All that is of God encompasses love, light, and truth.
Yet as human beings we live in a fallen world, sometimes full
of darkness and confusion.
It comes as no surprise that mistakes will be made,
injustices will occur, and sins will be committed.
As a result, there is not a soul alive who will not,
at one time or another, be the victim to someone else's
careless actions, hurtful conduct, or even sinful
behavior.
That is one thing we all have in common.
Gratefully, God, in His love and mercy for His children,
has prepared a way to help us navigate these sometimes
turbulent experiences of life.
He has provided an escape for all who fall victim
to the misdeeds of others.
He has taught us that we can forgive!
Even though we may be a victim once,
we need not be a victim twice by carrying
the burden of hate, bitterness, pain, resentment,
or even revenge.
We can forgive, and we can be free!
Many years ago, while mending a fence, a small sliver of wood
entered into my finger.
I made a meager attempt to remove the sliver
and thought I had done so, but apparently I had not.
As time went on, skin grew over the sliver,
creating a lump on my finger.
It was annoying and sometimes painful.
Years later I decided to finally take action.
All I did was simply apply ointment to the lump
and cover it with a bandage.
I repeated this process frequently.
You cannot imagine my surprise when one day,
as I removed the bandage, the sliver had emerged from
my finger.
The ointment had softened the skin
and created an escape for the very thing that had
caused pain for so many years.
Once the sliver was removed, the finger quickly healed,
and to this day there remains no evidence of any injury.
In a similar way, an unforgiving heart
harbors so much needless pain.
When we apply the healing ointment of the Savior's
Atonement, He will soften our heart and help us to change.
He can heal the wounded soul.
I am convinced that most of us want to forgive,
but we find it very hard to do.
When we have experienced an injustice,
we may be quick to say, "That person did wrong.
They deserve punishment.
Where is the justice?"
We mistakenly think that if we forgive,
somehow justice will not be served
and punishments will be avoided.
This simply is not the case.
God will mete out a punishment that is fair,
for mercy cannot rob justice.
God lovingly assures you and me: "Leave judgment alone with me,
for it is mine and I will repay.
[But let] peace be with you."
The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob also
promised that God "will console you in your afflictions,
he will plead your cause, and send down justice
upon those who seek your destruction."
As victims, if we are faithful, we
can take great comfort in knowing
that God will compensate us for every injustice we experience.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin stated: "The Lord compensates
the faithful for every loss.
. . .
Every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold
with tears of rejoicing and gratitude.
"
As we strive to forgive others, let
us also try to remember that we are all growing spiritually,
but we are all at different levels.
While it is easy to observe the changes
and growth in the physical body, it
is difficult to see the growth in our spirits.
One key to forgiving others is to try
to see them as God sees them.
At times, God may part the curtain
and bless us with the gift to see into the heart, soul,
and spirit of another person who has offended us.
This insight may even lead to an overwhelming love
for that person.
The scriptures teach us that God's love for His children
is perfect.
He knows their potential for good, regardless of their past.
By all accounts, there could not have
been a more aggressive or harsh enemy of the followers of Jesus
Christ than Saul of Tarsus.
Yet once God showed Saul light and truth,
there was never a more devoted, enthusiastic, or fearless
disciple of the Savior.
Saul became the Apostle Paul.
His life offers a wonderful example
that God sees people not only as they currently are but also
as they may become.
We all have, in our own lives, Saul-like individuals
with Paul-like potential.
Can you imagine how our families, communities,
and the world at large might change
if we all tried to see each other as God sees us?
Too often we look at the offender the way we would look
at an iceberg--we see only the tip and not beneath
the surface.
We do not know all that is going on in a person's life.
We do not know their past; we do not know their struggles;
we do not know the pains they carry.
Brothers and sisters, please do not misunderstand.
To forgive is not to condone.
We do not rationalize bad behavior
or allow someone to mistreat us because of their struggles,
pains, or weaknesses.
But we can gain greater understanding and peace when we
see with a broader perspective.
Certainly those who are less spiritually mature may indeed
make serious mistakes--yet none of us should be defined only
by the worst thing we have ever done.
God is the perfect judge.
He sees beneath the surface.
He knows all and sees all.
He has said, "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive,
but of you it is required to forgive all men."
Christ Himself, when He was unjustly accused,
then savagely assaulted, beaten, and left
suffering upon the cross, in that very moment said, "Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do."
In our shortsightedness, we may sometimes
find it easy to develop resentments
toward others who do not think or act the way we do.
We may form intolerant attitudes based
on such superficial things as rooting for opposing sports
teams, holding different political views,
or having different religious beliefs.
President Russell M. Nelson gave wise counsel when
he said, "Opportunities to listen
to those of diverse religious or political persuasion
can promote tolerance and learning."
The Book of Mormon speaks of a time when "the people
of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes,
and . . . began to be scornful, one towards another, and . . .
began to persecute those that did not believe according
to their own will and pleasure."
Let us all remember that God looketh
not upon the color of the jersey or the political party.
Instead, as Ammon declared, ""[God] looketh down upon all
the children of men; [and] he knows all the thoughts
and intents of the heart."
Brothers and sisters, in the competitions
of life, if we win, let us win with grace.
If we lose, let us lose with grace.
For if we live with grace toward one another,
grace shall be our reward at the last day.
Just as we are all victims to the misdeeds of others
at one time or another, we are also sometimes the offender.
We all fall short and have need of grace, mercy,
and forgiveness.
We must remember that forgiveness of our own sins
and offenses is conditioned upon our forgiving others.
The Savior said:
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Of all the things the Savior could
have said in the Lord's Prayer, which
is remarkably short, it is interesting
that He chose to include "And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors."
Forgiveness is the very reason God
sent His Son, so let us rejoice in His offering to heal us all.
The Savior's Atonement is not just
for those who need to repent; it is also
for those who need to forgive.
If you are having trouble forgiving
another person, or even yourself, ask God to help you.
Forgiveness is a glorious healing principle.
We do not need to be a victim twice.
We can forgive.
I witness of God's enduring love and patience
for all of His children and of His desire that we love
one another as He loves us.
As we do so, we will break through the darkness
of this world into the glory and majesty
of His kingdom in heaven.
We will be free.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.