1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:21,520 Hey there everybody welcome out to another episode of Redeemed Through His Blood. 2 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,600 Scott and David Durfey here as always. 3 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:24,600 How's it going Dave? 4 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:25,600 Great Scott. 5 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:26,600 Good to see you bud. 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:27,600 Good to see you. 7 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,520 We've done golfing so we're getting the very best of David Durfee today. 8 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:32,760 Fun fun fun. 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:36,680 He played pretty well is that right? 10 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:37,680 I made a few putts. 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,120 Made a few putts and the guys I was playing with they missed a few putts. 12 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,120 Yeah he was playing with some pretty good golfers today. 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:45,680 He came away a winner. 14 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:50,480 We're not going to say any names or anything but David he's a pretty great golfer. 15 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:51,480 He's very humble. 16 00:00:51,480 --> 00:00:53,200 I'm not that great. 17 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:54,360 He's pretty great. 18 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:58,760 I should be a lot better as many many bowls as I've had in my life. 19 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,760 That's what keeps you improving is that attitude right there. 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,280 Well listen thanks for joining us everybody. 21 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:06,600 We have a beautiful day here on the Wasatch Front. 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,880 I hope it's beautiful where you are as well. 23 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:15,120 We really appreciate all the email the correspondence that we get from each of you. 24 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,440 We encourage you to keep that coming. 25 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:21,680 Send that to heredeemsusatgmail.com. 26 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,440 Last week we had a fun discussion. 27 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:28,440 I'm not sure fun is the appropriate adjective but I'll use it anyway. 28 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,160 A fun discussion around forgiveness. 29 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:39,280 Forgiveness is one of the manifestations of repentance and look forward to continuing 30 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,200 today and probably even next week talking about that even more. 31 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:44,360 So Dave where do we go? 32 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:49,720 Well we're talking about forgiving others and forgiving ourselves right and how to 33 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,920 recognize forgiveness in our life. 34 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:59,240 But Scott I know the listeners are tired of this and I'm sorry to keep repeating it. 35 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:05,520 But I just really believe strongly in this that repentance is a process. 36 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,720 It is a process and there are different elements to it. 37 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:14,600 There are different parts to it and I think it helps to kind of break it down a little 38 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:16,040 bit. 39 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:22,880 You know that I hate the term steps of repentance or the checklist of repentance. 40 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:30,600 But I do think there are just some you know an outline or or essential elements to it such 41 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:35,080 as the foundations of repentance. 42 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:40,880 One more time if people are trying to repent of their sins and they lack sufficient faith 43 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:45,000 in the Lord Jesus Christ and his atonement they're probably just going to spend their 44 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:46,000 wills. 45 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,040 And they may through the repentance process get more faith in Jesus Christ. 46 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:56,280 I'm sure that's true in some cases and so there's exceptions to all of these and anybody 47 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:01,440 can jump in on the repentance wheel on at any point. 48 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:08,760 But I think to really go through the process complete the process to kind of get to a point 49 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:13,240 where you know where you stand with the Lord and that you've been forgiven. 50 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:18,920 I think it's really helpful to understand that there's there's foundations of repentance 51 00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:21,240 faith in Jesus Christ is one of those. 52 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:25,360 Well and let's talk about the other two right really understanding the atonement of Jesus 53 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:26,360 Christ. 54 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:32,160 So I think so important as part of the foundation and then desiring and this is really important 55 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,880 to throughout the entire process. 56 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:39,800 Not just foundations but it has to start at the foundations and that is a desire for complete 57 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:41,760 honesty and yes. 58 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:49,240 Uncompromising honesty such an important part in Elder Anderson's book and I know I'll never 59 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:54,960 forget the impression he left upon me about the importance of uncompromising honesty when 60 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:59,680 it comes to repentance and those are foundational. 61 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:00,680 Yeah. 62 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:05,240 When we talk about repentance and then there's the conditions of repentance meeting the conditions 63 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:13,640 of repentance of godly sorrow and broken heart and contrite spirit and a real sincerity to 64 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:14,640 it. 65 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:19,320 That's that's another essential element of repentance. 66 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,520 And then the then you have the actions of repentance and I think this is the core of 67 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:29,360 it and I think so many times got people hit all the way around the core and they never 68 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:36,960 quite sometimes get to the core and in all of the stories the hundreds of stories that 69 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:48,160 Elder Anderson had compiled over nine years the first nine years of his apostolic ministry. 70 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:55,200 It was amazing how many talked about repentance but they didn't the core so many times was 71 00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:01,960 missing and the core or the actions of repentance color whatever you want but the real core 72 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:10,280 of repentance is crying out to God and really depending upon Jesus Christ and receiving 73 00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:19,600 his mercy and his grace and enabling powers and to cry out to God and to offer our whole 74 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:27,200 souls and our sins Scott remember this was the key of in the course that I taught for 75 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:37,040 years I think so many lights would go on when I would say this stop repenting of a sin 76 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:41,600 and start to repent of sinning. 