Repentance: Refinement through the Mortal Journey

By Alan Ruppe

Repentance is one of the core tenets of the gospel, but what does it truly mean? Understanding the principle of repentance at a deeper level is often overshadowed by the simplistic reciting of the five-step process of repentance: (1) recognition, (2) remorse, (3) confession, (4) restitution, and (5) forgiveness. But repenting is so much more than a checklist step in the process to get on the righteous path.
When confronted by a Primary child's innocent question about repentance, author G. Alan Ruppe realized that something was missing from his lifelong simplistic view of what it means to repent. The intense research and spiritual revelation that stemmed from that awakening culminate in this insightful discussion about the nature of sincere, divine repentance and forgiveness. In Repentance: Refining the Mortal Journey, discover The historical definitions of biblical repentance and how translations over time have skewed our perception of this sacred practice.
The difference between sins and mortal mistakes, when and why repentance is necessary, and how repentance relates to our God-given agency.
How to receive divine forgiveness and become once again clean and pure through the Atonement of Christ.
Real repentance, the kind desired for us by our Heavenly Parents, is an emotionally and spiritually painful process, but it is a course that will help develop our repentance from an abstract perception to a genuine way of life. A deeper understanding of its purpose will reveal avenues to stronger faith, richer experiences, and more profound joy as we journey through this mortal life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
• Release date: Mar 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9781462144006

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© 2023 Alan Ruppe

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ISBN 13: 978–1–4621–4399–3

Published by CFI, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.

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CONTENTS

Preamble

Preface

Chapter   1    Defining Repentance

Chapter   2    The Common Mortal Mistakes of Life

Chapter   3    The Cosmic Questions

Chapter   4    Agency

Chapter   5    Order

Chapter   6    A Destination

Chapter   7    What Is Sin?

Chapter   8    The Anatomy of a Sin

Chapter   9    Righteous and Wicked

Chapter 10    Changing the Repentance Paradigm

Chapter 11    The Results of Sin

Chapter 12    Ordinances and Covenants Tutor Our Repentance

Chapter 13    The Science of Change

Chapter 14    The Pain of Change and the Lonely Journey

Chapter 15    Becoming

Chapter 16    Receiving Forgiveness

Epilogue

About the Author

Preamble

While I was teaching a Primary class of eight-year-old children, one of the students asked, What does it mean to repent? I just don’t get it. The question surprised me. I recognized I had not given the subject much thought, supposing the concept of repentance was simple and easily understood by everyone. We had a short and revealing discussion about repentance. It appeared the children gained more insight and were satisfied in their understanding. I, however, felt something was missing. I needed to delve deeper into the subject and question my own paradigm. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell suggested, Inventory our insights so that we are enriched by our learning experiences.¹ My inventory journey helped me relearn that, like all other divine principles, trying to further understand the subject and application of repentance is inexhaustible for the serious seeker of wisdom and the devoted disciple of Jesus Christ.

Because of my desire to learn and teach—and also as a gift to my posterity—I ventured forth to research and collect my thoughts into this book with the hope that all readers will be inspired to a greater understanding of the subject of repentance. The ideas and principles expounded on herein are like sign posts, reference points on a map, or lighthouses shining in the dark that I use and refer to often to help me navigate in the right direction. They help me avoid or come back from the damaging detours and dangers that line the covenant path.

As a fellow traveler along our mortal journey, it is sometimes painfully obvious that I have not yet mastered living according to these principles. I try to live up to the potential that my Eternal Parents hope for me, learn from my mistakes, and repent of my sins. I struggle to practice and better align what I know with what I do. I practice to be a better listener of the Holy Ghost. I want to progress as a disciplined follower of our Lord Jesus Christ who provides the hope and the way for our healing and restoration to our Heavenly Parents. If I can do my best and live with honor in this second estate, I hope to graduate from this mortal school better developed to go on to the next level of soul development. I look forward to meeting, hugging, and conversing with family and friends already there ahead of me.

Many times, I get weak and worn down from the daily friction of life. Some days are merely ‘survival’ days instead of ‘progress’ days. Simple things such as quotes found on a wall calendar can sometimes strengthen and motivate me. Here’s one I am using more often: If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit. The courage and perseverance of prophets and other great people provide inspirational examples of living with hope and surmounting our challenges in life. Their achievements, despite their own difficult trials, demonstrates why I should never quit.

Having this tenacious and unyielding attitude is given an eternal perspective by C. S. Lewis. Writing as the voice of one of Satan’s soldiers lamenting the problem of righteous people, he states: Our cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending to do our Enemy’s will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him [God] seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.²

It is my desire, that, despite anything and everything, I will nurture my hope in the great plan of our Eternal Parents and still obey.

