In his talk “I Will Remember Your Sins No More” President Boyd K. Packer spoke about Alma and the counsel that he gave to his son Corianton. Corianton had strayed from the things that he knew to be right. He had made choices that had taken him far away from the path that he should have been on. Alma 39-42 reports of what Alma taught Corianton about the plan of redemption and repentance through the Atonement of Christ.
After President Packer summarizes the counsel, he adds:
“It is a wicked, wicked world in which we live and in which our children must find their way. Challenges of pornography, gender confusion, immorality, child abuse, drug addiction, and all the rest are everywhere. There is no way to escape from their influence.
Some are led by curiosity into temptation, then into experimentation, and some become trapped in addiction. They lose hope. The adversary harvests his crop and binds them down.
Satan is the deceiver, the destroyer, but his is a temporary victory.
The angels of the devil convince some that they are born to a life from which they cannot escape and are compelled to live in sin. The most wicked of lies is that they cannot change and repent and that they will not be forgiven. That cannot be true. They have forgotten the Atonement of Christ.”
This is a wonderful talk that breaks down the Atonement and explains why it is necessary. It gives hope to those that may have made mistakes in their pasts. I really appreciate the hope that is given to those who may be struggling in their lives. As Elder Packer teaches us there is hope for each and every one of us, if we will turn to Christ and accept the Atonement into our lives. As we do this, we will have the desire to change so that we may live a life that will help us return to live with our Heavenly Father.
This would be a wonderful talk to read with your teenagers. Make sure you discuss the points of Alma’s counsel to Corianton. I hope that you will take the opportunity to read the talk this week and ponder how the plan of redemption has blessed your life.