General Conference, ‘Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence’, October 2014; “Become really, really good at forgiving. “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). Forgive everyone, everything, all the time, or at least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness into your own life. Don’t hold grudges, don’t be easily offended, forgive and forget quickly, and don’t ever think that you are exempt from this commandment. Spiritual confidence increases when you know that the Lord knows that you bear no ill feelings toward another soul.” – Jörg Klebingat
Matthew 6:14-15; “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Deuteronomy 28:66; “And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life”.
Here’s our third post and last installment of the General Conference speech given by Mr. Klebingat earlier this month. While this guy had a lot to say, today we want to focus on two issues. Biblical forgiveness and manipulating others.
As mentioned previously, Melissa sent me the notes for this and offered a few thoughts about what this man said so again, I’m starting off with her notes!
“…really, really forgive”? I just have to laugh at the thought of Jesus telling people “now when you repent you have to really, really repent, and when you forgive you must not truly forgive but really, really forgive.
Doesn’t this sound like something a child would say who’s telling a story? They don’t know any big words so all they can do is repeat “really” a few times to emphasize what they’re trying to say…?”
Boy did she ever hit the nail on the head with that! It certainly sounds like a child trying to garner support for his belief in the story he’s telling. Perhaps it sounds this way because this man’s spiritual well from which he draws to impart help for others is shallow…
After the many miracles Jesus had performed in Matthew chapter four we come upon His ‘Sermon on the Mount’ in Galilee. In this sermon we find practical applications of not only why, but how to live righteously as followers of Him. Giving specific reasons why we must forgive, He also methodically explained the importance of it.
On the website of GotQuestions.org I found a brief, but insightful explanation on forgiveness for Matthew 6:14-15. Here’s what they had to say;
‘In light of other Scriptures that speak of God’s forgiveness, Matthew 6:14-15
is best understood to be saying that people who refuse to forgive others have not truly experienced God’s forgiveness themselves.’
This gives me pause and makes me wonder if perhaps this is true for this Mormon gentleman. Above all what I hope will be noticed in this man’s speech is the manipulation game they’re playing with LDS members. While Mr. Klebingat’s spiritual condition saddens me his rhetoric is inexcusable. The lies, manipulation, twisting of scripture and an obvious disregard for the well-being of Mormons at large.
When I left Mormonism I carried a major shame complex that had been strangling me for years. I allowed teachings like this one to wrap themselves around my every thought which in turn governed my behavior.
Apologizing to people when I met them was a staple in my everyday vocabulary as if I had done something wrong by merely breathing. Not only was it exhausting for me, but to those around me as well.
Never having assurance the Lord has forgiven you is a curse many in the Church carry around with them and is a result of willful disobedience. God cursed the Israelites for their disobedience of sexual sin in Deuteronomy and we find it interesting (and not coincidental) that Mormons are plagued with this same thing.
Pray that Mormons totally ignore this man’s speech and turn to the One who gives liberally!
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