77 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:48,360 That's a that's a total different perspective and so many people tried to do a piecemeal 78 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,840 you know they tried to repent of a sin. 79 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:57,920 It just doesn't work very well that way Scott I'm sure individuals have done it but the 80 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:06,800 real core or the action of repentance is exemplified by King Lamona's father where he he says to 81 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:11,960 God you know after giving offering all of his kingdom to God then he finally gets to 82 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:18,960 really the core of it and he says I will give away all my sins to know thee so to offer 83 00:06:18,960 --> 00:06:27,120 our whole souls and all of our sins to God as we cry out to him to give them to God to 84 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:32,080 offer them to Jesus Christ who paid for them by the way who paid for all of them so if 85 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:38,080 he paid for them we should be generous and honest in offering them to him and that's 86 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:44,160 kind of the core of repentance and some people talk about confessing and they talk about 87 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:51,080 doing all these other things that are parts of repentance but they never get quite to 88 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:56,360 the core of it and after the actions of repentance or the core of repentance then we have the 89 00:06:56,360 --> 00:07:02,800 manifestations of repentance the way the Lord talks about these it's these are manifestations 90 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:08,160 and that is confessing them by this you may know if a man repented of his sins he will 91 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:15,080 confess them and forsake them the Lord says in doctrine comes 59 and then you have a making 92 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:22,120 restitution and then you have forgiving others these are kind of the manifestations or evidences 93 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:27,600 that an individual is progressing in their repentance and and maybe perhaps that they 94 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:34,920 have repented because repentance again is not through the church or any institution real 95 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:41,560 repentance and forgiveness can only come from the Lord from our heavenly Father through 96 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:48,440 Jesus Christ and his atonement so I just I'm spending too much time on this against 97 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:54,800 God but I it's just so critical that we're talking about parts of repentance and it's 98 00:07:54,800 --> 00:08:03,640 just so important to see it to always see it as kind of a whole anyway and it's probably 99 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:07,120 true that the some of the parts is even greater than the whole. 100 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:12,520 It's probably important too that we actually go back and redefine repentance especially 101 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:17,280 for the sake of our conversation today you know when we do it when we talk about repentance 102 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:22,360 oftentimes and this has been the case for many of us in our culture going way back but 103 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,160 when we would think of repentance we would think of it as an indictment or I'm being 104 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,720 called on the carpet or this is the way that I fix all the mistakes I have to suffer I 105 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:36,320 have to pay it back I have to you know and there is there can be suffering because of 106 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:42,280 our sins there can be all of these there can be payback that's necessary we talk about 107 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:47,520 restitution and all of that but but when we talk about repentance what we're really saying 108 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:53,480 here is coming to him turning to him facing him putting on the atonement of Jesus Christ 109 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:58,040 so when we talk about repentance what we're really doing what we're really doing when 110 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:03,160 we're repenting is a we are responding to the invitation to come on to me and to come 111 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:10,440 on to me more fully to take his yoke upon us to allow him to give us rest and all of 112 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:15,240 the other things that we read about that give us comfort in and through the scriptures 113 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:22,280 and from the words of the our leaders the brethren etc so when we think of repentance 114 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:27,480 sure it's for sin sure it's so that we can be made clean sure it's so that we can through 115 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:33,360 the sanctification process be made there is joint errors with him but it's also to respond 116 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:38,680 to all of the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve and all of the effects of fall the 117 00:09:38,680 --> 00:09:44,160 fall of Adam and Eve and I say that because it is through repentance again that we access 118 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:49,800 the blessings the power of Jesus Christ that come to us because of repentance through his 119 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:55,640 atonement and so that if we can do that then we can access the spirit to access all three 120 00:09:55,640 --> 00:10:00,760 of those blessings and you know we talk about the redemption blessings that's the forgiveness 121 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:06,640 of sins sure we talk about the enabling blessings strengthening blessings those blessings will 122 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:12,880 be of grave importance today as we get into the topic today and then compensatory blessings 123 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:17,280 that are available to us only through the atonement of Jesus Christ which is access 124 00:10:17,280 --> 00:10:25,000 through us coming unto him which we sometimes often refer to also as repentance I think 125 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:30,400 Scott it would be helpful if our listeners I think so many times their perspective of 126 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:39,040 repentance is that I that I have to suffer and their their real goal or their aspiration 127 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:47,160 in the process of repentance is to have their guilt washed away or even washed away that's 128 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:52,200 that's Alma's words but they just want to be free of guilt they want to get rid of their 129 00:10:52,200 --> 00:11:01,080 guilt I think it would be better and much more effective if individuals would see repentance 130 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:09,480 as Jesus suffered so that I don't have to suffer right and I'm grateful that Jesus Christ 131 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:15,920 paid for my sins so I don't have to pay for my sins and I think the goal should be more 132 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:24,400 how can I show my gratitude and love to Jesus Christ if that was if that was more our aspiration 133 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:29,520 in the repentance process instead of just I want I gotta be relieved of guilt I've 134 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:36,240 got it's you know because that that approach is more about me and I think repentance is 135 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:43,120 more effective in all the individuals that I've seen repentance