This is from a tract from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints under President Spencer W. Kimball. It is called "Repentance Brings Forgiveness". Now these are merely excerpts, but if you would like a copy of this tract, you can contact me at allforJesus137@gmail.com. I'll send it to you. You can see for yourself that I am not taking this out of context. See if you see freedom, joy, hope and love in this...
1. Sorrow for Sin:
"When we become fully aware of the seriousness of the wrong we have done, we decide with all out hearts to do whatever is necessary to rid ourselves of the effects of the sin. We are totally sorry. We are willing to pay penalties, to suffer even excommunication is necessary." (Excommunication... ok, the Church is the ultimate say here... not God. God does not excommunicate)
2. Abandonment of Sin:
"It is best when one stops sinning because he becomes aware of the seriousness of the sin." (STOPS SINNING!? I would love to meet someone who can do that. The only sinless person is Jesus. Are we saying that people can achieve sinlessness???)
"The forsaking of sin must be a permanent one. True repentance does not permit making the same mistake again." (Fail...)
3. Confession of Sin:
"First the forgiveness of the Lord's church through it's proper leaders, and second the forgiveness of the Lord." (Shouldn't this be the other way around? Why is the Church first? So, we need forgiveness from another sinful man to achieve forgiveness from God? Explain this to me...)
"It is unthinkable that God forgives sins which are serious after just a few prayers. He is likely to wait until there has been a long, sustained repentance as shown by a willingness to live all his commandments." (I'm sorry... what? I'm not going to be forgiven after I ask for forgiveness from the Almighty God?)
"The bishop can be one's best earthly friend. He will hear problems, judge the seriousness thereof, determine the degree of the person's repentance, and decide it if warrants an eventual forgiveness. He does this as the earthly representative of God. If repentance is sufficient he my waive penalties, which is sometimes called forgiveness." (Ok... again. A sinful man to judge my heart before God? Any Christians out here that can take the speechlessness away from me????)
4. Restitution of Sin:
"When one is humble is sorrow, has completely stopped the sin...." (Again, there's that whole stopping sinning part. Once you have that part figured out, please let me know. And we're not talking small sins or big sins as all sins are the same in the eyes of God)
"The Lord is under no obligation to forgive us unless our hearts are free from all hate and bitterness against others." (Hear that... the Lord is under no obligation. Of course not... He is GOD. Do you think you can earn his forgiveness? Is that what all this is about? YES! Ding Ding Ding! It's about EARNING His Forgiveness. Can that be done... NO... "For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.")
5. Do the Will of the Father:
"The repenting person must start on the never-ending task of keeping the commandments of the Lord." (The never-ending task? Show me the hope Mormons have, please? Because this is so grim... )
Now, that is "true" forgiveness you can achieve through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Is anyone else rethinking this?
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