Sample Excerpts
“Repentance is more than just behavioral modification to correct human error or to enhance our mortal experiences. While we are in this world and temporarily separated from God, real repentance must be an ongoing and systematic purging of character impurities from ourself as we progress toward becoming a sanctified soul who is one with God. That process of ‘becoming’ is repentance. To totally integrate real repentance in our life means we must metamorphically eradicate a previous way of thinking and acting that is immature and not aligned with the character of our Heavenly Parents. Simultaneously we work to replace that negative trait with a new way of thinking and acting that is aligned with our Heavenly Parents. Thus, real repentance means the death of a bad character trait and the birth of a new and better character trait to replace the old dead one.”
Chapter 1, Defining Repentance, page 10
“Making mistakes in mortality is as common and automatic as breathing air. Why is that so? Because our Eternal Parents made us that way. In the Book of Mormon, the Lord said, “I give unto men weakness” (Ether 12:27). Recognize that the word is not the plural “weaknesses.” We have a tendency to read that scripture and think of the list of things in our life that we can’t do well. The singular word “weakness” is used to indicate a more global condition of mortality. The “weakness” given us was bringing our spirits from our premortal existence and combining it with the limiting abilities of a mortal body of flesh and blood. A veil of forgetfulness over our minds was also given so we have no recollection of our premortal life. With this mortal weakness, making mistakes is the natural condition during our mortal journey.”
Chapter 2, The Common Mortal Mistakes of Life, pages 14-15
“At some point, if we are serious and honest with ourself, our search for truth will eventually get us to ponder the great cosmic questions: Who are we? What is our story? Who am I? What is my story? Where did I come from? Was there a “me” before I was born? Why am I here? What is my purpose for living? When I die, do I still exist? If so, where do I go? The way we answer or don’t answer those foundational questions will color all our thoughts, decisions, and actions during our mortal journey. Our attention to those questions will form our perspectives on life and shape our decisions. Our approach to those questions can open our mind and heart to greater possibilities or close us off and leave us pondering a reasonless existence.”
Chapter 3, The Cosmic Questions, pages 25-26
“By understanding God’s purpose for this mortal creation and the purpose of our mortal life, we can more easily define the difference between mistakes and sin. When our action produces an unexpected and usually a detrimental result, it is a mortal mistake. When we choose to act against a Divine directive, it is a sin. The word sin is the label. It is the English word used to define an action that is opposite of what God wants us to do.”
Chapter 7, What is Sin?, pages 58-59
“Addiction can be considered a disease, not a moral failing, once you are addicted, but, in many cases, it was a moral failing and rebelling against the light of the gospel guidelines that brought about the addiction. No one starts with an addiction. An addiction is the consequence of previous choices.”
Chapter 13, The Science of Change, page 126
“During my basketball playing days, if our team didn’t score in one effort, I knew we would adapt and continue trying until I suddenly heard the buzzer announcing the quarter or the game was over. I was process-oriented instead of outcome-oriented. I chose to practice that mental game because I noticed how those who practiced perfectionism would become paralyzed with the fear of failure, make more mistakes, and find no joy in playing the game.”
Chapter 15, Becoming, page 147
“Inseparable with our forgiving is following the example of Jesus when He said, “He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (D&C 58:42). The scriptures do not indicate that Christ will forget, as if He who is all powerful might accidently, because of some weakness, or by some mystical power, forget what we did. The omniscience of our Heavenly Parents and Elder Brother means they know all and cannot forget. However, in His mercy and if we completely repent, Christ will choose to remember the sin no more by never mentioning it again. If Jesus promises complete forgiveness for us, how petty and arrogant are we if we say we will forgive but still choose to hold on to and mentally relive a sin? Are we really forgiving if we forever hold onto a grudge against someone because of some abuse or misunderstanding?
Chapter 16, Receiving Forgiveness, page 171
“The plan of happiness as established in the premortal councils, and the church established by Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith in the last dispensation of this world, was designed to give all the opportunity to survive and thrive our mortal journey. It was designed to purge impurities from our character so we can eventually become worthy and trusted with the strength, intelligence, capability, and union of our Heavenly Parents. That is no small task! We thus conclude that if the purpose of the great plan and the purpose of His earthly church is to change us, there must be a mechanism provided to propel us through that process. There is. It is called repentance.”
Chapter 17, Epilogue, page 183
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