God in in throughout 136 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:49,560 church leadership experiences and personal experiences family experiences it's so much 137 00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:57,160 more effective when the focus is on Jesus Christ and his atonement and what my sins 138 00:11:57,160 --> 00:12:07,080 cost him instead of what have my sins cost me and how can I be free from it that's a 139 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:13,600 different approach yeah and if we and if we think about it from that approach and we go 140 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:19,280 back to what I said a minute ago that it is the same process repentance that we access 141 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:25,240 the enabling and compensatory blessings of Jesus Christ through his atonement addition 142 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:30,240 in addition to the redemption blessings if we look at it that way then we can see that 143 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:35,440 it's the same process that we use to gain comfort in our lives for the pains and the 144 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:41,160 trials and the sufferings and all that we go through in life that may be in inequalities 145 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:47,360 and equities and in all of those things that we also face so if we approach repentance 146 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:54,480 as a coming unto him and in that's the same basic effect or same basic steps or process 147 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:59,680 probably better said that we use to come unto him to get comfort from our trials and from 148 00:12:59,680 --> 00:13:06,880 those things that so do easily be set us right then I think that it helps us also to understand 149 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:12,760 that my sins aren't necessarily an indictment I shouldn't be sinning but they're not an 150 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:18,680 indictment Jesus paid for them we also paid for my sufferings yeah and all the consequences 151 00:13:18,680 --> 00:13:23,800 of my sins and so if you pay for the consequences of my sins and of my sufferings and and he's 152 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:30,520 accessed the same way either way that's it's important for us to know and I think for me 153 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:38,920 at least that made repentance easier because I began to even see it more deeply as an expression 154 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:45,720 of love from him also in response and expression of my love for him that's good Scott and 155 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:51,840 just just two other thoughts you know I don't think I've said this before but I used to 156 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:58,120 always tell my students when your gratitude for Jesus Christ and his atonement is greater 157 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:06,520 than your guilt then you can really be effective at repenting and feeling forgiven but if your 158 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:14,280 gratitude for Jesus Christ and his atonement is not the focus and it's not as great as 159 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:21,880 you beating yourselves up and feeling guilt and even worse shame then you're not really 160 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:27,360 repenting gratitude for Jesus Christ and the atonement and really understanding that is 161 00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:36,960 such an important part essential foundational element of repentance so and I we can probably 162 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:42,400 never talk about that enough but today let's let's get into let's continue our discussion 163 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:49,400 on forgiving others Scott because again as a manifestation but sometimes maybe people 164 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:55,920 in order to feel forgiven they need to forgive others including themselves so it's an important 165 00:14:55,920 --> 00:15:02,440 part of working through the process but there's so much there's so much to say about forgiving 166 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:08,720 others and there's so many positive examples of it the question that I kind of want our 167 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:16,680 listeners to think about though again in regards to forgiving others is a little bit of a like 168 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:25,120 repenting of our sins forgiving others is is a little bit like repenting of sin there's 169 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:31,600 two ways you can do it you can either try to pay back all that was lost on your own 170 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:38,720 and try to work out your repentance on your own and try to pay back ten times and and 171 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:46,800 flog yourself and beat yourself up and and and you know and it's all about me again 172 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:53,720 or you can rely upon Jesus Christ understand his atonement and look to God and live approach 173 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:58,960 and and forgiving others is the same deal Scott and one way is redeeming in one way 174 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:08,480 is not so there's two ways for people to forgive one way is they just make up their mind psychologically 175 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:13,200 they're going to forgive and they psychologically deal with it and they deal with their emotions 176 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:20,160 and and they're just trying to work this out for themselves and and they see therapists 177 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:25,360 and they and I'm not nothing against their person I'm not saying anything negative about 178 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:33,600 that at all but but they kind of just through all of the man-made processes try to forgive 179 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:39,760 others and a lot of people are pull that off Scott a lot of people can can move on and 180 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:47,000 forgive who may not even be Christian lots of people in other religions who who get that 181 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:53,040 atheists and agnostics can learn to forgive others and and find peace by doing it but 182 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:58,760 it's not redemptive because it's not through Jesus Christ so the most effective way to 183 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:08,160 forgive others is to to understand again what Jesus what Jesus's atonement covered and it 184 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:15,640 not only covered all people sins the sins of all the world but it covered all of the 185 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:20,920 negative effects that those sins might have on me that if somebody has sinned against 186 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:29,720 me that Jesus Christ atonement covered all of the negatives that I experience and and 187 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:37,080 when we understand that we can we can actually not just repent through Jesus Christ and His 188 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:44,600 atonement but we can forgive others through Jesus Christ and His atonement and that becomes 189 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:50,840 more redemptive and more powerful and the peace and the joy that comes in the wake of 190 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:59,360 that is very different than me coming to peace kind of on my own so I I just think people 191 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:04,680 need to think about how am I really trying to forgive others and I know a lot of people 192 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:08,880 don't even want to forgive others they want to hold on to it and the reason they hold 193 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:15,000 on to it Scott you've you've taught me this is because there's a payoff and and they 194 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:21,040 become stuck in that and you should talk about that again and I