NOTES

1.Neal A. Maxwell, The Message: Insights, New Era, April 1978.

2.C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, Letter VIII.

Preface

The fourth article of faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lists the first principles of the gospel as faith in Christ and repentance. The first ordinances of the gospel are listed as baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Faith in Christ, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost are concepts often taught and expanded upon for our learning and understanding. However, understanding the principle of repentance at a deeper level may get overshadowed by the simplistic reciting of the five-step process of repentance: 1) recognizing sin, 2) feeling remorse for sin, 3) confessing, 4) making restitution for sin, and 5) asking to be forgiven. Why is our healing and redemption dependent upon us activating this process into our life? What motivates us to go through this process that can sometimes be emotionally and spiritually painful? When can we know we have completed the process? A deeper dig into the principle of repentance may open up new vistas never before seen, new paradigms never before understood, and new directions never before known.

This book is a private venture and not an official publication of any organization. It came about because of my personal journey for greater enlightenment and understanding. Sincere prayer, personal revelation, and the doctrine taught within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides my insight and perspective. Even though others have reviewed the words written and helped with editorial clarity, I alone am responsible for the conclusions drawn and evidence cited. If there is truth in this book, the Holy Ghost can confirm it to you by revelation. It is my hope the spirit of truth will enhance your understanding beyond the limits of language and what is written. Perhaps the ideas expressed herein will be catalysts to trigger your own inspiration for a deeper understanding of how repentance is a marvelous gift for our mortal journey.

CHAPTER 1

Defining Repentance

The definition of terms is

the beginning of wisdom.

—Socrates

Imagine your friend Maria is on vacation and calls you to request your help. She had previously ordered new furniture for her home and just learned it will be delivered while she is out of town. Because you are her next-door neighbor and have a key, Maria asks you to meet the delivery truck and direct the movers to arrange the new furniture in her living room. You ask her for guidance on how she would like the furniture arranged, but Maria says she trusts you will know where everything goes. Would you feel comfortable with those instructions? Would you be afraid that when Maria arrives home, she may look at the arrangement and say, Thanks, but I wanted the sofa against the other wall?

Perhaps the word arrange is not the best word to specify the correct placement of Maria’s new furniture. In a similar way, I suggest the words repent and repentance may be too ambiguous in our mind to guide us as we adjust all the pieces of our life into place. We use the word repentance and its derivatives in various ways, yet I believe it is often a misunderstood word. Our biases may hinder a deeper understanding of repentance because of the various ways the word repentance is used in our conversations. Some may think they understand its meaning but have never really questioned their own paradigm.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell stated that repentance is too little understood, too little applied by us all, as if it were merely a word on a bumper sticker.³

As he further explained, the Lord requires more of his disciples than cheap repentance or superficial forgiveness.⁴

The prophet Joseph Smith warned, Repentance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression and daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God.⁵What did Joseph mean by those statements? Aren’t we supposed to repent when we do something wrong? And if we happen to mess up every day, shouldn’t we repent every day?

Sometimes our misunderstanding comes from the way we discuss repentance. We may simplistically portray it as part of three global concepts: 1) one’s life before becoming a disciple of Christ, 2) repenting, and 3) enduring in righteous living until death. Repentance is treated as simply a check-list step in the process to get on the righteous path.

To trifle with repentance is to treat it with insincerity, such as thinking we can tell a lie about something in the morning to give us an advantage. Then, when we kneel to offer our prayer in the evening, we tell God we are sorry for telling that lie and think we have repented.

The Limits of Language

When we use the word repent in our conversations, do we assume everyone hearing it will have the same understanding of what the word means? To demonstrate the limitation of language, I once asked a group of people to write down the first descriptive or synonym word that popped into their mind when I said the word rain. (Pause and consider: what is the first synonym word that comes to your mind when you read the word rain?) Then, one by one, I had them say their word out loud to the class. Some of the words were wet, cloud, storm, flood, falling, umbrella, cold. I was amazed there was not a repeated word for the first twelve people who shared their word. The purpose of this demonstration was to show that even when we use a simple word such as rain, the translation of it and the image it creates in our mind might be very different from what the speaker intended to portray. The context of other words used around it in a sentence may provide more clarity; however, communicating using words will always be suspect to interpretation. Our unique life experience, culture, and education brings with it differences in our perceptions and understanding as we attempt to communicate using words. The limitation of communicating in any language means we cannot be absolutely certain our communication with others is actually understood in the way we intended.

During this classroom demonstration, one person surprised the group. There was visible confusion when that person reported their synonym word as king. However, they soon realized he had heard the verbally spoken word as reign instead of rain. Language, especially the English language, can be tricky.

