Elder Andersen was discussing healing and forgiveness through the atoning love of Jesus Christ and said as he was preparing his remarks, he received what he called “an unexpected email from someone in the process of repenting and desiring to return to the Church.”

Restitution

Said Elder Andersen:

“His former wife was still suffering from the loss ‘of [their] eternal marriage, [difficulties with the children], the loss of financial security, … not [being] quite able to keep up with expenses, [and] the deeply suffocating feelings of being betrayed.’

“He shared with me how his priesthood leader ‘felt impressed to [ask him] to prayerfully consider what [more he could do for his former wife and children].’ With permission, I share a part of his email:

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

“‘I [first] thought the [money] I gave up in the divorce decree was more than generous, but my branch president encouraged me to fast and pray about it. …

“‘Initially, I struggled with the idea of further restitution. Since my sins weren’t financial, I wondered what a ‘generous restitution’ truly meant … [but] I soon realized it wasn’t just about money.

“‘My priesthood leaders met with [my former wife] and my children and realized they were still struggling and hadn’t healed. …

“‘My new goal was to move forward with faith. … I simply expressed my desire to help with no strings attached. … I decided to [send my former wife a specific amount] per paycheck, which was a significant portion of my net pay. Just before making the first payment, the Lord [impressed upon my mind that I needed] to pay [twice that amount].

“‘I’ve learned that restitution isn’t just about money. It’s about humbly dedicating my life to the Lord. … The money is to help replace what I took from my family due to my poor choices. It’s about making and keeping promises without expecting anything in return and helping her not worry about bills so she can seek the Spirit.'”

From this, Elder Andersen taught:

“Your efforts to restore what you have broken may have nothing to do with money, but as you humbly counsel with the Lord, you may find there is more you can do.”

Restoring what one has broken, Elder Andersen highlighted, is a crucial component of obtaining forgiveness through the atoning love of Jesus Christ.

Faith and honesty

Prior to sharing this story, Elder Andersen had shared two other important requirements in order to achieve forgiveness: faith and honesty.

Regarding faith, he said:

“Strengthening your faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ, will invigorate the yearning of your soul to know Him, believe in Him, and yield your heart to Him. Enos asked about his own forgiveness, ‘Lord, how is it done?’ The Lord responded, ‘Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen.’

“And Moroni added, ‘If ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you.'”

Regarding honesty, Elder Andersen added:

“A desire to truly return to God is accompanied by the determination to be completely honest with your Heavenly Father, with yourself, with those who were harmed, and with your priesthood leader. Your Heavenly Father rejoices in your resolve to come unto Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit. Having a contrite spirit is humbly putting yourself in the hands of God; having a broken heart brings what the Apostle Paul described as ‘godly sorrow,’ a deep longing of the soul to return to Him whatever the cost.”

I saw both of these attributes in the man who wrote the email to Elder Andersen. He demonstrated faith by choosing to send a specific amount, and he demonstrated even more faith by following the prompting from the Lord to double it.

Honesty was also apparent. He realized what he needed to do and was honest with himself about it. He could have decided to pay the amount he had originally decided to pay, or not paid any further restitution beyond the divorce decree at all because, as he said, his sins weren’t financial. But if his goal was really to “move forward with faith,” as he stated, then that meant being honest with himself about what was really required. The Lord told him, and he followed.

I don’t know what this man did, and by highlighting his efforts at restitution there is no attempt to diminish the effects of his choices, but I think the reason the story stuck out to me is because it shows what can happen to attitudes if there is trust in the Savior. People’s hearts and desires can truly change.

Too many people think they can’t change, that they’re doomed to be the way they are. That’s a choice. If they made a different choice, they could change. Like this man, they could see things the way the Lord sees them.

‘Divine approval by degrees’

In speaking about obtaining forgiveness, Elder Andersen also discussed the idea of what he called “divine approval by degrees.”

“As you seek the Lord’s forgiveness, be patient as you wait upon His full approval,” he said. “Consider this scripture:

“‘They … humble[d] themselves … in the depths of humility; and … did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long. … [But] the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities.’

“‘Nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began … to ease their burdens; … and … they began to prosper by degrees.’

“Be patient as the Lord gives you His blessing and approval by degrees.

“In the Lord’s time, you will feel His voice telling you, ‘Let these things trouble you no more.’ One day, as you continue to turn to the Savior, your Heavenly Father will take ‘away the guilt from [your heart], through the merits of his Son.'”

Receiving healing

For those who Elder Andersen said “have been so unfairly injured by the serious sins of another,” he said he desired to share the love, compassion, comfort and peace of the Savior.

“The sadness you have felt, the heartbreak, the loss, the suffocating feeling of betrayal, the upending of your life as you imagined it to be–I give you my absolute assurance, the Savior knows you and loves you,” Elder Andersen said. “Reach out to Him. He is your comfort and strength; He will send His angels to bear you up. When will your pain be gone, your grief subdued, the unwanted memories forgotten? I do not know. But this I do know: He has the power to bring beauty from the ashes of your suffering.”

Elder Andersen tied that thought with the attack on a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse in Michigan.

“Our beloved brothers and sisters of Grand Blanc, Michigan, with their undaunted faith in Jesus Christ, with their courage and unselfishness, have received and will, in the weeks and months ahead, abundantly receive of the Savior’s incomparable love and grace.

“As you continue to place your trust in Him, your clouds of darkness and anguished sobbing in the night will be transformed into cascading tears of joy and peace in the morning’s light. ‘Your sorrow shall be turned into joy. … And your joy no [one] taketh from you.’ That moment will come. I testify that it will come.

“The atoning love of Jesus Christ can be found in the most difficult situations, but we all constantly need the atoning grace of our Savior. President Dallin H. Oaks has taught: ‘Because of His atoning experience in mortality, our Savior is able to comfort, heal, and strengthen all men and women everywhere, but I believe He does so only for those who seek Him and ask for His help. The Apostle James taught, ‘Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up’ (James 4:10). We qualify for that blessing when we believe in Him and pray for His help.'”

An important lesson I have learned through my sufferings is that heaven is as far away as I let it be. If I let it feel far away, it will feel far away. If I do what I know helps me feel closer to it, I feel closer to it. Because we have agency, we get to choose how close or how far we want to be. No matter how we may suffer, we can always have confidence that if we make the choices necessary to be close to the Lord, he will be close to us.

“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.” (Mosiah 24:15)

Though Alma and his brethren were persecuted, they were strengthened by the Lord to easily handle their burdens, and they were able to be cheerful and patient.

I see no reason why that can’t be the same for everyone. Those who exercise faith in the Lord and stay close to him will be strengthened to handle their burdens with ease. They will be cheerful and patient.

Conclusion

Elder Andersen concluded his talk by saying:

“Brothers and sisters, may we each be ‘sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, … [becoming] holy, without spot.’

“I testify of the love, the mercy, and the grace of our Savior and Redeemer. He lives. We are His; we are children of the covenant. As we believe in Him, follow Him, and trust Him, He will lift us from our sorrows and our sins. Then, beyond this mortal life, in our Father’s house, we will live with Him forever and ever. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

Contact Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.