“Inasmuch as You Have Forgiven One Another Your Trespasses, Even So I, the Lord, Forgive You”
Doctrine and Covenants 82:1–2, 7
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, my servants, that inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you.
2 Nevertheless, there are those among you who have sinned exceedingly; yea, even all of you have sinned; but verily I say unto you, beware from henceforth, and refrain from sin, lest sore judgments fall upon your heads. . . .
7 And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God.
Elder Richard G. Scott said:
“You may be carrying a heavy burden of feeling injured by another who has seriously offended you. Your response to that offense may have distorted your understanding so that you feel justified in waiting for that individual to ask forgiveness so that the pain can leave. The Savior dispelled any such thought when He commanded:
“‘Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
“‘I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men’ [D&C 64:9–10; see also Mark 11:25–26; Luke 6:37; Mosiah 26:29–32; 3 Ne. 13:14–15].
“Don’t carry the burden of offense any longer. Genuinely ask forgiveness of one that has offended you, even when you consider you have done no wrong. That effort will assuredly bring you peace and will likely begin the healing of serious misunderstandings.”
(“To Be Free of Heavy Burdens,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2002, 88.)
