Ensign

General Conference May 2013

The Savior Wants to Forgive

Peter once asked how many times he was to forgive he brother and asked "Till seven times?"  The Savior responded "I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."  I found it interesting that more than 20 times the Savior told Joseph Smith that his sins were forgiven over many years.  It is a comfort that except a very few sins forgiveness is not based upon the severity of the sin.  It is also a comfort that he does not demand immediate perfection but improvement over time.  Though we will be forgiven seventy times seven we are not to take advantage and willingly return to sin.  An excellent piece of advice about sinning is "Leaders and members to 'not be shocked or discouraged' if investigators or new members continue to struggle with such problems."