Repentance........

The repentance process...So how much do we actually know about how we go about repenting. Yes we know the normal basic steps. Which is 6 steps that you have to take.

1. Faith to rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ

2. Sorrow for committing the sin

3. Confession

4. Abandonment of sin

5. Restitution

6. Righteous living

Seems simple right? Doesn't seem like that would be hard to accomplish, until you actually have to do it. 

Lets take the first step...Faith to rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. What exactly does this mean? Well there is a scripture in Alma 34:17 “Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you”. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is there for us. He suffered everything for us. So it is there for us to have faith in. So that we can change our heart, be cleansed, and be forgiven. It is hard to realize that Jesus Christ made such a sacrifice for us, so that we could have this process in our lives to be able become a better person.

2. Sorrow for committing the sin...not just sorrow, but godly sorrow. Godly sorrow is having such sorrow for committing the sin you are are heart broken for what you have done. Godly sorrow gives you a sincere desire to change and a willingness to take the consequence for your actions. Alma said it best: "Let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance."(Alma 42: 29)

3. Confession....Well you should know what this means. Of course you have to confess. It doesn't do any good to recognize the sin, and not confess it. In D&C 61:2 the Lord as promised, "I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with a humble heart."

Confess your sins to your Heavenly Father with a sincere heart through prayer. Ask for forgiveness to the one that you have wronged. If it is a serious sin the go to your Bishop and confess.

4. Abandonment of sin....Forsaking the sin....This means simply never do it again. Regretting that you have done it. Stay away from situations that may cause you to commit the sin again, In D&C 58:43 it says, "By this ye may know if a man repented of his sins...behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

5. Restitution...To pay back, or take the consequences for the sin. Seeking to restore the damage as far as possible. If a liar, make the truth be known. As we do these things God will not mention our sins to us when we are being judged. What a great promise.  In Ezekiel 33: 15-16, it says, "If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statues of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live."

6. Righteous living....Living a life of obedience. It isn't enough to just stop sinning, you also have to live a life of obedience. A change of heart to fill your life with righteous living and to bring into your life activities that bring you spiritual uplifting. You have to strive to bring in to life to live all the commandments not just the ones that you disobeyed. D&C 1: 32, "he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven."

Not so easy once you realize everything that is involved in those six steps. Is it worth it to go through all this process for a sin. You tell me! I think that it most definitely worth it. Look at the promises the Lord has given us if we repent of our sins. How could you pass that up. And wouldn't we be doing Jesus an injustice if we didn't repent. He suffered for us, so that we could repent.