want to be extremely careful 195 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:25,960 because there are victims and there are people who know fault of their own all of us to a 196 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:31,720 degree but many to a much larger larger degree about than others there are those that through 197 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:36,680 no fault of their own have suffered grave traumatic experiences and we've talked about 198 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:42,840 a lot of those in the past here on on the podcast and a lot of you have shared some 199 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:47,920 of those with us that there are just some really difficult things that can happen to 200 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:53,280 us oftentimes in this and I want to be very sensitive and very careful because this there 201 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:59,240 this is in no way a generalization over everybody but that you know maybe an invitation to all 202 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:04,640 of us is to just maybe just try this on maybe just see if this fits in any portion of our 203 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:10,840 lives regardless of who we are regardless of how long or how far along the processes 204 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:16,160 of gaining the atonement in our lives that we are but think of it this way if for example 205 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:22,760 I'm a victim and because of my victimization of abuse or whatever the case may be but because 206 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:30,720 of this I have a psychological disadvantage maybe I even have the economic disadvantage 207 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:35,480 maybe I have become to have a physical disadvantage in life and certainly I have an emotional 208 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,800 disadvantage in life because that's just what trauma does to us it gets in our body 209 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:45,880 and sometimes there are just trauma responses that bring those things up and remind us we 210 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:53,000 have a body memory a body remembering which can trigger a an emotional and a mental remembering 211 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:58,840 of those types and which can destroy relationships destroy relationships with each other destroy 212 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:04,080 relationships even with ourself I mean this is God this is one of the you know and I'm 213 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,800 only saying this and it don't only I don't have the data on this but it would be easy 214 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:13,360 to to obtain but this is one of the main reason one of the big reasons that we that we lose 215 00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:19,520 so many people to suicide in our society is because we just don't we just don't see ourselves 216 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:25,120 as being valuable I'm a piece of trash now I'm I'm I'm discardable now because of the 217 00:20:25,120 --> 00:20:30,600 things damaged goods well there's certainly exactly well there's something about that 218 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:34,960 that we would get comfortable in when I say we if you're not feeling this if you're saying 219 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:39,000 Scott that's not me well then I'm not talking to you but there for every one of you that 220 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:42,920 are saying Scott that's not me there's five of you that are saying yeah I get this this 221 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:48,400 is exactly how I feel because sometimes when we are in that victimization we get attention 222 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:53,080 for it we have counselors we have addictions that come up because of it certainly that's 223 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:59,200 been the case so maybe in part for me even you know that that we find ways to numb out 224 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:06,840 and those ways of numbing out become so easy for us to obtain to gain access to drugs or 225 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:12,360 you know whatever the case rationalize it whatever that any of that is and that is our payoff 226 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:18,440 because because if I'm in this stuck mode then I will continue to get all of this now 227 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:23,200 I've and I've seen this firsthand I've even seen this firsthand recently and if you're 228 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:27,600 any of my sponsors are listening to this I am not talking about you so don't ask me 229 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:33,240 if I am but but if but I've seen this reason you could be talking about you or me a hundred 230 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:39,280 percent but I but recently even I have I have had the experience with an individual more 231 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:44,800 than one actually who has said to me things along these lines but Scott as soon as I 232 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:52,520 start getting well I don't know how to function in wellness anymore the payoff is as yeah I 233 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:58,800 say I want all these things and I say I hate this discomfort but I have been become comfortable 234 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:04,880 in my discomfort yeah and you know we can in the Book of Mormon where it talks about 235 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:09,720 and thus he leadeth the hearts of the children of men astray causing them to say always well 236 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:14,960 and sign we just get comfortable with where we are and because of that that that that 237 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:22,520 comfort of where we are can be a big tool of the accuser and it helps us stay stuck 238 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:27,480 because it's uncomfortable for us to grow it's uncomfortable for us to become responsible 239 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:33,640 it's uncomfortable for us to become accountable it's uncomfortable for us to learn to control 240 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:40,280 our emotions etc. it's scary Scott and so because of that sometimes we stay stuck yeah 241 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:45,040 but you know what I found though Dave the deeper our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 242 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:52,280 is the greater our desire is to follow him and if that faith is deep enough yeah I I 243 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:58,600 have seen miracles happen in becoming unstuck because if I trust in him to know that through 244 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:04,760 him this new life as directed by Jesus Christ him because of the power that he has afforded 245 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:10,160 me through his atonement through his through what happened in Gethsemane on the cross because 246 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:16,000 of that I can have a better life and I have to trust that that that will be the case but 247 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:19,960 if I can do that then I can rise out of that victimization. 