Author: Richard Himmer

Author, PhD in Organizational Psychology.

What Repentance is Not

Perhaps an understanding of what repentance is not would help us gain clarity on this 1st principle of the gospel.

Repentance is not:

  • Suffering
  • Punishment
  • Confession
  • Remorse
  • Sorrow

These feelings may accompany repentance, but they are not repentance.

Quoting Elder Burton: “As a General Authority, I have prepared information for the First Presidency to use in considering applications to readmit repentant transgressors into the Church and to restore priesthood and temple blessings. Many times a Bishop will write, I feel he has suffered enough!” Elder Burton continues,

“But suffering is not repentance.”

 

Why is Repentance so negative?

Why does repentance seem so negative?

According to Elder Theodore M. Burton the most basic principles of the gospel can be those least understood. A basic and fundamental principle of the gospel is repentance (Ensign, August 1988. The Meaning Of Repentance).

In and out of the church repentance carries a negative meaning. When an ecclesiastical leader stands before his congregation and exhorts the members to repent, as a general rule they do not feel comfortable, at peace, or spiritually motivated about his call to repentance.

Why?

Melchizedek Power vs. Man’s Force

The Power of the Melchizedek Priesthood is unlike anything found within the world of man. Man uses force to accomplish his secular and base desires. God uses power.

Power allows all people their agency; force removes agency.

Power allows all people to say no; force forbids dissent.

Power edifies, satisfies, glorifies, and brightens; force tears down, is insatiable, isolates, and darkens.

God swore an oath unto Enoch that “everyone ordained after this order (Melchizedek) and calling should have POWER by faith to…”

  • Break mountains
  • Divide the seas
  • Dry up waters
  • Turn them out of their course

Are You Free Now?

Having knowledge is not sufficient for happiness or salvation. In life you are given a puzzle to solve. You have forever to solve it. When you do, you become like God. However, you have a problem—you don’t have the ability to solve the puzzle alone.

Are you free?

Freedom is knowing the truth. The truth will set you free (John 8:32). Free from what? Free from mortality and free to live an exalted life.

What is truth? Truth is knowledge of things as they are, as they were, and as they are to come (D&C 93:24).

Being A Rock Star for A Day

For one day I know what it feels like to be a celebrity. Not the kind that creates a frenzy of thoughtless screaming and reckless behavior. But the kind that stems from sincere appreciation and gratitude. And the fan base is made up of First through Fifth graders at Voyager Elementary School under the guidance of Principal Patty McClelland.

I am now an official member of Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students). My name around campus was affectionately just Watch Dog. My day started with a greeting from Chad Redinbo, Chief DOG who is spearheading the movement for Voyager. As we entered the training grounds of our future leaders, Nora Halsen and Lynn Tachell greeted me and gave me a hero’s welcome, other than fingerprinting me.

What Studies About Forgiveness Reveal

Studies reveal the following about forgiveness:

  • People who are more forgiving report fewer health problems
  • Forgiveness leads to less stress
  • Forgiveness leads to fewer physical symptoms of stress
  • Failure to forgive may be more important than hostility as a risk factor for heart disease
  • People who blame other people for their troubles have higher incidences of illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and cancers.
  • People who imagine not forgiving someone show negative changes in blood pressure, muscle tension, and immune response.
  • People who imagine forgiving their offender note immediate improvement in their cardiovascular, muscular, and nervous systems.

What is Forgiveness?

What is FORGIVENESS?

  • Forgiveness is the peace you learn to feel
  • Forgiveness is for you and not the offender.
  • Forgiveness is taking back your power.
  • Forgiveness is taking responsibility for how you feel.
  • Forgiveness is about your healing and not about the people who hurt you.
  • Forgiveness is a trainable skill just like learning to throw a baseball.
  • Forgiveness helps you get control over your feelings.
  • Forgiveness can improve your mental and physical health.
  • Forgiveness is becoming a hero instead of a victim.
  • Forgiveness is a choice.
  • Everyone can learn to forgive.

Teaching An Agnostic

Here is the setting, Elder Jackson from my home ward of Gig Harbor, is serving a mission in SLC, UT and sent me an email telling the story of Tony the agnostic. He wanted to have a better understanding of what an agnostic is. I sent him a short definition and then received this email:

Brother Himmer,

Faith vs. Knowledge – con’t

Which comes first, faith or knowledge?

Is faith a vague uncertain hope in something that, with proper attention grows into knowledge? Or is faith something that grows based on a foundation of knowledge?

Faith, as I understand it, carries two levels of commitment and two levels of knowledge. The first level is that of action. You exercise your faith that you may receive an answer, direction, confirmation, clarity, or greater knowledge. In order to exercise said faith, it must be based on something.

Which comes first: Knowledge or Faith?

Is faith an action that sprouts knowledge? Does the action come first before knowledge is present or created?

Or is faith based upon truth and existing knowledge? Is faith therefore, something that grows out of and comes because of a prior knowledge of the truth?

Answer: Faith is the child of knowledge! It is reserved for those only who first have knowledge; there neither is nor can be any faith until there is knowledge. No one can have faith in a God of whom he knows nothing. No one can have faith unto life and salvation in a false god; no idol ever had power to raise the dead or stop the sun. (McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pg. 166.)

The Alpha and Omega of Faith

The first principle of the Gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. How simple a statement, yet how profound a doctrine.

According the Joseph Smith we define faith as “the first princple in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness. Faith…is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God.” (Lectures on Faith 1:1, 22-24)

Virtue, Obedience, and some Latin

Youth Speaker: Leah Savage

Virtue is the culmination of thousands of decisions.

Missionary Farewell: Aubrey McMullin

Obedience connects us to Christ.

“When obedience ceases to be an irritant, in that moment, God endows us with power.” Ezra Taft Benson

“We must get our people to teach out of their hearts instead of out of the books.” Pres. Hinckley

Missionary Farewell: Brook Sabin

Esse quam videri is a Latin phrase meaning “To be, rather than to seem (to be)” This was the motto for his BYU Men’s Chorus.

Life changing actions come from the little things we do daily.

Exit Interviews April – July 2011

I have the disctinct pleasure and honor to say good-bye to a number of full-time missionaries who serve in the Tacoma, WA Mission on a regular basis. They come to my office and we discuss the Rules of Engagement for dating and marriage.

 

Each set of missionaries brings a great spirit to our section of the Lord’s vineyard.

After our interview, they are better prepared to return and search for eternal companions.

Their interview is a short lesson on “Dating Above The Belt: How To Develop Emotional Intimacy”

 

 

 

Control vs. Power

When teaching the gospel, he who asks the questions is in control. She who is being questioned has the power. This allows the Holy Ghost to work in harmony with the missionary (teacher). The Holy Ghost will do the heavy lifting when you, as the teacher, give permission to the investigator to think and express an opinion without fear of judgment.

Think about the last time you met a persuasive salesperson or missionary. Did you have permission to say no? Were your opinions, thoughts, and desires truly sought? Were they considered and honored? If no, did you feel trust towards that person?

True Doctrine of God

Accepting the true doctrine of the Fall is also accepting Jesus as the Christ, the Only Begotten of the Father, and a separate, glorified and eternal Being as the Second God of the godhead. Having faith in Jesus Christ means you know His true identity (John 17:3).

Believing in a Christ that is of one substance with the Father may bring about many blessings and be a strength to the soul, but it is not worshipping God as commanded in Exodus 20:3

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”