The Gift of Clean Hands and a Pure Heart: A Journey Beyond Forgiveness

The concept of repentance is often viewed as simply cleansing us from sin, but it's an incomplete view of the matter. Repentance is not just about being forgiven; it's about experiencing a transformative change that connects us with the Savior's power to redeem. Elder Ronald E. Poelman shares a story that illustrates this dilemma: even after sincerely intending to change, we may find ourselves back in the same situation, needing forgiveness again and again.

This 'serial repentance' is an indication of an attempt to change that has not yet connected with the Savior's power to redeem. Alma's story is a powerful example of this journey beyond forgiveness. When he cried out to the Savior for mercy, he didn't just receive forgiveness; he experienced a complete remission of the effects of sin.

In that moment, Alma's whole disposition or character was changed. He never returned to his past mistakes and devoted his life to repairing the damage and teaching others about Christ's redeeming love. This is more than just being forgiven; it's about receiving a gift from God – clean hands and a pure heart.

For many of us, our repentance may seem like just a bandage covering a deeply infected wound. We may be trying to meet certain requirements or check off boxes on our spiritual to-do lists, but without a true connection with the Savior, we may not experience the transformative change that we're seeking.

Alma's story teaches us that it's possible to go beyond forgiveness and receive a complete remission of sin's effects. When we cry out to God for mercy, He can do what we cannot do for ourselves – He can give us clean hands and a pure heart.

In conclusion, the gift of clean hands and a pure heart is not just about being forgiven; it's about experiencing a deep and lasting change that connects us with the Savior's power to redeem. As we embark on this journey, may we remember Alma's story and strive for more than just forgiveness – may we seek the complete remission of sin's effects and receive the gift of clean hands and a pure heart from our Heavenly Father.

Clean hands pure heart gift