248 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:25,640 Well my my favorite quote you know from preach my gospel Scott is as your understanding of 249 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:35,840 the atonement of Jesus Christ grows some page two of preach my gospel your desire to live 250 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:42,000 the gospel will increase and I we could we could put in place of the word live a lot 251 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:47,240 of things for example as your understanding of the atonement of Jesus Christ grows your 252 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:56,160 desire to forgive the others will increase put in there whatever you want but as our 253 00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:04,680 understanding of and our gratitude for Jesus Christ and his atonement increases it's a 254 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:13,440 it's amazing how our our motives our motives change our desires change we've all been stuck 255 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:17,800 and I know we're all flawed and we're all broken and it's just so easy to get stuck 256 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:25,960 in a fallen celestial world and to justify our sins anyway I hope that our listeners 257 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:32,440 don't take offense to any of that but I think it's it's really important to evaluate ourselves 258 00:24:32,440 --> 00:24:38,000 and say what's the what's the payback why am I if I'm not able to forgive him or her 259 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:47,560 or them or whatever what what's my payback why why can't I what can I let it go yeah 260 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:53,880 or what don't I understand or what what do I lack in my faith in Jesus Christ and his 261 00:24:53,880 --> 00:25:00,440 atonement that's just real those are really important self-examination questions yeah I 262 00:25:00,440 --> 00:25:07,040 have perpetrators I know we all do we have people that we need to forgive for whatever 263 00:25:07,040 --> 00:25:14,160 reason and I and I have found though that you know one of the reasons this was true 264 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:19,040 for me and again this is not anecdotal this is because I've had experience with this and 265 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:24,600 sponsoring and talking to many many other men etc but but sometimes one of the reasons 266 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:30,720 that we hang on to that not forgiving and we can at that point we can actually change 267 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:37,000 maybe even use it synonymously non-forgiveness with resentment the reason I hang on to that 268 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:41,600 resentment or that non-forgiveness towards somebody else is because I think they need 269 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:50,000 to pay more right I so so if they have done this to me and this is equal to a nine out 270 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:56,520 of ten then they need to pay a nine out of ten and in the way I exercise that payment 271 00:25:56,520 --> 00:26:03,160 from that on that nine out of the ten is to withhold forgiveness yeah and it makes no 272 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:09,560 sense logically if we think of it from a logical you know perspective there is no sense in 273 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:15,520 that at all yeah but we don't we don't function from logic when we are in victimization we 274 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:22,040 function from emotion and when we're functioning from emotion that makes sense to us and you 275 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,360 know and even as I'm saying that and even as you're hearing this and even those of you 276 00:26:25,360 --> 00:26:29,680 who are actually maybe perhaps even doing that to a degree in your own life so hearing 277 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:37,120 this and you're thinking man that sounds silly but it's nonetheless true I know individuals 278 00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:45,200 families have been destroyed by perpetrators sometimes the family cannot let it go and 279 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:50,160 I've had the feeling sometimes that the one of the reasons they can't let it go is because 280 00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:57,400 it justifies their failures in living really they think their whole family's been destroyed 281 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:04,160 because of a perpetrator and so it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and yet it's not 282 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:13,160 their fault it's the perpetrator's fault it isn't an amazing it's really demonic I mean 283 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:25,760 it's it's evil how Satan can take sin and perpetuate it generational generation after 284 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:33,360 generation after generation and there's some people who've been hurt deeply hurt and they 285 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:38,080 won't let it go and their children won't let it go and their children's children won't 286 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:44,800 let it go and you see this and not only in individuals you see it in families you see 287 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:51,000 it in cultures you see it I mean Dave we see it in the church I mean let's you know let's 288 00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:55,400 see it in the church yeah let's be honest you know if we have a leader that says leaders 289 00:27:55,400 --> 00:28:01,000 are human leaders are gonna say stupid stuff sometimes I have we've all been offended and 290 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:06,440 we've all offended exactly and you know and so think about that you know if I'm looking 291 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:10,800 for and again I don't want to get into this but if I'm looking for a way out anyway and 292 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:16,280 I see an offense well there's my payoff you know so I don't have to go to church anymore 293 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:20,200 don't have to go to church anymore you wouldn't either church anymore and it's his fault exactly 294 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:25,280 or her fault you wouldn't either if he would have said that about you yeah that story that 295 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:30,880 was told to general conference just a month or so ago Scott about somebody was diseased 296 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:37,440 in the family and the father and son and son were were blessing the sacrament sitting at 297 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:45,000 the at the sacrament table and that when the bishop realized it he freaked out and sent 298 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:50,640 the father and son home and bearst them from everybody what are you doing here and and 299 00:28:50,640 --> 00:28:55,480 don't come back until she's better anyway yeah I can't remember the details that yeah 300 00:28:55,480 --> 00:29:01,360 but I remember the feeling the horror it for me it was a real a reliving of what a priest 301 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:10,640 that leader did to me and my family once because of a situation and and our son was asked not 302 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:17,920 to not to go back to church and you know he's 13 year old kid 13 year old kid and said he 303 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:25,760 can't come back to church and I said well okay that's okay then we'll have church at 304 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:33,280 our house so for a long time I had to go home and have priests I'd go to sacrament meeting 305 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:38,480 then I'd have to go home and have sacrament with him and priesthood with him and Sunday 306 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:44,600 school with him this was when we were in the three hour block that was a tough deal it 307 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:50,720 would have been easy for me to just say okay we'll just do our own thing yeah but I I know 308 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:58,200 where the keys are and I know where the truth is and sure and just because of somebody who 309 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:07,240 who makes a poor decision and offends me doesn't make it right for me to have that perpetuated 310 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:12,200 through generations of time we can we could give lots of examples of that I want to go 311 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:17,400 back to the idea again there's a difference between just making up your mind to forgive 312 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:26,240 someone and forgiving someone through the atonement through the power through the power of Jesus 313 00:30:26,240 --> 00:30:32,520 Christ and our faith