1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,400 Hey there everybody, welcome to Redeemed Through His Blood. 2 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:16,020 In this podcast we discuss hope, healing, and redemption through the Atonement of Jesus 3 00:00:16,020 --> 00:00:17,020 Christ. 4 00:00:17,020 --> 00:00:18,520 My name is Scott Durfey. 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,920 I want to be the first to welcome you out today and as always it's my honor to welcome 6 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:28,280 our partner in this project and our amazing teacher, my friend, Brother David Durfey. 7 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:29,960 Say hi Dave. 8 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:31,480 My friend and nephew. 9 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:32,480 That's right. 10 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:40,040 I'm excited, Scott, this morning to continue our discussion on the process of repentance 11 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:41,560 in the doctrine of Christ. 12 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,560 So it's good to be here. 13 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:48,480 So gang, just a couple of housekeeping items before we get into today's topic, but we want 14 00:00:48,480 --> 00:00:52,600 to again thank everybody for the emails that are being sent. 15 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,440 We've received a lot of great emails, a lot of great experiences recently. 16 00:00:56,440 --> 00:01:00,240 Holy cow, and they've been awesome to read. 17 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:05,080 And you know, we are incorporating a lot of your questions and a lot of those things 18 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,440 in our discussion here and just encourage you to keep sending those. 19 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,840 You can do that at heredeemsusatgmail.com. 20 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,360 That's at heredeemsusatgmail.com. 21 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:18,360 So keep those coming. 22 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:19,880 We appreciate it very much. 23 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,320 And as always, share this with your friends too. 24 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:25,300 We appreciate the new listeners. 25 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:30,440 We want to say a special welcome to you and, you know, what reminds you, all of you, that 26 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:37,420 these classes, I almost called them classes, these podcasts are really meant to build one 27 00:01:37,420 --> 00:01:38,560 on top of the other. 28 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:43,960 If you go back all the way to episode one, if you're just brand new to us, if you'll 29 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:48,440 go back all the way to episode number one, you'll have a more complete experience by 30 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:49,440 doing it that way. 31 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,880 Now, each one of these does stand on its own. 32 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:58,000 Each one of these will have benefit and we believe edification if you'll just listen 33 00:01:58,000 --> 00:01:59,160 to them on their own. 34 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:04,200 But to get the complete experience and to really have the understanding that we're praying 35 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:08,560 that all of us and ourselves included will have, it might be important to go back and 36 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,160 kind of visit and pay attention to some of those things there as well. 37 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,520 Well, it'd be awesome, Scott, if everybody did see these as classes. 38 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,280 You know, hopefully we're learning together. 39 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:27,960 Hopefully not just teaching doctrine and learning new things, but actually experimenting upon 40 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:32,640 the word and trying to make some changes in our life. 41 00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:39,200 And I think we try in most to give invitations, most podcasts or most episodes, we try to 42 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:40,200 give an invitation. 43 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:41,200 Yeah. 44 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:46,960 And I hope that individuals are kind of accepting some of those invitations like assignments 45 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:52,760 and trying to incorporate some of those things in our life as we'll talk about today. 46 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:59,240 I know that, you know, the invitations that we have extended, I've tried to do that myself. 47 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,000 I take pretty seriously courses of action. 48 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:04,000 This is something that... 49 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:05,000 Yeah, likewise. 50 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:06,000 Yeah, I know. 51 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:07,200 We were just talking about that, Dave. 52 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:12,360 I'm impressed at some of the stuff that you've been, that you've been impressed to study 53 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,240 and maybe even sharpen up in your own life over the past weekend. 54 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:20,160 And it's been edifying for me to hear about that as we've talked about that in preparation 55 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,160 for our podcast. 56 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:29,600 Living the gospel, Scott, is a continual daily, day by day, moment by moment, joy and process. 57 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:36,240 And I'm just really thankful that through the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, that He can continually 58 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:41,520 not only bring things to our remembrance, but teach us new things as well. 59 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:44,520 And that's something we should be trying to do daily. 60 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,280 That's one of the things that just for me makes it so exciting. 61 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:56,200 You know, I really enjoy the growth and those types of things that I get to experience. 62 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,720 You know, and again, as I've accepted the assignments that we've extended in my own life, 63 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,240 they've been a huge benefit to me. 64 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:08,760 And I'd like to think even a benefit to those around me because I'm hoping and trusting 65 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,640 that they're maybe even making me a little better person sometimes. 66 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:19,720 So well, Dave, we concluded, we didn't actually conclude, but our last episode, we talked 67 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,560 about a lot about repentance, a lot about what it is. 68 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,840 We still have a lot more to discuss on that. 69 00:04:25,840 --> 00:04:31,360 That's why I struck the word conclude in my sentence just a few seconds ago there. 70 00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:33,720 Well, that's also a daily thing. 71 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:34,720 It is. 72 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,120 And we are just sinners helping sinners, Scott. 73 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:42,000 I keep saying that, but I know it's true. 74 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:47,200 And even though I just said we try to live the gospel moment to moment, hour by hour, 75 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:53,480 day by day, we, you know, we're just, we're just human. 76 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,440 We're fallen by nature. 77 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,440 We have to remember that. 78 00:04:58,440 --> 00:04:59,800 That's part of our identity. 79 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:04,320 That's part of God's plan that we would be falling that we would, that we would sin that 80 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:09,360 we would have to rely upon his son and the plan of redemption. 81 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:15,640 I just, I just think it's, oh, I don't know, Scott, it just gives me such joy to know that 82 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:23,240 he trusted me to be a sinner, that he trusted me to be fallen, knowing that it would be 83 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:29,760 not through me, but through his son that I would be able to return back into his presence. 84 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:30,760 Yeah. 85 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:32,640 That's the way we should live our lives. 86 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:39,920 And for me, again, it's just so exciting to be able to have a different look on repentance. 87 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:44,480 And I didn't just gain this over the last week or three or four or whatever, but, but, 88 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:49,200 but as I have, you know, Dave, as we've had conversations over the years around this and 89 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:55,200 you've helped me to understand repentance and as Deb and I, my sweetheart wife, Deb 90 00:05:55,200 --> 00:06:02,320 and I have taught this class at YSA Stake Institute at BYU and UV Utah Valley University 91 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:03,320 as we've done that. 92 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:08,040 And as I've come to understand repentance the way I understand it now and, and I'm still 93 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:14,840 gaining a deeper understanding around it, repentance is exciting to me now because what that means 94 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:20,160 to me is it's not, I used to see repentance as I'm focusing on my sins. 95 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:21,160 I got to get them out. 96 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,200 I got to really dive down on this one. 97 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:27,200 I got to really work hard on that one, you know, for this one, I maybe need to cease this 98 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:28,240 person for that one. 99 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,840 I maybe need to do this. 100 00:06:30,840 --> 00:06:34,760 And even though all of that may still have some truth to it, you know, depending on what 101 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,520 it is, et cetera, that's not what it is though. 