Based on a
radio talk he delivered in 1945 on Radio Station KSL, Harold B. Lee wrote the
following about repentance:
Up the Road of Repentance
Now what are the steps to be taken on this
climb up the road to repentance in order to be worthy of God’s forgiveness
through the redemption of the Master’s atoning sacrifice and the privileges of
eternal life in the world to come? An all-wise Father, foreseeing that some
would fall in sin and all would have need to repent, has provided in the
teachings of his gospel and through his Church the plan of salvation that defines
the clear-cut way to repentance.
First, those in sin must confess them. “By
this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them
and forsake them.” (Doc. And Cov. 58:43.) That confession must be made first to
him or her who has been most wronged by your acts. A sincere confession is not
merely admitting guilty after the proof is already in evidence. If you have “offended
many persons openly,” your acknowledgement is to be made openly and before
those whom you have offended that you might show your shame and humility and willingness
to receive a merited rebuke. If your act is secret and has resulted in injury
to no one but yourself, your confession should be in secret, that your Heavenly
Father who hears in secret may reward you openly. Acts that may affect your
standing in the Church, or your right to privileges or advancement in the
Church, are to be promptly confessed to the bishop whom the Lord has appointed
as a shepherd over every flock and commissioned to be a common judge in Israel.
He may hear such confession in secret and deal justly and mercifully as each
case warrants. The unbaptized who is in sin may be following a similar course
receive at the hands of an authorized elder of the Church, if otherwise
prepared by an understanding of the gospel, baptism for the remission of his
sins. Following confession, one in sin must show forth the fruits of his
repentance by good deeds that are weighed against the bad. He must make proper
restitution to the limit of his power to restore that which he has taken away
or to repair the damage he has done. He that repents thus of his sins and altogether
turn away therefrom, to return no more to a repetition thereof, is entitled to
the promise of a forgiveness of his sins, if he has not committed the
unpardonable sin, as it was declared by the Prophet Isaiah, “Though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18.)
But now, please do not misunderstand the true
meaning of the scriptures with respect to this matter. One may not wallow in
the ore of filth and sin and conduct his life in a manner unlawful in the sight
of God and then suppose that repentance will wipe out the effects of his sin
and place him on the level he would have been on had he always lived a
righteous and virtuous life. May I quote from the words of a prophet of the
Lord on this subject: “He may and will be forgiven if he repents, the blood of
Christ will make him free, and will wash him clean, though his sins be as
scarlet; but all this will not return him any loss sustained . . . Nor will it
place him in a position where he would have been had he not committed wrong. He
has lost something which can never be regained notwithstanding the . . .
forgiveness of God.” (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 468.) It was undoubtedly this Law of Recompense
the Lord was speaking of concerning those to whom the blessings and powers
of the priesthood in his kingdom were given if they were to break their “oath
and covenant” after they had received it. Said he, “They shall not have
forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.” (Doc. And Co.
84:41.) Throughout the eternal worlds, they could never make up for that which
they lost while they “procrastinated the day of their repentance.” The Lord
extends loving mercy and kindness in forgiving you of the sins you commit
against him or his work, but he can never remove the results of the sin you
have committed against yourselves by thus retarding your advancement toward
your eternal goal. (Harold B. Lee, Youth
and the Church [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1970], 98-100)