in him and his atonement and I think one of the great examples of this 314 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:40,000 which is in elder Anderson's book is the story of Bishop Chris Williams and you know this 315 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:47,640 is a pretty well known if you've been in Utah for I don't know if you were here 10 years 316 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:55,920 ago I think it was about 10 years ago when this happened Scott when a teenage drunk driver 317 00:30:55,920 --> 00:31:06,720 eboned Chris Williams and his family on State Street in South Salt Lake and killed his wife 318 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:14,320 and all of his daughters his son survived and then he had another teenage son that wasn't 319 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:20,920 in the car at the time so and and the wife was pregnant expecting their I think their 320 00:31:20,920 --> 00:31:35,080 fifth child I think so anyway Chris immediately now this is amazing to me really his faith 321 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:45,920 and I hope I'm there I hope that we can maybe all of us get there but he was able to immediately 322 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:53,160 forgive that young man so I want to read his words this again in the book on page 231 but 323 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:58,080 I would I just want to read this paragraph this is right after the accident happened 324 00:31:58,080 --> 00:32:04,200 and he had realized that his wife died he just saw her stop breathing I fixed my eyes on 325 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:12,400 the overturned car I immediately felt an enabling power beyond my own healing and enlarging 326 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:20,040 my crushed soul I knew exactly what I had to do and exactly what those three words meant 327 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:25,640 the three words were you got to let it go he he had this voice come into his mind I said 328 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:33,200 let it go I knew exactly what I had to do and exactly what those three words meant regardless 329 00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:39,200 of whoever had been driving the other car and regardless of whatever the circumstances behind 330 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:49,200 this tragedy were this was not my burden to carry I knew who should carry that burden 331 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:57,880 he who had already endured the soul crushing press of the pains of all men including this 332 00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:06,720 burden so that I would not have to bear the infinitely miniscule portion of what Christ 333 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:14,920 bore in that instant of grace and revelation I knew that my Savior lived and that he was 334 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:24,760 immediately present with me in my time of greatest need would be I mean really we should 335 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:31,280 read we should speedily repent Scott and we should speedily forgive and the key to doing 336 00:33:31,280 --> 00:33:42,200 that is our understanding our focus on our understanding of our focus on and our faith 337 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:54,280 in those are three keys understanding of focus on and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in his 338 00:33:54,280 --> 00:34:01,080 atonement it's pretty amazing well this is the story goes on he he finds out who the 339 00:34:01,080 --> 00:34:08,680 teenage boy is teenage boy goes to jail and he he wants to meet him and and he's concerned 340 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:17,360 about the young man and so they actually have a meeting in jail and when they're when they're 341 00:34:17,360 --> 00:34:25,200 discussing the kind of the past and what's happened this young man and this is his real 342 00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:38,960 name Cameron he he looks at Chris the dad then now widower and he asks him after all 343 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:48,520 that I have done to your family how is it that you were able to forgive me and brother 344 00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:57,560 Williams responds and says quote if there's anything you have seen me do or heard or say 345 00:34:57,560 --> 00:35:05,840 or have read about me regarding forgiveness you should know that it was merely the Savior 346 00:35:05,840 --> 00:35:14,360 working through me and then Chris writes the spirit that filled that room was profound 347 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:21,400 as it pierced both of our hearts with an eternal truth we are loved by the pure love of Jesus 348 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:31,120 Christ and he wants us to fulfill our potential well I just think that's an incredible example 349 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:38,120 of someone the day and and maybe maybe you and I should discuss this man make it maybe 350 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:43,280 a little more clear for our listeners is that this is an example of someone who wasn't just 351 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:48,280 able to forgive someone but who was redeemed in some form right it's got sanctified redeemed 352 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:57,120 whatever word you want to put in there that that he just didn't forgive them but he was 353 00:35:57,120 --> 00:36:05,960 changed for redeemed sanctified himself in the process which is actually a compensatory 354 00:36:05,960 --> 00:36:11,160 blessing I mean they tie right together right that redeeming that he went through you know 355 00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:15,520 and again you know that can mean so many things but you're right there was a bit of a redemption 356 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:23,160 that he experienced there as part of his compensatory blessings that made available to him that he 357 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:31,840 didn't he didn't just forgive the teenage boy no but he loved the teenage boy yeah and he 358 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:40,000 got to a point where the experience and I it's so sensitive I know because I can't imagine 359 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:48,320 how his life was changed for the worse by losing his wife his expecting wife and his 360 00:36:48,320 --> 00:36:55,320 daughters and and and how difficult and the negative impact of that for the rest of his 361 00:36:55,320 --> 00:37:04,720 life however somehow through the atonement of Jesus Christ God and his understanding of 362 00:37:04,720 --> 00:37:13,320 focus on and faith in turned something really awful ashes into something that he didn't 363 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:24,400 really awful ashes into something really beautiful beauty for ashes that's how the way Isaiah 364 00:37:24,400 --> 00:37:34,880 describes it a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness it flipped from being a terrible 365 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:45,960 life altering experience for the bad into a life changing experience where his dependence 366 00:37:45,960 --> 00:37:53,200 upon love for Jesus Christ was even strengthened in the process I really hope that none of 367 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:59,000 us have to experience those kind of tragedies in our lives that's I pray that for all of 368 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:06,040 us and I mean that but each one of us will have to face something in our lives where 369 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:11,480 forgiveness is going to be a very important experience for us especially as we come to 370 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:16,920 him especially as we put on the atonement of Jesus Christ in its fullness this is a really 371 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:22,040 important part forgiving to receive forgiveness forgiving to receive that closeness Chris 372 00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:27,880 Williams wrote a book it's called let it go a true story of tragedy and forgiveness here's 373 00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:32,720 what it says in the description there when his wife and two children were killed in a 374 00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:38,640 