Brothers and Sisters—
Like many of you, I enjoyed participating in general conference two weeks ago and continue to be blessed by revisiting the messages in my personal study.
One such message I’ve been studying this week is “God among Us” by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. His talk reminds each of us that through Jesus Christ, our mistakes, sins and weaknesses don’t stop us in our progression and improvement.
“The Savior’s infinite Atonement completely changes the way we may view our transgressions and imperfections. Instead of dwelling on them and feeling irredeemable or hopeless, we can learn from them and feel hopeful. The cleansing gift of repentance allows us to leave our sins behind and emerge a new creature.
“Because of Jesus Christ, our failures do not have to define us. They can refine us.”
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “God among Us.” April 2021 general conference
In every other area of our lives, we accept mistakes, missteps and misunderstandings as necessary parts of the process toward proficiency. Promising pianists know wrong notes will be played. Basketball players understand they will miss shots. Not every project started by a novice woodworker is a masterpiece.
However, when it comes to our thoughts and behavior — unending, unceasing, and every second of every day — we sometimes expect ourselves to be completely flawless. We look at repentance as simply a “safety net” if we somehow can’t “power through” in personal perfection.
The Lord’s expectation for His children is not perfection in this life. In fact, repentance is the second principle of the gospel — preceded only by faith — and is a fundamental aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is essential to the plan of salvation.
Our sincere repentance — evidenced by confession and forsaking of the sin (Doctrine & Covenants 58:43) — leads to complete forgiveness through the grace of Jesus Christ and His Atonement and the sins are remembered no more (Doctrine & Covenants 58:42), freeing us to move on — to change, turn toward the light, improve and have hope in the future.
And, as the natural man continues in us and we inevitably sin again, we benefit from the infinite and eternal nature of Christ’s Atonement and are able to repent again.
And again. And again.
Eventually, as we humbly use the Atonement to improve, the grace of Christ will change us. As we work to humbly forgive ourselves, we will find it easier to forgive others. As we come to the sacrament table each week with a broken heart, recommitting to make incremental steps toward God, we will become more appreciative of the opportunity to help others along their journey of discipleship. We will become more willing to be the Lord’s hands and feet in succoring the human family.
I welcome the opportunity to partake of the sacrament with many of you later today. For those unable to participate in person, view the broadcast here. I am authorizing at-home sacrament administration for another week. As always, the sacrament should be administered by worthy priesthood holders of the appropriate office.
This will be the last week I will authorize at-home sacrament for the whole ward. Starting next week, families needing at-home sacrament should contact a member of the bishopric to receive specific authorization.
I love you all and pray for your health, safety and well-being. I am grateful for the chance I have to walk the repentant road with each of you as we work to become more like Christ.
Bishop Bennett
Calendar
Stake Youth Fireside with James & Maddie Empey
April 18, 7 p.m., Stake Center
Come here an All-American BYU football player and an All-Conference UVU runner talk about sports and the gospel. The Empeys not only compete at the highest levels of athletics, but both are returned missionaries and faithfully live the gospel. Invite your friends!