Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Atonement provides 'point of safe return'
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Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf drew from his aviation past to illustrate how Satan tries to counterfeit the work of God by deceiving many to believe that forgiveness is beyond hope.
Elder Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke Sunday afternoon of a point during long flights known as "the point of safe return." Up until that point, the aircraft has enough fuel to turn around and return safely to the airport of departure. "Having passed the point of safe return, the captain has lost his option and has to continue on. That is why this point is often referred to as 'the point of no return,"' Elder Uchtdorf said.
"Satan wants us to think that when we have sinned we have gone past a 'point of no return' — that it is too late to change our course," he said.
Further, Elder Uchtdorf declared, "Christ came to save us. If we have taken a wrong course, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can give us the assurance that sin is not a point of no return. A safe return is possible if we will follow God's plan for our salvation."
Strong faith in Christ is needed to repent, he added. Such faith will change thoughts, beliefs and behaviors. "Repentance means a change of mind and heart — we stop doing things that are wrong, and we start doing things that are right. It brings a fresh attitude toward God, oneself and life in general."
True repentance "blesses our lives;... we feel God's forgiveness and His peace, and our guilt and sorrow are lifted away; we enjoy the influence of the Spirit in greater abundance; and we are better prepared to live with Heavenly Father."
Satan, warned Elder Uchtdorf, "will try to make us believe our sins are not forgiven because we can remember them. Satan is a liar; he tries to blur our vision and lead us away from the path of repentance and forgiveness....
"Remembering will help us avoid making the same mistakes again.... But if we stay true and faithful, the memory of our sins will be softened over time."
Extending forgiveness, he continued, is a precondition to receiving forgiveness.
"We need the moral courage to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Never is the soul nobler and more courageous than when we forgive. This includes forgiving ourselves....
"We will receive the joy of forgiveness in our own lives when we are willing to extend that joy freely to others. Lip service is not enough. We need to purge our hearts and minds of feelings and thoughts of bitterness and let the light and love of Christ enter in."
He emphasized, "Wherever you find yourselves on this journey through life, whatever trials you may face, there is always a point of safe return; there is always hope.
"You are the captain of your life, and God has prepared a plan to bring you safely back to Him, to your divine destination."
Because of the gift of the Atonement, concluded Elder Uchtdorf, "the opportunity to make a safe return from the disastrous course of sin is available to all of us at all times."