drunk driving accident that didn't include the unborn baby right Chris Williams made 375 00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:44,680 the most important decision of his life I'll just stop right there the most important decision 376 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:50,720 of his life and then the last and it was a conscious decision sentence it says Chris's 377 00:38:50,720 --> 00:38:57,840 message of forgiveness is an empowering invitation to all who have suffered however ingestly to 378 00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:02,480 lay down their burdens and let go and we know that that is to lay down their burdens at 379 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:09,000 the foot of the cross and let go and so as each one of us face this forgiving if that 380 00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:14,800 was you know I agree with what said here that it may have been and Chris probably said that 381 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:19,080 they're probably quoting him he probably said that was the most important decision I've 382 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:25,960 ever made in my life and I'm sure he sees it that way and what so when we are maybe 383 00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:32,000 an invitation for each of us is when we are facing an experience or an opportunity to 384 00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:37,600 forgive others maybe that's an important decision could be one of the most important decisions 385 00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:44,040 that we make in our lives is to forgive and maybe maybe the decision that precedes that 386 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:51,240 decision Scott is to strengthen our faith choose now to strengthen our faith in Jesus 387 00:39:51,240 --> 00:39:57,520 Christ and his atonement so that when those things occur in our life we will have sufficient 388 00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:07,800 faith to immediately speedily forgive others because if we don't have that level of faith 389 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:15,280 in Jesus Christ our savior those kinds of things could destroy an individual and Satan 390 00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:22,680 really use it against us and then the again the generational negative impact of that can 391 00:40:22,680 --> 00:40:31,000 go on forever and ever so it's an amazing story I I used to play there's a video of 392 00:40:31,000 --> 00:40:35,880 this to Scott and on the church website in the library you can find this the story of 393 00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:42,320 Chris Williams and as an example of forgiving others and I used to play that in class when 394 00:40:42,320 --> 00:40:50,760 I would teach this chapter and I would say to the students now this I want you to search 395 00:40:50,760 --> 00:41:01,280 as you watch this video how how was Bishop Williams able to forgive it's an amazing story 396 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:13,840 enjoy the story but I want you to just focus on one question how was he able to forgive 397 00:41:13,840 --> 00:41:18,600 if our listeners want to read the book or watch the video I would invite them to ask 398 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:26,440 themselves that same question and it becomes pretty obvious that it's only through his 399 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:35,400 understanding of focus in faith in Jesus Christ that he's able to do that so I think that 400 00:41:35,400 --> 00:41:43,440 decision may precede the decision to forgive others so I hope our listeners will consider 401 00:41:43,440 --> 00:41:52,000 the difference in forgiving on their own just because it's the right thing to do just because 402 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:57,760 they don't want it to eat them eat them up they don't want to they don't want to you 403 00:41:57,760 --> 00:42:02,440 know have this become a negative for the rest of their family and then they do it for all 404 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:10,800 these other great reasons but the real reason we should do it is because of the sanctifying 405 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:19,160 power and effect it can have on us I think Scott again it it's not I know that there 406 00:42:19,160 --> 00:42:25,440 are some really complex issues out there I know there are some people that because of 407 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:32,480 abuse and because of other things it's created all kinds of negative psychological and negative 408 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:45,160 consequences throughout their life but I do also know that Jesus Christ suffered for those 409 00:42:45,160 --> 00:42:51,160 consequences and knowing that knowing that he didn't just suffer for sin but for the 410 00:42:51,160 --> 00:42:58,760 consequences of sin it can help individuals to let it go and letting it go let go let 411 00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:07,600 God is can be really redemptive that you can have peace you can really have peace in your 412 00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:14,480 afflictions and you can really come to know joy even in your suffering Jesus Christ is 413 00:43:14,480 --> 00:43:21,360 a great example of forgiveness how he was able to forgive those who who persecuted him 414 00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:30,440 who made him suffer the scourging the crucifixion all that he went through Scott even bleeding 415 00:43:30,440 --> 00:43:37,760 from every poor he not only was able to quickly forgive the Romans when he said forgive them 416 00:43:37,760 --> 00:43:46,080 father for they know not what they do but he was able to quickly forgive me and he was 417 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:53,640 able to quickly forgive you and he will quickly forgive all of us and that is the example 418 00:43:53,640 --> 00:44:02,280 Scott that we should all think about is that we should let it go and Scott it really is 419 00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:08,600 sometimes quite simple for example if you've been bitten by the serpent you've been bitten 420 00:44:08,600 --> 00:44:16,960 by somebody has bitten you with somebody put poison in you because of their choice or their 421 00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:23,800 decision what should you do to be healed look to the brazen serpent and some people wouldn't 422 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:29,040 do that yeah and why wouldn't they do there was too simple it was because the easiness 423 00:44:29,040 --> 00:44:34,040 the way in the simplicity of it is too simple it was too simple yeah and so they wouldn't 424 00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:39,200 they wouldn't even look yeah and so they they wouldn't forgive and they wouldn't do whatever 425 00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:48,600 was required and it wasn't that hard it just required faith it is a miracle Scott it is 426 00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:56,320 simple but it is a miracle be able to forgive others the really terrible things that they've 427 00:44:56,320 --> 00:45:04,280 done it and I've experienced that in my own life yeah so faith it requires faith faith 428 00:45:04,280 --> 00:45:09,040 for us to do that right faith in Jesus Christ faith in the name of Jesus Christ and and all 429 00:45:09,040 --> 00:45:13,960 of the varying degrees of faith that you know in the higher our faith the more power in 430 00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:20,080 faith faith unto repentance and all of that that we can obtain the more likely or the 431 00:45:20,080 --> 00:45:25,800 more natural I never want to use the word easy the more easy would be but the more 432 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:30,800 natural the more inviting this can be to us you know there's there's a couple reasons 433 00:45:30,800 --> 00:45:35,320 that we don't do that and you know what Dave there's even a payoff to not have faith yeah 434 00:45:35,320 --> 00:45:40,000 I suppose yeah there's a payoff to not have because if I have faith then I have to trust 435 00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:46,440 in this God that I can't see that I have to you know but if I have faith in myself I can 436 00:45:46,440 --> 00:45:52,640 see that and I and I have the illusion that I can control the outcome I believe I'm in 437 00:45:52,640 --> 00:45:58,640 the outcome business right and it's a big problem it's kind of a control