Day 339

• Principle: Repentance opens the way to revelation.

• Book of Mormon Reading: Ether 4:1 - 4:19

• Through chapter 4 the Lord teaches how to come unto Him.  What do you see that will help you come closer to the Lord? 

• Repentance is a key part of progressing towards God and made possible by Jesus Christ.  Joseph Fielding Smith taught:

  • “I have suffered pain, you have suffered pain, and sometimes it has been quite severe; but I cannot comprehend pain … that would cause the blood, like sweat, to come out upon the body. It was something terrible, something terrific. …

    “… There was no man ever born into this world that could have stood under the weight of the load that was upon the Son of God, when he was carrying my sins and yours and making it possible that we might escape from our sins” (Doctrines of Salvation, sel. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:130–31; italics in original).

• Spencer W. Kimball added:

  • “There is no royal road to repentance, no privileged path to forgiveness. Every man must follow the same course whether he be rich or poor, educated or untrained, tall or short, prince or pauper, king or commoner” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 38; italics in original).

• Study the following scriptures about repentance:

  • Matthew 9:10–13; Luke 13:3; Ezekiel 18:30 (repent or perish)

  • Alma 7:21 (no unclean thing can dwell in God’s presence)

  • 2 Corinthians 7:9–10 (godly sorrow)

  • Mosiah 4:10–12 (steps to repentance)

  • Isaiah 1:18; Mosiah 26:28–32 (repentance brings forgiveness)

  • D&C 58:42 (sins remembered no more)

  • 2 Nephi 9:23 (repentance necessary to salvation)

  • 2 Nephi 2:21 (repent while in the flesh)

  • D&C 19:15–20 (the Lord has commanded us to repent so we will not have to suffer as He did)

• Additional Study:

  • Dale G. Renlund, “Repentance: A Joyful Choice”, October 2016

  • As Now We Take the Sacrament, Hymns No. 169

  • Help Me, Dear Father, Hymns No. 99