing from the pain.

In the April 2007 General Conference, President Faust stated, “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.” Forgiveness is for us, not for the person we are forgiving, but for us. It enables us to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ, as He forgave all around Him and loved all around Him. President Faust also states in that talk, “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)

“And at the creation of man and woman, unity for them in marriage was not given as hope, it was a command.” (President Henry B. Eyering in his talk, “That We May Be One” in April 1998 General Conference) He goes on to say that, “Our Heavenly Father wants our hearts to be knit together. That union in love is not simply an ideal. It is a necessity.” I’m so grateful for this promise and commandment. In today’s world, so many people are worried about what is equal and want everyone to be the same. I’m so thankful for The Family: A Proclamation to the World that states, “ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” Men and women are created equal and are both created in the image of our Heavenly Father. However, our roles are meant to be different and that’s wonderful. Men and women have different strengths and talents that are divine gifts from our Father in Heaven. In his book, “Counseling With our Councils,” Elder M. Russell Ballard states that, “Even though men and women are equal before God in their eternal opportunities, they do have different duties in His eternal plan-and yet these differing roles and duties are equally significant.”

Women are essential to the building of the Kingdom of God. We are important and we are needed. We have a job to do and we must put our shoulders to the wheel and do all we can to help proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and administer to those in need.