Kenneth is a young man in Tonga. He was baptized when he was 8 years old but fell into some bad behavior when he was a teenager, including breaking the Word of Wisdom. His older sister helped him come back to the Church and take better care of his body.
“But one day, I committed another serious sin,” Kenneth says. “I felt that I couldn’t have the Spirit or the power of the priesthood with me. I felt very worthless and didn’t think I’d be able to complete my responsibilities at church, like blessing and passing the sacrament.”
Kenneth knew he needed to repent. What he had done was serious enough that he felt he needed his bishop’s help. Walking into his bishop’s office made him nervous, Kenneth says—“But I wanted the Lord’s peace, and I wanted to repent.”
Kenneth’s bishop prayed with him and told him that the Lord is merciful to those who repent. Kenneth began to feel better. He now reads the scriptures and prays regularly to resist temptation.
“If the process of repentance is hard for you, you should always remember the gift of Jesus Christ and His miraculous Atonement,” Kenneth says. “All of us sin and make mistakes, and we won’t gain perfection in this life. But through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the blood He shed for us, we can always repent.”
A fresh start is available to everyone—including you! Start now by talking with God. And if it’s serious, talk with your bishop, who can help you. Things will get better! Spiritual healing is possible.
NOTES
Adapted from “We Can Repent,” in the Mar. 2023 For the Strength of Youth magazine.