Current Lesson No. Six
A New Year Resolution - The Habit of Repentance
Introduction – At the beginning of a new year we have feelings of resolution and renewal. With an eternal perspective these feelings will result in a greater desire than ever before to repent. This is especially true if we remember the real reason God gives us another year in mortality is to repent and improve. Lehi taught this New Year’s doctrine:
“And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent” (2 Nephi 2:21).
Definition of Repentance – Many misunderstand the doctrine of repentance. When they think of repentance they may think of suffering, sorrow, punishment, and remorse. These things may precede repentance, but they are not repentance. It is essential to understand the true doctrine of repentance:
Old Testament – The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and the Hebrew word used to teach repentance is shube. The underlying concept of shube is that a kind, wise, gentle, loving Father in Heaven pleads with us to shube, or turn back to him – to leave unhappiness, sorrow, regret, and despair behind and turn back to our Father’s family, where we will find happiness, joy, and acceptance among his other children (See Ensign, August 1988 The Meaning of Repentance).
New Testament – The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and the Greek word for repentance is metaneoeo. The LDS Bible Dictionary explains “The Greek word of which this is the translation denotes a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Since we are born into conditions of mortality, repentance comes to mean a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined. Without this there can be no progress in the things of the soul’s salvation, for all accountable persons are stained by sin, and must be cleansed in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is not optional for salvation; it is a commandment of God” (Bible Dictionary, Repentance).
The Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches the doctrine of repentance and the joy our Father has when we repent – “Every line, every touch of the picture is full of beautiful eternal significance. The poor boy’s presumptuous claim for all that life could give him – the leaving of the old home- the journey to a far country – the brief spasm of ‘enjoyment’ there – the mighty famine in the land – the premature exhaustion of all that could make life noble and endurable – the abysmal degradation and unutterable misery that followed – the coming to himself, and recollection of all that he had left behind – the return in heart-broken penitence and deep humility – the father’s far-off sight of him, and the gush of compassion and tenderness over this poor returning prodigal – the ringing joy of the whole household over him who had been loved and lost, and had now come home – the unjust jealousy and mean complaint of the elder brother – and then that close of the parable in a strain of music – ‘And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.’
“All this is indeed a divine epitome of the wandering of man and the love of God such as no literature has ever equaled, such as no ear of man has ever heard elsewhere” (Bruce R. McConkie, quoting Frederic Farrar, Mortal Messiah 3, p. 252).
Repentance as taught in the Book of Mormon is evidence of the book’s divine source – The Book of Mormon has many parallelisms, chiasmus, and other forms of Hebrew literature. Helaman 7:17 is a Hebrew-like parallelism, and it teaches the same meaning of repentance as conveyed by the Greek word metaneoeo, and the Hebrew word shube – which is to repent means to turn back to the Lord.
A O repent ye, repent ye!
B Why will ye die?
A’ Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God.
B’ Why has he forsaken you?
A and A’ teach the meaning of repentance. To repent is to turn to the Lord your God.
B and B’ can be understood in two ways. It reminds us that if we don’t repent we die spiritually and lose the Spirit. Also, if we don’t repent we cannot rely on the protection of the Lord against those who seek to destroy us (See also Mosiah 11: 21-23).
A New Year Resolution – The Habit of Repentance – Because we are mortal and continually fall short repentance is a life-long opportunity. At the beginning of this year let’s make a resolution that during the coming year we will immediately repent of any sin that comes in our lives, and quickly turn back to the Lord, and renew our relationship with him.
If we keep that resolution before the end of the year we will have formed a habit that will not likely be broken. We will then escape the pain, sorrow, suffering and despair that comes from disobedience. Instead, we will enjoy the peace and refuge, and the happiness and eternal joy that come from repentance.