The Question of Forgiveness – Sunday, April 30, 1944
If we make a mistake, no doubt upon sincere repentance we may reasonably expect forgiveness. The principle of forgiveness is closely associated with the principle of repentance. But lest there be any who may suppose that forgiveness comes easy, let us be reminded of some of the facts and prerequisites. There are those who expect to be forgiven times without number simply by announcing that they are sorry.
There are those who expect to have all manner of errors rectified and cancelled out merely by a statement of regret. There are those who repent while the fear of consequences is upon them, who soon forget, and repeat their errors. There are those who repent in embarrassment, who are more sorry they were apprehended than they are for what they have done. But repentance is more than saying I’m sorry; it is more than fear of consequences; more than the embarrassment of being caught; more than being circumspect under scrutiny. It involves a change within—a change which resolves, and which in practice, does abandon old errors. And only then may we reasonably expect the law of forgiveness to operate. The worker of the soil who expects the earth and the climate to forgive him by yielding abundantly when he plants carelessly and cultivates poorly, is due for disappointment.
Nature does not forgive except on demonstration of repentance. The mistake of a child, who, upon correction, does better next time, is forgiven and forgotten. But if he persists in making the same mistake, we become progressively less lenient. In business he who persists in his errors cannot count on repeated forgiveness. His creditors soon weary of forgiveness. And such is the expectancy of all who say I am sorry, and then do nothing about it.
He who desires forgiveness among friends, before the law, in business, in dealing with nature, or in standing before God, must offer a genuine repentance—such as the Savior expressed in essence when he said: “Go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11.) . . . “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18: 21-22.) Presumably, then, there is virtually no limit to the number of times we are expected to forgive our fellow men. But this fact does not justify the persistent offender. It would scarcely be safe to expect unlimited forgiveness to follow persistent transgression. This in itself would be evidence that repentance is not genuine. In the matter of obtaining forgiveness, it is a wise man who doesn’t count on seventy times seven.
By Richard L. Evans, spoken from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, April 30, 1944, over Radio Station KSL and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System. Copyright – 1944.
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April 30, 1944
Broadcast Number 0,767