I Googled "R's of Repentance" to help prepare a lesson about Atonement for my 9-year-olds Primary class. The additional perspective offered by this article will help me to present the lesson in such a way that maybe the kids can be more prepared to avoid the "checklist" approach. Some basics are necessary though !
I liked the comment about the R's being FRUITS of repentance (aka Fruits of Redemption).
Maryann TaylorJune 15, 2021
I attended a class on the subject of repentance at BYU education week years ago. The teacher stated that his class would be one of the least attended, and this article beautifully explains why. Repentance is often associated ONLY with deep shame, humiliation, failures and hopelessness. I appreciate the reminders in this article that Repentance is FIRST about our relationship with our loving Savior, and trusting that He will enable us through His own power and grace to repent and become more like Him.
George WingJune 12, 2021
I certainly appreciated your efforts in helping us understand the blessings and energy needed for repentance to be practiced for our personal relief. One of the "R"s was titled "Recite" or confess to our Heavently Father and to those who have been affected. . .
From my former days as serving as a "judge in Israel", I recalled that one of the more challenging of the necessities of repenting was the encouragement to confess (recite) our sins to those we have wronged.
One particular challenging admonishment was to a young man who committed adultery with a member of his extended family. His wife knew nothing of this encounter. You can only imagine the ramifications that might occur with the acknowledgement of this sin and the expectation that "reciting" the sin to ones most offended by this transgression would not be done without trepidation.
I have often reflected on the counsel I gave to this repented sinner and occasionally wonder why I don’t hear more about the requirement to confess (recite) our sins to those we have affected.
By making other people aware of our weaknesses we can add their assistance in helping us understand how to be on guard and avoid temptation.
ChrisJune 10, 2021
Don't miss the point of the article...repentance is about relationship with the Savior...a way of life and an attitude of self awareness, introspection, honesty, and humility. We're asked to "become a new creature"...to become as a little child, and to experience a change of heart.
It's not a four step one-and-done event...it's a life long process to develop a real partnership with Jesus.
Great article!
JulieJune 9, 2021
I have often thought that what we refer to as the "steps" of repentance should be more accurately called the "fruits" of repentance.
Gary StrobleJune 8, 2021
Nice article, but it is mischaracterized as breaking news. Repentance and the Atonement are not new.
Erik HansenJune 8, 2021
I like "repugnant". I'm anxiously awaiting the day I can say to myself, "I now find any type of sin repugnant no matter how much I loved it." - and then say that to The Lord. What a joyous day that will be! Currently I just seek to have “...virtue garnish my thoughts unceasingly.” And that’s hard enough!
David and CarolineJune 8, 2021
We do agree with this article. The only R of repentance we really need to know is that it is REDEMPTIVE!
Boanerge RubalcavaJune 8, 2021
This article is very good dealing with the great importance of our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. However, I 'd like to call your attention to the 4th Article of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that dealing with the first principles and ordinances of the Church summarizes it as follows: 1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2. Repentance, 3. Baptism (meaning forgiveness thru the atonement of the Lord) and 4, The Gift of the Holy Ghost. The author, I think trying to emphasize the atonement, deals with the way that many people use to help themselves with the second principle, repentance, using the 4 Rs: 1. Recognize 2. Remorse, 3. Resolution to NOT repeat the same wrongdoing, and 4. Restitution (as far as it is possible) or with some other variants but with the same meaning, that the author tried to dismiss with 67 additional Rs. As I said many people use these Rs o maybe 100 others to help themselves to really repent, but it is important to note that FAITH in the Lord Jesus comes first, then a true and complete
repentance in order to be forgiven of the wrongdoing through the atonement of the Lord to be ready to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This can happen many times in our lives, as a matter of fact we have this opportunity to exercise (after baptism) the whole circle (Faith, Repentance, Forgiveness and the Holy Ghost) at least once a week by partaking of the bread and water. I believe that all of us do these circle trying to convert it in a spiral to gain more and more faith every week until we achieve the goal to have a "perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel". As I said, repeating the mention that the author did from Elder Christofferson's, of using the 4 Rs, is a way for many to help with the wonderful principle of repentance; but we have to repeat that repentance is not an easy principle to comply with, and using this or any other method to help ourselves is valid if the person is trying the many Rs the author is (wrongly) adding, but that must have the same meaning than the one expressed above, when that person has real intent. Remember that the Lord himself told the woman caught in sin, "go and SIN NO MORE"; He knew that she needed to repent (sin no more, i.e. [R]esolution) for the atonement to take effect in her life to be forgiven and later on receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost. To dismiss this way of achieving Repentance is NOT fair for those who are truly trying to repent, and to add 67 Rs without really taking seriously that the person(s) is sincere in his desire to receive forgiveness I think is tremendously incorrect.
Steve DoneganJune 8, 2021
I’ve always said I am too lazy. Working towards repentance takes too much effort. So what do I do? Just not sin...
