Forgiveness

Are not the words of Abraham Lincoln beautiful which he spoke out of the tragedy of a terrible civil war: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, … let us … bind up the … wounds.” -In John Bartlett, Familiar Quotations, Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1968, p. 640.

To err is human, to forgive divine. -Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, 2:1711.

Guy de Maupassant, the French writer, tells the story of a peasant named Hauchecome who came on market day to the village. While walking through the public square, his eye caught sight of a piece of string lying on the cobblestones. He picked it up and put it in his pocket. His actions were observed by the village harness maker, with whom he had previously had a dispute. Later in the day the loss of a purse was reported. Hauchecome was arrested on the accusation of the harness maker. He was taken before the mayor, to whom he protested his innocence, showing the piece of string that he had picked up. But he was not believed and was laughed at. The next day the purse was found, and Hauchecome was absolved of any wrongdoing. But, resentful of the indignity he had suffered because of a false accusation, he became embittered and would not let the matter die. Unwilling to forgive and forget, he thought and talked of little else. He neglected his farm. Everywhere he went, everyone he met had to be told of the injustice. By day and by night he brooded over it. Obsessed with his grievance, he became desperately ill and died. In the delirium of his death struggles, he repeatedly murmured, “A piece of string, a piece of string.” -(The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Roslyn, New York: Black’s Reader Service, n.d., pp. 34–38.) -Shared by Gordon B. Hinckley, Of You It Is Required to Forgive, June 1991

 


 
Go and Sin No More

 
James E. Faust, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, April 2007

 
Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

Scriptures:

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. -Matthew 6:14-15, Holy Bible

Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. -3 Nephi 9:13-14, Book of Mormon

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. -Matthew 18:21-22, Holy Bible

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. -Isaiah 1:18, Holy Bible

Definitions:

Forgive - to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve; to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.); to grant pardon to (a person); to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one's enemies; to cancel an indebtedness or liability of: to forgive the interest owed on a loan. Origin: before 900; for- + give; replacing Middle English foryiven, Old English forgiefan. Synonyms: See excuse. 3. absolve, acquit. -Dictionary.com