102 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:43,960 For me, what it is now, which is so exciting is to just deepen my relationship with my 103 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:45,400 Savior Jesus Christ. 104 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,880 The only way it can, you can see it that way. 105 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:54,920 The only way it can seem to be exciting, the only way repentance can bring you joy is if 106 00:06:54,920 --> 00:07:02,200 it is totally absolutely completely centered in the atonement of Jesus Christ and that 107 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:05,920 we receive his power through the atonement. 108 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:13,840 Scott, that, that's really the key to this, to this whole gospel is to learn to rely upon 109 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:14,840 him. 110 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:24,520 As he said in John chapter 15, I am the vine ye are the branches without me ye can do 111 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:25,520 nothing. 112 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,400 And I think he was talking mostly there. 113 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,120 You just can't spiritually progress. 114 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:32,120 You can't repent. 115 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:33,120 Yeah. 116 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:37,920 Well, so that's where we were last week. 117 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,160 This week we're going to continue with that a little bit. 118 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:41,880 So Dave, where do you want to take off? 119 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:46,360 Well, last week we talked about confession and the important role, critical role that 120 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:47,920 confession is. 121 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:52,520 We talked about, I think, I hope we answered the questions. 122 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:53,720 Why do we confess? 123 00:07:53,720 --> 00:08:01,240 And maybe I should just, I think I kind of really emphasize the, the role of taking responsibility 124 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,680 is the reason why we should confess. 125 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:12,520 Reading the church handbook this week, I was also impressed with what it said about confession 126 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:17,760 and, and I love the line that's in the church handbook that we should confess our sins to 127 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,040 unburden ourselves. 128 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:26,600 It's not just a matter of taking responsibility or hear ourselves say it or, or to, to come 129 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,080 forth and be forthright and, and completely honest. 130 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:38,160 But we also confess our sins to our Heavenly Father and certain serious sins we confess 131 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:43,640 to church authorities to unburden ourselves. 132 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:52,280 I think that it really is true and I know it can be such a blessing to be able to, in 133 00:08:52,280 --> 00:09:01,800 the case of certain serious sins, to go into a, a someone who holds priesthood keys, especially 134 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:08,640 particularly like a bishop who holds the keys of the Aaronic priesthood and the keys 135 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:16,240 of repentance, which is what the Aaronic priesthood is centered on is the administering of angels 136 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:22,440 in the gospel of repentance and to confess to the man who holds the priesthood keys of 137 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:24,640 the gospel of repentance. 138 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:30,720 What a blessing that can be in our lives when we've committed certain serious sins. 139 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:40,120 So anyway, I, I just, I think maybe I over-emphasized the role of confession in us taking responsibility 140 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:46,680 for our sins and I didn't emphasize enough last week the blessing it is to unburden ourselves 141 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:48,280 of sin through confession. 142 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:49,280 Yeah. 143 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,800 Let's talk about why that unburdening is important too because that paragraph, I'll read the 144 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:53,800 whole paragraph. 145 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,080 This is right from the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter-day Saints general handbook. 146 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:01,920 The purpose of confession is to encourage members to unburden themselves. 147 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:04,160 Okay, unburden themselves. 148 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:05,160 And that's great. 149 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,960 You know, we all want to be unburdened. 150 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:08,520 You know, that's important to all of us. 151 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:09,520 But why? 152 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:10,520 Well, here's why. 153 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:11,520 And it goes on. 154 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:17,800 So they can carefully seek the Lord's help in changing and healing, developing a broken 155 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:23,200 heart and a contrite spirit is aided by confession. 156 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:27,120 Every confession shows that a person desires to repent. 157 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:32,120 And then there's a reference there from the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2,7. 158 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:37,240 And that says, Behold, He offered Himself a sacrifice for sin to answer the ends of the 159 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:42,960 law, He being, of course, Jesus Christ, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite 160 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:48,760 spirit and to none else can the ends of the law be answered. 161 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:50,080 There is no other way, Dave. 162 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:51,080 Yeah. 163 00:10:51,080 --> 00:11:00,280 So, Scott, thank you for emphasizing that part of confession that it aids us in acquiring 164 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,920 a broken heart and a contrite spirit. 165 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:09,200 So the scripture that comes into my mind in that regard, broken heart and contrite spirit, 166 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:14,640 Scott, is 3 Nephi 9, verse 20, if you want to read that. 167 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:20,280 It says, And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. 168 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:25,760 And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize 169 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:31,880 with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me 170 00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:37,120 at the time of their conversion were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they 171 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:38,120 knew it not. 172 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:45,960 Well, I just love this part that having a broken heart and a contrite spirit not only 173 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:53,720 fulfills the conditions, I think of repentance that begin the process of repentance, but 174 00:11:53,720 --> 00:12:01,280 it must be also the condition that leads us throughout the entire process of repentance. 175 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,600 And confession can certainly help in that regard. 176 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:11,360 And I think it's so great, this verse of scripture that teaches us that a broken heart and contrite 177 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:18,080 spirit is the sacrifice that God expects from us, his children. 178 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:22,520 We know that Jesus Christ literally died from a broken heart. 179 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:29,080 Elder Talmadge taught that in Jesus, the Christ literally died from a broken heart. 180 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:36,320 Well, our part, that was his atonement and our part in our repentance is that we need 181 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:47,440 to have a broken heart in order to begin and finish and continually be engaged in the process 182 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:48,840 of repentance. 183 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,800 That's the sacrifice we need to make. 184 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:52,800 Right. 