Equity: Love Others as He Loves Us
Takeaway: We sow reconciliation when we choose to return good for evil, and God grows that seed into restored relationships, softened hearts, and a community where we become the kind of “Brother’s Keeper” we hope others will be for us.
Are we sowing what we reap?
And he said to David...
"Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.”
What this verse reveals about us
David’s restraint exposes a spiritual mirror: we always sow something—either retaliation or reconciliation. Saul expected David to return evil for evil, because that is the natural harvest of wounded pride. But David sowed good instead, and Saul was forced to acknowledge the righteousness of it.
This verse asks us:
— When others wrong us, are we sowing the seed that heals, or the seed that harms?
— Are we giving what we received, or giving what God gave us?
David models the covenant pattern:
- We refuse to mirror the harm done to us.
- We return goodness that does not feel “deserved.”
- We trust God to judge, restore, and vindicate.
- We choose reconciliation even when the other person is unstable, imperfect, or unsafe.
This is the work of discipleship: we sow what heaven wants to reap.
The Principle Behind “Good”: Reconcile
Reconciliation is not pretending nothing happened. It is choosing God’s way of repairing what sin, pride, or conflict has broken.
— It is the opposite of revenge.
— It is the opposite of withdrawal.
— It is the opposite of cold civility.
Reconciliation is the covenant reflex of a heart shaped by Christ.
But reconciliation is also a healing process, and Scripture’s call to “reward good for evil” (1 Samuel 24:17) aligns perfectly with the Savior’s pattern of recovery and restoration. This is where the:
Healing through the Savior: The Addiction Recovery Program 12-Step Recovery Guide Program’s
Step 9 — Make Amends becomes a living witness of the gospel principle behind “good.”
Reconciliation and the Healing Work of Step 9
Step 9 teaches us that wherever possible, we make direct restitution to all persons we have harmed. This is not merely a therapeutic practice—it is a Christlike one. It is reconciliation in action.
“We desired to make amends… but we knew we could not carry out our desires unless God blessed us with His Spirit.”
This is the same spiritual posture David demonstrated. He did not return evil for evil because he was strong— he returned good because he was surrendered. Step 9 calls us into that same surrender.
How Step 9 deepens our understanding of reconciliation
- Reconciliation requires courage—and Step 9 reminds us that courage is a gift of the Spirit, not a product of willpower.
- Reconciliation requires humility—we admit our wrongs without excuses, manipulation, or self‑protection.
- Reconciliation requires timing and discernment—we seek the Lord’s guidance so our amends heal rather than reopen wounds.
- Reconciliation requires honesty—we acknowledge our part without demanding anything in return.
- Reconciliation requires trust in Christ—because some wrongs cannot be fully repaired without His intervention.
“We humbly approach each person and offer reconciliation, not justification.”
That sentence is pure doctrine. It is Mosiah 27:35 lived out. It is Matthew 5:24 embodied. It is 2 Corinthians 5:18 in motion.
Reconciliation as “Sowing Good”
Step 9 clarifies what Scripture already teaches:
— Reconciliation is something we do, not just something we feel.
— It is the active sowing of good into relationships where we once sowed harm.
This is why Step 9 warns us not to procrastinate.
This is why it warns us not to be impulsive.
This is why it calls us to prayer, counsel, and accountability.
Because reconciliation is not a performance—it is a partnership with Christ.
“We can trust the Lord to heal what we cannot heal.”
That is the heart of biblical reconciliation.
We sow the seed; Christ brings the harvest.
How Step 9 Expands the Biblical Vision of Reconciliation
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Reconciliation is a spiritual discipline
Step 9 teaches us that making amends is not optional for disciples—it is part of repentance, healing, and sanctification. This aligns with Matthew 5:24: “First be reconciled to thy brother.” -
Reconciliation is a witness of our conversion
Mosiah 27:35 describes the sons of Mosiah “zealously striving to repair all the injuries which they had done.” Step 9 calls us to the same zeal. -
Reconciliation is evidence of humility
Richard G. Scott taught that restitution is “concrete evidence” of repentance. Step 9 makes this practical: we approach others, acknowledge our wrongs, and ask what we can do to make things right. -
Reconciliation respects agency
Step 9 reminds us:
— Some people will not forgive us.
