The Boon of My Existence
One of the talks that I wanted to discuss from the October 2011 General Conference was Elder Christofferson's about repentance. One of my favorite all-time scriptures, that I found while trying to gain a better testimony of the gospel, a testimony based in living what I believe to be true, was from Mosiah 16:12-13. In it we read:
12 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them; for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.
13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved?
The reason this verse stuck out to me was because of the image of the Lords arms of mercy being extended repeatedly to us, only waiting for our accepting of His love. To me, Elder Christofferson is saying that when he said that " the invitation to repent is an expression of love." How could it be an expression of love? I think it is because the Lord loves us so much and because Jesus Christ is the perfect example and way to happiness in this life and the next, He always knows how to show us a better way. So, as He reaches out to us, to hug us and love us, He invites us to change because that is the path to true happiness: repentance and progression. I'm grateful that not only does He offer us His arms of mercy, but that He cheers for us and comforts us along as we strive to improve ourselves, for in the end, we can only do it with His help.