185 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:57,760 Well, we talk about broken heart, we talk about contrite spirit, and of course, it just 186 00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:04,000 as a reminder, and we've said this because it's been taught to us, and we've cited that 187 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:09,160 in podcasts, several of those in the past, but you know, to have that broken heart and 188 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:14,200 then the contrite spirit means that we have our will and Heavenly Fathers will be the 189 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:16,320 exact same. 190 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,120 Our will is swallowed up into his. 191 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:24,840 When our will becomes his, completely like his, or they're one in the same actually, 192 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:29,280 that's when we know that contrite spirit is taking place in our lives as well, Dave. 193 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:30,800 Yeah, absolutely. 194 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:37,720 So I hope that we have answered most of the questions when it comes to the process of 195 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:38,720 repentance. 196 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:45,160 The who do we confess to, the why we confess, and what do we confess? 197 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:51,640 Again, what we confess, I go back so often to the statement in general conference by 198 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:57,560 President Mary and G. Romney, which kind of became the standard was, you know, any crimes 199 00:13:57,560 --> 00:14:02,680 that we've committed or any sins that are of a serious enough nature where participating 200 00:14:02,680 --> 00:14:09,640 in ordinances of the gospel would be in question or that even perhaps our membership in the 201 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,360 church might be in question. 202 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:15,840 Any sins like that should be, should be confessed. 203 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,720 I love the new general handbook. 204 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:23,840 It gives so many great instructions on kind of the role of the church in the process of 205 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:24,840 repentance. 206 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:34,080 It's important listening to your beautiful bride, Deb last week, Scott and her experience 207 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:41,600 going in as a adolescent to confess her sins and her bishop shaking his head and saying, 208 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:47,960 Oh, no, and oh my goodness, how heartbreaking that was to hear of that experience. 209 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:54,080 And I know our priesthood leaders try the best they can, but, but they're just humans 210 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,200 and sinners helping other humans and sinners too. 211 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:04,560 But they do have priesthood keys, ironic priesthood keys and the gospel of repentance keys. 212 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:07,280 And so that process is important. 213 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:12,400 But it's also important that we understand we're not going in to receive forgiveness 214 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,080 from the church when we confess our sins. 215 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:20,920 That repentance is not an institutional activity. 216 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:29,960 That repentance is through the Lord Jesus Christ and forgiveness is through him alone. 217 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:35,440 That is emphasized over and over again in Elder Anderson's book and in the handbook 218 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,160 of instructions. 219 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:43,400 So we go in and we confess our sins and then there may be as a result of certain serious 220 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:44,400 sins. 221 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:52,320 There may be a membership council that needs to be held to help us in that regard. 222 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:58,400 Scott, there are three purposes why a church membership of restriction or withdrawal has 223 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:05,280 to be considered by priesthood leaders and why a membership council may be held. 224 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,480 Number one is to help protect others. 225 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:11,040 In other words, innocent victims. 226 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:17,600 If others have been involved in our sins and others have been hurt and there's been any 227 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:24,000 victims involved, maybe a membership council would be helpful in that regard. 228 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:28,880 Along those lines too, often, and I know this is the case because I've had conversations 229 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:34,080 with people around this, but often when we say others have been hurt, we think of some 230 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:35,760 sort of physical thing. 231 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:40,600 We think of a physical abuse or we think of a sexual abuse or a sexual sin or a sexual 232 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:44,920 murder or things along those lines, which is true and it's important. 233 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,200 But there's also financial situations. 234 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:55,120 There's also fraudulent situations where people's lives can be damaged and ruined financially 235 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,040 and various things like that because of the dishonesty of others. 236 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:04,400 And oftentimes, these councils will be required in situations like that as well. 237 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,880 I just wanted to point that out that this is a broader view than just the narrow what 238 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:14,040 we sometimes think of commonly when we talk about these things. 239 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:17,360 So that's the first reason. 240 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:25,680 The second is to help a person access the redeeming power of Jesus Christ through repentance. 241 00:17:25,680 --> 00:17:30,600 In other words, the salvation and redemption of the individual. 242 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:36,520 That's the second reason why the church may need to have a membership council. 243 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:41,560 And the third is to protect the integrity of the church. 244 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:51,440 If the sin is of such a serious nature that the public knows about it and that there are 245 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:57,960 it's in the news and it's broadcast and all these things are out there, the integrity 246 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:04,400 of the church is also has to be critically considered in that decision. 247 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:11,200 So those are the three considerations why a membership council would need to be called. 248 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:17,960 And there are certain serious sins, Scott, that when they are committed, a membership 249 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:25,240 council is not only considered but required. 250 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:34,760 And those are sins of a serious nature such as felonies, most felonies, not all but most 251 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,720 sins such as murder. 252 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:45,560 Here's a list from the handbook of instructions, murder, rape, sexual assault, conviction, 253 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:51,720 child or youth abuse, abuse of a spouse or another adult, predatory behavior, violent 254 00:18:51,720 --> 00:19:01,400 sexual or financial, incest, child pornography, plural marriage, serious sin while holding 255 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:07,120 a prominent church position and most felony convictions. 256 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:14,320 When any of those things are involved, a priesthood leader understands that they must 257 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,880 have a membership council. 258 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:25,640 And again, remember why to protect innocent victims to help the individual in his or her 259 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:32,240 redemption and salvation and to protect the integrity of the church. 260 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:36,680 Membership councils can take place on a ward basis. 261 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:39,040 They can take place on a stake basis. 262 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:44,880 Ward basis, a bishop would preside over a membership council on a stake basis. 263 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:50,920 Stake presence would preside over any stake membership council. 264 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:57,720 Or there could be a mission president could preside over a mission membership council. 265 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:05,000 And the outcomes of that can be basically that one has some limitations put on their 266 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:11,680 membership where they maybe can't participate in everything in the church or some limitations 267 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:17,080 put on it where maybe they can't, or they can't talk in church or they can't pray in 268 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:22,280 church or they, they would maybe be limited in certain callings that they could have in 269 00:20:22,280 --> 00:20:24,840 church. 270 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:33,240 And that's, that's one result of a membership council is to have some, some sort of restrictions 271 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,800 on their membership or they could have their membership removed. 272 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:40,360 Dave, I'm going to ask you a question and we didn't prepare for this. 273 00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:43,960 So I'm catching you probably a tiny bit off guard with this, but I know you'll have an 274 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:45,120 answer. 