There are times in life when you will be asked to forgive someone of a wrong that has been done to you. There are times when the one who has hurt you will not come asking to be forgiven, but you still must forgive them for the pain that they caused. Forgiveness is a wonderful gift that you can give to the person who has wronged you, but it is also a gift that you can give yourself.
Children are great examples of people who forgive easily. They are able to accept a simple apology from a friend and go on as though nothing had ever happened. As adults it seems more difficult to let go of the hurt feelings and attitudes that hold us back from letting go of the pain that another may have caused us.
There are times when you may be completely justified in your anger. That a person truly treated you in a way that was unwarranted, even cruel, but it is still your place to forgive him. One reason is that anger and hurt can eat away at your happiness. It can consume you. The Atonement is there for you as well. As you pray the Lord can give you the strength to let go of the pain, and to forgive the person. If you have difficulty with this you can go to your bishop for counsel on how to let go of the pain and anger.
In his talk “Forgiveness” President Hinckley said:
“The great Atonement was the supreme act of forgiveness. The magnitude of that Atonement is beyond our ability to completely understand. I know only that it happened, and that it was for me and for you. The suffering was so great, the agony so intense, that none of us can comprehend it when the Savior offered Himself as a ransom for the sins of all mankind.
“It is through Him that we gain forgiveness. It is through Him that there comes the certain promise that all mankind will be granted the blessings of salvation, with resurrection from the dead. It is through Him and His great overarching sacrifice that we are offered the opportunity through obedience of exaltation and eternal life.”
As you forgive others for the wrongs they have committed, it is important to remember to forgive yourself as well. If you have taken all the steps needed to repent of a sin, prayed and felt that you are forgiven, then you need to forgive yourself. Everyone makes mistakes at points in their lives. Once you have put the past behind you, you can move forward. You can feel of the Lord’s love for you. You do not need to dwell on past mistakes of which you have repented.