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"Even as Christ Forgives You, So Also Do Ye"

This week in Relief Society, we discussed Elder Larry J Echo Hawk's recent General Conference talk titled "Even as Christ Forgives You, So Also Do Ye". We read the Savior's teaching in Matt 6:14-15 about the need to forgive others if we want God to forgive us, as well as Elder Echo Hawk's promise of "unspeakable peace and partnering with our Savior" that come when we "learn to freely forgive". 

Several sisters shared their experiences with learning to forgive others who have hurt them and learning to forgive themselves: 
  • learning to trust the Savior and be willing to forgive even when it takes time 
  • letting go of anger and accepting the peace the Savior offers 
  • learning to be more patient with others
  • understanding more fully the power of the Savior's atonement 
  • correcting our own faults and remembering our own desire for mercy instead of judging others too harshly
  • understanding that not forgiving harms us, not the person who hurt us: the pain stays with us, our progress is hindered
  • defining forgiveness correctly: it's releasing our own burden of anger and pain, not condoning wrongdoing
  • accepting that forgiving is a process that takes time and may not look the same in every circumstance in our lives
  • realizing that Christ steps in as a mediator. He took responsibility for everyone's mistakes; are you willing to forgive him?
  • accepting that it's not our responsibility to judge, punish, or correct, the other person; just forgive and allow a higher power to be in charge

Consider your own efforts to forgive and be forgiven. How would you answer the following questions? What other questions do you have that perhaps other sisters in our Relief Society could help you answer?
  • How has the Savior's atonement and grace helped you forgive others? 
  • How have you felt a change of heart as you chose to forgive?
  • How do you know when you've fully forgiven someone or been forgiven yourself? 

Elder Echo Hawk invited "all of us to forgive completely and let healing occur from within. And even if forgiveness doesn't come today, know that as we desire it and work for it, it will come".

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