275 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:46,960 So how do you reconcile them? 276 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:53,480 Because we say that, you know, we don't pay for our own sins and we say that this is not 277 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,480 a punishment for our sins. 278 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:56,880 How do we reconcile that? 279 00:20:56,880 --> 00:21:03,760 How do we, how does somebody who feels like I'm being punished because I can't participate 280 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:09,720 in certain things in my congregation because of a church council or a membership council 281 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,120 that may have been held and that was imposed on me? 282 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:13,400 How do I reconcile that? 283 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:19,200 How does one who's going through maybe those restrictions right now, how do we help them 284 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,880 not feel like that is some sort of a punishment? 285 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:24,680 I have some of my own thoughts, but I'd like to hear yours first. 286 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:34,320 Well, I, I've been in many, many membership councils, Scott, and I do testify that they 287 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:40,400 are, they are councils of love and that they're, they're done out of love ultimately for the 288 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:46,960 individual and of course for those who may have been affected by one's sins. 289 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:53,040 But, but, you know, whether it's a restriction of membership or whether it's a withdrawal 290 00:21:53,040 --> 00:22:02,120 or membership, you know, sometimes Scott, it is such a blessing to learn to lose certain 291 00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:08,160 privileges and blessings in our life to help us to appreciate what we could have had, should 292 00:22:08,160 --> 00:22:10,040 have had, would have had. 293 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:18,480 It also is a blessing to us to help us to give us a bit of a pause or a time out to 294 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:26,400 be able to consider some of the privileges and blessings that we, that we have enjoyed. 295 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:30,600 And sometimes you can't fully appreciate them until they're gone. 296 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:36,560 So I think that's, I think that's one way that those things are blessings to us is to 297 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:41,720 just give us pause and to help us consider privileges and blessings of membership in the 298 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:42,720 church. 299 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:43,720 I would agree with that. 300 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:50,400 I think, as a matter of fact, I think that is perhaps the biggest benefit that can come. 301 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:57,800 They, so having, and I mentioned this, I believe it was in episode 17, maybe 18, maybe 20, 302 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:03,640 I don't remember for sure, but I've mentioned more than once potentially that, you know, 303 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:10,440 because of gang, we've talked about it and I've exposed that I am a recovering alcoholic. 304 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:17,920 I will have 24 years of continuous sobriety come October 26 of this year. 305 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:24,800 But because of my past, because of a lot of decisions that I was making, drinking being 306 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:32,320 one of those, I, membership council was something that I participated in as one that was being 307 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,760 counciled in this membership council. 308 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:37,360 And that was my experience, Dave. 309 00:23:37,360 --> 00:23:38,760 Now, but, but here's the difference. 310 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:42,000 And I've talked to other people who haven't had this experience and I want to be careful 311 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:47,440 with this because I don't want to cast dispersion or judgment and or anything like that by comparison, 312 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:52,760 especially because there have been times when I have also sat in a bishop's office and there 313 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:56,640 were things that were potentially imposed that I wasn't ready to hear and because of 314 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:04,680 my own bitterness, it led me further perhaps created a little more distance on my behalf, 315 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:05,680 right? 316 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:12,760 But when I went in and had my membership council where my membership was ultimately lifted, 317 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:15,080 I didn't feel like punishment to me. 318 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:19,920 As a matter of fact, it felt like, you know, we talked about what repentance is and we've 319 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:25,640 talked about how that is a complete turning to the Savior, turning away, not focusing 320 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:30,680 on those things in our lives that have kept us separated from the Spirit, which has kept 321 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:34,800 us from feeling the effects of Jesus Christ atonement in our lives. 322 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:41,400 So when I went in and when that happened with me for me, not to me, but for me, when that 323 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:46,800 happened for me, what that did, Dave, was that allowed that turning to be complete, at least 324 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:48,640 more complete? 325 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:55,920 Even though my membership had been lifted, even though I was no longer eligible to attend 326 00:24:55,920 --> 00:25:01,360 temple, the temple and fill the Spirit there, even though and everything else that comes 327 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:09,480 with that, even though all of that was in place, I was able to now begin to turn to 328 00:25:09,480 --> 00:25:13,840 the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and fill the Spirit and the effects of the Spirit in 329 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:20,080 my life and perhaps, unfortunately, perhaps one of the greatest blessings of my life. 330 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:21,080 Yeah. 331 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:22,080 Amen. 332 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:23,920 Scott, I've seen that. 333 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:31,680 I've worked to closely one on one, one by one with individuals who have had membership 334 00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:37,760 restrictions or withdrawals in their life and they've expressed that same thing. 335 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:46,280 And as a priest and leader, I also see it as a blessing to an individual by not holding 336 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:50,880 them as accountable until they have overcome their sins. 337 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:56,680 You don't want an individual, you ask an individual not to participate or you put restrictions 338 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:06,440 on their membership to not participate in certain ordinances so that the burden is lifted 339 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:10,800 from them in not being worthy to participate in those ordinances. 340 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:19,120 I mean, the words of the Savior in 3rd Nephi is, a bishop has a responsibility, a priesthood 341 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:26,560 leader, to help an individual not to drink, speaking of the sacrament here, not to drink 342 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:29,040 damnation to their soul. 343 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:38,040 So it's also a blessing by letting them pause and kind of declutter their lives and simplify 344 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:45,280 their lives here and give them time to work out the process of repentance so that when 345 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:50,360 they're participating in those ordinances, they feel the full effects of those and those 346 00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:57,920 ordinances don't hold them to a higher standard or more accountable than they're able to at 347 00:26:57,920 --> 00:27:06,600 the time that they confess their sins or in the middle of their sinning that they're 348 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:07,600 not accountable for. 349 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,320 Darrell Bock Well, I just kind of threw that in parenthetically, 350 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:11,320 actually. 351 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,600 You were beginning to talk about what the effects could happen. 352 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:18,120 What could come from a membership council? 353 00:27:18,120 --> 00:27:20,960 And you said that there could be restrictions in place. 354 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,320 Why don't you go ahead and cover the other ones as well? 355 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:29,440 Darrell Bock Well, so it's the restrictions of membership or withdrawal of membership. 356 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:33,880 Then there can be all kinds of different restrictions. 357 00:27:33,880 --> 00:27:43,640 We used to call those be put on place on probation in some ways for a few months or a year or 358 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:44,840 whatever. 359 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:45,840 It just depends. 360 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:51,920 It's kind of like King Benjamin says, I can't begin to describe all the sins that can be 361 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:58,400 committed and no priest or leader can begin to describe all of the different circumstances 362 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:04,640 of sin or individuals and all things must be taken into consideration. 