It is one of the largest lagoons of its kind in the world. This reminds me of a lagoon in French Polynesia. True repentance, then, is not merely eliminating the negative in our lives it also must involve replacing the negative with positive attitudes and actions. “Many who have discontinued bad habits have found that substitution is part of the answer, and have conquered a bad habit by replacing it with a good or harmless one.” 2 The man makes a start but may find the loss of the yesterday’s habits so great that he is enticed to return to his evil ways, and his lot thus becomes infinitely worsened. … “Does this mean that the man who has quit smoking or drinking or had sex pollutions finds life empty for a time? The things which engaged him and caught his fancy and occupied his thoughts are gone, and better substitutions have not yet filled the void. … He must eliminate anything which would stir the old memories. “In abandoning sin one cannot merely wish for better conditions. Where one was weak before, he will be most easily tempted again. “The devil knows where to tempt, where to put in his telling blows. ![]() Kimball (1895–1985) has explained how this principle applies to the process of repentance: The Spirit of the Lord will not dwell there longer, and the spirit of evil returns-returns to a vacant house, with a force and vigor exceeding anything of the past.” 1 The house that was once swept and garnished, that was once a fit habitation for the Holy Spirit of God-that house is now vacant. McConkie (1915–85) has explained: “When a man is baptized for the remission of sins … by the power of the Holy Ghost when he becomes clean, and pure, and spotless before the Lord … if he then sins against the Holy Ghost and loses the Spirit of the Lord as his companion, he is left in a fit condition to be swallowed up in every form of evil and iniquity. The spiritual danger pointed out by this parable is real. Therefore, an evil spirit enters and dwells therein, thus leaving him “unto himself.” True RepentanceĪ person who commits sin without repenting does not have the protective influence of the Holy Ghost. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation” ( Joseph Smith Translation, Matt. ![]() “Then goeth the evil spirit, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there and the last end of that man is worse than the first. “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none but when a man speaketh against the Holy Ghost, then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out and when he is come, he findeth him empty, swept and garnished for the good spirit leaveth him unto himself. ![]() Jesus then gave what has become known as the parable of the empty house: … How can these things be?” ( Joseph Smith Translation, Matt. 12:26).Ī group of scribes challenged this teaching, saying, “Master, it is written that, Every sin shall be forgiven but ye say, Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. ![]() Jesus dismissed their ridiculous logic and taught, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men who receive me and repent: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven unto men” ( Joseph Smith Translation, Matt. When certain Pharisees heard that Jesus had done this, they said, “This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils” ( Matt. Jesus healed him, causing many to be amazed and wonder if He was the promised Messiah (see Matt. As Jesus traveled through the cities and villages of Galilee performing miracles, a man who was possessed with a devil was brought to Him the man was also blind and unable to speak.
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