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BrentFebruary 24, 2024
I Googled "R's of Repentance" to help prepare a lesson about Atonement for my 9-year-olds Primary class. The additional perspective offered by this article will help me to present the lesson in such a way that maybe the kids can be more prepared to avoid the "checklist" approach. Some basics are necessary though ! I liked the comment about the R's being FRUITS of repentance (aka Fruits of Redemption).
Maryann TaylorJune 15, 2021
I attended a class on the subject of repentance at BYU education week years ago. The teacher stated that his class would be one of the least attended, and this article beautifully explains why. Repentance is often associated ONLY with deep shame, humiliation, failures and hopelessness. I appreciate the reminders in this article that Repentance is FIRST about our relationship with our loving Savior, and trusting that He will enable us through His own power and grace to repent and become more like Him.
George WingJune 12, 2021
I certainly appreciated your efforts in helping us understand the blessings and energy needed for repentance to be practiced for our personal relief. One of the "R"s was titled "Recite" or confess to our Heavently Father and to those who have been affected. . . From my former days as serving as a "judge in Israel", I recalled that one of the more challenging of the necessities of repenting was the encouragement to confess (recite) our sins to those we have wronged. One particular challenging admonishment was to a young man who committed adultery with a member of his extended family. His wife knew nothing of this encounter. You can only imagine the ramifications that might occur with the acknowledgement of this sin and the expectation that "reciting" the sin to ones most offended by this transgression would not be done without trepidation. I have often reflected on the counsel I gave to this repented sinner and occasionally wonder why I don’t hear more about the requirement to confess (recite) our sins to those we have affected. By making other people aware of our weaknesses we can add their assistance in helping us understand how to be on guard and avoid temptation.
ChrisJune 10, 2021
Don't miss the point of the article...repentance is about relationship with the Savior...a way of life and an attitude of self awareness, introspection, honesty, and humility. We're asked to "become a new creature"...to become as a little child, and to experience a change of heart. It's not a four step one-and-done event...it's a life long process to develop a real partnership with Jesus. Great article!
JulieJune 9, 2021
I have often thought that what we refer to as the "steps" of repentance should be more accurately called the "fruits" of repentance.
Gary StrobleJune 8, 2021
Nice article, but it is mischaracterized as breaking news. Repentance and the Atonement are not new.
Erik HansenJune 8, 2021
I like "repugnant". I'm anxiously awaiting the day I can say to myself, "I now find any type of sin repugnant no matter how much I loved it." - and then say that to The Lord. What a joyous day that will be! Currently I just seek to have “...virtue garnish my thoughts unceasingly.” And that’s hard enough!
David and CarolineJune 8, 2021
We do agree with this article. The only R of repentance we really need to know is that it is REDEMPTIVE!
Boanerge RubalcavaJune 8, 2021
This article is very good dealing with the great importance of our Lord Jesus Christ in our lives. However, I 'd like to call your attention to the 4th Article of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that dealing with the first principles and ordinances of the Church summarizes it as follows: 1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2. Repentance, 3. Baptism (meaning forgiveness thru the atonement of the Lord) and 4, The Gift of the Holy Ghost. The author, I think trying to emphasize the atonement, deals with the way that many people use to help themselves with the second principle, repentance, using the 4 Rs: 1. Recognize 2. Remorse, 3. Resolution to NOT repeat the same wrongdoing, and 4. Restitution (as far as it is possible) or with some other variants but with the same meaning, that the author tried to dismiss with 67 additional Rs. As I said many people use these Rs o maybe 100 others to help themselves to really repent, but it is important to note that FAITH in the Lord Jesus comes first, then a true and complete repentance in order to be forgiven of the wrongdoing through the atonement of the Lord to be ready to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. This can happen many times in our lives, as a matter of fact we have this opportunity to exercise (after baptism) the whole circle (Faith, Repentance, Forgiveness and the Holy Ghost) at least once a week by partaking of the bread and water. I believe that all of us do these circle trying to convert it in a spiral to gain more and more faith every week until we achieve the goal to have a "perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel". As I said, repeating the mention that the author did from Elder Christofferson's, of using the 4 Rs, is a way for many to help with the wonderful principle of repentance; but we have to repeat that repentance is not an easy principle to comply with, and using this or any other method to help ourselves is valid if the person is trying the many Rs the author is (wrongly) adding, but that must have the same meaning than the one expressed above, when that person has real intent. Remember that the Lord himself told the woman caught in sin, "go and SIN NO MORE"; He knew that she needed to repent (sin no more, i.e. [R]esolution) for the atonement to take effect in her life to be forgiven and later on receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost. To dismiss this way of achieving Repentance is NOT fair for those who are truly trying to repent, and to add 67 Rs without really taking seriously that the person(s) is sincere in his desire to receive forgiveness I think is tremendously incorrect.
Steve DoneganJune 8, 2021
I’ve always said I am too lazy. Working towards repentance takes too much effort. So what do I do? Just not sin...
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