What attitude is characteristic of a broken heart and a contrite spirit?

Thomas R. Valletta

“Godly sorrow—the broken heart and contrite spirit—is much more than remorse or regret over having sinned. Mormon observed anguish in his own people and described it as ‘the sorrowing of the damned’ (see Morm. 2:12–14). It was a sorrow born of sins and circumstances but which did not produce ‘faith unto repentance.’ Many may be remorseful for past actions and regret the consequences that have befallen them but do nothing to change, to come unto Christ and partake of his mercy and to comply with the requirements of the gospel. A ‘broken heart and contrite spirit’ is an attitude that always leads to a commitment to change” (Top, “Faith unto Repentance,” 199).

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