Life

Jesus Christ and the Power of the Atonement: Forgiveness

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I have written out my talk from Church last last week to be a full post here on my blog.

Brothers and Sisters,

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today about one of the most powerful gifts our Savior, Jesus Christ, has given us—the ability to forgive. Forgiveness, both of others and of ourselves, is central to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and is essential for our peace and happiness.

I would like to begin by sharing a little bit about my family.

I have a son, Joseph, who is a smart and normally quiet kid. He loves playing the drums and computer games. Then there’s Abigail, who is outgoing and energetic. She loves making friends and playing games. My wife, Sarah, and I met in high school. She plays the piano, sings beautifully, and teaches fourth grade. Sarah has a strong testimony of the gospel, and she helps me become a better person. Her kindness, maturity, and love have been a blessing in my life.

As for myself, I have had a variety of life experiences—some wonderful, some difficult. I’ve been an abused child in foster care, a missionary, a soldier, a car washer, a school librarian, and I currently work in IT. In the Church, I have served in many capacities, including Young Men’s President, Elders Quorum President, Service Men’s Group Leader, Sunday School Teacher, and now as a finance clerk.

Through my experiences, I have learned that life brings both joy and hardship. People will hurt us, sometimes intentionally, sometimes unknowingly. The world teaches us that holding onto anger and resentment is justified, but the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches a higher law—the law of forgiveness.

Forgiving Others

President Russell M. Nelson has said:

“Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continuous process that requires patience, compassion, and understanding. It is not always easy to forgive those who have hurt you. You can receive strength from Jesus Christ.”

We all experience pain caused by others. Whether it is a harsh word, a betrayal, or a deep personal wound, the Savior has taught us how to respond. In Matthew 5:44, Christ said:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

President Nelson also warned us that, while forgiveness is difficult, holding onto grudges is harmful:

“There is nothing easy about forgiving those who have disappointed us, hurt us, cheated us, or spread false rumors about us. However, not forgiving others is poison for us. Grudges weigh us down. Angry disagreements separate us. Animosity and hatred can divide families.”

Jesus Christ suffered for all of us, not just so that we can repent, but also so that we can find healing. Through His Atonement, He can take away our burdens, including the pain we feel from others’ actions.

I have seen firsthand the power of letting go of anger. When we hold onto resentment, it only harms us. But when we turn to Christ, He helps us release that burden. As we choose to forgive, we invite peace and healing into our lives.

Forgiving Ourselves

Sometimes, the hardest person to forgive is ourselves.

The Lord has reassured us in Doctrine and Covenants 19:16:

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.”

This does not mean we are free to do whatever we want without consequences. Rather, it means that once we have repented, we should move forward in faith and not dwell on past mistakes.

Modern science even supports the importance of self-forgiveness. Dr. Andrea Brandt, a licensed therapist, wrote:

“Acknowledge that not everyone is self-aware or empathetic enough to admit they’ve done something wrong. Appreciate that you’re the kind of person who can recognize your faults and mistakes and say, ‘I did this; I am responsible.’ You’ve done something wrong, yes, but at your core, you are a good person.”

Dwelling on past mistakes only leads to misery. The adversary wants us to feel unworthy, to believe that we are beyond God’s love. But this is a lie. The scriptures teach us:

“But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.” (Moroni 6:8)

God does not hold grudges against His children. He does not want us to remain burdened by guilt. He desires that we repent, forgive ourselves, and move forward with faith in Christ. When God forgives, it is as though the sin never happened.

Jesus Christ: The Source of Forgiveness

Ultimately, forgiveness—whether of others or of ourselves—is possible because of Jesus Christ. He has already paid the price for all sin, pain, and suffering. He stands ready to help us heal.

President Nelson testified:

“Jesus Christ is risen. He loves you. And because of Him, you can experience the joy and miracle of forgiveness.”

Brothers and sisters, I know that through Jesus Christ, we can be freed from the chains of resentment, guilt, and pain. I have felt His love in my own life, and I testify that He is always there, ready to lift us. I encourage each of us to examine our hearts. Is there someone we need to forgive? Do we need to forgive ourselves?

Let us turn to the Savior. He will guide us. He will heal us. And through Him, we will find peace.

I bear my testimony that Jesus Christ lives. He loves us. His Atonement is real. Through Him, we can receive forgiveness and extend it to others.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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Honor Veterans with repeal of AUMFs

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This Veterans Day let’s honor our Veterans by ending their wars by repealing the 1957, 1991, 2001, and 2002 AUMFs.

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As we approach Veterans Day, we reflect on the sacrifices our service members have made in service to our county. One of the most solemn promises a nation can make to its veterans is to use military force judiciously and only when absolutely necessary. However, several outdated Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) remain active, giving the executive branch far-reaching authority to engage in military action without the explicit approval of Congress. The 1957, 1991, 2001, and 2002 AUMFs are still in effect, providing broad justifications for military engagements that allow the President to strike targets at will.

To truly honor our veterans this Veterans Day, we must push for the repeal of these outdated AUMFs, restoring constitutional checks on the executive’s power to wage war and ensuring that military action is only pursued with clear and current defensive justification.

