Let it go-How This Song from Frozen teaches gospel truth

Last week I met Shadrach Green. Shadrach is from Jamaica. I've been to Jamaica so we bonded over Ocho Rios and Dunn's River Falls, places he's been many times that I got to do as well.

He left Jamaica to play soccer in the UK and ended up living with his dad in Boston after his parents divorce. He wanted a change in his life and basically threw a dart. That's how he ended up in Spokane, WA. That's significant because I was speaking on Sunday with a recently returned missionary from the Washington-Spokane mission!

One morning while out on a run, Shadrach was nearly hit by a car. His life changed forever, because some Sister Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were driving that car!

The rest is history. Today Shadrach is "Elder" Green and he’s serving here in the Oregon Portland Mission as a Full-Time Missionary. 

I entitled my talk "Let It Go" and chose my topic based on some recent experiences.

I have a friend who is nurturing a grudge for the last several years. I've watched how her choices are impacting her life in the present. Another someone I love shared some hurtful things that had happened with a friend. I suggested forgiveness and explained that forgiveness is about freeing her own heart, tears welled up in her eyes. “I want her to know that she hurt me” came the honest response. 

Don’t we all? We want justice. An apology. We want that person to grovel and tell us they’ll never do it again. It’s natural. We give our peace to the OTHER person! We say: I’ll feel better once YOU apologize. This however, isn’t what the Savior taught or the example He set. 

There’s a saying: The grass is greener on the other side. I’ve also heard this saying: The grass is greener where you water it. 

So it goes with anger, resentment, bitterness and grudges. What we nurture grows. We can also choose to water forgiveness, patience, temperance, kindness, love. 

It’s the beginning of the holiday season. Most people have all kinds of gatherings on the agenda. But, life isn’t a Hallmark movie for most of us and these events can be challenging. Parents, siblings, children, extended family. Many of us have difficult challenges in these relationships. 

The invitation is to "Let it go" this holiday!

Elder Boyd K Packer, a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, taught: “If you have been offended: Forgive. Forget it. Leave it Alone. 

My favorite mission tradition in the OPM was to read the 4 gospels before Christmas. I started and this week found some real wisdom in the Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:43-44:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said: You shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you."

So, you may be thinking HOW is this possible? I’ve been SO wronged! 

I understand! I was also seriously wronged. It happened in my early life and has resulted in life-long struggle. The person was glib, flippant, completely lacked remorse and never apologized. He passed away a few years ago never once acknowledging the depth of pain and difficulty his choices brought into my life. 

So, I ask again: How is forgiveness possible? Especially when we have been deeply wronged? 

You already know the answer. Jesus. 

President Gordon B. Hinckley (Prophet when I was a youth) taught in his talk entitled: Forgiveness: "The great Atonement was the supreme act of forgiveness. The suffering was so great, the agony so intense, that none of us can comprehend it when the Savior offered Himself as a ransom for the sins of all mankind.” 

The Savior Himself gave us a powerful example of forgiveness in the very moment of great injustice in His own life:

Luke, 23:34: 

33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34 ¶ Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

What happened to me? My answer came one Sunday as I sat in this very chapel. I was on the back row when I experienced a miracle. I was thinking about the person I was wronged by and how I would ever be able to forgive when I felt as if the Holy Ghost reached down into my soul. He gently lifted out the bitterness, anger, resentment, the desire for revenge. It was gone. I had been healed. Those feelings have never came back. 

If you are holding onto a grudge because you are concerned about justice: President Spender W. Kimball testified in his book The Miracle of Forgiveness: God is merciful, but He is also just.

Entrust your situation into the hands of a just God. Thankfully He is also merciful, because each and every one of us need His mercy every day of our lives. 

President Hinckley also taught: "May God help us to be a little kinder, showing forth greater forbearance, to be more forgiving, to lay aside old grudges and nurture them no more.” 

This holiday season, receive the Savior’s gift. Receive His healing. Allow your heart and your story to be healed through His infinite Atonement. Whatever you are holding onto, Let it go. Because of Jesus you don’t have to carry the burdens that weigh you down.

The Savior taught during this earthly ministry:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (The Holy Bible, Matthew, 11:28-30).

I know this is true and through Jesus Christ we can “Let it go!”