What more glorious summary statement of the plan of salvation could there be than these words of Mormon to his son! Repentance and making a covenant with God through baptism brings forgiveness and a remission of sins (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Our guilt is swept away (see Enos 1:5–6), and the Lord remembers our sins no more (see D&C 58:42–43). We become meek and lowly and receive the blessing of the Holy Ghost in our lives. The blessings of the Holy Ghost fill us with hope and perfect love, which stays with us as we are diligent in prayer and keeping the commandments. Sometimes we do not remember or acknowledge the source of the remission of our sins. King Benjamin reminds us:
And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. (Mosiah 4:11)
The remission of sins brings to us a blessing of supreme joy, filling us with gratitude for His infinite and eternal Atonement, which makes all things possible in our lives. This gratitude will be a catalyst to move us to do good works, thus manifesting our repentance—truly a process of becoming like Christ, more than just an event of confessing and forsaking. When all is said and done, our work is to repent and practice forgiveness. Almost all the doctrines and principles of a celestial life are embodied in keeping these two quintessential commandments. What are we doing to repent fully so that all the blessings of the Lord can be ours?