Faith, Repentance, And Redemption: An Lds Perspective

Faith in Jesus Christ leads to repentance, which is a fundamental principle of the gospel. Repentance is not merely acknowledging wrongdoing but a change of mind and heart that gives a fresh view of God, oneself, and the world. It involves turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. This is only possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, who suffered for our sins so that we can be forgiven if we sincerely repent. Repentance is an act of faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, and it is motivated by love for God and a sincere desire to obey His commandments.

Faith in Jesus Christ leads to repentance

Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and leads to repentance, the second principle. Repentance is not merely an acknowledgement of wrongdoing, but a change of mind and heart that gives a fresh view of God, oneself, and the world. It involves turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness.

Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement is the foundation of all true repentance. The Book of Mormon is replete with examples and teachings on faith in the Lord as the empowering ingredient in repentance. The prophet Enos learned firsthand from the Lord the central role of faith in true repentance. In his account of his "wrestle" before God, which led him to a remission of sins, we see him pondering the words of eternal life and pleading with the Lord to satisfy his spiritual hunger. The Lord simply stated that it was Enos's faith in Christ that had brought about his remission of sins, and not his outward actions of repentance.

The prophet Amulek also taught that it is the "great and last sacrifice" of Jesus Christ that gives power and efficacy to the doctrine of repentance. He declared that faith must precede repentance for the cleansing mercy of the Messiah to be enjoyed:

> "And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."

The Book of Mormon also teaches that forsaking sin requires the abandonment of sinfulness in every aspect of our lives and character. Without this broader application, forsaking is fragmented, and real, enduring change eludes us. One cannot merely forsake a specific sin or sinful situation and cling tenaciously to other sins. It is not just the stopping of a sinful practice that is required. What is needed is a change in one's disposition and desire for sin.

The Lord has promised that if we abandon our wicked deeds and desires, He will perform a great miracle in our behalf that will bring about a newness of attitude, character, and being. He has promised to create in us "a new heart and a new spirit" (Ezekiel 18:31). This mighty change of behavior, thoughts, attitudes, and desires comes as a merciful gift of grace—“after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). When we have demonstrated our faith, repentant determination, and renewed devotion, then the indispensable grace of God is what brings about a remission of sins.

True repentance, as taught in the Book of Mormon, is a demanding process, and once we have committed ourselves to it, there can be no hesitation. We must not attempt to straddle the line of demarcation between good and evil. We cannot, figuratively speaking, have one hand reaching for the fruit of the “tree of life” while continuing to dance and dine in the “great and spacious building,” for it requires both hands and our whole heart and soul to cling to the rod of iron (see 1 Nephi 11:8–36).

The examples of individuals in the Book of Mormon who were transformed through their "faith unto repentance" make it clear that we must do all that we can as mortals to become totally "new creatures." This "mighty change" of heart, direction, and devotion is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

Repentance is an act of faith in Jesus Christ

Repentance is a central tenet of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the second principle of the gospel and an outgrowth of faith. It is essential to our salvation and exaltation.

Faith in Jesus Christ naturally leads to repentance. The Lord instructed Adam, "Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence" (Moses 6:57).

Repentance is the way provided for us to become free from our sins and receive forgiveness for them. Sins slow our spiritual progression and can even stop it. Repentance makes it possible for us to grow and develop spiritually again.

The privilege of repenting is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid for our sins in a way we do not fully understand. Through his Atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins and return to God's presence.

Repentance is a painful process, but it leads to forgiveness and lasting peace. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord said, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18). Repentance is a gift from God that allows us to return to His presence. As we choose the right by following Jesus Christ and striving to become like Him, we will find peace, happiness, and joy.

Repentance is an outgrowth of faith

Faith in Jesus Christ naturally leads to repentance. In the Bible, the word "repent" means "to change one's mind". The Bible also tells us that true repentance will result in a change of actions. Repentance is much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart that gives you a fresh view of God, yourself, and the world. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments.

The prophet Enos learned firsthand from the Lord the central role of faith in true repentance. In his account of his "wrestle" before God, which led him to a remission of sins, we see him pondering the words of eternal life and pleading with the Lord to satisfy his spiritual hunger:

> "And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away."

Enos learned what Nephi had taught earlier—that a remission of sins and ultimate salvation cannot be obtained merely by righteous deeds but rather through "unshaken faith" in Christ.

