1 year ago

Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness
By Sister Kristin M. Yee

Second Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

To live in such a way that you give beauty for the ashes of your life is an act of faith that follows the Savior.

The book of 1 Samuel includes a lesser-known story of David, the future king of Israel, and a woman named Abigail.

After Samuel’s death, David and his men went away from King Saul, who sought David’s life. They provided watchcare for the flocks and servants of a wealthy man named Nabal, who was mean-spirited. David sent 10 of his men to salute Nabal and request much-needed food and supplies.

Nabal responded to David’s request with insult and sent his men away empty-handed.

Offended, David prepared his men to go up against Nabal and his household, saying, “He hath requited me evil for good.”1 A servant told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, about her husband’s ill treatment of David’s men. Abigail quickly gathered the needed food and supplies and went to intercede.

When Abigail met him, she “fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

“And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be. …

“Now therefore, … the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand. …

“… Now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men. …

“I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid. …

“And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

“And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. …

“So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; … I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.”2

They both departed in peace.

In this account, Abigail can be seen as a powerful type or symbol of Jesus Christ.3 Through His atoning sacrifice, He can release us from the sin and weight of a warring heart and provide us with the sustenance we need.4

Just as Abigail was willing to take Nabal’s sin upon herself, so did the Savior—in an incomprehensible way—take upon Him our sins and the sins of those who have hurt or offended us.5 In Gethsemane and on the cross, He claimed these sins. He made a way for us to let go of a vengeful heart. That “way” is through forgiving—which can be one of the most difficult things we ever do and one of the most divine things we ever experience. On the path of forgiveness, Jesus Christ’s atoning power can flow into our lives and begin to heal the deep crevasses of the heart and soul.

President Russell M. Nelson has taught that the Savior offers us the ability to forgive:

“Through His infinite Atonement, you can forgive those who have hurt you and who may never accept responsibility for their cruelty to you.

The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ
Get your FREE copy 👉http://bit.ly/MyBookofMormon 🙏

Get your FREE copy of The New Proclamation to the World: “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”
🙏🏼http://bit.ly/Restoration200

😇Come Unto Christ - Faith to Act - http://www.faithtoact.com

Why Do We Build Temples? - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/temples?lang=eng

Modern Day Temples - https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/library/videos/

⛪ - Find a local Latter-day Saint Church to attend ➜ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/m...

📘 - Request a FREE Book of Mormon ➜ https://www.comeuntochrist.org/reques...

📖 - Request a FREE Holy Bible ➜ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/c...

⭐ - Learn the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ➜ https://news-nz.churchofjesuschrist.o...

👪 - Find out about your family history and get to know your relatives ➜ https://www.familysearch.org/en/

This video was created by Kelly Egan.

#BookofMormon #FaithToAct #Christian #ComeUntoChrist #HeLives #HearHim #TheRestoration #GeneralConferenceApril2020 #temples #secondcoming

Loading comments...