There is JOY in Repentance!

One of the most important ways of developing greater love for God, His Son and for all people is through applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives daily. It is not always easy to love those that act in a way that makes it more difficult to love them. It may be someone who insults us in the street, the person that slams the door in our face, or someone who is not very patient with us.

The Lord expects us to love all people including those that are difficult for us to love. At times this is not an easy thing to do. The Lord said “ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:43,44) It is easy to love those that love us. The Lord said “for if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (Matthew 5:46)

If the Lord expects us to love everyone including those that despitefully use us (Luke 6:28), He surely has provided us a way to be able to do it. Applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives on a daily basis will increase our capacity to love others.

How do we apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives each day? The second principle of the gospel is repentance. We learn in Preach My Gospel that “our faith in Christ and our love for Him lead us to repent, or to change our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that are not in harmony with His will. Repentance includes forming a fresh view of God, ourselves, and the world.(Preach My Gospel pg. 62)

As we repent our view of others changes especially those that act in a way that make it more difficult to love them. We see them as God´s children and recognize their value. As we feel the Atonement working in our own lives through daily repentance, our love for all of God´s children will increase. “Thus, as we repent daily, we will find that our lives will change and improve. Our hearts and our behavior will become more Christlike.”

It is my prayer that we will apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our own lives through daily repentance so that our love for our Heavenly Father, the Savior and of God´s children will be the motivation to invite all to come unto Christ.

We love you always,
President May