Godly Sorrow

Yesterday I wrote about the wonderful gift of the atonement. Today I want to begin a discussion on repentance, the way in which we can apply Jesus Christ's atonement in our lives.

Though burned by sin, repentance allows us to grow again

Repentance consists of the following main steps:

• Recognition of sin
• Sorrow for sin
• Confession of sin 
• Restitution for sin
• Forsaking of sin

For now, we'll focus on the second step, sorrow for sin.

It's not very difficult to recognize our sins, but it can be difficult to feel sorrow for them. The scriptures tell us we need to feel "godly sorrow" for our sins. What is godly sorrow?

It is not what the prophet Moroni described in this account of his people, the Nephites:

"[T]heir sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin. 

"And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die." (Mormon 2:13-14)

It is not what the world refers to as remorse. President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) taught:

"It is not uncommon to find men and women in the world who feel remorse for the things they do wrong. Sometimes this is because their actions cause them or loved ones great sorrow and misery. Sometimes their sorrow is caused because they are caught and punished for their actions. Such worldly feelings do not constitute 'godly sorrow.'" (Ezra Taft Benson, A Mighty Change of Heart, October 1989)

We must feel godly sorrow in order to be forgiven

Sorrow must lead to repentance or it is not godly sorrow. The Apostle Paul taught:

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)

President Benson continued:

"Godly sorrow is a gift of the Spirit. It is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused Him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having 'a broken heart and a contrite spirit.' Such a spirit is the absolute prerequisite for true repentance."

In short, we must feel in some small degree the pain Jesus Christ had to endure when He suffered for us. We must come to realize that our sinful actions affect not only us. They often affect those around us, including friends and family. But without exception, they always affect our Savior, who lived a sinless life and yet endured every pain we place upon Him.  

Such feelings will inspire us to confess and forsake our sins, which I will write about tomorrow.