"Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee . . . "
One of the great blessings in the entire gospel is that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of sins and mistakes in our lives. The scriptures repeatedly testify of this truth: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42). “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). The modern prophets testify: “Through the Atonement, you can receive forgiveness and be cleansed from your sins when you repent” (“Repentance,” For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God, 29).
However, after we have truly repented, sometimes we are left wondering if we have finally been forgiven? How can we know when this great blessing of forgiveness has come into our lives, and our former sins are truly “white as snow?” Here are a few principles that teach us how we can know when the miracle of forgiveness has taken place in our lives
Peace of mind
Elder F. Burton Howard of the Seventy counseled with a young man through the repentance process. The young man asked, “How can I ever know the Lord has really forgiven me?” “That is the easy part,” Elder Burton replied. “When you have fully repented, you feel an inner peace. You know somehow you are forgiven because the burden you have carried for so long, all of a sudden isn’t there anymore. It is gone and you know it is gone. If when you leave this room, you discover that you have left much of your concern in here. If you have fully repented, the relief and the peace you feel will be so noticeable that it will be a witness to you that the Lord has forgiven you.” (Elder F. Burton Howard, Repentance, Ensign (CR), May 1983, p.58; emphasis added).
The sin has lost its appeal
One key to knowing if we have been forgiven is that have lost the desire to commit the sin we have repented of. We may still be tempted to commit that sin, but now we don’t want to commit that sin—we don’t desire it anymore. When King Benajamin’s people were moved to repentance they said “we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (Mosiah 5:2). They had lost their desire to sin. Alma taught, “Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence” (Alma 13:12; emphasis added). When the sin loses its appeal, we begin to find forgiveness.
We enjoy the Gift of the Holy Ghost and fruits of the Spirit
One of the roles of the Holy Ghost is to sanctify, or purify of us sin. Christ taught the Nephites that we are “sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 27:20). If we are enjoying the gifts of the Holy Ghost, then we generally are enjoying the gift of forgiveness as well because the Holy Ghost cleanses, sanctifies, and purifies us. Similarly, President Henry B. Eyring taught, “Reception of the Holy Ghost is the cleansing agent as the Atonement purifies you…That is a fact you can act on with confidence. . . . And when he is your companion, you can have confidence that the Atonement is working in your life (To Draw Closer to God, 49-50).
We are willing to forgive others
Another key to knowing if we have truly enjoyed the gift of forgiveness is that we are willing to extend forgiveness to others. The Savior stated on multiple occasions that God will “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (JST Matthew 6:13; see also D&C 64:10-11; Ephesians 4:32). To be forgiven, we must forgive.
Our Priesthood leader says we are worthy to participate in gospel ordinances
For the Strength of Youth teaches the critical role Bishop’s play in knowing when we are forgiven: “Talk with your bishop. He will help you obtain the forgiveness available to those who truly repent” (p. 26). Elder Richard G. Scott testified: “I testify that when a bishop or stake president has confirmed that your repentance is sufficient, know that your obedience has allowed the Atonement of Jesus Christ to satisfy the demands of justice for the laws you have broken. Therefore you are now free. Please believe it.” (Elder Richard G. Scott, Peace of Conscience and Peace of Mind, Ensign (CR), November 2004, p.15).
We are willing to keep all the commandments
The scriptures teach us that another indicator that we have been forgiven of a particular sin is that we are willing to keep all the commandments, not just the one we have broken. “Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments [plural] of the Lord shall be forgiven” (D&C 1:32; emphasis added; see Also Mosiah 5:5).
As we see these principles of forgiveness in our lives, they will become indicators that we have been forgiven. We can experience what Enos felt when he said, “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 1:5-6).
