The Strengthening Power of Daily Repentance

I read again this morning President Nelson’s powerful conference talk in the priesthood session of April 2019 entitled We Can Do Better and Be Better. His invitation to us all was to repent daily: “Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance.” He wanted us to understand that repentance is not a punishment or “something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances.” Rather, repentance is “the key to happiness and peace of mind” where we “allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves.” The Savior’s invitation during His mortal ministry and His visit to the Nephites was always to repent and come unto Him. In fact, in Matthew’s account, this was His first recorded instruction as He started His ministry after His baptism and temptation in the wilderness: “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17). When His voice was first heard among the Nephites after the destruction among them His very first sentence included an invitation to repent. His question to them is one to us each day: “Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Nephi 9:2, 13) President Nelson’s message was that the Savior can indeed heal and transform us if we will repent; we will find “the joy of redemption in Him.”

                One of the themes that impressed me in this talk was that repentance will bring us power. President Nelson said, “When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” He encouraged us to “experience the strengthening power of daily repentance.” He also taught that “daily repentance is the pathway to purity, and purity brings power. Personal purity can make us powerful tools in the hands of God. Our repentance—our purity—will empower us to help in the gathering of Israel.” As we purify ourselves through repentance we will be more able to do the Lord’s work. He also quoted this passage from the scriptures: “the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:36). He then commented, “We know what will give us greater access to the powers of heaven. We also know what will hinder our progress—what we need to stop doing to increase our access to the powers of heaven.” Repentance will allow us to access heaven’s power because we will be more worthy of it. He urged us in these words, “Make your focus on daily repentance so integral to your life that you can exercise the priesthood with greater power than ever before.” He left this blessing upon the brethren of the priesthood: “I bless you with the courage to repent daily and learn how to exercise full priesthood power.” As we seek to change and repent each day we will have the transforming power of Jesus Christ to make us better and more able to do the work that He has for us. The Bible Dictionary states that “faith is a principle of action and of power.” Surely we can say the same about the second principle of the gospel: repentance is a principle of power. As we seek His help and forgiveness, as we try to change a little each day and be more like Him, we will have His power to do better and to be better.