Diagnosing Our Understanding

Taking seriously the suggestion of Socrates that the definition of terms is the beginning of wisdom, let’s see if we can increase our wisdom concerning repentance. What is real repentance as opposed to the cheap repentance referred to by Elder Maxwell? If repentance is too little understood, what is needed to understand it more thoroughly? Perhaps we should ask, How will a deeper understanding of real repentance affect my life?

Doctrine and Covenants 6:9 reads, Say nothing but repentance unto this generation. There must be more to it than just speaking the word repentance. That would indeed make a very short and monotonous sermon.

Repentance, which literally means to turn, as defined on the Wikipedia internet site, is the activity of reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs. It generally involves a commitment to personal change and the resolve to live a more responsible and humane life.⁶

Restating this definition, repentance requires a recognition that something done was wrong. There also must be a feeling of regret for that wrong action. That feeling of remorse causes one to correct the wrong action and includes a desire to avoid repeating it. Following remorse, there is the personal commitment to maintain new and better actions that result in having a more fulfilled life.

Although Wikipedia’s definition is an effective description, there is no theology involved except for the moral component suggesting right and wrong. The basis for this definition is the sentient, self-aware person recognizing the experiences of life and deciding to achieve improved conditions in the future. Those kinds of corrections are common as we progress through mortality. For example, if we are reaching across a dinner table for a glass of water and don’t quite grasp it correctly, the glass will slip from our grip and spill onto the table. From that experience, we decide to pay more attention to how we hold on to things. If we hammer a nail into a board but hit the head at an angle and bend the nail, the next time we may try to increase our focus to better control our hammer swing. If we accidentally run a stop sign while driving our automobile and another car crashes into us, we will be even more cautious the next time we approach a stop sign. Mortality’s experiences help us understand and learn what works to our advantage and what does not.

Even though these types of errors are preventable by changing one’s actions in the future, and the word repentance technically means change, perhaps the word repentance is not the correct word to describe our common behavior modifications. To be more precise, I believe the many human errors we make should only be defined, labeled, and judged as mistakes. Therefore, words that better define what we do when we try to modify negative human behaviors, and not repeat our life mistakes, include adjust, fix, revise, correct, and reform.

As we ponder on this collection of synonyms and their definitional differences, it may be difficult to draw a definitive line between those words and the word repentance. There is a lot of overlapping imagery in our understanding. It is easy to see why the word repentance is sometimes used as an all-inclusive word for every kind of behavior modification. And yet, as we search for greater clarity, we should understand that the word repentance has a strong theological connotation. It is associated with a change of heart and changed actions that lead to character reformation. That type of change is more than merely correcting the natural negative experiences of life. To focus our thoughts for deeper definitional clarity, perhaps it is better for our soul to more fully understand what God means when He asks us to repent.

A Deeper Definition

Sincere repentance, based on divine principles, helps us refine our mortal nature to assimilate His guidelines into our temporal and spiritual disposition. Mortal actions or inactions declared by God to be barriers that retard our spiritual growth are labeled as sin. Therefore, the word repentance is a describing word to explain the process of eliminating sin from one’s life.

In the Hebrew language, the word teshuvah refers to the concept of repentance. It encompasses a deep change of mind. "Teshuva literally means return. When we do teshuva, we examine our ways, identify those areas where we are losing ground, and return to our own previous state of spiritual purity. And in the process, we return to our connection with the Almighty as well."⁷

In the New Testament, metanoeo is the Greek verb used for the English word repent. Metamelomai is the Greek word used for the English word repentance. These Greek words do not simply mean feeling sorry or changing one’s mind but indicates a complete alteration of the basic motivation and direction of one’s life. Thus, the concept of repentance in the Hebrew and Greek language means a change of mind, thought, or thinking so powerful and strong that it changes our very way of living.⁸

Unfortunately, a misunderstanding of the concept of repentance seemed to come about when the Greek word was translated into the common language of Latin. Metaneoeo was translated into the word poenitere. In the book Repentance, Theodore M. Burton explains:

The root poen in that word is the same root found in our English words punish, penance, penitent, and repentance. So the beautiful meaning of Hebrew and Greek was changed in Latin to an ugly meaning involving hurting, punishing, whipping, cutting, mutilating, disfiguring, starving, or even torturing. Small wonder then that most people have come to fear and dread the word repentance, which they were taught and now understand to mean repeated or never-ending punishment. People must somehow be made to realize that the true meaning of repentance is that we do not require people to be punished or to punish themselves, but to change their lives so they can escape eternal punishment. If they have this understanding, it will relieve their anxiety and fears and become a welcome and treasured word in our religious vocabulary.⁹

The Purpose of Repentance

If our world and our life have no eternal meaning, repentance makes no