363 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:10,000 Not only the sins that have been committed but the context and the circumstances. 364 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:11,000 Darrell Bock The conditions. 365 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,840 Darrell Bock Right, the conditions of an individual 366 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:17,720 and the circumstances of the sin. 367 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:26,000 All those things are taken into consideration, Scott, and it's really a miraculous thing. 368 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:32,200 I guess that's the word that comes into my mind more than any other is the miracle of 369 00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:33,720 church councils. 370 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:42,160 The spirit that is felt, I mean, really, it's pretty amazing to sit in these councils and 371 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:47,440 I've sat in these councils as a bishop and member of a couple of stake presidencies and 372 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:55,200 to hear all the information that you can to gather all the information from the individual 373 00:28:55,200 --> 00:29:03,800 involved and maybe even from some witnesses and some victims, sadly, and take all that 374 00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:11,120 information and then to go hear it and then take it before the Lord as a bishop, Rick 375 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:18,560 or as a stake presidencies and to feel the revelation and the spirit that comes and to 376 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:27,880 know what the Lord feels is best for that individual and for the victims and for the 377 00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:30,600 church. 378 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:41,000 And I just, I'm thinking right now in my mind so many sweet examples of that and how maybe 379 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:48,040 two different individuals can commit the same sin and the outcome of a membership council 380 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:50,440 can be very different. 381 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:57,080 And I just think there's many people on the outside looking in who can be really harsh 382 00:29:57,080 --> 00:30:03,000 in on saying the church did this or the church did that. 383 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:13,400 I'm telling you until you're involved in those councils, behind those situations and you 384 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:19,520 hear all the details and then you take it to the spirit or you take it to the Lord and 385 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:23,840 through the spirit you can feel what's right. 386 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:31,520 For example, I know of some individuals who didn't do very serious things and yet it was 387 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:40,400 best for them to stop them in their sins by giving them some pretty difficult restrictions 388 00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:42,080 on their membership. 389 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:47,640 Where I know of other individuals where based on what they've done their membership should 390 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:52,920 be withdrawn based on if you just went by the sin but where perhaps it wasn't because 391 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:57,600 of the effects on the individual or other individuals. 392 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:05,720 I also think it was amazing in one membership council where we knew as a stake presidency 393 00:31:05,720 --> 00:31:09,160 that that individual had already been forgiven of their sins. 394 00:31:09,160 --> 00:31:17,560 They had committed some really serious sins and that really they probably should have 395 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:19,600 their church membership withdrawn. 396 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:28,040 However, we felt like the Lord had already forgiven this man of his sins. 397 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:37,360 However, we knew that if he wasn't, if his membership was not withdrawn, not taken from 398 00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:43,360 him that number one, he would never be able to forgive himself. 399 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:50,360 Number two, there would be innocent victims who would also be pushed further away from 400 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:54,360 the church. 401 00:31:54,360 --> 00:32:01,800 There's just so many considerations and it's really a miraculous experience to feel the 402 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:05,800 spirit in those councils. 403 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:14,120 I can remember both of my councils when it came to my membership being removed. 404 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:20,240 The first one was the confession council that happened that lifted my membership. 405 00:32:20,240 --> 00:32:26,240 I remember sitting going there but before I went there, I had a couple of close friends 406 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,560 that I had talked to about this. 407 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:34,240 They knew of people that, you know what, Scott, I know somebody that's had the same situation. 408 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:36,520 You're going to be fine. 409 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:41,280 What they meant by you're going to be fine is your membership is going to stay intact. 410 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:45,760 That really has nothing to do with being fine or not in situations like this but that's 411 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:46,760 what they meant. 412 00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:48,440 You're going to be fine. 413 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:53,760 I just knew, I knew though in my heart that it wasn't going to be that way. 414 00:32:53,760 --> 00:32:54,920 I was okay with that. 415 00:32:54,920 --> 00:33:01,560 As a matter of fact, as part of that process, Dave, that first one, I was really praying 416 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:08,400 that the outcome would be what it was because I knew even in myself what it needed to be. 417 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:15,200 What happens is you have a council, you talk, you share some experiences, you share what's 418 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:19,920 happened, you share and you get some council and a few other things like that. 419 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:25,760 Then I was invited to kind of step into the hall while they counseled among themselves. 420 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:31,920 When I stepped into that hall as they counseled among themselves, I have never felt more peaceful. 421 00:33:31,920 --> 00:33:36,000 Except for, and there was one time when I have felt more peaceful but at that point 422 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:39,200 in my life, I have never felt more peaceful. 423 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:45,640 The reason, now I share this experience because I hear experiences shared like this on podcasts 424 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:51,760 and in social media and anecdotally from our neighbors and friends that that's not always 425 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:52,760 been the case. 426 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:57,360 No matter where you are, you've been in a stake presidency, a bishop and all of those 427 00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:59,600 other things on that side of it. 428 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:01,760 Here I am coming from this side. 429 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:05,160 We always hear a priesthood leader say what you just said. 430 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,680 We always hear a priesthood leader say what you just said. 431 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:13,080 I'm saying that from that chair, from that side of the table, and there's no that side, 432 00:34:13,080 --> 00:34:14,080 this side of the table. 433 00:34:14,080 --> 00:34:16,640 I'm speaking metaphorically because we're all on the same team. 434 00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:19,560 We're all on the same side of the table as it were. 435 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:24,880 But metaphorically speaking, as I was sitting on that, because I've been sitting on that 436 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:29,840 side of the table, I bring a perspective, Dave, that I hope others can hear. 437 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:36,200 Gang, what happened there helped me to turn to the Savior more fully in a way that I could 438 00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:37,200 have never before. 439 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,880 And that turning towards Him began that day. 440 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:46,160 I didn't have to wait to be re-admitted, to be re-baptized, to have those blessings restored. 441 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:52,600 But when I did, and I had that counsel, similar situation, very, very tender. 442 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,960 I was at a different place, that was more than a year later, completely different place 443 00:34:56,960 --> 00:35:01,720 within myself and with my relationship with my Heavenly Father through my Savior Jesus 444 00:35:01,720 --> 00:35:02,720 Christ. 445 00:35:02,720 --> 00:35:04,960 They asked me to walk out. 446 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:07,100 It was a similar process. 447 00:35:07,100 --> 00:35:11,160 We talk about what's happened, where we've been, and it's very tender. 448 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:12,960 It was an emotional experience. 449 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:19,440 For me, there were tears, and I had my sweetheart by my side, and another good friend, Mike, 450 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:23,800 who was there by my side. 451 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:27,280 When it was done, and I walked out, I had the most peaceful feeling. 452 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:29,720 That was the most peaceful feeling I've ever had. 453 00:35:29,720 --> 00:35:31,400 That's amazing, Scott. 