Good Morning Friends,

I hope that all of you are safe and well.  It was the highlight of a very difficult week to know that we are getting closer to being able to meet together again.  As I read Mosiah 25:10, I thought of “the immediate goodness of God” that has been present in my life during this pandemic.  I am so grateful for the safety of my family and friends and to have been able to see the hand of God in our lives.  I can’t wait to be able to join with all of you in raising our voices together to give thanks to God for our many blessings.  I guarantee, tears will be shed. 

In Mosiah 26:22, it reads, “For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance.  And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive.”  The concept of Believing in Christ and being Freely Forgiven is precious.    In business terms, we know that nothing is ever free.  There is always a cost associated with an item.  In verse 23, we read, “For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world.”  We know that the price for our sin was paid by Jesus Christ.  It is believing in what Jesus Christ did for us that allows us to redeem forgiveness.  The thoughts that kept running through my mind were, Why is hard for me to freely forgive?  Why am I resistant to believe that people have changed?  Why is it hard for me to forget what others have done to me, when the Lord can forget what I have done to him?

As I read this week, I kept thinking of a talk by Elder Holland, “The Other Prodigal”.  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2002/04/the-other-prodigal?lang= I relate the parable of the Prodigal Son to sin.  I can relate the father in the story to many parents but especially to Alma the Elder and ultimately, our Father in Heaven.  When the Son (all of us) came to himself (an awareness of our transgressions) he returned to the father (plea for repentance).  The father reacted with joy by killing the fatted calf (offering a sacrifice to God in appreciation).  Alma the Elder “rejoiced” (Mosiah 27:20) when Alma the younger was struck dumb.   We know from the scriptures that Heavenly Father is also pleased and weeps when his children return.  The bond between the Father and the Son in my interpretation of the parable is intimate and sacred as the Father (Heavenly Father) knows what the Son (all of us) has done.  He had already sent his son, Jesus Christ, to pay the debts incurred by his Son (all of us).  The Son (all of us), knows what the Father (Heavenly Father) has done to cover his debts and knows he will never be able to repay the Father (Heavenly Father).  The Father (Heavenly Father) knows the heart of the Son (all of us) and freely forgives the Son (all of us).   

Sin isn’t without consequence.  One of those consequences is the effect it has on other people.  I believe this is why we sometimes find it hard to forgive others.  We feel wronged.  We sometimes act like the other brother in the parable.  My favorite passage in the talk by Elder Holland referring to the other brother is this: “This son is not so much angry that the other has come home as he is angry that his parents are so happy about it. Feeling unappreciated and perhaps more than a little self-pity, this dutiful son—and he is wonderfully dutiful—forgets for a moment that he has never had to know filth or despair, fear or self-loathing. He forgets for a moment that every calf on the ranch is already his and so are all the robes in the closet and every ring in the drawer. He forgets for a moment that his faithfulness has been and always will be rewarded.

No, he who has virtually everything, and who has in his hardworking, wonderful way earned it, lacks the one thing that might make him the complete man of the Lord he nearly is. He has yet to come to the compassion and mercy, the charitable breadth of vision to see that this is not a rival returning. It is his brother. As his father pled with him to see, it is one who was dead and now is alive. It is one who was lost and now is found.”

It is important for us to remember when we feel that we have been wronged by someone, that we too have things that we need forgiveness for.  In that wrongful situation, we may not be the offender but we can have compassion as God does with us.  We can have mercy on the person who has known “filth or despair, fear or self-loathing”.  We can freely forgive so that we can find peace.  This process is how both the offender and the person who has been offended can grow and move on in their own personal journey. 

In Elder Uchtdorf’s talk from this past general conference, he says: “Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died so that our mistakes might not condemn us and forever halt our progress. Because of Him, we can repent, and our mistakes can become stepping-stones to greater glory.”  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/54uchtdorf?lang=eng

I am sure that there were times as Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah went around preaching the gospel that people remembered them for their past mistakes.  However, through the Spirit they were able to prove their changed hearts and convince the people of the truth of their words.  We too may have people in our lives that have led a different life but are trying to change.  We can help them by allowing them to grow and progress without our judgement.  I truly believe that some of the strongest testimony of truth comes from those who have struggled with a particular trial.  In Mosiah 27:37, we read about Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah after their conversion, “And how blessed are they!  For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and the did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.”  Not too bad for a group of young men who had been called the “vilest” of sinners. 

I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon.  I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and the gift of being Freely Forgiven. 

I hope that you have a wonderful week.  Keep up with your reading of the Book of Mormon.  Alma is filled with great stories to act out as a family, Mighty Super Heroes, a wealth of Doctrine, and some fantastic battles.  I can’t wait!!

Sister Rooley