The Book of Mormon is replete with examples and teachings on faith in the Lord as the empowering ingredient in repentance. The prophet Amulek also taught that it is the "great and last sacrifice" of Jesus Christ that gives power and efficacy to the doctrine of repentance. He emphatically declared that faith must precede repentance for the cleansing mercy of the Messiah to be enjoyed:

> "And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance."

The Book of Mormon constantly reminds us that repentance is inextricably linked with faith in Christ and that forgiveness of sins comes as a gift of God's grace to man only upon the condition of "faith unto repentance".

Faith in Jesus Christ helps us choose to repent and continue to repent. As we strive to choose the right, we progress in choosing to repent, and we have further progression as we continue to repent. It is continued repentance that provides us with continued progression towards aligning with the will of God and becoming one with Him.

Faith in Christ as the foundation of all true repentance

The Book of Mormon is a testament to the role of faith in the Lord as the empowering ingredient in repentance. The prophet Enos learned that faith in Christ was the central role of true repentance. In his account of his "wrestle" before God, which led to a remission of sins, we see Enos pondering the words of eternal life and pleading with the Lord to satisfy his spiritual hunger:

> "And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ...thy faith hath made thee whole." (Enos 1:4–8)

The Lord stated that it was Enos's faith in Christ that brought about his remission of sins, not his outward actions of repentance, as important as they were. Enos learned what Nephi had taught earlier—that a remission of sins and ultimate salvation cannot be obtained merely by righteous deeds but through "unshaken faith" in Christ.

When we rely "wholly upon the merits" of Christ, we will submit to the designated requirements of repentance as a natural consequence of faith instead of an adherence to a checklist. Our actions and attitudes of penitence become evidence of our faith and not a substitute for it.

The prophet Amulek also taught that it is the "great and last sacrifice" of Jesus Christ that gives power and efficacy to the doctrine of repentance. He declared:

> "And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance." (Alma 34:14–15)

Amulek emphatically declared that faith must precede repentance for the cleansing mercy of the Messiah to be enjoyed.

Alma's dramatic conversion is a scriptural example that illustrates Amulek's teaching of "faith unto repentance". In his life of sin, he was "racked with torment" and "harrowed up by the memory of [his] many sins". He pleaded with the Lord to do something for him that he could not do for himself. We do not see Alma mechanically going through a series of steps to repentance. In fact, there is no scriptural evidence that he had previously performed any of the actions traditionally taught as sequential steps to forgiveness. The record reveals, however, that Alma's miraculous change from a life of sin to a life of service and spirituality resulted from his "faith unto repentance".

Alma's subsequent abandonment of sinful practices, his restitution for past mistakes, and his life of continued commitment to the kingdom of God grew out of his faith in the cleansing power of Christ's atonement.

Indeed, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the first principle of the gospel and repentance as the second, along with all other principles and ordinances of the gospel, have their foundation in the Savior's atoning sacrifice. Thus, repentance stems only from faith in the redemptive and cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb of God.

Elder Orson Pratt taught, "The first effect of true faith is a sincere, true, and thorough repentance of all sins. Faith is the starting point—the foundation and cause of our repentance."

Without unwavering faith in the Atonement, there can be neither repentance nor saving works of righteousness. Thus, paraphrasing Nephi's teaching, it is by grace that we receive a remission of our sins, after all we can do.

Faith unto repentance

The prophet Enos learned from the Lord that faith is the central role of true repentance. In his account, we see him pondering the words of eternal life and pleading with the Lord to satisfy his spiritual hunger. The Lord responded by forgiving Enos's sins, not because of his outward actions of repentance, but because of his faith.

Similarly, the prophet Amulek taught that faith must precede repentance for the cleansing mercy of the Messiah to be enjoyed. He declared:

> "There is no other way."

The Book of Mormon also provides examples of how forsaking sin brings about a total transformation of one's life. For instance, King Lamoni's father understood forsaking sin to be an element of genuine repentance when he declared:

> "I will give away all my sins to know thee... and be saved at the last day."

In summary, faith unto repentance is a demanding process that requires a mighty change of heart, direction, and devotion. It is not a mere checklist of steps to be taken, but a lifelong pursuit of spiritual growth and progression.

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