Most Christian denominations preach that salvation comes exclusively through the grace of Jesus Christ. LDS doctrine largely agrees, but it adds a caveat, as stated in the Book of Mormon: “for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). In other words, for Mormons mere confession of Jesus Christ as savior is not enough for salvation. Deathbed confessions do not do the trick. One must repent of his or her sins and strive diligently to keep God’s commandments throughout life, repenting again and again as necessary.
Repentance, in the Mormon view, is an ongoing process. It may involve restitution to others we have wronged. In the case of serious sins, it may involve confession to Church leaders or civil authorities. It always involves “godly sorrow” for what we have done—not just sorrow that we have been caught, but true recognition that what we did was wrong. Repentance requires a lasting commitment to change. Ultimately, it should lead to internal change, as well as changes in external behavior.
Just as God commands us to repent, even so he promises us that true repentance will be rewarded with forgiveness. Forgiveness puts us right in our relationship to God and to our fellow human beings. It brings internal peace.
By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.
—Doctrine & Covenants 58:43
Perfect people don’t need a Savior. He came to save his people in their imperfections. He is the Lord of the living, and the living make mistakes. He’s not embarrassed by us, angry at us, or shocked. He wants us in our brokenness, in our unhappiness, in our guilt and our grief.
—Chieko N. Okazaki (1926–2011)
And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam.
—Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 9:21
Some of our old traditions teach us that a man guilty of atrocious and murderous acts may savingly repent when on the scaffold; and upon his execution will hear the expression, “Bless God! He has gone to heaven, to be crowned in glory, through the all-redeeming merits of Christ the Lord.” This is all nonsense. Such a character never will see heaven.
—Brigham Young (1801–1877)
Live out of your imagination, not your history.
—Stephen R. Covey (1932–2012)
You can always find somebody who is worse than you are to make you feel virtuous. It’s a cheap shot: those awful terrorists, perverts, communists—they are the ones who need to repent! Yes, indeed they do, and for them repentance will be a full-time job, exactly as it is for all the rest of us.
—Hugh Nibley (1910–2005)
You cannot sink farther than the light and sweeping intelligence of Jesus Christ can reach. I bear testimony that as long as there is one spark of the will to repent and reach, he is there! He did not just descend to your condition, he descended below it; that he might be in and through all things the light of truth.
—Truman G. Madsen (1926–2009)
Never let a day pass that you will have cause to say, I will do better tomorrow.
—Brigham Young (1801–1877)
No man can sincerely resolve to apply to his daily life the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth without sensing a change in his own nature. The phrase “born again” has a deeper significance than many people attach to it. This changed feeling may be indescribable, but it is real.
—David O. McKay (1873–1970)
The purpose of the gospel is to make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature.
—David O. McKay (1873–1970)
The heaviest burden that one has to bear in this life is the burden of sin.
—Harold B. Lee (1899–1973)
True repentance does not permit repetition.
—Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)
Self-justification is the enemy to repentance. God’s spirit continues with the honest in heart to strengthen, to help, and to save, but invariably the Spirit of God ceases to strive with the man who “excuses” himself in his wrong doing.
—Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)
Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit.
—Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994)
The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people, and then they would take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.
—Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994)
Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He can deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, and pour out peace.
—Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994)
True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior.
—Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994)
To those who have transgressed or been offended, we say, come back. The path of repentance, though hard at times, lifts one ever upward and leads to a perfect forgiveness.
—Howard W. Hunter (1907–1995)
As often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation.
—Book of Mormon, Mosiah 26:30–31
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
—Book of Mormon, Ether 12:27