Good morning brothers and sisters. My name is Rossi Bergener and I love to be outside and active. I have three other siblings, two brothers and one sister. Sometimes I get mad and I hurt my brother, Corbin, who is really nice. I seek his forgiveness often and he always forgives me. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can receive the gift of forgiveness. Everyone needs this gift of forgiveness.
Why do we seek forgiveness? To repent of our sins. Jesus Christ made it possible for us to repent of our sins. He pleads to us in Matthew, chapter 11, verses 28 to 30, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." A yoke is a wooden beam normally used between a pair of oxen to enable them to pull together a load when working in pairs. Who better to be yoked to than our Savior, Jesus Christ?
Elder Dale G. Renlund taught that, "Individuals who walk humbly with God remember what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for them." In D&C section 58 verse 42 the Lord says, "He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." In addition to seeking forgiveness we must be willing to forgive others. We are taught in D&C chapter 64 verse 10, "I the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men."
There once was a man and his wife driving home from a Christmas party, returning to their young daughter. A drunk driver speeding and driving recklessly, ran a stop light and crashed into their car, instantly killing the man and his wife. Both families' hearts were broken and anger began to well up. At the court sentencing, the family of the man who was killed walked over to the offender's parents and offered words of comfort and forgiveness. There was a deep sorrow and tears for all and a recognition that both families had suffered. The outreach of forgiveness caused angry hearts to soften and opened a pathway to healing. Forgiveness allowed the family to remember the man and his wife with joy instead of anger.
"Brothers and sisters, are there people in your life that have hurt you? Do you harbor what seems like fully justified feelings of resentment and anger? Are you letting pride keep you from forgiving and letting go? I invite you to forgive completely and let healing occur from within. And if forgiveness does not come today as you desire it and work for it, it will come." (Elder Hawk, April 2018)
I know that forgiveness will always bring peace and joy to your life. And that as you forgive, Jesus Christ will bless you in every way you could imagine. I know these things to be true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.