The Power of Forgiveness

Dear Sisters,

This last week, I joined Seth’s kindergarten class for a "feast".  I was deeply touched as I heard the story of Squanto.  I’m sure I’ve heard it before, but this time, I was truly inspired by the underlying message of forgiveness.

I thought I would just recap Squanto’s story from what I researched in Wikipedia and a couple other site:

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As a young Indian boy, Squanto was taught how to hunt, fish, and survive with his people.  He was captured by white men and taken back to Europe where he was taught to speak English with the intent of making him an interpreter for future voyages.  After he had learned the language, he returned to America on a ship headed back to see his people, but once again he was captured by cruel men who put him and many of his friends in chains to be sold as slaves in Spain.  Many of his friends died on the awful journey.  When they finally arrived, he was purchased by monks who nursed him back to health and taught him about Jesus Christ.  When he was well, they arranged for his return to his family and people in America.  He attempted the journey, but was once again sent back to England. 

After a couple years, he was at last permitted to make the voyage, but upon his arrival to the New World, he found out that a plague of smallpox, brought by the white men, had killed his entire village and most of the coastal Indian tribes as well.  His heart was broken and he wandered for some time.  He settled in an Indian village nearby. 

After a time, he discovered another ship sailed in and was settling near his old village.  He did not go to greet them, but watched them for some time.  They were peaceful pilgrims that came as families to escape religious persecution. They came in early winter and were quickly running short on supplies.  Squanto decided to help these people and adopt them as his own.  They were amazed to hear him speak their language, and he taught them how to survive off the land, plant corn, and gather food.  

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After their bounty that year, they held a gratitude feast to thank their God for deliverance in the new land, and to show appreciate for sending Squanto to be their guide and save them from starvation.

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Wasn’t Squanto a powerful example of forgiveness?  Surely he would be justified to have feelings of anger and bitterness towards the white men who made him a slave and destroyed his people, but instead, he set his feelings aside and became a great blessing to the pilgrims and those early settlers of this great nation.

President Brigham Young once compared being offended to a poisonous snakebite.

He said that “there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system.” He said, “If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it.”

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Elder David E. Sorensen suggests that, “When we forgive others, it frees us to choose how we will live our own lives. Forgiveness means that problems of the past no longer dictate our destinies, and we can focus on the future with God’s love in our hearts.”

I testify that there is great power in forgiveness.  I have seen it work in my own life and I know that applying the atonement can allow you to forgive someone even when it is very difficult.

Perhaps, as you gather with family or loved ones this thanksgiving, you may see an opportunity to forgive and allow God’s love to fill your heart, instead of bitterness.

Sincerely,

Lydia