This behavior grieved the Prophet, and he wrote the following to William: I freely forgive you, and you know my unshaken and unchangeable disposition; I know in whom I trust; I stand upon the rock; the floods cannot, no, they shall not, overthrow me. You know the doctrine I teach is true, you know that God has blessed me.
This liberty I shall always take, and you shall have the same privilege. I take the liberty to admonish you, because of my birthright; and I grant you the privilege, because it is my duty to be humble, and receive rebuke and instruction from a brother, or a friend.
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May humble repentance bring us both to Thee, O God, and to Thy power and protection, and a crown, to enjoy the society of father, mother, Alvin, Hyrum, Sophronia, Samuel, Catherine, Carlos, Lucy, the Saints, and all the sanctified in peace, forever, is the prayer of your brother. On January 1, , the Prophet said the following about his efforts to resolve this difficulty in his family: Father Smith then opened our interview by prayer, after which he expressed himself on the occasion in a very feeling and pathetic manner, even with all the sympathy of a father, whose feelings were deeply wounded on account of the difficulty that was existing in the family; and while he addressed us, the Spirit of God rested down upon us in mighty power, and our hearts were melted.
Brother William made a humble confession and asked my forgiveness for the abuse he had offered me. And wherein I had been out of the way, I asked his forgiveness. My wife and mother and my scribe were then called in, and we repeated the covenant to them that we had entered into; and while gratitude swelled our bosoms, tears flowed from our eyes.
I was then requested to close our interview, which I did, with prayer; and it was truly a jubilee and time of rejoicing. Phelps, who had been a trusted Church member, was among those who bore false testimony against the Prophet and other Church leaders, leading to their imprisonment in Missouri.
The Prophet Joseph replied: I can assure you I feel a disposition to act on your case in a manner that will meet the approbation of Jehovah, whose servant I am , and agreeable to the principles of truth and righteousness which have been revealed; and inasmuch as long-suffering, patience, and mercy have ever characterized the dealings of our heavenly Father towards the humble and penitent, I feel disposed to copy the example, cherish the same principles, and by so doing be a savior of my fellow men.
Phelps should be received into fellowship. For friends at first, are friends again at last. Consider these ideas as you study the chapter or as you prepare to teach.
The Power of Forgiveness - Prayer Help
This chapter includes several accounts of Joseph Smith forgiving others. In what ways might these stories help someone who is struggling to forgive another? What blessings come into our lives when we forgive those who have offended us? Why do we sometimes have difficulty forgiving others?
- Teachings of Joseph Smith;
- The Local Irish in the West of Scotland 1851-1921 (Palgrave Pivot).
- 17 Bible verses that show the amazing power of forgiveness;
- Psalm 130:3-4!
- Forgiveness: Letting go of grudges and bitterness - Mayo Clinic.
What can we do to develop a more forgiving spirit? Why do you think this counsel is true? How have you experienced these principles in your own life? What problems might we avoid as we follow this counsel? Why is this counsel sometimes difficult to follow? How can we overcome the temptation to believe negative reports about others?
As we strive to follow the example of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, what are some characteristics we should strive to develop? The Savior showing compassion toward a woman taken in adultery see John 8: Phelps, portrayed here with Joseph Smith after returning to full fellowship with the Saints, wrote of the Prophet who had so freely forgiven him: Joseph Smith Chapter Detach yourself from it.
Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind.
Luminita D. Saviuc
Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten. After you write each question, try giving an honest answer to each and every one of them:. Who is the person that mistreated you? Is it your mother, your father, your spouse, is it your child, your best friend, your neighbor your dog, your cat? Do you think they did what they did just to hurt you? Do you think they did it on purpose? Would you rather hold on to your anger than go back to being friends?
Can you even remember how good it felt to be in their presence, to spend time with them? And then make a decision. You either choose to continue being friends with that person or not.
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Whatever your decision will be, you will eventually have to let go in order to be happy! Let go of that friendship, let go of the relationship you had with this person, let go of those past resentments, let go of the hate… let go of that person you once loved. You will have to choose, and no matter what your choice would be, you will eventually free yourself. If you choose with your mind, who is so critical and judgmental, and most of the time telling you all kind of crazy things that would only attract even more anger and resentment upon you, you would probably have many regrets afterward.
Listen to your mind but always follow your heart. Is there anyone in your life you feel that you have to forgive? You can share your insights by joining the conversation in the comment section below. Luminita, the Founder of PurposeFairy, is an enthusiastic student of the arts, psychology, and spirituality. I love Wayne Dyer!