The Labor Which They Had to Perform

This is from an email I wrote on April 19, 2007:

Why is it that in general we seem to feel that repentance has to take a long time? Maybe I just haven't looked hard enough, but I can't find anywhere in the scriptures that says that repentance needs to take a lot of time. In fact:

Alma 34:31 - "...if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you."

Most of the big conversion stories in the scriptures happen fairly quickly. Sure, Alma the Younger suffered for 3 days, but the moment he thought of the Savior and cried out for mercy, he "could remember his pains no more" (Alma 36:16-19).

Seems to me like the three day thing is actually symbolic of the Savior's death and resurrection. Saul also passed through a 3-day period as part of his conversion where he couldn't see anything and he didn't eat or drink (Acts 9:4-6).

My conclusion is that, with the exception of your more serious sins like murder and fornication, repentance only requires as much time as it takes for us to turn to the Lord fully and completely. (Actually, the same thing can probably be said of the more serious sins - but with those, it is much more difficult to turn to the Lord fully and completely, and more time is needed.) All we have to do is look (1 Nephi 17:41). Perhaps we take longer at times to repent because we underestimate how powerful the Atonement really can be.

Just a thought.

-John, who probably thinks too much