President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve, introduced his address Saturday morning by speaking of one of the survivors of the Donner Party, 15-year-old John Breen. The youth, having spent the winter trapped in snowdrifts, straggled one night in April 1847 down the slopes of the Sierra Nevada to Johnson's Ranch in the Sacramento Valley. Years later, he wrote in his diary of the beauty of the area the morning after his rescue and added: " `Most of the incidents are gone from memory, but I can always see the camp near Johnson's Ranch.' "

President Packer said at first he was puzzled and wondered how long months of incredible suffering and sorrow could ever be gone from the survivor's mind, how that dark winter could be replaced by one brilliant morning. President Packer said that on further reflection he decided it was not puzzling at all. He said he has seen something similar happen to people who have "spent a long winter of guilt and spiritual starvation emerge into the morning of forgiveness."He quoted scriptures citing the Lord's promise to forgive sins repented of and abandoned, and that He "will remember them no more." (See D&C 58:42; Isa. 43:25; Jer. 32:34; Heb. 8:12 and Heb. 10:17; Alma 35:15 and Alma 36:19-20.)

"The gospel teaches us that relief from torment and guilt can be earned through repentance. . . .

"There is a way back. It will not help you if, out of tender regard for your feelings, I avoid telling you the hard part.

"John Breen did not come to that morning at Johnson's Ranch simply by desiring it. He wallowed and clawed his way up over the pass, suffering every step of the way. But once he knew he would survive and the suffering would end, surely he did not complain at the ordeal. He had help all the way down. He was with rescuers."

President Packer said when an offense is minor, so simple a thing as an apology will satisfy the law, and most mistakes can be settled between the transgressor and the Lord. There are some transgressions, he added, which require discipline "to bring about the relief that comes with the morning of forgiveness. If your mistakes have been grievous ones, go to your bishop. Like the rescuers who brought John Breen down from the mountains, bishops can guide you through the steps required to obtain forgiveness insofar as the Church is concerned. Each one of us must work out individually forgiveness from the Lord."

He said some members wonder why their priesthood leaders will not accept them just as they are and simply comfort them in what they call pure Christian love. "Pure Christian love, the love of Christ, does not presuppose approval of all conduct," President Packer said. "Surely the ordinary experiences of parenthood teach that one can be consumed with love for another and yet be unable to approve unworthy conduct. . . .

"If we, out of sympathy, should approve unworthy conduct, it might give present comfort to someone, but would not ultimately contribute to their happiness."

President Packer said, "The great morning of forgiveness may not come at once. Do not give up if at first you fail. Often the most difficult part of repentance is to forgive yourself. Discouragement is part of the test. Do not give up. That brilliant morning will come."