Forgiveness

Modern Day apostles and prophets speak about forgiveness.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell:
--“We cannot repent for someone else. But we can forgive someone else, refusing to hold hostage those whom the Lord seeks to set free!” (Neal A. Maxwell, in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 42; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 32 )

Elder Richard G. Scott:
-- “You cannot erase what has been done, but you can forgive (see D&C 64:10 ). Forgiveness heals terrible, tragic wounds, for it allows the love of God to purge your heart and mind of the poison of hate. It cleanses your consciousness of the desire for revenge. It makes place for the purifying, healing, restoring love of the Lord” (Richard G. Scott, in Conference Report, Apr. 1992, 45; or Ensign, May 1992, 33 ).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:
-- “Closely related to our own obligation to repent is the generosity of letting others do the same—we are to forgive even as we are forgiven. In this we participate in the very essence of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. . . .

“It is one of those ironies of godhood that in order to find peace, the offended as well as the offender must engage the principle of forgiveness” (Jeffrey R. Holland, in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 114; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 83 ).

--“When we have been hurt, undoubtedly God takes into account what wrongs were done to us and what provocations there are for our resentments, but clearly the more provocation there is and the more excuse we can find for our hurt, all the more reason for us to forgive and be delivered from the destructive hell of such poisonous venom and anger” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 114; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 83 ).

President Gordon B. Hinckley, then a member of the First Presidency:

“How much we need application of this God-given principle and its companion principle, repentance! We see the need for it in the homes of the people, where tiny molehills of misunderstanding are fanned into mountains of argument. We see it among neighbors, where insignificant differences lead to undying bitterness. We see it in business associates who quarrel and refuse to compromise and forgive when, in most instances, if there were a willingness to sit down together and speak quietly one to another, the matter could be resolved to the blessing of all. Rather, they spend their days nurturing grudges and planning retribution” ( “Of You It Is Required to Forgive,” Ensign, June 1991, 2 ).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

“After teaching his disciples the gospel standard that requires men to forgive one another their trespasses, and after telling Peter that, contrary to Rabbinic standards, there was no limit to the number of times brethren should forgive each other, Jesus gave the parable of the unmerciful servant. It illustrates the glorious truth that ‘as Deity forgives men the immeasurable debt they owe to him, so men should forgive their fellowmen the relatively slight debts incurred when brethren sin against each other’ [ Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:428]” ( The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols. [1979–81], 3:94–95).