Repentance is indeed the answer

[Original_Intentcaptain of 1,000]

When I joined this site a few years ago, I used to get so frustrated with people who repeatedly said "We just need to repent." It seemed like an over simplification, as if getting our home teaching percentage high enough or similar would solve the problems that we face. I thought people that stated this were being naive.

Once again, it took a long time, but I finally "get it" - and I was wrong and those I argued with were right. We must repent and become a people that when our leaders tell us to oppose legislation, that we will prayerfully seek confirmation and then as a people fight valiantly to carry out the Lord's will. As we disregarded our leaders on many issues in the past, such as Social Security, public education, and even learning about and upholding the constitution. And as a people we really have not learned nor repented from willfully trusting in our own understanding and the arm of flesh. For example, how many LDS distanced themselves from the church due to their position on Prop 8?

The problem is that there are far too many who truly believe that "all is well in Zion". They only feel that anything is wrong when the economy turns sour. If the stock market would just turn around and their 401k would just get back to growing at 15% a year then everything would be just fine. There is hardly a thought given to fighting abortion laws, nor concern about the hundreds of thousands we kill on the other side of the world in order to protect "our" petroleum or other natural resource interests. Of course, we learned from the soviets to always propagandize such warfare as liberating the people of the country from their oppressive tyrant rulers.

How far will we force the Lord to punish us before we are humbled and truly turn to Him with all of our hearts? I'm aware of the problem and I am not there yet, I still want to understand before I obey...and yet I feel like I am one of "the few" that even sees the problem, it seems that many many are trying to solve the problem by pouring gasoline on the fire, they are doing exactly the opposite of what is needed to turn things around.

I just hope I can get my family thru the cleansing, it truly seems that is going to be the only way to get where we need to be.

[tmaccaptain of 1,000]

Hear, hear OI. Well said. I am in the same boat. I likewise often thought the "repentance" answer was over simplistic, but have also come to start to see the light. Until we humble ourselves and repent -- whether voluntarily or by compulsion, there will be no other solution(s). The paradigm shift is an interesting experience.

[Original_Intentcaptain of 1,000]

One thing that comes to mind this morning - there is an adage that says that we are given one mouth and two ears, and it is intended that we use them to that proportion.

And sometimes when the forum is concerned we go one step further and figure that since we have ten fingers, we should also use them to that proportion.

One area that I need to repent greatly is to seek first to "know His word" and THEN be enpowered to teach others. There is much going on in the world that to mortal understanding is baffling, confusing, and very difficult to see the truth. The smartest person in the world that lacks discernment is going to get much wrong. On the other hand, the correct principles truly are easy to understand that even a child can receive it. It is learning and understanding and truly believing these simple truths that I am turning my focus to. As this is done I believe it will similarly expose the errors that are being practised and that gives power to the SCs.

That doesn't mean I won't pipe in with my opinions - I think that would be a "pie crust promise" on my part. But I am going to try to focus on learning first and teaching only after I myself understand. So part of my personal repentance is reining in the pride that makes me "think" that I know so much, and being more teachable and humble. Simple yet difficult!

[laroniuscaptain of 100]

OI I can appreciate the sentiment, but don't wait for perfect understanding before imparting what you already have. Part of the reason I joined this forum is because it would give me the chance to express my views in a "fairly" friendly setting but would still be required to back them up or change them if I wasn't able to. Of course much of what is expressed here is strictly opinion, but this allows us to see things from different perspective and if done properly can be greatly edifying. As the scriptures state:

D&C 88:122 ...let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege.

Overall, I see this as great preperation for standing up for truth in the world at large.

[InfoWarrior82captain of 1,000]

I agree that individual repentance is a 100% requirement, but at the same time, could returning to the original intent of the constitution in our country be considered 'repentance'? Could studying, learning, and applying the concepts and principles of liberty, justice, and freedom also be considered 'repentance'? I've known plenty of Lattery-Day Saints who are the most loving, charitable, and Christ-like people I've ever met, but are completely clueless about the fundamental principles of the constitution this country was founded on.

The first step in repentance is knowing you've made a mistake.

But, who knows, perhaps there's no slowing this bus below 60 mph anymore. Maybe the LDGs have rigged the bus so badly that nothing will save it. If this is the case, then yes, individual moral repentance is the only answer.

[Col. Flaggcaptain of 10,000]

Great post OI - I know I have some repenting to do as do all of us in some fashion.

[lundbaekcaptain of 1,000]

I also know many Latter-Day Saints who appear to be the most loving, charitable, and Christ-like people I've ever met, but are completely clueless about the fundamental principles of the Constitution this country was founded on. So who's fault is that ? What can be done to call people to total repentance such that they will learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers and strive to abide by them ? The approaches to this issue by Presidents Grant, McKay, Clark, and Benson didn't work as hoped. Presidents Hinkley and Monson were/are well aware, I am sure, of the "awful situation" Re. the Constitution and said next to nothing compared with the admonitions of the earlier prophets. So what gives ?

Last evening a young couple in their early 20s attended a presentation entitled "The Inspired Constitution" by a LDS professor of constitutional law. Their reactions were "boring" and "too extreme". I think this is a typical attitude among members in that age group.

[uglypitbullcaptain of 1,000]

Fantastic post OI.....We have been discussing those things in our FHE lessons as of late. Its a fantastic way to get back to the nitty gritty of what we all need to strive for in this mortal life......our eternal future!
Your comment reminds me of an old Cherokee quote "Listen to the whispers and you wont have to hear the screams".

Last evening a young couple in their early 20s attended a presentation entitled "The Inspired Constitution" by a LDS professor of constitutional law. Their reactions were "boring" and "too extreme". I think this is a typical attitude among members in that age group.

lundbaek.....I had planned on attending this, but Saturdays winds made certain that I would suffer from allergies. Not a fun day for me. How did it go?

[bbrowncaptain of 100]

great topic! "Just repent" is overly simplistic, just like saying "just live the gospel" is overly simplistic. True repentance is a difficult, painfull, and life changing process. I used to have the same attitude (too simplistic), until I learned what repentance was and realized what that meant both for me and my family and as a nation. The people of Ammon a pretty good example of what kind of repentance needs to happen. They were a warmongering, blood thirsty people full of abominations and wickedness. When they accepted the gospel it was "all they could do to have their stains removed". I fear we as a people are in a similar state.
Most people I know when they say just live the gospel, mean go to church, pay tithing, word of wisdom, pray, read(read for the sake of reading not true study) scriptures, etc "seminary answers". If what they mean is be pollitically active, study (really feast) scriptures, recieve the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, seek for the second comforter, on top of all those other things, then yes that is all that's needed. Repentance is the same thing. Most people I know mean, say sorry I won't do it again, and carry on with their lives same as before. In my ward we frequently (every month or two) have a discussion in gospel doctrine where it is said as long as we don't know a principle we are not responsible so the less we know the better off we are. This obviously is not repentance as someone mentioned earlier you must first recognize the sin then do something about it. If we are really to repent of the sins collective and idividual we must first realize the magnitude of the sins we have committed, politically, economically, spiritually, that realization alone should be enough to bring anyone to the dust. However, as long as we keep this head in the sand "all is well in zion" attitude there can be no repentance and no matter how good we are at the "basics" we still have a great crime(s) hanging over us.
I still find my head in the sand sometimes but am striving to improve and find the evils I don't know about, then coreect them. It is not easy. Thank the Lord for the atonement. Preaching true repentance (ask the Lord to show you your iniquities) I have found, is not well recieved but it truely is the answer to the problems and calamities that face us.