454 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:34,320 Thanks for sharing it. 455 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:40,520 I have known of some individuals that I've participated in membership councils with who 456 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:48,560 were not at peace over the decision that was made, who were perhaps angry about it, and 457 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:50,320 who didn't agree with it. 458 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:55,480 It is interesting that individuals who don't agree with it can appeal it. 459 00:35:55,480 --> 00:36:01,640 They can go to a 70, they can go to higher councils in the church. 460 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:05,400 If they don't agree with the bishops' decision, they can go to the stake president, they don't 461 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:07,600 agree with the stake president's decision. 462 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:13,360 They can go to the 70, if they don't agree with the 70, they can go to the members of 463 00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:16,800 the 12, and then the first presidency. 464 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:24,720 I've been in some of those situations where an individual was really upset and angry, and 465 00:36:24,720 --> 00:36:33,320 where decisions were either reinforced by a higher council in the church, or, Scott, 466 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:40,880 in one case where the decision was changed by a higher council in the church, and in 467 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:47,800 that case where membership was withdrawn, and as it went up to the council's higher 468 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:54,440 councils of the church where that decision was changed, I can tell you that that was 469 00:36:54,440 --> 00:37:01,560 kind of a wrestle for us as local priesthood leaders, thinking, why did we feel so impressed 470 00:37:01,560 --> 00:37:09,480 to have his membership withdrawn, and yet it's been changed by other, by a higher council, 471 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:16,480 and I can tell you again that the spirit whispered to us peace, and the answer was, well, you 472 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:18,760 got his attention. 473 00:37:18,760 --> 00:37:26,160 He needed to know that his membership in the church meant something to him, and even to 474 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:32,880 only have it withdrawn for perhaps a short time was enough to get his attention and to 475 00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:36,880 change him, and I pray that that's the case. 476 00:37:36,880 --> 00:37:47,560 So anyway, I'm grateful for the role of the church in the repentance process, Scott. 477 00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:57,160 I recognize the divinity of it, the spirit involved in it, and yet I again repeat, repentance 478 00:37:57,160 --> 00:38:00,160 is not an institutional activity. 479 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:09,760 It is through the Lord, our Narsavir, Jesus Christ, whose church we belong to, and whose 480 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:18,280 leaders are led by priesthood keys and the spirit and power and influence of the Holy 481 00:38:18,280 --> 00:38:28,160 Spirit, and I just testify I know that's true and been so grateful to have those experiences 482 00:38:28,160 --> 00:38:36,680 in my life that have reinforced my testimony, not only of the atonement of Jesus Christ 483 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:43,000 and his willingness to forgive us, but has also increased my testimony of the power and 484 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:47,200 divinity of his church and priesthood keys. 485 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:53,640 Well, I think that, you know, as our listeners, Dave, are listening to this, I hope that 486 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:59,480 we're able to maybe instill a little courage in somebody who maybe need a little courage 487 00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:05,320 in this regard, maybe instill a little comfort to somebody who may need a little comfort 488 00:39:05,320 --> 00:39:10,480 in this regard, and I'm going to extend an invitation that if that's you, experiment 489 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:12,400 on his word. 490 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:17,960 Do what is what we're talking about here, and I promise you, if you do that with an 491 00:39:17,960 --> 00:39:24,080 eye single to his glory, not your own, but if you do that with an eye single to his glory, 492 00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:30,760 in a real effort, a real conscious effort to make conscious contact with him and have 493 00:39:30,760 --> 00:39:35,800 him in our lives so that we can put on the atonement of Jesus Christ and heal from the 494 00:39:35,800 --> 00:39:42,520 things that these things take us away from or make ill in our lives, if we can heal 495 00:39:42,520 --> 00:39:47,160 from those things through the atonement of Jesus Christ, I can promise in the name of 496 00:39:47,160 --> 00:39:54,160 Jesus Christ that his spirit will be with us, that we will be back on a path that's 497 00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:58,320 more connected to him, and through that have more joy and peace. 498 00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:00,040 That's part of that joy process, Dave. 499 00:40:00,040 --> 00:40:07,680 And before we move on, Scott, I know we don't represent the church. 500 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:14,040 I know that, and so everything that we've said has been our own experiences and our 501 00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:20,240 own thoughts and feelings offered sincerely to our listeners. 502 00:40:20,240 --> 00:40:26,360 And yet, because we don't represent the church, and yet we've had some experience with this, 503 00:40:26,360 --> 00:40:33,960 if any of you who are listening have some serious questions or concerns about this, 504 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:44,400 you feel that we can help you with, or counsel as friends, not as priesthood leaders, or 505 00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:53,960 just as friends, please email us, and we'll respond to those in a private personal way. 506 00:40:53,960 --> 00:41:01,320 So I invite members, if anything that we've said, and we haven't answered your questions, 507 00:41:01,320 --> 00:41:07,480 to perhaps send us an email with those questions, and we'll try to respond to those privately 508 00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:13,160 and sincerely and in a sensitive way. 509 00:41:13,160 --> 00:41:14,160 At T-redeemsus.com. 510 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:22,040 Well, so let's leave Confession in the role of the church for just a minute and talk 511 00:41:22,040 --> 00:41:30,240 about perhaps a really important part of, I think, repentance, and that is restitution 512 00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:34,600 and what it means to make restitution, Scott. 513 00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:40,960 So restitution literally means, right, to restore what was lost. 514 00:41:40,960 --> 00:41:47,960 Restitution and repentance would mean to restore what is lost as a result of our sins. 515 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:54,920 Now it's pretty easy to restore a pack of lifesavers if we've stolen a pack of lifesavers, like 516 00:41:54,920 --> 00:42:02,320 I did when I was a little boy, and my mother caught me and made me go to the store manager 517 00:42:02,320 --> 00:42:10,400 and pay him $5 when the, can you believe this, the pack of lifesavers was $0.05. 518 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:11,400 Grandma. 519 00:42:11,400 --> 00:42:12,400 $0.05. 520 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:16,320 And she made me pay him $5. 521 00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:18,040 Well, look. 522 00:42:18,040 --> 00:42:19,040 I think that's a hundredfold. 523 00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:20,040 I think that's a hundredfold. 524 00:42:20,040 --> 00:42:29,440 Yeah, that's a hundredfold in the, what, 1965, probably dollars or something like that. 525 00:42:29,440 --> 00:42:31,600 But yeah, you had a good month. 526 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:34,880 I can't remember if that was before I was baptized or after. 527 00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:38,840 I hope I've been washed or received a remission of my sins there. 528 00:42:38,840 --> 00:42:41,600 I do too for a few sakes. 529 00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:47,920 Just trying to restore and then some what was lost, we should say as a result of our 530 00:42:47,920 --> 00:42:48,920 sins. 531 00:42:48,920 --> 00:42:55,640 I know Elder Anderson quotes the scripture in his chapter in his book on this chapter 532 00:42:55,640 --> 00:43:03,880 on restitution that it's like Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount that if a man asks for 533 00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:11,440 your coat, give him your coat and your cloak, if he asks you to go a mile, go with him twain. 534 00:43:11,440 --> 00:43:18,360 So, you know, restitution is really trying to restore what was lost and then some. 535 00:43:18,360 --> 00:43:25,800 But the truth of the matter is, Scott, when we get to really certain serious sins, boy, 536 00:43:25,800 --> 00:43:27,240 there's not very much we can restore. 537 00:43:27,240 --> 00:43:34,280 I mean, how do you restore virtue if you've robbed somebody of their virtue? 538 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:38,320 How do you restore somebody's self respect? 539 00:43:38,320 --> 00:43:43,240 When you have abused or bullied anyone? 540 00:43:43,240 --> 00:43:50,680 I mean, how do you restore the hurt and the pain that you've caused if you've been involved 541 00:43:50,680 --> 00:43:54,720 in certain criminal behavior? 542 00:43:54,720 --> 00:44:02,320 I you you just just as humans, we we just are so limited. 543 00:44:02,320 --> 00:44:11,960 However, and this is such an important part of this discussion, however, Jesus Christ 544 00:44:11,960 --> 00:44:20,560 did pay not only for all the sins of all the world, but he paid for all of the negative 545 00:44:20,560 --> 00:44:28,920 outcomes and consequences of all the sins of all the world. 546 00:44:28,920 --> 00:44:36,160 And victims need to understand that that he paid for what they are suffering. 547 00:44:36,160 --> 00:44:46,000 He suffered for their suffering and he can restore through the atonement of Jesus Christ 548 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:52,480 and through the compensatory powers of the atonement of Jesus Christ. 