Forgiveness

While I sit in Sunday School, or seminary, or any Gospel-learning setting, I often hear the commandment Christ gave to His disciples, to forgive others.

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  till seven times?

"Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

-Matthew 18:21-22

We hear accounts like this all throughout the scriptures.  Another oft repeated one is the “why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, and beholdest not the beam in your own eye,”  etc. (paraphrased version of Matthew 7:3-5, see also Luke 6:41-42.)

If you’re like me, when you hear something repeated over and over again, you really get bored of it.  I always think “Okay, I’ve heard this a million times before, let’s get on with something new.”  Well, that’s never good if you say that.  If you keep hearing something, that’s probably God trying to tell you that you need to do something.  Yet, it seems like the more we’re told to do something, the more we refrain from doing it.  Really, that’s the opposite of what it should be.  What we really need to do is do what we’re told when we’re asked the first time, and take it even more seriously when we’re told for a second time.

Anyway, forgiveness.  I never really took that concept too seriously until I got to thinking.  I was sitting in history class one day, faced with the often-debated dilema of creating a perfect society.  There are many differing opinions on how this can be achieved.  Through all the thought, I came to this conclusion; the key, essential characteristic that a perfect society needs is really charity.  More specifically, sharing your wealth and forgiveness.  Really, that’s truly all there is to it.

Let me explain a bit more on the forgiveness aspect.  Since we are all imperfect human beings, it’s a given that we’re going to make mistakes.  We all know that.  So, the perfect society here on Earth shouldn’t, and absolutely can’t, come from eliminating those imperfections.  Why?  Because we aren’t perfect, and we will never be perfect until we are exalted in Heaven, even within the Celestial Kingdom.  So we can’t do that.  Instead, we need to accept and deal with those imperfections, and help others work through it.  We need to forgive others of their shortcomings, and only then can we really be unified.

Have you ever seen a group of people cooperate well when everyone is holding grudges with each other for a few mistakes each of them have made?  Yeah, neither have I.

We all really want to see everyone to just get along.  I believe that’s what we all desire.  Heavenly Father wants to see that too.  Jesus wants to see that.  God showed Enoch the entire universe, from beginning to end.  Then, while watching the vision, Enoch notices that God started to weep.  Enoch was confused, because the infinite God of Heaven and Earth was just crying. So, Enoch then proceeded to ask Him why He was crying.  God then explained, “Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, Gave I unto man his agency; and unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood.” (Moses 7:28-33)

That scripture never fails to touch me.  It really puts it all into perspective; about how small we are, and how much more we need to do.

I know that God loves us.  I know He is there.  I look forward to the day when everyone will be able to live in peace and harmony.  I know that if we love our neighbors, and forgive everyone of their trespasses, then God will also have mercy on us.  I love this Gospel, and I love my Lord.  I would like to say these things in the holy name of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, amen.