You Are What You Do, Not What You've Done

I've covered this topic before, more than once, if I remember correctly, but I want to cover it again from a different angle this time. I just finished watching a story about redemption. A man wakes up with no memories, and he goes around helping others and trying to figure out who he is. He's devastated to learn that he is, or was, a person who did terrible things. But those that he has helped help him understand that he has forged a new identity for himself - a good one. As I watched this story, I was reminded by the quote from President Uchtdorf, "What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become." I'm also reminded of another quote, this one from Oscar Wilde, "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."

The idea of redemption is very much in harmony with the doctrine of Christ. In fact, it's almost central to it. We see it with Saul and with Alma the Younger, and even with Zeezrom, who was described as being a "child of hell" (Alma 11:23). All of them were able to turn their lives around, from persecuting the saints, seeking to destroy the saints, and accusing the prophets, to becoming great missionaries. A complete 180, made possible through the power of the Atonement.

But what of their pasts? They still did, or had done, terrible things. God is just. You can't just sin, say you're sorry, then pretend it never happened. You can't escape your past that easily, can you?

Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.
D&C 58: 42-43

So, no, you can't just say you're sorry and forget it. You have to say you're sorry and stop. Repentance involves a change of behavior and implies a change of heart. That's what happened with the character on the story I watched. He changed his behavior and, in the end, his very identity. Figuratively, he was no longer Saul the Persecutor, but Paul the Proselyter. He was redeemed.

And, just for the record, changing their entire lives wasn't exactly easy. Saul was struck blind for three days, Alma spent a similar amount of time in a nightmarish coma, Zeezrom was driven by his guilt to his sick-bed with a burning fever, and the amnesia guy from the story (and this is much more normal for people like you and me) suffered from a great deal of emotional distress, even after he had changed.

Redemption isn't easy. Or at least, it isn't too easy. And yet, it's also much easier than some people think. It requires you to change your life for good - to confess your sins, forsake them, and (this may be the hardest part) move on. It's something that would be difficult for nearly anyone, but it's also something that anyone could do. Anyone can change their lives, leave their past behind them, and become new, better, people through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Anyone can be redeemed.