Forgiving Is Healing To The Soul Even If The Pain Was Caused By Serious Abuse

Jesus Christ Topical Guide: Sermon On The Mount Series

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Heavenly Father feels very strongly about forgiveness; so much that He expects us to forgive everyone, regardless of how they hurt us.

Some people are abused in unthinkable ways. For example, sex trafficking in my mind is one of the greatest evils in this world; and, I can’t think of a greater non-profit organization than Operation Underground Railroad. They rescue child sex slaves and then place them in safe houses so they can heal and learn.

Every 30 seconds a child sold to be raped.

We must stop this evil!

What do you tell a child who is rescued from this hell? I believe only the power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement can heal them; and I believe the Lord would want them to forgive their abusers. Otherwise it will plague their souls.

However, forgiving monsters like that will take time; and certainly forgiveness does not mean exposing yourself to the abuse again.

Forgiving a sex-trafficker will take time because their scarring cuts to the very soul; and this is not something that will happen quickly.

The Book of Mormon teaches that the word of God is “quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and wiles of the devil,…” Helaman 3:29

The word of God has tremendous power to heal.

Additionally, I think this quote from Elder D. Todd Christofferson would bring comfort to anyone who has been abused.

“Having satisfied the demands of justice, Christ now steps into the place of justice; or we might say He is justice, just as He is love. Likewise, besides being a “perfect, just God,” He is a perfect, merciful God. Thus, the Savior makes all things right. No injustice in mortality is permanent, even death, for He restores life again. No injury, disability, betrayal, or abuse goes uncompensated in the end because of His ultimate justice and mercy.”

The abuser must repent! Or, he (or she) will suffer himself and feel firsthand the pains he caused you.

If you live in the Salt Lake City valley, I invite you to join us at church on Sunday's. Currently we meet at 9 A.M.; however, starting in January we will change to noon. We are a mid-singles ward; however, if you have a family please don't let that stop you. Please, join us for for our first meeting which is Sacrament meeting, and make sure you ask someone to introduce you to our ward mission leader. Our address is 7155 South 540 East, Midvale Utah, 84047.