In her April 2025 General Conference Sunday morning session address entitled “Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy,” Sister Tamara W. Runia emphasized the uplifting and joyous nature of repentance.
Sister Runia conveyed that turning to the Savior through repentance not only alleviates our burdens but also brings joy to Jesus Christ.
Sister Runia began by recounting an experience from her daughter Carly’s ward, where a new priest, while blessing the sacrament, inadvertently said, “That they may do it in remembrance of the love of thy Son” instead of “the blood of thy Son.” This unintentional alteration deeply moved Carly, highlighting the profound love that motivated the Savior’s Atonement. Sister Runia emphasized that our Savior was willing to endure immense suffering because of His boundless love for each of us.
She elaborated that the invitation to repent is a manifestation of God’s love, and our acceptance of this invitation reflects our love for Him. Sister Runia encouraged individuals to envision the Savior’s joy each time we utilize His gift of repentance, reinforcing that repentance is not a burden but a source of divine joy.
Addressing common misconceptions, Sister Runia spoke about the adversary’s use of shame to distance us from God. She described shame as a heavy darkness that leads individuals to feel unworthy and isolated. In contrast, she reassured that God forgives without shaming us, always welcoming our sincere efforts to return to Him.
Sister Runia also highlighted the importance of daily repentance as a means to stay on the covenant path. She emphasized that God delights in forgiving us and views us as delightful, encouraging us to reject the adversary’s lies and embrace the Savior’s grace.
3 Quotes:
“I testify that while God cares about our mistakes, He cares more about what happens after we make a mistake. Are we going to turn to Him again and again? Are we going to stay in this covenant relationship?”
“The invitation to repent is an expression of God’s love. Saying yes to that invitation is an expression of ours. … Yes, your repentance doesn’t burden Jesus Christ; it brightens His joy.”
“We don’t stay on the covenant path by never making a mistake. We stay on the path by repenting every day. And when we’re repenting, God forgives without shaming us, comparing us to anyone else or scolding us because this is the same thing we were repenting of last week.”
10 Questions:
- Do I view repentance as a joyful opportunity to draw closer to the Savior, or do I see it as a burden?
- How can I better recognize and reject feelings of shame that distance me from God?
- In what ways can I make daily repentance a more integral part of my spiritual routine?
- Do I truly believe that God delights in forgiving me, and how does that belief influence my actions?
- How can I help others understand the joyous nature of repentance?
- Am I allowing the adversary’s lies to overshadow the Savior’s invitation to return to Him?
- What steps can I take to more fully embrace the Savior’s grace in my life?
- How does my perception of God’s love influence my willingness to repent?
- Do I compare my spiritual journey to others, or do I focus on my personal relationship with God?
- How can I cultivate a deeper understanding of the connection between repentance and divine joy?
For the full address, please refer to Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy.
dyejo
Guest Author
