Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86: Lesson 104

Psalm 51

“Cleanse Me from My Sin”

David wrote a psalm expressing his desire to be forgiven for the sins he committed. He demonstrated his desire to sincerely repent. This lesson can help students understand that as they repent, the Savior can make them clean.

Student preparation: Invite students to imagine themselves in the following situation: Imagine a friend of yours shares that they know they need to repent but wonder how. What would you want them to understand about repentance and the Savior’s role in overcoming sin?

Possible Learning Activities

Repentance

The following activity provides students with an opportunity to reflect on their current understanding of repentance. You may want to display the instructions.

Imagine that the following anonymous question from a youth was included in this month’s edition of For the Strength of Youth magazine:

“I recently committed some very serious sins that I feel really bad about. I’m not really sure how to repent. To be honest, I am even wondering if I am beyond repentance. Any help?”

In your study journal, using what you know about repentance, record what you feel would be helpful for this person to know and understand.

As students read the anonymous question and record their responses, they may have additional questions that come to mind. You could invite them to write down any other questions they might have about repentance. Help them know that during the lesson they will have opportunities to study more about repentance. Testify that the Spirit can give them answers to their questions about repentance as they prayerfully seek answers through their study both in and out of class.

Sincere repentance

Ask students what they know about King David. You could ask them to share some of the great things he did as well as some of the sins he committed. Share any of the following context with students that they don’t mention in their summary.

David “was guilty of grave crimes; but … he was capable of true contrition and was therefore able to find forgiveness, except in the murder of Uriah” (Bible Dictionary, “David”, see also Doctrine and Covenants 42:18). In Psalm 51, David recorded a psalm to God in which he expressed his feelings of remorse following his sin with Bathsheba (see 2 Samuel 11–12). David’s humility and heartfelt desire to be restored to God’s grace and acceptance demonstrate the attitude of one who is seeking to truly repent.

Students could first study Psalm 51 on their own looking for what they learn about repentance; then you could provide them with a way to share what they discovered and learned. Here are some instructions you could display for students to follow. You can adapt any of these instructions to better meet the needs and abilities of your students.

Study Psalm 51:1–19 on your own looking for what we can learn from David’s psalm about (1) God, or (2) repentance. Mark what you find.

Identify three phrases you marked and do one of the following:

• Write a statement of truth that the phrase is teaching about God or repentance.

• Find a cross-reference that confirms or deepens your understanding of what the phrase means.

• Find a quote from a Church leader that can help with understanding.

• Write a question about the phrase.

One way you could help students prepare to share is to list 1–19 on the board. Invite students to write their names next to the verse numbers that contain a phrase they would be willing to share a cross-reference, quote, or question about. Once they have finished, you can invite students to share. As students share, you may want to list statements of truth on the board.

Below is some content you may want to share as part of the discussion. The scriptures and statements are organized by verse grouping and bolded truths. Seek to follow any promptings of the Spirit you may receive about what to share or what to ask.

Psalm 51:1–2, 7, 9: God has power to cleanse me from my sin.

Isaiah 1:18

President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified:

[H]owever many mistakes you feel you have made … or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines. (“Laborers in the Vineyard,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 33)

Psalm 51:3–4: Acknowledging our sin before God is necessary for repentance.

Mosiah 26:29–30

Doctrine and Covenants 58:42–43

The General Handbook explains:

Repentance requires that sins be confessed to Heavenly Father. …

When Church members commit serious sins, their repentance also includes confession to their bishop or stake president. He is then able to exercise the keys of the gospel of repentance on their behalf (see Doctrine and Covenants 13:1; 84:26–27; 107:18, 20). This helps them heal and return to the gospel path through the power of the Savior’s Atonement.

… Voluntary confession shows that a person desires to repent. (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 32.4.1, Gospel Library)

Psalm 51:10–12: As we repent, God can help us change, feel joy, and have the Holy Ghost with us.

Mosiah 4:2–3

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ! (“We Can Do Better and Be Better,” Liahona, May 2019, 67)

Psalm 51:16–17: I must have a broken and contrite heart and spirit to truly repent before God.

3 Nephi 9:19–20

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

To have a broken heart is to be humble, repentant, and meek, eagerly receptive to the will of God. A contrite spirit puts one’s own interests in the hands of God, believing that His will, not our own, will help us become who we should become. (The Divine Gift of Forgiveness [2019], 153)

Explain repentance

To help students demonstrate their understanding of sincere repentance and the Savior’s role in it, invite them to review what they have learned in class today.

Look back at what you wrote at the beginning of class about the question in the For the Strength of Youth magazine. Using what you have learned today about sincere repentance, add two or three sentences to your initial response.

Consider inviting a few willing students to share how they would respond to the question. Encourage students to share their message with a friend or family member they feel would be blessed to hear it.

Consider concluding class by inviting students to turn to the Savior through repentance and testifying of His power to make us clean as we repent.

Additional Resources

How can I forgive myself?

Elder Peter F. Meurs of the Seventy taught:

The Savior’s healing and redeeming power applies to accidental mistakes, poor decisions, challenges, and trials of every kind—as well as to our sins. As I turned to Him, my feelings of guilt and remorse were gradually replaced with peace and rest.

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “When the Savior atoned for all mankind, He opened a way that those who follow Him can have access to His healing, strengthening, and redeeming power. These spiritual privileges are available to all who seek to hear Him and follow Him.”

Brothers and sisters, whether you are carrying the burden of unresolved sin, suffering because of an offense committed against you long ago, or struggling to forgive yourself for an accidental mistake, you have access to the healing and redeeming power of the Savior Jesus Christ. (“He Could Heal Me!,” Liahona, May 2023, 41)

What if I commit the same sin after repenting?

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve shared:

Even after sincere repentance, however, we may stumble. Stumbling does not mean that the repentance was inadequate but may simply reflect human weakness. How comforting to know that “the Lord sees weaknesses differently than He [sees] rebellion.” We should not doubt the Savior’s ability to help us with our weaknesses, because “when the Lord speaks of weaknesses, it is always with mercy” [Richard G. Scott, “Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 83]. (“Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny,” Liahona, May 2022, 76)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alma the Younger’s example of repentance

To help students see an example of sincere repentance, you could ask a student to recall Alma the Younger’s experience in the Book of Mormon that led him to need to repent (see Mosiah 27). Students could read Alma 36:17–18 and identify what Alma did that led to the change in his heart.

You could then write two headings on the board: Before turning to Jesus Christ (Alma 36:12–17) and After turning to Jesus Christ (Alma 36:19–21). Assign students one of the headings and invite them to study their corresponding verses, looking for feelings or thoughts Alma had. They could list what they find under the appropriate headings on the board.

Our Heavenly Father’s love

In Psalm 51:1, David writes about the lovingkindness and tender mercies of the Lord. One of the places we can see the Lord’s mercy and lovingkindness is in the Savior’s parable of the prodigal son. One way you could help students see these attributes of Heavenly Father is to read Luke 15:11–32 or watch “The Prodigal Son” (5:36). Students could look for what they learn about Heavenly Father from the actions of the father in the parable.

You could then share what Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained we can learn about Heavenly Father from this parable. You could watch “The Prodigal and the Road That Leads Home,” from time code 9:16 to 10:54.