The Work of Forgiveness
In our minds, forgiveness becomes light—
clearing the shadows where resentment once lived.
In our bodies, forgiveness becomes release—
loosening the weight we were never meant to carry.
In our spirits, forgiveness becomes mercy—
opening the channel where the Holy Ghost can flow.
In our souls, forgiveness becomes freedom—
restoring us to the Father,
aligning us with Christ,
and making us whole.
"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."
What Is a Benefit to Forgiving Others?
A devotional dissection of 3 Nephi 13:14–15
These two verses form a single covenant pattern:
Our forgiveness of others opens the way for God’s forgiveness to reach us.
Dissection Through the Question
What is a benefit to forgiving others?
Benefit 1 — We receive forgiveness from God.
When we release others, God releases us.
When we open our hands, God opens His.
This is the direct promise of verse 14:
our forgiveness invites heaven’s forgiveness.
Benefit 2 — We stay out of spiritual blockage and condemnation.
3 Nephi 13:15 warns us that withholding forgiveness closes the channel of mercy.
Mosiah 26:31 deepens this:
"And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation."
Unforgiveness becomes a weight we place on our own souls.
Forgiveness removes that weight.
Benefit 3 — We become aligned with God’s own character.
When we forgive, we step into the way God treats us.
We begin to resemble Him.
Scriptures That Strengthen
These are the most fitting from the Topical Guide list Forgive, Forgiveness—each one directly enhances the covenant pattern Christ teaches.
▪︎ Matthew 6:12 (Luke 11:4)
“Forgive us our debts, as we forgive.”
We receive forgiveness in the same measure we extend it.
“If we forgive not … neither will our Father forgive.”
Christ repeats the same law with clarity and urgency.
▪︎ Luke 6:37
“Forgive, and we shall be forgiven.”
A simple, direct promise—mercy given becomes mercy received.
▪︎ Psalm 86:5
“Lord, art good, and ready to forgive.”
When we forgive, we draw near to a God who is eager to forgive us.
▪︎ Psalm 103:3
“Who forgiveth all our iniquities.”
Forgiveness opens us to the healing, cleansing work of God.
▪︎ Micah 7:18
“God … pardoneth iniquity.”
Forgiving others aligns us with the God who delights in mercy.
▪︎ Mosiah 4:2
“Blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness.”
Forgiveness places us back under the cleansing reach of Christ’s atonement.
▪︎ Moroni 6:8
“As often as they repented … they were forgiven.”
Forgiveness builds a community where mercy is the norm, not the exception.
▪︎ D&C 64:10
“Of us it is required to forgive all.”
Forgiveness keeps us in harmony with God’s law and His mercy toward us.
The Blessing of Forgiving Others
Forgiveness is one of the clearest covenant patterns Christ ever taught. In 3 Nephi 13:14–15, the Savior reveals that when we forgive others, we open ourselves to the Father’s forgiveness; when we refuse, we close that very channel. The supporting scriptures—from Matthew, Luke, the Psalms, Micah, Mosiah, Moroni, and the Doctrine and Covenants—show this pattern repeating across dispensations. They testify that forgiveness keeps us in God’s mercy, frees us from condemnation, aligns us with His character, and places us under the cleansing power of Christ’s atonement. As we forgive, we stay in harmony with heaven and allow the Spirit to remain with us.
As we conclude this study, we carry a simple truth: forgiveness is a covenant blessing as much as it is a covenant command. When we forgive, we are healed. When we release others, God releases us. When we choose mercy, we walk in the footsteps of Christ. May we keep our hearts open, our hands clean, and our spirits free, so the Father’s forgiveness can continually rest upon us.
A Simple, Unified Principle for the Study
When we forgive others, we open ourselves to God’s forgiveness, remove condemnation from our own souls, and step into the merciful character of Christ.
Forgiveness is not only something we give —it is something God uses to heal us, cleanse us, and free us.
My Testimony on Forgiving Others
As someone who has walked the 12‑step path—since February 7th of 2000—searching my soul in the 4th step and making amends in the 9th—I have learned something the Spirit has confirmed again and again: forgiveness is for us. It is part of our covenant walk with God.
When we choose to forgive without reservation, we stay connected to our Father. But when we hold on to resentment, we cut ourselves off from Him. Resentment becomes a quiet barrier, a spiritual weight that keeps us from feeling His presence and receiving His forgiveness.
If someone chooses not to forgive us, that is their agency. But if we choose not to forgive, we step out of harmony with heaven. We place ourselves under the very condemnation Mosiah warns about. We close the channel through which the Spirit flows.
But when our side of the street is clean—when we have forgiven, released, and let go—we move freely with the Holy Spirit. We can yoke ourselves to Christ with full strength. We can grow. We can hear. We can be guided.
If we refuse to forgive, our discipleship becomes stagnant. Our relationship with Heavenly Father becomes stale. And the Comforter cannot fully minister to us, because we are holding on to what He is trying to take away.
I testify that forgiveness is not weakness—it is spiritual power. It is covenant loyalty. It is how we stay close to the Father, how we walk with Christ, and how we keep the Holy Spirit as our constant companion. When we forgive, we are healed. When we forgive, we are free. In Christ Jesus the Nazarene's name. Amen.
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