The adversary knows that faith in Christ goes hand in hand with a personal confidence that you are striving to choose the right, said Elder Jörg Klebingat of the Seventy.
“For that reason he will seek access to your heart to tell you lies — lies that Heavenly Father is disappointed in you, that the Atonement is beyond your reach, that there is no point in ever trying, that everyone else is better than you, that you are unworthy, and a thousand variations of that same evil theme.”
In his Saturday afternoon conference address, Elder Klebingat gave six practical suggestions to dissipate the discouraging voices of the adversary and restore peaceful assurance and spiritual confidence.
1. “Take responsibility for your own spiritual well-being.” Stop blaming others or your circumstances, stop justifying and stop making excuses for why you are not fully striving to be obedient, he said.
2. “Take responsibility for your own physical well-being.” Decide today to begin a regular, long-term exercise program suited to your abilities, combined with a healthier diet, said Elder Klebingat.
3. “Embrace voluntary, whole-hearted obedience as part of your life.” Make the Church and the restored gospel your whole life, not just part of your outward or social life, he said. “Spiritual confidence increases when you are truly striving, for the right reasons, to live a consecrated life, in spite of your imperfections.”
4. “Become really, really good at repenting thoroughly and quickly.” Establish an attitude of ongoing, happy, joyful repentance, he said. “Spiritual confidence increases when you voluntarily and joyfully repent of sins both small and great in real time by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”
5. “Become really, really good at forgiving.” Forgive everyone, everything all the time. Don’t hold grudges, don't be easily offended, forgive and forget quickly. “Spiritual confidence increases when you know that the Lord knows that you bear no ill feelings toward another soul.”
6. “Accept trials, setbacks and surprises as part of your mortal experience.” When trials come, the adversary will tell you that you did something wrong, that this is a punishment, that Heavenly Father doesn’t love you, he said. “Ignore that!”
Elder Klebingat said, “Acknowledge and face your weaknesses, but don't be immobilized by them, because some of them will be your companions until you depart this earth life.”
