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)