Lesson Summary: April 20, 2014 - Faith and Repentance

For Easter, Tori G. taught a thoughtful lesson from Chapter 5: Faith and Repentance from the Joseph Fielding Smith manual.

In a sacrament meeting one Sunday, President Smith told the congregation why he spoke with a warning voice. ‘Who is your friend, or who loves you the most?’ he asked the congregation. ‘The person who tells you all is well in Zion, that prosperity is around the corner or the person who warns you of the calamities and difficulties that are promised unless the principles of the gospel are lived? I want you to know that I love the members of the Church, and I do not want one of them to point an accusing finger at me when we pass beyond the veil of mortal existence and say, “If you had only warned me I would not be in this predicament.” And so I raise the warning voice in hopes that my brothers and sisters may be prepared for a kingdom of glory.’”4 (Chapter 5: Faith and Repentance)

Let it be uppermost in your minds, now and at all times, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to lay down his life that we might live. That is the truth, and is fundamental. Upon that our faith is built. It can not be destroyed. We must adhere to this teaching in spite of the teachings of the world, and the notions of men; for this is paramount, this is essential to our salvation. The Lord redeemed us with his blood, he gave us salvation, provided--and there is this condition which we must not forget--that we will keep his commandments, and always remember him. If we will do that then we shall be saved, (Chapter 5: Faith and Repentance)

• What is faith? What is the relationship between faith and action?

The definition of faith in the Bible dictionary says:
"Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical and mental action"
Faith is the moving cause of all action.

Faith cannot be obtained by inaction or through indifference or passive belief. The mere desire to obtain faith will not bring faith any more than the desire to be skilled in music or painting will bring proficiency in these things without intelligent action. There is where our trouble comes. We get a testimony of the Gospel, we believe in Joseph Smith, we believe in Jesus Christ, we believe in the principles of the Gospel, but how hard are we working at them? … If we want to have a living, abiding faith, we must be active in the performance of every duty as members of this Church. (Chapter 5: Faith and Repentance)

• How do you strengthen your faith in Christ on a daily level or what are demonstrations of your faith?

• What is the relationship between faith and repentance?
• How is repentance is the outgrowth of faith?

Six steps of repentance:

1. Recognize our sins
2. Feel Godly Sorrow
3. Forsake our sins 
4. Confess our sins 
5. Make restitution 
6. We must forgive others then keep commandments.

Repentance provides us with the opportunity to grow closer to the Savior and to better understand His love for us, to invite the Savior into your life.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” - John 3:16–17
If the Father had not sent Jesus Christ into the world, then there could have been no remission of sins and there could have been no relief from sin through repentance.
If we really understood and could feel even to a small degree, the love and gracious willingness on the part of Jesus Christ to suffer for our sins we would be willing to repent of all our transgressions and serve him. (Chapter 5: Faith and Repentance)

When she was a teen at Girls Camp Tori was taught a vivid object lesson.  A bishop brought a fit young man to camp and a basket of full-sized candy bars for a group of about 20 girls. He invited each one to come and take a candy bar.  Before receiving the candy, the young man would do 15 push-ups.  After the first half of the girls had received their candy, it was apparent that the push-ups were becoming more and more difficult for the young man to perform and a young woman said she didn't need her candy bar to spare him from the effort.  The bishop said that was her choice but that the young man would still perform the push-ups for her.  Each subsequent girl took her candy bar and graciously thanked the young man as he strained to complete the remaining work.

Similarly, in the story of the woman who washed Christ's feet with her tears and hair and anointed them with ointment in Luke 7:37-50, Christ teaches that those who are forgiven the most, love the most and tells her "Thy faith have saved thee."

We can have that relationship with the Savior.  No matter how discouraged we feel or how bogged down by sin, we can have a fresh start.  Christ has already made this possible through the Atonement.  It is up to us to call out to Him, to take action in exercising our faith unto repentance.

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the hope we feel at Christ's resurrection and triumph over death.  Let it also be a day when we rejoice in His triumph over sin and our own opportunity to do the same through faith and repentance in His name.  If we do so, we will have joy as exceeding as our pain and peace in the promise of our salvation.  Jesus Christ is the savior of the World.  He loves us, sisters.  May we strive to love him more steadfastly.