issue exactly 438 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:04,000 so so think of it this way and again I want to be sensitive you know please don't take 439 00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:09,960 this as being an indictment on anybody but just maybe consider maybe just try this on 440 00:46:09,960 --> 00:46:14,240 so if I have faith then I can forgive but if I don't have faith what's the opposite 441 00:46:14,240 --> 00:46:19,400 of faith the opposite of faith is fear right so maybe it's fear that's stopping me from 442 00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:25,320 doing that I have one of my favorite passages in the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous it's 443 00:46:25,320 --> 00:46:33,720 on page 68 of the big back big book of Alcoholics Anonymous it says perhaps there's a better 444 00:46:33,720 --> 00:46:40,320 way we think so for we are now in a different basis the basis of trusting and relying upon 445 00:46:40,320 --> 00:46:47,440 God we trust infinite God rather than our finite selves we are here in the world to 446 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:52,920 play the role he assigns in other words to align our will with his right just to the 447 00:46:52,920 --> 00:47:01,120 extent that we do as we think he would have us do and humbly rely on him does he enable 448 00:47:01,120 --> 00:47:11,840 us and this is what I love to match calamity with serenity to match our calamity so this 449 00:47:11,840 --> 00:47:21,160 is where match calamity with serenity with serenity and that power it's only as we begin 450 00:47:21,160 --> 00:47:29,080 to trust in an infinite God rather than our finite selves we are in the world to play 451 00:47:29,080 --> 00:47:35,560 the role he assigns so we have to align we have to choose to take on him take on us his 452 00:47:35,560 --> 00:47:40,240 name we have to align with his will for us that's the broken heart contrite spirit and 453 00:47:40,240 --> 00:47:48,560 as Christians I would just say and accept Jesus Christ as our savior and redeemer exactly 454 00:47:48,560 --> 00:47:53,640 we are in the world to play the role he assigns just to the extent that we do as we think he 455 00:47:53,640 --> 00:48:00,480 would have us do and humbly rely on him does he enable us to match calamity with serenity 456 00:48:00,480 --> 00:48:05,120 and then he goes on then it goes on we never apologize for anyone for depending upon our 457 00:48:05,120 --> 00:48:12,640 Creator we can laugh at those who think spirituality is a way of weakness paradoxically it is the 458 00:48:12,640 --> 00:48:19,320 way it is the way of strength the verdict of the ages is that faith means courage all 459 00:48:19,320 --> 00:48:25,020 men of faith have courage they trust their God we never apologize for God instead we 460 00:48:25,020 --> 00:48:33,040 let him demonstrate through us what he can do we ask him to remove our fear and direct 461 00:48:33,040 --> 00:48:42,120 our attention to what he would have us be and at once we commence to outgrow fear that's 462 00:48:42,120 --> 00:48:50,840 a secular way at once at once in the divine moment we outgrow fear you know that's a 463 00:48:50,840 --> 00:48:57,080 secular way of saying picture of that we put on the atonement of Jesus Christ yeah absolutely 464 00:48:57,080 --> 00:49:02,880 and we overcome fear in all of its forms and in one of those that's why he commands us 465 00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:10,520 to fear God and that's afraid and that's why the calamity is replaced by serenity yeah 466 00:49:10,520 --> 00:49:15,680 we all feel that it's calamity those who have been abused those who have suffered at the 467 00:49:15,680 --> 00:49:21,240 hands of others those who have just just for maybe no fault of anybody but just because 468 00:49:21,240 --> 00:49:27,360 of the way the fall has enacted or played itself out in their lives that can be calamity yeah 469 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:36,200 for sure Scott well that's that's that's very helpful insightful I love that don't 470 00:49:36,200 --> 00:49:41,600 close that I want I want I'll send you a copy of it you need to send me a copy there yeah 471 00:49:41,600 --> 00:49:48,800 I've always loved this quote by elder worthlet and you know I man I've had so tender feelings 472 00:49:48,800 --> 00:49:57,040 in my heart for elder elder Joseph worthlet but he said in a conference years ago just 473 00:49:57,040 --> 00:50:04,680 a few years before he passed he wrote the Lord compensates the faithful for every loss this 474 00:50:04,680 --> 00:50:13,280 is the compensatory powers right the Lord compensates the faithful for every loss that's 475 00:50:13,280 --> 00:50:19,600 just that's amazing that which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added 476 00:50:19,600 --> 00:50:26,720 unto them in his own way while it may not come at the time we desire the faithful will 477 00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:35,640 know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundred fold with tears of rejoicing 478 00:50:35,640 --> 00:50:44,960 and gratitude so I know that people when they think of of past pain and hurt that they have 479 00:50:44,960 --> 00:50:56,160 suffered that alone can be painful just remembering it I hope that our listeners again by their 480 00:50:56,160 --> 00:51:03,200 understanding of focus on and faith in Jesus Christ can receive hope that hope that any 481 00:51:03,200 --> 00:51:11,160 tears that they've suffered innocently suffered that because of Jesus Christ in the moment 482 00:51:11,160 --> 00:51:22,000 those tears will be a hundred fold become tears of gratitude and rejoicing so even in 483 00:51:22,000 --> 00:51:33,320 our forgiveness it's not a matter of just forgetting it's a matter of deep hope of the 484 00:51:33,320 --> 00:51:40,160 blessings in our life through the atonement of Jesus Christ it's not it's not just letting 485 00:51:40,160 --> 00:51:49,000 it go it's letting it go and then with an open hand a hand in cupping shape receive the 486 00:51:49,000 --> 00:51:58,480 blessings of the Lord in our lives that's that's just a different way I think of looking 487 00:51:58,480 --> 00:52:09,200 at it I agree yeah it's trading calamity for serenity and blessings serenity and blessings 488 00:52:09,200 --> 00:52:15,880 a hundred fold well thank you Scott yeah what's an invitation I think an invitation for us 489 00:52:15,880 --> 00:52:21,240 this week would be to just take a look at where maybe we have some calamity where maybe 490 00:52:21,240 --> 00:52:25,840 there's some disturbance in our own lives because of things that we have been offended 491 00:52:25,840 --> 00:52:31,120 by because of things that we have had perpetrated against us and for those of our brothers and 492 00:52:31,120 --> 00:52:37,600 sisters who have suffered at the hand of perpetrators and have suffered dark and ugly and grave 493 00:52:37,600 --> 00:52:43,200 and hideous and unspeakable acts we pray for you we pray that you feel the peace we pray 494 00:52:43,200 --> 00:52:47,960 that in this moment that you will fill our heavenly father's love we pray that you will 495 00:52:47,960 --> 00:52:52,480 fill the atonement of Jesus Christ in the enabling powers as you feel his spirit at 496 00:52:52,480 --> 00:52:58,360 work in your life strengthening your faith and we pray that you will find it and and 497 00:52:58,360 --> 00:53:04,680 that we will all find it through him who his mighty to save save us from all that has fallen 498 00:53:04,680 --> 00:53:09,720 all that has fallen and perhaps we never feel more fallen than when we are suffering from 499 00:53:09,720 --> 00:53:16,000 those things that have been perpetrated against us and Scott just a just a thought I I've 500 00:53:16,000 --> 00:53:24,920 talked about speedily forgiving others I know that sometimes it's not a speedy quick thing 501 00:53:24,920 --> 00:53:31,800 to do I know sometimes it takes time that that sometimes forgiving others takes time 502 00:53:31,800 --> 00:53:44,240 but I also know that sometimes we put it off we can be denied certain privileges and blessings 503 00:53:44,240 --> 00:53:53,200 by our choosing not to forgive but I also testify God is patient with us and no matter 504 00:53:53,200 --> 00:54:00,840 how long it takes for us to forgive God is patiently waiting for that to happen and while 505 00:54:00,840 --> 00:54:07,440 you and God is waiting for that to patiently happen you still have the ability to fill 506 00:54:07,440 --> 00:54:12,480 the effects of the atonement of Jesus Christ in your life and love of God and we hope that 507 00:54:12,480 --> 00:54:17,200 you do we know that you will if you make an effort to do so that's our prayer we look 508 00:54:17,200 --> 00:54:40,280 forward to being with you again next week and until then be well