549 00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:58,160 He can restore all things that were that were lost. 550 00:44:58,160 --> 00:45:08,080 I will never forget the power and spirit I felt in prison in the Utah State prison. 551 00:45:08,080 --> 00:45:16,240 When Elder Anderson told an inmate who had asked him the question, how can we ever get 552 00:45:16,240 --> 00:45:20,960 back what some of us have lost? 553 00:45:20,960 --> 00:45:27,520 How can how can we ever have restored to us what we've lost? 554 00:45:27,520 --> 00:45:37,320 And Elder Anderson saying with great passion and spirit through the atonement of Jesus 555 00:45:37,320 --> 00:45:42,800 Christ, there is nothing that is permanently lost. 556 00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:47,920 All things can be restored through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 557 00:45:47,920 --> 00:45:53,040 I just got I can't tell you how many things and circumstances went through my mind when 558 00:45:53,040 --> 00:45:58,400 he said that, but I knew it was true. 559 00:45:58,400 --> 00:46:00,800 I knew that it was true. 560 00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:07,880 I also know Elder Bateman and others who have spoken on this in general conference. 561 00:46:07,880 --> 00:46:10,480 Jesus Christ can restore virtue. 562 00:46:10,480 --> 00:46:22,040 He can restore anything that's been lost either as a sinner or as a victim of sin. 563 00:46:22,040 --> 00:46:28,440 And that's the important doctrinal point that has to be made when we talk of restitution. 564 00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:36,320 So if there are things that I have done as a sinner since I have committed that I can't 565 00:46:36,320 --> 00:46:42,760 restore, I testify that Jesus Christ can restore those things. 566 00:46:42,760 --> 00:46:50,680 So if Jesus Christ then restores those things, what is my role in making restitution after 567 00:46:50,680 --> 00:46:55,560 trying to restore everything that I can, even though it may be a very small part? 568 00:46:55,560 --> 00:47:00,880 My restitution is to try to make it back to Jesus Christ. 569 00:47:00,880 --> 00:47:04,200 He becomes my creditor. 570 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:14,280 He becomes the individual that I must turn to and where my debt is to him. 571 00:47:14,280 --> 00:47:16,440 And we serve him. 572 00:47:16,440 --> 00:47:25,000 I love the parable, one of his greatest, one of his very last in Matthew 25 when he says, 573 00:47:25,000 --> 00:47:32,040 in as much as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me. 574 00:47:32,040 --> 00:47:39,080 I think that is the principle of restitution that so many of us do not think about. 575 00:47:39,080 --> 00:47:44,920 That our restitution is to Jesus Christ after we have tried to restore to everything we 576 00:47:44,920 --> 00:47:51,640 can and then some to those who we have hurt or taken advantage of or robbed. 577 00:47:51,640 --> 00:47:58,560 But Jesus Christ then restores everything else and we try to restore to him what was 578 00:47:58,560 --> 00:48:05,000 lost by serving others where he said, when I was in prison, you visited me. 579 00:48:05,000 --> 00:48:08,200 When I was naked, you clothed me. 580 00:48:08,200 --> 00:48:10,920 When I was hungry, you fed me. 581 00:48:10,920 --> 00:48:17,600 I mean, that is what it means to make restitution, Scott. 582 00:48:17,600 --> 00:48:22,520 And that's one of the things that I think we often struggle with, you know, again, as 583 00:48:22,520 --> 00:48:28,800 being part of a recovery program for many years now and sponsoring people in this head 584 00:48:28,800 --> 00:48:30,920 program and so on. 585 00:48:30,920 --> 00:48:34,680 You know, one of the 12 steps, in fact, is step number nine. 586 00:48:34,680 --> 00:48:38,000 Step number eight is goes back to kind of an inventory. 587 00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:41,880 It's not the inventory step that we talked about a couple of episodes ago, which is actually 588 00:48:41,880 --> 00:48:47,280 step four where we take as searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 589 00:48:47,280 --> 00:48:53,120 But in step eight, we make a list of all persons we had harmed and become ready and willing 590 00:48:53,120 --> 00:48:54,880 to make amends to them all. 591 00:48:54,880 --> 00:48:59,120 You know, that's also part of this restitution. 592 00:48:59,120 --> 00:49:01,800 And then in step nine, we begin to carry that out. 593 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:04,880 Now here's the thing, though. 594 00:49:04,880 --> 00:49:11,440 Because we're not able to completely to completely restore that which we have caused damage for 595 00:49:11,440 --> 00:49:15,080 or that which is lost through our own ability. 596 00:49:15,080 --> 00:49:18,920 And Dave, you just mentioned, you know, how that restoration is made. 597 00:49:18,920 --> 00:49:25,600 And you say that, you know, that the way we do that is in as much as you have done it 598 00:49:25,600 --> 00:49:29,080 unto the least of these from Matthew 25, right? 599 00:49:29,080 --> 00:49:32,360 In as much as you have done it unto the least of these, my brother, and you've done it unto 600 00:49:32,360 --> 00:49:33,360 me. 601 00:49:33,360 --> 00:49:39,480 I think that's a principle that really deserves some attention because it's impossible. 602 00:49:39,480 --> 00:49:44,920 In my case, I don't know in every case, but it's impossible for me to know even everybody 603 00:49:44,920 --> 00:49:46,600 who I've hurt. 604 00:49:46,600 --> 00:49:47,600 And I don't mean physically. 605 00:49:47,600 --> 00:49:53,640 I don't mean financially, but you know, maybe emotionally, maybe through a feeling of being 606 00:49:53,640 --> 00:49:59,320 bullied, maybe through a manipulation, maybe through an intimidation, maybe whatever. 607 00:49:59,320 --> 00:50:00,880 So it would be impossible. 608 00:50:00,880 --> 00:50:05,880 And if I focus on those things, it's like, I just don't know if I've done it all. 609 00:50:05,880 --> 00:50:10,280 And I think it's important that I have that retrospection that I look in and make sure 610 00:50:10,280 --> 00:50:12,720 that I'm as thorough as I can be. 611 00:50:12,720 --> 00:50:16,840 But it's also important that I realize that principle that you just put forth, which was 612 00:50:16,840 --> 00:50:19,880 that in as much as you have done it under the least of these, my brother, and you have 613 00:50:19,880 --> 00:50:27,680 done it unto me, meaning that the way I can get back to Jesus to have him more in my life, 614 00:50:27,680 --> 00:50:31,920 to have that restoration take place in my life and pray for that restoration to be in 615 00:50:31,920 --> 00:50:36,960 effect in other people's lives, even those that I may not be aware, I must live that 616 00:50:36,960 --> 00:50:37,960 immense. 617 00:50:37,960 --> 00:50:44,680 I must live that restoration principle in my life, which means I'm in the Scriptures 618 00:50:44,680 --> 00:50:48,960 and I'm putting on the Atonement of Jesus Christ through having the Spirit with me, 619 00:50:48,960 --> 00:50:56,680 which means that when I see and have an impression to do something for somebody and I ignore 620 00:50:56,680 --> 00:51:06,800 that, maybe I'm in a situation of self-deception, you know, or maybe when I honor that, then 621 00:51:06,800 --> 00:51:11,960 I'm doing what he would do in as much as you have done it under the least of these. 622 00:51:11,960 --> 00:51:17,040 And then by so doing, I am then living that immense and it's interesting to me, it's 623 00:51:17,040 --> 00:51:19,000 been phenomenal. 624 00:51:19,000 --> 00:51:24,520 It's been a wonderful experience for me that as I've done that, that those snaggings in 625 00:51:24,520 --> 00:51:30,560 my mind that can also be propagated by the enemy, let's be clear, but those snaggings 626 00:51:30,560 --> 00:51:35,080 in my mind about you haven't done enough, you'll never do enough, it won't be enough, 627 00:51:35,080 --> 00:51:39,000 Scott, this repentance isn't complete because you don't even know how to complete the repentance 628 00:51:39,000 --> 00:51:44,120 process because you don't even know who all to restore or make restitution to. 629 00:51:44,120 --> 00:51:46,440 And this is real for me, right? 630 00:51:46,440 --> 00:51:53,480 And so to know that by having that relationship with him, by honoring the impressions he gives 631 00:51:53,480 --> 00:51:59,520 me about how he would want me to treat and be with his children, my brothers and sisters, 632 00:51:59,520 --> 00:52:05,400 as we walk this journey together, regardless of what side of the journey we're on, regardless 633 00:52:05,400 --> 00:52:11,160 of our direction, regardless of our opinion or our persuasion or anything else, if I'm 634 00:52:11,160 --> 00:52:16,440 showing love to his children, if I'm responding to the promptings that he gives me in a positive 635 00:52:16,440 --> 00:52:22,040 manner, I'm living that immense and those things don't seem to consume me in the way 636 00:52:22,040 --> 00:52:24,000 that they would otherwise, Dave. 637 00:52:24,000 --> 00:52:31,720 And if you have faith in the power of Jesus Christ through his atonement that he really 638 00:52:31,720 --> 00:52:37,280 did suffer for those who you hurt. 639 00:52:37,280 --> 00:52:44,920 I just think that's really important to stop the shaming that we place upon ourselves and 640 00:52:44,920 --> 00:52:55,160 the hurt that continually never goes away when we think about others who we have hurt 641 00:52:55,160 --> 00:53:00,760 either literally or by our bad example. 642 00:53:00,760 --> 00:53:06,720 I mean, there's no way we can restore what was lost as a result of serious sins that 643 00:53:06,720 --> 00:53:08,360 we commit. 644 00:53:08,360 --> 00:53:15,520 But if I have faith in the power of Jesus Christ through his atonement that he will 645 00:53:15,520 --> 00:53:22,040 compensate those individuals, not only did he suffer for my sins, but he suffered for 646 00:53:22,040 --> 00:53:27,960 the consequences of what others suffer. 647 00:53:27,960 --> 00:53:35,800 That also, Scott, takes away this guilt complex or shaming that I think so many people suffer 648 00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:40,640 with and what does it do to my relationship with Jesus Christ as you were describing? 649 00:53:40,640 --> 00:53:50,040 Oh my goodness, it just helps me feel more indebted, more grateful for him and his atonement 650 00:53:50,040 --> 00:53:56,200 and my restitution after I've done everything that I can to try to apologize and to make 651 00:53:56,200 --> 00:54:03,000 up for and maybe that may not even be received by victims who are not willing to forgive 652 00:54:03,000 --> 00:54:10,960 me and instead of just continually shaming myself, I don't have to receive their forgiveness 653 00:54:10,960 --> 00:54:12,120 to move on. 654 00:54:12,120 --> 00:54:21,080 I can do everything that I can and then some, pay back 100% 100 times what was lost and 655 00:54:21,080 --> 00:54:28,760 if they still don't forgive me, I know that Jesus Christ will compensate them and that 656 00:54:28,760 --> 00:54:37,960 he suffered for them and therefore I should be able to be able to trust in him and place 657 00:54:37,960 --> 00:54:42,080 my faith in him and move on. 658 00:54:42,080 --> 00:54:50,360 I think this is such an important part of the doctrine of redemption and the atonement 659 00:54:50,360 --> 00:54:51,480 of Jesus Christ. 