Several years ago, when my son was 11 years old, he flew alone from Utah to Washington, D.C. On the airplane he was seated by a middle-aged businessman, struck up a conversation, and wasted no time in asking his newfound friend, “What do you know about the Mormon church?”
When the answer was, “Not much,” my son proceeded to introduce the basic tenets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to him, as best he could, and told him if he wanted to know more where he could find additional information.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we often seek to know if we are doing what God would have us individually do with our lives. Soon after the Restoration, many new converts sought blessings from the Savior through the Prophet Joseph Smith, their question, “Lord, what would you have me do?” Many revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants fall into this category. While specific to each individual, the Lord’s answer was often fairly consistent, to preach repentance (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-17; 6:9; 68:25; 18:15, 15:3-6; 44:3; 19:21; 5:2; 138:57).
Martin Harris was told, “I command you that you preach naught but repentance.” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:21) The Book of Mormon and New Testament also enjoin Christ’s disciples to preach repentance (see Acts 13:24; Luke 24:47; Luke 3:3; Mark 1:4; Mosiah 18:20; Mosiah 25:22; Mosiah 25:15; Helaman 13:2; Helaman 16:4; Alma 16:13; Alma 37:33; Moroni 3:3). Shortly before his ascension into heaven, the Savior charged his followers “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in (my) name among all nations.” (Luke 24:47)
As I took note of this directive, I thought it interesting that on numerous occasions, Jesus Christ pointedly used the phrase “preach repentance.”
I began research into its meaning.
The Doctrine and Covenants being the only book for which Jesus Christ wrote the preface (see Doctrine and Covenants 1), I began there. A preface summarizes the message of the book, tells the author’s purposes, and explains what the reader gains by reading the book.
Doctrine and Covenants 1 talks about the human condition, that individuals “have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant; They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world … of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon … which shall fall.” (see Doctrine and Covenants 1:15-16)
Because of the sinful state of individuals in the world, yet the Savior’s infinite love for all his children, he explains, “The fulness of my gospel (will) be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world. …” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:23) How disciples fulfill this commission is specified by the Prophet Alma, “they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who (has) redeemed his people” (see Mosiah 18:20).
Preaching repentance comprehends the great plan of salvation and, at its heart and soul, the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. We are to preach repentance, meaning:
• To testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world.
• To testify that “Jesus Christ (is) the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men” (see Moses 6:52).
• To testify of the need to obey the commandments, to “live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God,” (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:44) and to “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)
• To testify that as we understand what God requires of each of us we recognize that we are separated from God by sin. However, that breach is repaired by Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sins and who met the penalty for them if we but repent.
• We preach repentance because individuals who “confess (their sins) and forsake them … he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:43, 42). We are forgiven and are “clean every whit,” (see John 13:10) thereby qualified to live with God and Christ throughout all eternity.
Preaching repentance acknowledges our constant, ongoing need to repent, and the cleansing power of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ.
What does the Lord ask of each of us? Elder John A. Widstoe explained:
“In our pre-existent state, in the day of the great council, we made a certain agreement with the Almighty. The Lord proposed a plan, conceived by him. We accepted it. Since the plan is intended for all men (mankind), we become parties to the salvation of every person under the plan. We agreed, right then and there, to be not only saviors for ourselves, but measurably saviors for the whole human family. We went into a partnership with the Lord. The working out of the plan became not merely the Father’s work, and Savior’s work, but also our work. The least of us, the humblest, is in partnership with the Almighty in achieving the purpose of the eternal plan of salvation” (see “The Worth of Souls,” Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, October 1834, p. 189).
A little 11-year-old boy, on an airplane flight from Utah to Washington, D.C., “got it.” We need to “get it” too. As members of Jesus Christ’s church, we are commissioned to preach repentance.
Kristine Frederickson writes on topics that affect members of the LDS Church worldwide in her column “LDS World." She teaches part time at BYU. Her views do not necessarily represent those of BYU.