The Legacy of the AUMFs

  1. The 1957 AUMF: Passed during the Cold War era, this authorization was a product of intense geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. Designed to counter potential Soviet expansion in the Middle East, it granted the president broad authority to use military force to protect U.S. allies in the region. While the Cold War has long since ended, this AUMF technically remains in effect, though rarely invoked in modern times.
  2. The 1991 AUMF: Passed in the lead-up to the Gulf War, the 1991 AUMF gave President George H.W. Bush the authority to use military force to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The Gulf War ended decades ago, and Saddam Hussein’s regime is no longer a threat, but the 1991 AUMF remains on the books.
  3. The 2001 AUMF: This is perhaps the most well-known and widely abused of the AUMFs. Passed just days after the September 11, 2001, attacks, it authorized the use of force against those responsible for the attacks and any associated forces. However, its vague language has led to a nearly boundless interpretation, allowing it to be used as a justification for military actions across the globe, from Afghanistan to Yemen, often with little connection to the original target of the authorization—al-Qaeda.
  4. The 2002 AUMF: Passed in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, this AUMF was designed to remove Saddam Hussein’s regime from power. While Saddam has been gone for over 15 years, the 2002 AUMF continues to be used as a justification for military action, often far beyond the original scope of its intent. In fact, the Trump and Biden administrations both invoked the 2002 AUMF in unrelated military operations.

Why Repeal Is Essential

Restoring Constitutional Balance: The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, a vital check on executive overreach. However, these lingering AUMFs have effectively transferred much of that power to the executive branch. Presidents from both parties have used the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs to engage in military actions without seeking updated congressional approval. This undermines the democratic principle that major military engagements should only occur with the consent of the people’s representatives in Congress. Repealing these outdated AUMFs would restore the proper constitutional balance, ensuring that the decision to go to war is thoroughly debated and scrutinized.

Preventing Perpetual War: The 2001 and 2002 AUMFs, in particular, have enabled a state of perpetual war, with military actions justified in countries and regions that had no connection to the original authorizations. Repealing these AUMFs would force a reassessment of current military engagements and demand a renewed focus on diplomacy and conflict resolution. Veterans who served in these prolonged conflicts have frequently expressed frustration with the seemingly endless nature of these wars. By repealing outdated AUMFs, we send a message that military force is not an indefinite solution and that there is a clear path to peace.

Honoring Veterans’ Sacrifices: Every time the United States engages in military action, it asks its service members to risk their lives. Veterans, many of whom have served multiple tours in conflicts authorized under the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs, deserve to know that their sacrifices are made in the service of clearly defined, lawful, and necessary missions. Leaving outdated AUMFs in place not only dishonors their service but risks further entanglement in conflicts with murky justifications. Repealing these authorizations would be a powerful statement that the U.S. government is committed to using military force sparingly, with the full weight of congressional approval.

Aligning Military Action with Today’s Realities: The world has changed drastically since 1957, 1991, 2001, and 2002. The Cold War is long over, the Gulf War is a distant memory, and the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East has shifted considerably. Continuing to rely on these outdated AUMFs leaves the door open for military action that is detached from current realities. If new threats emerge, Congress should debate and vote on new authorizations tailored to those specific challenges, rather than relying on antiquated justifications.

A Path Forward

In recent years, there has been bipartisan support for repealing these outdated AUMFs. In 2021, the House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal the 2002 AUMF, and there have been efforts to repeal or replace the 2001 AUMF. However, these efforts have not yet been fully realized. As Veterans Day approaches, there is no better time to renew the push for repeal.

Veterans fought and sacrificed for our country. By repealing these outdated AUMFs, we ensure that military force is used only when absolutely necessary and with full democratic oversight. This is how we can truly honor the sacrifices of those who have served and ensure that future generations are not sent into harm’s way without clear and current justification.

This Veterans Day, let us recommit ourselves to protecting the rights and freedoms our veterans have fought for—by restoring constitutional limits on the use of military force.

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Cain and Abel

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I recently heard someone relate the story of Cain and Abel and as they began to explain it and tried to apply it to real world comparisons, I found they deeply misunderstood it. 

For those that are unfamiliar with the story you can find it in Genesis Chapter 4. In the story the sons of Adam were commanded to make sacrifice to the Lord. Abel made Sacrifice of the firstlings of his flocks and Cain made sacrifice of the fruits of the ground. The Lord accepts Abel’s sacrifice while rejecting Cains. Why did Cains sacrifice get rejected? Under Levitical law grain sacrifice is acceptable but Cain’s was not. If we read 1 John 3:11-16 we read: 

11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

We can gather from this reading and other sources that it wasn’t the type of offering that was rejected but the spirit with which Cain offers it. Cain could have humbled himself and made an offering to the Lord in love but instead in his pride continued down the destructive path of hate and murdered his brother. 

The lesson to take is that it is important to have the correct spirit with an action as the action taken. With the Love of others should be the center of all we do. While not the only motivators out there love and hate are powerful. I’ve been finding those that are motivated by hate find it difficult to understand those motivated by love. They will often attribute different false narratives for while people are really doing what they are doing. They will often call people “haters” that don’t share that motivation. It’s a perverse reflection of what is the actual reality of the situation. All I can say is that we should follow the example of Christ and love one another.

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