Have you ever seen the old Mormon ad with the backpack loaded with bricks? The point of the ad is that sin weighs you down and that repentance can help you take the burden away so you don’t have to carry all that weight around.
I recently attended a youth conference, and the speaker there related sin to weeds in the garden. They’re damaging and you know you have to get them out. But if you just pull the top of the weed out, it will grow back even bigger. But when you pull the whole weed including the root, you hear a satisfying pop and know it’s gone forever. Getting rid of sin is similar. You have to not only repent of the occurrences of sin, but get the whole problem out. Sometimes that requires priesthood leadership and counsel, but it’s so amazing to feel like the whole root of the problem is gone from your life.
Repentance comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because He suffered and paid for our sins, we can repent and have our sins washed away. We can be as clean as we were the day we were baptized. Repentance also brings peace, which helps us feel closer to our Heavenly Father.
Sins come in all sizes and shapes, and repentance takes care of them all. It can feel just as amazing to be forgiven of the little day-to-day sins as it can the larger ones when you really use repentance correctly.
Satan would have you believe that there’s no hope for you if you’ve committed sin, but that’s just not true. The Lord always has his hands open and is ready to help you when you come to him. You always confess sin to the Lord and those you have wronged, and some sins require the help of the bishop.
Related Blogs:
For the Strength of Youth Series
For the Strength of Youth Series: Agency and Accountability
For the Strength of Youth Series: Gratitude
For the Strength of Youth Series: Education
For the Strength of Youth Series: Family
For the Strength of Youth Series: Friends
For the Strength of Youth Series: Dress and Appearance