We have been counseled not to procrastinate the day of our repentance. Many of us mistakenly believe that because we do not commit "grievous" sin, our souls are safe from punishment. Others may wrongly assume that just because they have repented once, or felt godly sorrow, they are saved.

A careful reading of the scriptures and comments from modern-day Church leaders shows that repentance is an ongoing process. It denotes "a change of mind, i.e., a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. It is a turning of the heart and will to God, and a renunciation of sin to which we are naturally inclined. Without this there can be no progress in the things of the soul's salvation, for all accountable persons are stained by sin and must be cleansed in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Repentance is not optional for salvation. It is a commandment of God." (Bible Dictionary, pp. 760-61.)

President Joseph F. Smith taught, "True repentance is not only sorrow for sins, and humble penitence and contrition before God, but it involves the necessity of turning away from them, a discontinuance of all evil practices and deeds, a thorough reformation of life, a vital change from evil to good, from vice to virtue, from darkness to light." (Gospel Doctrine, p. 100.)

Turning away does not mean setting them aside for a season to revisit them later. Nor does it mean indulging in other practices that put us at odds with God's laws. Repentance is accepting the Atonement and making it work in our lives. It is giving ourselves to God and acknowledging His supreme gift by keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.

President Brigham Young said, "Now . . . you who have sinned, repent. . . . I can say to you in regard to Jesus and the Atonement . . . that Christ has died for all. He has paid the full debt, whether you receive the gift or not. But if we continue to sin, to lie, steal, bear false witness, we must repent of and forsake that sin to have the full efficacy of the blood of Christ. Without this, it will be of no effect; repentance must come, in order that the Atonement may prove a benefit to us." (Teachings of the Latter-day Prophets, p. 544.)

We all have need to repent. Sometimes we sin because of ignorance; sometimes because of our weaknesses; and sometimes because of willful disobedience. But all of us are guilty of sin to some degree. That is why the Lord has said, that "all men everywhere must repent." (Moses 6:57.)

Repentance sometimes requires great courage; much strength; many tears; unceasing prayers; and untiring efforts to live the commandments of the Lord. The danger to us becomes when we rely too heavily on the Atonement of Jesus Christ at the expense of our own responsibility in the process.

President Spencer W. Kimball cited just such an example: "There are many people who seem to rely solely on the Lord's mercy rather than on accomplishing their own repentance. One woman rather flippantly said, 'The Lord knows my intent and that I'd like to give up my bad habits. He will understand and forgive me.' But the scriptures will not bear this out. The Lord may temper justice with mercy, but He will never supplant it." (Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 358-9.)

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "What a marvelous and wonderful thing this is. It is our privilege, yours and mine . . . to repent of evil with the expectation that we will be forgiven if we live worthy of the forgiveness of the Lord. . . . Eternal vigilance is the price of eternal development. Occasionally we may stumble. I thank the Lord for the great principle of repentance and forgiveness. When we drop the ball, when we make a mistake, there is held out to us the word of the Lord that He will forgive our sins and remember them no more against us. (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 546.)

Repentance may require effort every day. As we approach the Lord in prayer each morning, we should request His spirit to be with us. At day's end, we should examine our acts and words and deeds and ask the Lord to show us the things for which we need to repent. By repenting each day we will experience the daily process of perfecting ourselves. And, like Alma, experience the "exquisite and sweet" joy of cleanliness.

When we become free from the bondage of our sins through true repentance, we find happiness, joy and purpose in our lives.