Week 12: Forgiveness

Song: Help Me, Dear Father (CS. 99)

Thought: The great Atonement was the supreme act of forgiveness. The magnitude of that Atonement is beyond our ability to completely understand. I know only that it happened, and that it was for me and for you. The suffering was so great, the agony so intense, that none of us can comprehend it when the Savior offered Himself as a ransom for the sins of all mankind.
It is through Him that we gain forgiveness. It is through Him that there comes the certain promise that all mankind will be granted the blessings of salvation, with resurrection from the dead. It is through Him and His great overarching sacrifice that we are offered the opportunity through obedience of exaltation and eternal life. (Forgiveness by Gordon B. Hinckley)

Object Lesson:
 Prepare a simple obstacle course.  Have each person try to get through it backwards.  After everyone has had a turn, let them go through the same course looking forward.  Discuss how looking forward is like forgiveness, because when we forgive, we can concentrate on our future and forget the hurts of our past. (Found here)

Video: Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

Lesson Activity:
For young children tell the story of Joseph who was sold into Egypt as a slave by his brothers. Explain that when he was older he had a chance to get back at them, but instead forgave them and even helped them to survive a famine. Let them color this picture.

Read together with the older members of your family, the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:23–35, and help your family calculate and compare the debts of the servant and his fellow servant (see “Weights and Measures” in the Bible Dictionary). What does your family learn from this parable about forgiveness? (Come, Follow Me: Why do I need to forgive others?)

This Week's Challenge: Challenge your family to focus this week on offering true forgiveness to those who may have hurt or offended them. As an added challenge encourage them to accept the forgiveness others seek from them. If someone says "I'm sorry...." respond with "I accept your apology" rather than "that's okay" or "don't worry about it." Remind your family that it is okay to acknowledge that what has been said or done cause pain, but that it is important to let go of that pain--even if no one ever apologizes!