Confession
In the last
step, you made a fearless self-evaluation of your life. That is a painful process. I know, because I have done it. But if you just acknowledge your mistakes to
yourself, it’s like noting that you have an infected wound, but doing nothing
to clean out the infection. In that
case, it will continue to fester and may become even worse. The way to clean out the infection is to
confess to yourself, to God, and to one other person the exact nature of your
wrongdoings. You should choose a person
who is both spiritually and emotionally mature, who can listen with love, and
help you work through things. Some sins
may need to be confessed to the proper priesthood authority. If you proceed with your repentance, you’ll
want to do that. In the meantime, start
with God and one other person. Use great care in choosing someone to whom to
disclose your wrongs. Do not share such
sensitive information with someone you suspect who might give improper
guidance, provide misinformation, or fail to keep your confidences.
Many years
ago, my brother-in-law Charlie worked with a man who had developed a small
cancer in his mouth from using chewing tobacco.
His dentist found the small white spot and wanted to schedule oral
surgery to remove it. The man looked at
the spot, saw how small it was, and refused the surgery. “Why would I let you cut up my mouth?” he
asked. “It doesn’t even hurt. If it
starts hurting, then I’ll talk to you about it.” Weeks went by. Eventually, the man’s mouth began to hurt and
the white patches had spread. He went
back to the oral surgeon and said, “OK, I’m ready now.” The surgeon took one
look and ran some tests of the man’s lymph nodes. “I’m sorry,” the doctor said, “but all I can
do is keep you comfortable while you die.” The cancer by then had spread throughout
the man’s body through his lymphatic system. He didn’t live much longer as it
had reached his brain.
This is a true
story. When we think of the word repent,
we are often put off because we know there will be pain involved just as the
man was afraid of the pain of surgery.
But consider the alternative. Sin
is a moral cancer. When you become
serious about ridding yourself of the burden, confession is the first step
outside of the privacy of your own mind and heart. It has the same effect of disinfecting a
physical wound, removing sin from a splinter to a cancer, and applying a
healing balm. If it is sincere, you will
ultimately feel God’s forgiveness. Though
your sins be as scarlet, they can be white as snow” wrote the Prophet
Isaiah. Remember: your sins are what you did; they are not who you are!
The Lord
told the Prophet Joseph, I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess
their sins before me and ask forgiveness. (Doctrine and Covenants 64: 7)
How can you have the courage to make such a confession? Begin keeping a private journal and write in
it regularly, at least once a week. Take
time to look into your own heart. Confess your sins as soon as you recognize
them. Don’t allow them to build and
fester as you have done in the past. Don’t worry about where you stand with
other people. Be more concerned with where
you stand with God.
To
Do:
·
Continue
to pray and read a scripture verse every day.
·
Continue
to work on keeping the commandments, especially the one God revealed to you.
Write in your journal
regularly
© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson January 2021
No comments:
Post a Comment