How Long Does It Take to Feel the Joy of Repentance?
"Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you."
Short answer:
According to Alma 34:31, the joy of repentance is not delayed, postponed, or earned over time. The verse teaches that “immediately”—the very moment we stop hardening our hearts and truly turn to God—the plan of redemption begins to work in us. The joy may grow, deepen, and mature over time, but its first light is immediate.
How long does it take to feel the joy of repentance?
This doctrinal dissection is built on the prophetic clarity of Alma 34:31:
“…immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.”
The verse ties the timing of joy to the condition of our hearts. The moment we stop resisting God, the moment we turn toward Him, something divine begins to move in us. The joy may not be full yet, but it is real, present, and immediate.
The Four Cross‑Reference Words and What They Reveal
1. Harden Not Your Hearts
Contention Leads to Separation From God
This phrase is the spiritual hinge of the whole verse.
When we harden our hearts, we resist God’s influence.
When we soften our hearts, we allow Him in.
The joy of repentance begins the moment we stop resisting.
Not when we are perfect.
Not when we have fixed everything.
Not when we have proven ourselves.
Joy begins when we yield.
This is why the timing is “immediate”—because God is not waiting for our perfection; He is waiting for our openness.
Supporting Scriptures — Principle: Self‑Mastery
Proverbs 25:28
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”
It is the clearest biblical image of what a hardened heart becomes—defenseless, exposed, spiritually unprotected.
Matthew 26:39
“Not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
The purest moment of yielded will in scripture.
1 Corinthians 9:25
“Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.”
Temperance is the discipline of the heart.
James 4:7
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
A soft heart is spiritually powerful.
Alma 38:12
“Bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.”
Mosiah 3:19
“Become as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love.”
Why These Scriptures Matter
The study is built on the progression:
mighty → speaketh → harden → hearts → Holy Spirit
The “harden” section is the hinge. If the heart is hard, God’s voice is unheard, His power unfelt, His Spirit resisted, and His joy delayed. If the heart is soft, His joy is immediate.
Why Self‑Mastery Belongs Here
Self‑mastery is not self‑improvement—it is self‑surrender. It is the daily practice of yielding.
2. Day of Salvation
Action in Repentance
“Now is the time and the day of your salvation.”
Repentance is not a future appointment—it is a now experience.
Romans 13:11–12
"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
𖤝"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light."
We step into joy the moment we step into the day of salvation.
3. Salvation
the Supporting Scriptures
Matthew 11:20
“¶ Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:”
Salvation is the saving relationship we enter with Christ when we repent.
3 Nephi 9:3
“Behold, that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof.”
Salvation is God’s power to lift, cleanse, restore, realign, and empower.
D&C 84:114
“Nevertheless, let the bishop go unto the city of New York, also to the city of Albany, and also to the city of Boston, and warn the people of those cities with the sound of the gospel, with a loud voice, of the desolation and utter abolishment which await them if they do reject these things.”
We feel joy because salvation is already touching us.
4. Harden Not Your Hearts
(Second Time)
The repetition is intentional.
The timing of joy is based on the softness of our hearts. The moment our hearts turn, God’s joy flows.
Supporting Scriptures — Principle: Hardheartedness
Psalm 95:8
“Harden not your heart…”
Proverbs 28:14
“He that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
Isaiah 29:13
“Their heart is far from me.”
Mark 3:5
“Grieved for the hardness of their hearts.”
Alma 12:10
“He that will harden his heart… receiveth the lesser portion.”
Helaman 6:35
“The Spirit… began to withdraw… because of the hardness of their hearts.”
Hebrews 4:7
“Today… harden not your hearts.”
Why the Repetition Matters
Hardness is subtle, gradual, and often unnoticed. God repeats Himself because the danger is great and the solution is simple.
The Core Answer:
“Immediately”
The study states: “Immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.”
This means:
- The power of redemption is immediate.
- The presence of Christ is immediate.
- The joy of turning back to God is immediate.
Repentance is not a long hallway. It is a turning—and God is already there.
Closing Summary
“The Joy That Comes When the Heart Turns”
The entire study shows that joy is tied to the softness of our hearts. This document states, “the joy of repentance is not delayed… immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.”
Final Thoughts
“Softness Is the Gate of Heaven”
Celestial living is not flawlessness—it is softness. A celestial heart is teachable, humble, responsive, willing, open, and yielded.
Testimony
“Immediately”
I testify that God responds immediately to a softened heart. As your document declares, “The joy of repentance comes immediately because God responds immediately to a softened heart.”
Joy is the signature of God’s presence. It is the evidence that the plan of redemption is already working in us. Amen.
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