Well, the Adult Institute of Religion class which I teach is now over for the semester. We have been studying the Doctrine and Covenants. I had thought creating lessons for the Book of Mormon and the General Conference issues of the Ensigns was challenging. It wasn't hard at all compared to preparing lessons for the Doctrine and Covenants! Each section contains enough material for several classes. I have one hour a week. I have to pick and choose and I don't think that I necessarily pick THE MOST IMPORTANT principles from each section, I just choose what feels right for that day. Yesterday's class was no exception...
I like to try to cover verses that are not usually discussed so that we can find all the bits of light in each section, not just the usual ones. But yesterday some "usual" verses stuck out to me and so we studied them a bit. Here they are,
"Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another: for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
"I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
"And ye ought to say in your hearts - let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds." D&C 64:9-11
I've always semi-understood these verses. The part about the greater sin remains in us when we don't forgive has always been something I knew I needed to comprehend more. I have never questioned these words from the Savior. I just haven't really wrapped my heart and brain around them.
Well, I found this quote in the seminary teaching manual that shed some tremendous light on the subject. Hold onto your seats, its a breath-taker-awayer:
"Why is our salvation at stake when we fail to forgive others?...Why is it 'the greater sin'? when we take the position of withholding forgiveness from our fellow men, we are attempting to block his progress towards salvation. This position is satanical and our motive is not Christlike. We are endeavoring to impede the progress of a living soul and deny him the forgiving blessings of the atonement. This philosophy is saturated with impure motives that are designed to destroy the soul" (Otten and Caldwell, Sacred Truths, 1:314)
Did you get that? Do you need to read it again? I did. I had to read it several times. And then I remembered a time on my mission when my spiritual giant of a mission president stood in front of us during a zone conference and lectured us about this. An Elder had made some mistakes of some kind but had turned himself around and was trying to move on and change his ways. A transfer had been necessary to do this but what he found upon being transferred was that his reputation had proceeded him. The other missionaries in his new area expected him to be the same and were treating him accordingly. (I have no idea of any of the particulars)
I'll always remember that after my mission president gave this brief narrative, he shook his finger at the whole of us and said, "Let people change! Let people change!" What a profound concept, let people change!
Serious contemplation is required here and a willingness to be honest with ourselves about how we may hold people back from growing and progressing when we hold grudges against them or just can't bring ourselves to forgive someone or sit and stew over the misdeeds of others.
I'm sensing this could get long so I'll end here with the last verse quoted above: "And ye ought to say in your hearts - let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds." The job of judging has not been put on our shoulders. Someone Else does that and that Someone Else does that because He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. That is good news for all of us.
So, for Christmas this year, maybe you could let someone change. Even if they don't necessarily want to change right now and even if they don't know that anything has been amiss. Any judgment that you may be hanging over someone or grudge or bitterness...let it go. Just let it go. Doesn't that feel good to even think about? Like a burden has been lifted from your heart and then your heart will be free to be filled with more love for just people and life in general.
You see, in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior took ownership of all of our mistakes. He paid the price for them. They are His.Let Him take care of things. It is what He wants to do so that you can then be free to progress and keep moving forward. You know how grateful you are when someone accepts your apologies and gives you the benefit of the doubt when you have messed up (which we have all done). Give that same gift to someone else. You will never regret it.
(I want you all to know that although I can spout idealism, I am very mortal and must learn and grow like everyone else. I'm sure I'll have to return to this post again to be reminded of what the Spirit has taught me. I'm just grateful for the opportunity to teach institute so that I can learn these life changing lessons on a consistent basis.)
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