Faith and Repentance LDS Talks
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints strongly believes in two sure ways to get to heaven: faith and repentance. The power of faith in God and a true need to repent of our sins can save any soul from a terrible fate. Read on for some faith and repentance LDS talks.
In this article, we will review several inspiring talks from leaders of the LDS church that cover the topic of faith and repentance. We will discuss seminars given by David A. Bednar, Elder Jorg Klebingat, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder James R. Rasband, and Joy D. Jones. Open your heart and let these words speak to you so that you may see the clear path to heaven.
Clean Hands and a Pure Heart by David A. Bednar
David A. Bednar gave his talk on two outstanding doctrines of the LDS church: repentance and faith. He urged the congregation to go back to the message of Jesus when He visited America during His three day mission. He reminds us of the message from the book of Nephi.
“As we appropriately seek for and receive the spiritual gift of faith in the Redeemer, we then turn to and rely upon the merits, the mercy, and the grace of the Holy Messiah (see 2 Nephi 2:8). Repentance is the sweet fruit that comes from faith in the Savior and involves turning toward God and away from sin.”
He urges a repentance of sin in order to walk with God and allow Him to guide us on our spiritual journey through life. Jesus longed for our hearts to be purified by keeping our hands clean from the stain of sin.
It may seem overwhelming for God to ask for perfection of us. It may be easier to simply give up, but Jesus wants us to try. That is why He gave us the gift of repentance because we are human. We will stumble and fall, but we can always come to Him through faith and a desire to be clean.
Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence by Elder Jorg Klebingat
Elder Jorg Klebingat’s talk covers the confidence with which we approach God’s throne. In order to even imagine getting close to God, we need to have faith and a spirit of repentance for the sins we have committed. Elder Kelbingat suggests six steps to help us achieve the confidence we need to approach our King.
“1. Take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ daily.
2.Take responsibility for your own physical well-being.
3.Embrace voluntary, wholehearted obedience as part of your life.
4. Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly.
5.Become really, really good at forgiving [and] bear no ill feelings toward another soul.
6. Accept trials, setbacks, and “surprises” as part of your mortal experience.”
When it comes to repenting, we must be able to recognize our sins quickly so as to atone for them and ask forgiveness. We do not know when God plans to call us home. It is better to repent than meet the King with a stain on our souls.
Faith that God’s goodness will reign should help us repent. Growing in spiritual confidence will bolster our faith and our willingness to repent and vice versa.
Daily Restoration by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf covers a topic near and dear to many people’s hearts: achieving the kingdom each and every day. It can be easy to look at the big picture of heaven and the messages that Jesus gives us of love, forgiveness, and faith. What is difficult is the application of them in our daily lives. Read on for one of our favorite faith and repentance LDS talks.
All of the little moments that add up to our final judgment are being lived out day by day. Elder Uchtdorf proposes that we take time in our day, even if it’s just a few minutes or an hour to reflect on how we can live through Christ’s example. Where are the areas that we are lacking? What graces do we need to ask from God?
He likens life to a path which we must stay on to get to our end goal of heaven. Too often we find ourselves straying off the path. We get pushed one way or another because of the things of this world that do not lead us to God. A daily restoration is important to get us back on track and recenter our focus on heaven.
“We can become new creatures in Christ, for God has promised, “As often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me” and “remember them no more.”
My beloved brothers and sisters, dear friends, we all drift from time to time.
But we can get back on course. We can navigate our way through the darkness and trials of this life and find our way back to our loving Heavenly Father if we seek and accept the spiritual landmarks He has provided, embrace personal revelation, and strive for daily restoration.”
Ensuring a Righteous Judgement by Elder James R. Rasband
Elder James R. Rasband tackles the difficult topic of our final judgment. He reminds us that we humans are inherently flawed, and we need Christ to help us into the Kingdom of Heaven. It is only through Christ that we can even begin to hope for salvation. We need to have absolute faith in Him to attain all that God has promised us.
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on the Cross, we are able to enter heaven. We must never forget that we cannot be together with God without Jesus. He saved us from an eternity separated from our Heavenly Father.
Although we have no power or merit to be the authors of our own salvation, we can do our best to live lives that are according to the laws that Jesus set forth. A big part of securing a righteous judgment for ourselves is repentance.
“Although the Savior has power to mend what we cannot fix, He commands us to do all we can to make restitution as part of our repentance. Our sins and mistakes displace not only our relationship with God but also our relationships with others.
Sometimes our efforts to heal and restore may be as simple as an apology, but other times restitution may require years of humble effort. Yet, for many of our sins and mistakes, we simply are not able to fully heal those we have hurt.”
If we truly love Jesus and place our faith in Him, we will follow His commands and repent our sins. Only then can we begin to attempt to thank Him for the unimaginable debt He has paid on our behalf.
A Sin Resistant Generation by Joy D. Jones
Joy D. Jones approaches the topic of faith and repentance from a different perspective, that of a parent. She preaches about the need for parents to teach their children about repentance and having faith in Jesus and not just expecting it to appear without fostering.
“Fortifying children to become sin-resistant is a task and a blessing for parents, grandparents, family members, teachers, and leaders. We each bear responsibility to help.
However, the Lord has specifically instructed parents to teach their children “to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost” and “to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.””
She encourages parents to pray with their children and to teach them how to pray. Parents should not only set an example but help their children become examples themselves. Parents should teach their children good habits including recognizing the need to repent.
Through the faith of parents, the children will learn how to find and express their own faith in Christ. Part of the beauty of the gift of parenthood is nurturing the faith of a child and sharing the love of Jesus Christ with them.
In today’s society, children are pressured to do and be all different things. It is a parent’s job to help buffer the confusion their children will face by giving them a clear goal to aim for: eternal life in the Savior through faith in Him and following His example, which includes repentance.
Conclusion on Our Favorite Faith and Repentance Talks LDS
Jesus set out a clear path for us to travel, but He knows that the road is not easy. He constantly calls us back to Him because He knows that we will stray. He has given us the tools to make amends for our wrongdoings.
If we truly believe in Christ’s salvific sacrifice, then we need to wholeheartedly repent of our sins. To have faith in Jesus is to live according to His word. Only by acknowledging our failings can we humble ourselves to attempt to be worthy enough of the greatest gift Jesus gave to mankind.
Faith and repentance are two essential doctrines in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Let the words of these spiritual leaders inspire you to move deeper into your faith and seek repentance in a meaningful way.