Godly sorrow leads to joy.

At first reading, this simple statement might seem confusing. With further thought it becomes clear: The path leading from sorrow to joy is completed through the repentance process made possible by the Master Healer of broken hearts, Jesus Christ. Repentance stemming from Godly sorrow opens the gate to the purest form of happiness.

Paul, the early apostle, wrote a letter rebuking the saints at Corinth for their transgressions, including immorality. Evidently, the saints repented, for Paul wrote another letter, in which he declared: "Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner. …

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death" (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

On several occasions, the scriptures quote the Savior uttering the absolving words, "Thy sins are forgiven. …"

Luke bears record of one such incident: A woman carrying the burden of her sins approached Jesus while He was a guest in the house of Simon the Pharisee. We are not told what sins the woman had committed. We know little about her beyond the fact that she was "a woman in the city" who, upon learning where the Savior was, sought Him out. She literally took the burden of her sins to the Master's feet.

Luke records that she wept as she washed the Savior's feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. This description leads us to surmise she had great sorrow for her sins, even Godly sorrow, and that she possessed key elements in seeking and receiving forgiveness: a broken heart and a contrite spirit.

One of the accompanying, and valuable, lessons we can learn from this account is that those who seek the Lord will find Him. It is commendable that this woman, whose identity is not revealed, chose to approach Jesus. How many in similar situations might have postponed going to Him, waiting until they felt "worthy," or until they had their lives in order or until they felt they qualified to be in His presence?

In her humility, she went as she was. She knelt at His feet as her true self, without pretense and, certainly, without pride.

In her sinful state, she recognized Jesus and accorded Him all respect. While Simon failed to provide water to wash His feet or oil to anoint His head or the customary kiss of greeting, the woman washed His feet with her tears, anointed them with ointment and kissed them.

One of the most soul-soothing declarations a penitent will ever hear is found in the Savior's words to the woman: "Thy sins are forgiven. …Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace" (See Luke 7:36-50).

How beautiful and comforting is the promise recorded in Isaiah:

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).

In this dispensation, the Lord said, "Behold, he who has repented of his sins the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more" (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42).

Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th president of the Church, wrote while a member of the Quorum of the Twelve: "… the call to repentance from sin is to all men … the call promises forgiveness of sin to those who respond. What a farce it would be to call people to repentance if there were no forgiveness, and what a waste of the life of Christ if it failed to bring the opportunity for salvation and exaltation!" (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 344).

As did the "woman in the city" who sought out the Savior in the house of Simon the Pharisee, we must take our sins to the Lord and, in our own way, bathe His feet with our tears in the Godly sorrow of repentance. As we do so and continue through the repentance process, He will "abundantly pardon" us of our sins and "remember them no more."