660 00:54:51,480 --> 00:55:00,880 So yeah, I think that we do this, Scott, this serving Jesus Christ and making restitution 661 00:55:00,880 --> 00:55:07,220 by being better children in our families, better brothers and sisters. 662 00:55:07,220 --> 00:55:11,880 We do this by being a better husband, better wife. 663 00:55:11,880 --> 00:55:17,120 We do this by being a better mother, a better father, a better grandfather, a better grandmother. 664 00:55:17,120 --> 00:55:18,880 It starts in our home. 665 00:55:18,880 --> 00:55:26,360 We do this, we can make restitution in our home by trying to take better care and be 666 00:55:26,360 --> 00:55:31,160 more effective in our teaching of the gospel and living of the gospel in our home. 667 00:55:31,160 --> 00:55:35,480 And then it goes out to the church and we magnify our callings. 668 00:55:35,480 --> 00:55:40,800 We seek to magnify our callings and to serve others in our water or our stake or in the 669 00:55:40,800 --> 00:55:41,800 church. 670 00:55:41,800 --> 00:55:46,720 And then it goes out beyond the church to strangers and individuals who we meet on the 671 00:55:46,720 --> 00:55:49,800 street and wherever we are. 672 00:55:49,800 --> 00:55:57,560 And anyway, there's so many, there's so many levels of this, Scott, that where we can, 673 00:55:57,560 --> 00:56:05,000 where we can seek to visit and to strengthen and to help and to serve others. 674 00:56:05,000 --> 00:56:06,000 Yeah. 675 00:56:06,000 --> 00:56:07,400 There's another aspect too. 676 00:56:07,400 --> 00:56:09,160 You know, we should do this in our home. 677 00:56:09,160 --> 00:56:11,000 We should do this in our relationships. 678 00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:14,520 And I think maybe even first we should do it in our own, within ourselves. 679 00:56:14,520 --> 00:56:15,520 Yeah. 680 00:56:15,520 --> 00:56:16,520 Right? 681 00:56:16,520 --> 00:56:17,520 And we should do it in ourselves. 682 00:56:17,520 --> 00:56:18,520 Give ourselves a break. 683 00:56:18,520 --> 00:56:19,520 Yeah. 684 00:56:19,520 --> 00:56:20,520 Give ourselves a break. 685 00:56:20,520 --> 00:56:23,280 And it gets back to our earlier episodes, you know, where we really begin to understand 686 00:56:23,280 --> 00:56:24,520 who we are. 687 00:56:24,520 --> 00:56:30,120 If we really begin to understand who we are and whose we are, that we're His. 688 00:56:30,120 --> 00:56:31,120 We always have been. 689 00:56:31,120 --> 00:56:32,480 And He purchased us. 690 00:56:32,480 --> 00:56:37,120 And it's through our choice that we remain His through our choice of our actions and 691 00:56:37,120 --> 00:56:40,640 our behaviors and our alignment and all of those other things. 692 00:56:40,640 --> 00:56:44,600 You know, that's how we get that into our lives, that part of it. 693 00:56:44,600 --> 00:56:51,360 And I think that that's where that piece comes in order for those other, you know, rectifications, 694 00:56:51,360 --> 00:56:56,040 if you want to call them that in the family's lives and church and stuff like that. 695 00:56:56,040 --> 00:57:01,640 I think that when I look myself in the mirror today and I can be okay with my alignment 696 00:57:01,640 --> 00:57:08,560 with and my relationship with Jesus Christ and fill His love and His power in my life 697 00:57:08,560 --> 00:57:10,560 through His Atonement. 698 00:57:10,560 --> 00:57:16,720 I think that puts me on a pretty good trajectory to start affecting change and in a positive 699 00:57:16,720 --> 00:57:19,400 way in those other areas as well. 700 00:57:19,400 --> 00:57:26,440 That's true for whether I have sinned or whether I have been sinned against, whether others 701 00:57:26,440 --> 00:57:29,240 have sinned against me. 702 00:57:29,240 --> 00:57:36,280 We need to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement to not only make 703 00:57:36,280 --> 00:57:41,720 restoration, Scott, but to have things restored to us. 704 00:57:41,720 --> 00:57:52,240 So we try to restore and we receive, we try to make restitution and we receive through 705 00:57:52,240 --> 00:57:59,800 the Atonement of Jesus Christ, His peace and His healing and His love. 706 00:57:59,800 --> 00:58:09,960 So that's, I think, an important part of the process of repentance that we receive His 707 00:58:09,960 --> 00:58:16,680 restitution in our lives, that we receive the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His suffering 708 00:58:16,680 --> 00:58:20,640 in our lives, whether we sin or whether we've been sinned against. 709 00:58:20,640 --> 00:58:27,280 I think one of the powerful things about these addiction recovery groups is that, you know, 710 00:58:27,280 --> 00:58:36,480 you and others who have been overcome addictions many, many years ago continue to serve and 711 00:58:36,480 --> 00:58:42,480 continue to in some ways make restitution, which maybe some of us will for the rest of 712 00:58:42,480 --> 00:58:50,160 our lives try to make restitution by helping others not make the same mistakes that we've 713 00:58:50,160 --> 00:58:51,160 made. 714 00:58:51,160 --> 00:58:52,160 Right. 715 00:58:52,160 --> 00:59:00,320 So we're more of a making restitution by helping to teach others or to try to help one by one 716 00:59:00,320 --> 00:59:12,240 or groups to learn what we have learned and to be able to not have to experience what 717 00:59:12,240 --> 00:59:17,720 some of us have experienced as a result of our sins and our mistakes. 718 00:59:17,720 --> 00:59:19,960 So I think that's a part of restitution as well. 719 00:59:19,960 --> 00:59:26,680 Yeah, and not just that, but, you know, not to help people just avoid mistakes and maybe 720 00:59:26,680 --> 00:59:33,600 navigate the mistakes that we have made, but also to instill the hope that can only come 721 00:59:33,600 --> 00:59:36,160 through the power of Jesus Christ. 722 00:59:36,160 --> 00:59:43,320 To instill that hope, to instill that direction in my life, to have that as my beacon, as 723 00:59:43,320 --> 00:59:44,320 my light. 724 00:59:44,320 --> 00:59:48,040 You know, I think that that's where a lot comes from. 725 00:59:48,040 --> 00:59:49,040 Even more powerful. 726 00:59:49,040 --> 00:59:50,040 Yeah, you're right. 727 00:59:50,040 --> 00:59:53,760 To turn them to Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 728 00:59:53,760 --> 00:59:54,760 Yeah. 729 00:59:54,760 --> 00:59:56,960 Then to focus on our past. 730 00:59:56,960 --> 00:59:58,200 That's really what it is. 731 00:59:58,200 --> 01:00:00,080 That's really what it's all about for all of us. 732 01:00:00,080 --> 01:00:06,220 All of this that we talk about, we can distill into, you know, a basic idea, which is our 733 01:00:06,220 --> 01:00:09,680 relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 734 01:00:09,680 --> 01:00:15,080 We should focus on Him more than focusing on our past. 735 01:00:15,080 --> 01:00:23,080 We should focus on His rock bottom in the garden and on the cross more than we ever 736 01:00:23,080 --> 01:00:25,480 focus on our rock bottoms. 737 01:00:25,480 --> 01:00:32,400 Well, believe it or not, we're up against that time where it's time for us to conclude. 738 01:00:32,400 --> 01:00:34,200 Do you have any final thoughts? 739 01:00:34,200 --> 01:00:35,640 No, you'd like to share today. 740 01:00:35,640 --> 01:00:37,140 Love you, Scott. 741 01:00:37,140 --> 01:00:39,000 Grateful for our relationship. 742 01:00:39,000 --> 01:00:43,400 Grateful to be able to share these things with others and for this, for the spirit 743 01:00:43,400 --> 01:00:49,480 that we feel in discussing them before, during and after the podcast. 744 01:00:49,480 --> 01:01:00,040 And I'm so grateful for my Savior and my Redeemer and for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ 745 01:01:00,040 --> 01:01:09,560 that teaches us how to strengthen our relationship with our Savior as well as our Heavenly Father 746 01:01:09,560 --> 01:01:12,960 by receiving the Holy Spirit in our lives. 747 01:01:12,960 --> 01:01:18,160 Our invitation is going to be this week for us all to do a self-assessment, see where 748 01:01:18,160 --> 01:01:24,200 we are in regards to and relationship with the things that we've talked about today, 749 01:01:24,200 --> 01:01:30,400 specifically, specifically about our relationship with Jesus Christ and how all of this directs 750 01:01:30,400 --> 01:01:35,200 us to a more pure, more complete relationship with Him. 751 01:01:35,200 --> 01:01:36,920 That's our wish and desire. 752 01:01:36,920 --> 01:01:38,120 And really, nothing else. 753 01:01:38,120 --> 01:01:47,160 Yeah, and to make an inventory of maybe something of our past and sins that maybe we need to 754 01:01:47,160 --> 01:01:54,840 confess to Him, maybe to others that we have heard or to the church. 755 01:01:54,840 --> 01:02:04,640 And then to make an inventory of what can I do to more fully restore to others and to 756 01:02:04,640 --> 01:02:07,560 restore what was lost or is all of my sins. 757 01:02:07,560 --> 01:02:16,840 And then especially to recognize what we can't restore and turn that over to the Lord Jesus 758 01:02:16,840 --> 01:02:26,040 Christ with faith in Him and His Atonement that those things can and will be restored 759 01:02:26,040 --> 01:02:30,240 according to our faith in Him. 760 01:02:30,240 --> 01:02:37,960 Thanks for being with us, another podcast, another great spiritual experience to be here 761 01:02:37,960 --> 01:02:38,960 with you, Dave. 762 01:02:38,960 --> 01:02:39,960 I love you too. 763 01:02:39,960 --> 01:02:42,120 And this relationship means so much to me. 764 01:02:42,120 --> 01:02:46,640 It has since I was a little kid and it's just grown into an even deeper and greater 765 01:02:46,640 --> 01:02:49,960 thing and I'm grateful for that. 766 01:02:49,960 --> 01:02:52,920 We invite you to share this with your friends. 767 01:02:52,920 --> 01:02:58,920 We invite you to take hold of the concepts and the precepts that you're being prompted 768 01:02:58,920 --> 01:03:04,080 to through the Spirit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because as you fill those and 769 01:03:04,080 --> 01:03:10,000 as you fill those promptings and honor those promptings, you will be more in the posture 770 01:03:10,000 --> 01:03:11,080 of repentance. 771 01:03:11,080 --> 01:03:12,080 You will be more. 772 01:03:12,080 --> 01:03:17,360 We all will be more readily available to receive His Spirit in our lives. 773 01:03:17,360 --> 01:03:20,080 And have greater joy in all that we do. 774 01:03:20,080 --> 01:03:21,080 In the process. 775 01:03:21,080 --> 01:03:22,280 Thanks for being with us. 776 01:03:22,280 --> 01:03:24,880 We look forward to being with you again next week. 777 01:03:24,880 --> 01:03:28,600 Until then, remember that you have been redeemed through His blood. 778 01:03:28,600 --> 01:03:29,600 We love you. 779 01:03:29,600 --> 01:03:58,600 Thank you.