Sis. Kathy Hall gave a wonderful lesson on Ch. 5 of our manual on 'Faith and Repentance.' President Joseph Fielding Smith said, "It is not merely that we believe, but that we repent." Early in his ministry Pres. Smith taught that, "Now is the day of repentance...I think this is the day of warning."
Sis. Hall encouraged us to 'warn' our neighbors and friends. However, she also taught that we cannot do so unless we know them and love them first. She gave us a good example of how she gets to know those around her, even by talking with them through her back fence!
"Faith is the moving cause of action," says Pres. Smith, and he reminds us of the James 2:26 scripture that states, "'Faith without works is dead' - in other words, it does not exist. I think James' meaning clearly is, you show me your faith without your works, and nothing will result; but I will show you my faith with my works, and something will be accomplished." Faith means action...faith, therefore, is stronger than belief.
Through some church videos that Sis. Hall shared, we were taught about the principle of repentance. Pres. Smith says, "Repentance is one of the most comforting and glorious principles taught in the gospel. In this principle the mercy of our Heavenly father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, is made manifest perhaps more strongly than in any other principle....If we really understood and could feel even to a small degree, the love and gracious willingness on the part of Jesus Christ to suffer for our sins, we would be willing to repent of all our transgressions and serve him."
Repenting requires a change of heart. "Repentance is a gift of God....It is not so easy for some people to repent, but the gift of repentance and faith will be given to every man who will seek for it."
See Entire Lesson HERE
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