Importance of Forgiveness

Probably one of the greatest example of forgiveness in history has to be the in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. First, Jesus Christ was betrayed by a member of the 12 apostle, Judas Iscariot, for only 30 pieces of silver. Then, He was mocked, spit upon, and humiliated in front of a large group of people. His hands were tied on a rope above His head, stripped of His clothing, and He was repeatedly flogged with a heavy whip, on His back, shoulders, and leg. Then, they put a crown of thorns on His head and mocked Him and humiliated Him. He was then forced to carry a heavy wooden cross to the location of His death. He was humiliated and mocked by onlookers while He was carrying the cross. When He arrived at Calvary, they laid Him down on the cross, they use a heavy wrought-iron nail and pounded it through His hands and feet. They again mocked and humiliated him as he was being lifted on the cross. To make things more sad, they put Jesus on the cross next to two criminals. Despite all the horrible, ruthless, and disgusting things they did to Him, despite all the mockery and humiliation he received, Jesus, while on the cross, in dying words, He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."-Luke 23:34

I believe that forgiveness is a requirement, a law, and a commandment. In order to enter God's kingdom, it is required to forgive one another. Forgiveness has to be done in the heart not just verbally. In D&C 64:8-10 Jesus teaches to Joseph for the saints:

 8 My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.

 9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.

 10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

"Note the Lord's comment about inadequate forgiveness on the part of His former-day disciples. Just what their sufferings were not stated, but the penalties and chastisement were sore.

The lesson stands for us today. Many people, when brought to a reconciliation with others, say that they forgive, but they continue to hold malice, continue to suspect the other party, continue to disbelieve the others sincerity. This is sin, for when a reconciliation has been effected and when repentance is claimed, each should forgive and forget, build immediately the fences which have been breached and restore the former compatibility."-The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball, pg. 262-263.

To forgive you have to forget. Forgetting does necessarily mean to to not remember. It can also mean that when you forgive the person in your heart and you won't let it that bother you ever again. How many times do we always hear people say i will forgive but i will not forget what you did to me. Willingly to not forget means that you haven't forgiven others. "If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being."-James E. Faust, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, April 2007 General conference. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/the-healing-power-of-forgiveness?lang=eng

Lastly i want to say to say is this. Forgiveness is a demonstration of love. In Mathew 22:39, Jesus teaches that "the second greatest commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself." To show to God that you love your neighbor, you have to forgive them whether if they willingly or unwillingly offended you.