Confession

Repentance is the key to forgiveness and everlasting peace.

If you didn't sing confession to the tune of the song by Usher, who even are you? In all seriousness, this is another post on my spiritual journey. In the LDS religion, there is a saying I've heard of, I'm probably quoting this wrong, "Church is a place for sinners to gather." I feel in the Christian faith there sometimes can be a sense of hypocrisy. But I've learnt that most people aren't judging you for your wrongdoings because they usually have no clue what you've done.

When I started attending church once more I didn't partake of the sacrament. This sacred covenant is to be taken with worthiness. Unfortunately, I knew I was unable to partake due to the serious sins I had committed. I don't really want to go into detail, but I knew that I was unworthy. You may think how do I judge my worthiness. At the end of the day, I feel that answer is between you and Heavenly Father.

It was heartbreaking having to pass the sacrament to my family and not be able to partake with them. I felt a sense of disappointment within myself, that the choices I had made succumbed to this. After a few Sundays of feeling like this, I knew I had to go see my Bishop. I'm not going to lie it was daunting but taking this step would lead to the happiness that I feel today.

Repentance is vulnerability, humility, peace, love & forgiveness. I felt vulnerable having to confess what I had done to Bishop but he made it feel like I was talking to a friend. Never once did he make me feel bad for what I did but I felt his love and compassion for me to come to full fellowship. There was also a feeling of being humble and removing the pride of not being perfect. We are human and the natural man within us will always make mistakes. But it is the growth that blooms from these challenges that can strengthen our character.

Confession seems like such an intimidating word but I think we underestimate its power of relief we feel after. We feel better once we've confessed to something small like stealing a cookie from the jar to something big. We get so caught up in the prospect of getting in trouble that we forget the peace and love we can feel from the Saviour's atonement.

I'm so thankful for the strength and growth I've gained from this significant action. Someone once told me no matter how far you have fallen off the path, do what you must to get back on the path of truth and righteousness. My appreciation for the sacrifice of Christ and his everlasting gift of repentance has given me hope of the eternal blessings and love God has for me. It is never too late to turn to our Saviour and experience the joy and love of his gospel.

Arohanui Tiara x