There is healing power in forgiveness, said President James E. Faust.
"With all my heart and soul, I believe in the healing power that can come to us as we follow the counsel of the Savior to forgive all men," he declared.
Speaking Sunday morning, President Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, recounted tragic events, including that of a 32-year-old milkman who shot and killed five Amish school girls and injured another five, before killing himself.
"The shocking violence caused great anguish among the Amish but no anger. There was hurt but no hate. Their forgiveness was immediate."
Collectively the Amish community began to reach out to the milkman's family. About half the mourners at the milkman's funeral were Amish. In turn, the Amish invited the milkman's family to attend the funeral services of the girls who had been killed. "A remarkable peace settled on the Amish as their faith sustained them during this crisis," said President Faust.
The Amish group could manifest such an expression of forgiveness because of "their faith in God and trust in His word," explained President Faust.
"Forgiveness is not always instantaneous as it was with the Amish," he said. "When innocent children have been molested and killed, most of us do not think first about forgiveness. Our natural response is anger."
Most people, he said, need time to work through pain and loss. "We can find all manner of reasons for postponing forgiveness. One of these reasons is waiting for the wrongdoers to repent before we forgive them. Yet such a delay causes us to forfeit the peace and happiness that could be ours. The folly of rehashing long-past hurts does not bring happiness. Some hold grudges for a lifetime, unaware that courageously forgiving those who have wronged us is wholesome and therapeutic."
Forgiveness comes more readily when one has faith in God and trust in His word, President Faust said.
"All of us suffer some injuries from experiences that seem to have no rhyme or reason. We cannot understand or explain them. We may never know why some things happen in this life. The reason for some of our suffering is known only to the Lord. But because it happens it must be endured."
If people can find forgiveness in their hearts for those who have caused hurt and injury, they will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being, President Faust said.
Recalling the murder of Bishop Steven Christensen in 1985, President Faust noted that the Christensen family found healing and peace as they cleansed their hearts from anger and were able to forgive the man who took their son's life.
Two recent tragedies also demonstrate faith and the healing power of forgiveness. Gary Ceran, whose wife and two children were killed in an accident on Christmas Eve, and Christopher Williams, who lost his pregnant wife and two children in car accidents, immediately expressed forgiveness and concern for the alleged drunken drivers.
"We need to recognize and acknowledge angry feelings. It will take humility to do this, but if we get on our knees and ask Heavenly Father for a feeling of forgiveness, He will help us.... Only as we rid ourselves of hatred and bitterness can the Lord put comfort into our hearts."
President Faust said when tragedy strikes, Church members should not respond by seeking personal revenge, but rather let justice take its course and then let go.
"It is not easy to let go and empty our hearts of festering resentment. The Savior has offered to all of us a precious peace through His Atonement but this can come only as we are willing to cast out negative feelings of anger, spite or revenge. For all of us who forgive those who trespass against us, even those who have committed serious crimes, the Atonement brings a measure of peace and comfort."
