While the Lord insists on repentance, most people don't feel such a compelling need, said Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Elder Russell M. Nelson

"They include themselves among those who try to be good. They have no evil intent. Yet the Lord is clear in His message that all need to repent — not only from sins of commission, but from sins of omission as well," he said.

In the Sunday afternoon conference session, Elder Nelson said, "The Lord has commanded His servants to cry repentance unto all people." Repentance, he noted, is a crucial component of that gospel.

To repent is not easy, he continued. "But the prize is worth the price."

Prerequisites to forgiveness are recognition, remorse and confession, he said. Then comes restitution, to repair damage done, followed by steps to resolve to do better and refrain from relapse — to repent "with full purpose of heart."

"Thanks to the ransom paid by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, full forgiveness is given to the sinner who repents and remains free from sin."

When Jesus said repent, continued Elder Nelson, "He asked us to change — to change our mind, knowledge, and spirit, even our breath....

"The Lord has commanded us to repent, to change our ways, to come unto Him, and be more like Him. This requires a total change."

To repent, he explained, is to convert completely to the Lord and His holy work, to be "born again," to be "converted and focused upon our journey to the kingdom of God."

The fruits of repentance are sweet, continued Elder Nelson. "Repentant converts find that the truths of the restored gospel govern their thoughts and deeds, shape their habits and forge their character. They are more resilient and able to deny themselves of all ungodliness."

As a result, uncontrolled appetites such as addiction to drugs and pornography, unbridled passions and carnal desires "are diminished with complete conversion to the Lord and a determination to serve Him and emulate His example."

Repentance becomes the Lord's regimen for spiritual growth, he said.

"Repentance is conversion," he declared. "A repentant soul is a converted soul, and a converted soul is a repentant soul."

Each living person can repent, continued Elder Nelson. "But what about those who have died? They also have opportunities to repent." Quoting scripture, he pointed out, "The dead who repent will be redeemed."

The Lord wants "bonding blacksmiths," he said, to create celestial welding links, to curb the curse of family fragmentation.

"Many, if not all of us, could repent and be converted to more temple and family history work for our ancestors. Thus, our repentance is necessary and essential for their repentance."

"The sweet blessing of repentance is possible," concluded Elder Nelson. "It comes through complete conversion to the Lord and His holy work."