Forgiving others can be very difficult. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Saints about forgiving a transgressor in their community. Paul invited them to forgive, both for the good of the person being forgiven as well as for their own benefit. As you study, seek to increase your understanding of the importance of forgiveness and your desire to forgive others.
Encouraging daily scripture study. Encourage a habit of daily scripture study. Few things will have a more powerful and long-lasting influence for good in the lives of students than helping them learn to love the scriptures and study them daily.
Student preparation: Invite students to come prepared to share an example of someone they know who extended Christlike forgiveness to another person.
Possible Learning Activities
The following questions might help students think about the role forgiveness plays in their lives. The topic of forgiveness might be sensitive for some students. Be prepared to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost to teach these principles with love and understanding.
How would you react?
Imagine how you and others around you may react in the following situations:
It becomes well known that a member of your ward or branch committed a serious sin, like breaking the law of chastity.
Someone in your ward or branch openly opposed Church leaders.
Answer the following questions:
Even if the people in these scenarios were meeting with Church leaders and striving to repent, how might others talk about and treat them?
Why might it be difficult for some people to treat them with love and forgiveness?
In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul wrote of a similar situation in Corinth when someone had transgressed and been disciplined by members of the Church.
Ponder how you treat those around you who may have transgressed. Consider the following questions posed by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
Is there someone in your life who perhaps needs forgiveness? Is there someone in your home, someone in your family, someone in your neighborhood who has done an unjust or an unkind or an unchristian thing? All of us are guilty of such transgressions, so there surely must be someone who yet needs your forgiveness.
As you study this lesson, seek the help of the Holy Ghost to increase your understanding of the importance of Christlike forgiveness and how you might forgive others.
Paul taught about forgiveness
Students could work on the following activity in small groups, in pairs, or on their own.
Read 2 Corinthians 2:5–11, and see what truths you can identify under the following categories:
How should we treat a person who has caused us grief?
Why should we treat people this way?
How should we treat a person who has caused us grief?
Why should we treat people this way?
What did you learn from studying this passage?
As students share what they learned, write on the board any truths they state.
Two principles you may have identified are that through the Savior Jesus Christ, we can forgive and reach out in love to others and if we do not forgive others, Satan will have an advantage over us.
What are examples of how you might forgive, comfort, or confirm your love toward someone who has transgressed or otherwise been unkind?
Based on what you know about the Savior Jesus Christ, why might He want us to forgive and show love to each other? How can He help us do this?
Elder Massimo De Feo of the Seventy taught:
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Elder Massimo De Feo
True disciples love to forgive. They know that the Atonement of the Savior covers all sins and mistakes of each one of us. They know that the price He paid is an “all-inclusive price.” Spiritual taxes, fees, commissions, and charges related to sins, mistakes, or wrongdoings are all covered. True disciples are quick to forgive and quick to ask for forgiveness.
My dear brothers and sisters, if you are struggling to find the strength to forgive, don’t think of what others have done to you, but think of what the Savior has done for you, and you will find peace in the redemptive blessings of His Atonement.
If students did the student preparation activity, consider asking the following questions and inviting them to share what they prepared. Remind students to not share experiences that may be too personal.
When have you seen an example of someone who forgave another and then reached out in love to that person?
How does withholding forgiveness give “Satan … an advantage [over] us”? (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Help students understand the blessing that can come to both the one forgiving and the one being forgiven by doing the following activity.
Display the following instructions for the activity, or provide them for students as a handout.
Imagine that, like the Corinthians, people in your ward need to increase their love and forgiveness toward those who have sinned. Because of this, your bishop invites you to share a short thought on forgiveness at the beginning of your class or quorum meeting. Take a few minutes and create an outline of what you could say. Include the following:
Another scripture or a statement by a Church leader. (You could use the statement by Elder Kevin R. Duncan below, one of the scriptures he mentions, or one of the scripture passages that follow his statement.)
Your own thoughts and testimony about giving love and forgiveness to others and how that can help us come closer to the Savior.
Teachings about forgiveness
Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy said:
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Elder Kevin R. Duncan
I am convinced that most of us want to forgive, but we find it very hard to do. When we have experienced an injustice, we may be quick to say, “That person did wrong. They deserve punishment. Where is the justice?” We mistakenly think that if we forgive, somehow justice will not be served and punishments will be avoided.
This simply is not the case. God will mete out a punishment that is fair, for mercy cannot rob justice (see Alma 42:25). God lovingly assures you and me: “Leave judgment alone with me, for it is mine and I will repay. [But let] peace be with you” [Doctrine and Covenants 82:23].
Consider allowing students to share their outlines in pairs or in small groups.
What did you learn that could help members of your ward better understand and extend forgiveness?
How can forgiving others bring them closer to Jesus Christ?
Reflect on how you treat those who have transgressed. Seek inspiration from Heavenly Father about what you could do to “forgive … and … confirm your love toward” them (2 Corinthians 2:7–8). Consider writing your impressions and thoughts in your study journal, including any actions you feel inspired to take.
Encourage students to act on the impressions they had during the lesson. Consider testifying of the blessings of forgiving and how forgiveness can bring both the forgiver and the forgiven closer to Jesus Christ.
Commentary and Background Information
How can forgiveness bless you personally?
President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency taught:
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President James E. Faust
If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
With the apostolic authority granted me by the Savior of the world, I testify of the tranquility to the soul that reconciliation with God and each other will bring if we are meek and courageous enough to pursue it.
Forgiveness is the very reason God sent His Son, so let us rejoice in His offering to heal us all. The Savior’s Atonement is not just for those who need to repent; it is also for those who need to forgive. If you are having trouble forgiving another person or even yourself, ask God to help you. Forgiveness is a glorious, healing principle. We do not need to be a victim twice. We can forgive.
Watch the video “Principles of Peace: Forgiveness,” 1:49, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, which shows an example of how, because of Jesus Christ, a woman was able to forgive her father.
How can I better understand what forgiveness is?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
[Jesus Christ] did not say, “You are not allowed to feel true pain or real sorrow from the shattering experiences you have had at the hand of another.” Nor did He say, “In order to forgive fully, you have to reenter a toxic relationship or return to an abusive, destructive circumstance.” But notwithstanding even the most terrible offenses that might come to us, we can rise above our pain only when we put our feet onto the path of true healing.
In some of Paul’s previous writings to the Corinthians he had chastised them for their disobedience and lack of faith. Consider inviting students to read 2 Corinthians 2:1–4 and see what Paul hoped they would understand about his motives for chastening them. How could chastening or correction be evidence of a leader or parent’s love for you?
Written in the heart
Because the material in 2 Corinthians 3 is not taught in the curriculum, the following offers one teaching idea for that chapter.
Explain that during Paul’s absence from Corinth, some false teachers began to oppose Paul’s teachings and tried to discredit Paul by telling the converts that they still needed to follow the law of Moses. Summarize 2 Corinthians 3:1 by explaining that in response to those who tried to discredit him, Paul asked the members of Corinth rhetorically if he needed to provide them with a “[letter] of commendation” that testified of his character and his legitimacy as a true Apostle of Jesus Christ.
Students could read 2 Corinthians 3:2–3, looking for what served as Paul’s letter of commendation (the Saints’ changed lives). What do you think it means that the words of Christ were written “not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart”? How can a person allow the gospel into their heart? How can we better live the gospel from our hearts?