Life always has a way of doing whatever it needs to do. There’s nothing wrong with that thought process. It comes and goes without a second thought. We can’t easily figure out why life does this to us, we have to understand something at some point, but if we don’t? Well, no harm no foul. It’s life and we have to continue going forward to see everything that is out there. There’s nothing we can do about it. Life will move foreward without the ability for us to do anything but wonder what this life will eventually be like in the far distant future. Oh what a joy that could bring about. If life has a way, we will be able to get from point a to point b in no time at all. It feels like a circle at times. A = B = C, isn’t that what the crazy future guy in Star Trek: Voyager tried to explain? Yeah, something like that. It’s quite an interesting thought process to be sure. It’s life though, nothing can be done about it. So let life be what it wants to be, there’s nothing wrong with that tho...
Wherefore,
I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that
forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before
the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
And
ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee,
and reward thee according to thy deeds.
And
him that repenteth not of his sins, and confesseth them not, ye shall
bring before the church, and do with him as the scripture saith unto
you, either by commandment or by revelation.
And
this ye shall do that God may be glorified—not because ye forgive
not, having not compassion, but that ye may be justified in the eyes
of the law, that ye may not offend him who is your lawgiver—
The
Lord says that we are to forgive everyone their trespasses, yet it is
up to God to decide whom He will forgive and when He will forgive
them. Does this apply to Satan? Are we to forgive Satan for
attempting to destroy us and lead us down to Hell?2
If
we are told to forgive all, does the devil fall under that category?
As
an example:
The
devil temps a person, and he falls under sin. The person gets through
the ordeal, if he holds malice against the Devil is he holding a
grudge? Should that person forgive Satan for trying to lead them to
hell?
Part
of the forgiveness process is to not bring it up again in the future.
To constantly bring it up or talk about the ordeal is not to actually
forgive that person. Some might say they are simply warning about
what the devil can do by bringing up past experiences. But according
to the thought of forgiveness, to keep talking about it is not actual
forgiveness.
It
is a simple question, is it not? To hold a grudge against the devil
would be to also hold in a form of contention, which is of the devil:
For
verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention
is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention,
and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with
another.3
Did
not Jesus tell us to forgive those who had harmed us as well? In the
bible we ready:
But
I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which
hate you,
Bless
them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.4
If
we are to be godlike, or to seek that which is like God, then are we
not meant to do as the Lord says? To forgive those who are our enemy.
Isn’t Satan our enemy? Doesn’t Satan try to use us and to curse
us? I’m not implying that we should love Satan, that caused issues
with Cain for he eventually murdered because of it. The Lord was
clear about this:
Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This
is the first and great commandment.
And
the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself.5
But
we cannot have hatred in our heart. That would not be Christlike. God
and Jesus know our hearts. They know our intentions. If we are of
mind to follow the will of the Devil, they know it. If we wish to
simply do good to others as the Lord commanded,6
they know that as well.
I
suppose it will be known in the end of times, as we all come before
the judgment bar of Christ. Perhaps we are meant to remain in
ignorance in regards to this? How does one even begin to forgive the
devil for what he’s done to those on this earth; and what are we to
forgive him of exactly?
It
was because of the devil that Eve ate of the fruit and in turn Adam
ate of the fruit allowing us to come down and gain bodies. For
without such an act, we would not be here. I would not be one to
assume that Satan helped God out with his plan, for we are to
understand that Satan knew not the mind of God.7
It is but an interesting question to ponder and think about. I for
one would not want to leave someone unforgiving if we are meant to
forgive all.
To
hold a grudge is to hold onto the greater sin. Which is why the Lord
has told us to forgive all. The greatest example we have of the Lord
forgiving others is when he was on the cross.
In the time of his agony on the cross of
Calvary, with vile and hateful accusers before him, those who had
brought him to this terrible crucifixion, he cried out, “Father,
forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34.)8
Again,
we do not have these answers at this time and place. Maybe someday we
shall.
1. D&C
64:9-14
2. 2
Nephi 28:20-21
3. 3
Nephi 11:29
4. Luke
6:27-28
5. Matthew
22:37-39
6. Luke
6:31
7. Moses
4:6
8. Of
You It Is Required To Forgive, Gordon B. Hinckley, June 1991 First
Presidency Message
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