21 And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness. And it came to pass that they did so. And after they had done praying unto the Lord we did again travel on our journey towards the tent of our father.
The Lord is very clear throughout the scriptures, in every dispensation, on the matter of forgiveness. As long as an offender seeks forgiveness, he is to be forgiven. Period. Heavenly Father gave His Son, and the Son gave His life so that we might be forgiven of our trespasses. If they can sacrifice so much that we can be forgiven of our sins, surely we can sacrifice a thing as small as our pride to forgive others their trespasses. Holding a grudge does no good to anyone, and only harms the one bearing the grudge. As with other things, forgiveness needs to be done sincerely or it’s not really forgiveness. Nephi “did frankly forgive” his brethren, not out of duty or commandment keeping, but out of sincere love and concern for them. Paul taught that even if we do great and righteous things, if we do it without charity, it profiteth us nothing. (1 Cor 13:1–3)
- Nehemiah 9: 16–17
- Matthew 18: 21–22
- Mosiah 26:31
- D&C 64:9–10
- D&C 121:41–43
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