— Some will forgive but not reconcile.
— Some relationships cannot be restored.
But our offering still matters to God. This aligns with D&C 1:32: “He that repents… shall be forgiven.” -
Reconciliation depends on Christ’s power, not ours
Joseph F. Smith taught that only Christ can repair the wrongs we cannot repair. Step 9 echoes this truth: we do our part, and Christ does what we cannot.
Why This Matters for Our Ministry and Our Community
When we integrate the biblical call to reconciliation with the healing pattern of Step 9, we learn:
- We cannot be our brother’s keeper if we refuse to face the harm we’ve caused.
- We cannot sow good if we avoid the people we’ve wounded.
- We cannot preach reconciliation if we will not practice it.
- We cannot expect others to return good for our evil if we will not return good for theirs.
Step 9 becomes the practical training ground for the principle behind “good.” It teaches us how to sow reconciliation in real relationships, with real humility, under real grace.
Principle for This Section
We reconcile by making amends—courageously, humbly, and prayerfully—because Christ has reconciled us first. When we sow the good of honest restitution, God heals what we cannot heal, restores what we cannot restore, and transforms us into the kind of brothers and sisters we hope others will be for us.
Essential Witness Scriptures
Each scripture below is a witness to the principle of reconciliation as the “good” we sow. Scriptures taken from the Topical Guide list: Reconciliation, Reconcile.
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Exodus 23:5 — Help the one who hates you
“If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee… thou shalt surely help.”
Why this matters: Reconciliation begins with initiative. We move toward the one who wronged us with practical goodness. -
Matthew 5:24 — First be reconciled to thy brother
Jesus teaches that reconciliation is a prerequisite to worship.
Why this matters: God refuses offerings that bypass broken relationships. Reconciliation is holy work. -
Luke 6:27 — Love your enemies
“Do good to them which hate you.”
Why this matters: Jesus commands the same pattern David lived. We sow goodness even when the soil seems hostile. -
Romans 5:10 — Reconciled to God by the death of His Son
Why this matters: Christ reconciled us when we were the offenders. We imitate Him when we reconcile with others. -
2 Corinthians 5:18–19 — Ministry of reconciliation
God “hath reconciled us to himself… and given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
Why this matters: Reconciliation is not optional; it is our calling. -
Jacob 4:11 — Reconciled through the Atonement
Why this matters: The Atonement is not only vertical (God and us) but horizontal (us and each other). -
Mosiah 26:31 — Forgive one another
Why this matters: Forgiveness is the soil in which reconciliation grows. -
D&C 42:88 — If they confess, thou shalt be reconciled
Why this matters: Reconciliation includes accountability, confession, and restored fellowship.
These eight form a complete doctrinal spine for this section.
Why These Scriptures Support the Study
Each chosen witness answers the question “Are we sowing what we reap?” by showing that reconciliation is:
- Initiated by us (Ex. 23:5)
- Required by Christ (Matt. 5:24)
- Modeled by Christ (Rom. 5:10)
- Commanded as our ministry (2 Cor. 5:18–19)
- Enabled by the Atonement (Jacob 4:11)
- Sustained by forgiveness (Mosiah 26:31)
- Completed through accountability (D&C 42:88)
Together they teach: we sow reconciliation because God sowed reconciliation into us first.
Application to Our Families, Fellowship, and Community
In our families
- We stop cycles of hurt by returning gentle words for sharp ones.
- We apologize first, even when we feel 60% right.
- We protect unity more fiercely than we protect our pride.
- We teach our children that reconciliation is strength, not weakness.
In our fellowship (the Church)
- We refuse to let misunderstandings calcify into distance.
- We seek out the one who feels wronged or overlooked.
- We practice Matthew 5:24 before we partake of the sacrament.
- We become a community where reconciliation is normal, not rare.
In our community outside the Church
- We model a different way of being human—one shaped by Christ, not culture.
- We sow goodness in workplaces, neighborhoods, and strained relationships.
- We become the “brother’s keeper” we wish the world had more of.
- We show that reconciliation is not naïve—it is divine.
Principle for This Section
We reconcile because God reconciled us first, and when we sow the good of reconciliation—even toward those who wrong us— we harvest peace, healing, and the restoration of relationships that reflect Christ’s love.
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