Lesson 13: Receiving Forgiveness As We Forgive

Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3, (1995), 46–50


Each young man will understand that the process of repentance includes forgiving others and that if he does not forgive others the Lord will not forgive him.


  1. 1.

    Prayerfully study Matthew 18:23–35, John 3:16, and Doctrine and Covenants 64:8–10.

  2. 2.

    Materials needed:

    1. a.


    2. b.

      Picture 6, Glenn Kempton and Tom Powers.

    3. c.

      A paper and pencil for each young man.

    4. d.

      Pencils for marking scriptures.

Suggested Lesson Development



Relate the following story told by Bishop H. Burke Peterson:

“For much of our lives, we lived in central Arizona. Some years ago a group of teenagers from the local high school went on an all-day picnic into the desert on the outskirts of Phoenix. As some of you know, the desert foliage is rather sparse—mostly mesquite, catclaw, and palo verde trees, with a few cactus scattered here and there. In the heat of the summer, where there are thickets of this desert growth, you may also find rattlesnakes as unwelcome residents. These young people were picnicking and playing, and during their frolicking, one of the girls was bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake. As is the case with such a bite, the rattler’s fangs released venom almost immediately into her bloodstream.

“This very moment was a time of critical decision. They could immediately begin to extract the poison from her leg, or they could search out the snake and destroy it. Their decision made, the girl and her young friends pursued the snake. It slipped quickly into the undergrowth and avoided them for fifteen or twenty minutes. Finally, they found it, and rocks and stones soon avenged the infliction.

“Then they remembered: their friend had been bitten! They became aware of her discomfort, as by now the venom had had time to move from the surface of the skin deep into the tissues of her foot and leg. Within another thirty minutes they were at the emergency room of the hospital. By then, the venom was well into its work of destruction.

“A couple of days later I was informed of the incident and was asked by some young members of the Church to visit their friend in the hospital. As I entered her room, I saw a pathetic sight. Her foot and leg were elevated—swollen almost beyond recognition. The tissue in her limb had been destroyed by the poison, and a few days later it was found her leg would have to be amputated below the knee.

“It was a senseless sacrifice, this price of revenge. How much better it would have been if, after the young woman had been bitten, there had been an extraction of the venom from the leg in a process known to all desert dwellers. …

“There are those today who have been bitten—or offended, if you will—by others. What can be done? What will you do when hurt by another? The safe way, the sure way, the right way is to look inward and immediately start the cleansing process. … The longer the poison of resentment and unforgiveness stays in a body, the greater and longer lasting is its destructive effect. … The poison of revenge, or of unforgiving thoughts or attitudes, unless removed, will destroy the soul in which it is harbored” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1983, pp. 83–84; or Ensign, Nov. 1983, p. 59).


  • How are feelings of unforgiveness like poison inside us?

  • How can we cleanse ourselves from the poison of unforgiveness?

Forgiveness, the Divine Gift of Love

Scripture and discussion

Have a young man read John 3:16.

  • What did Heavenly Father do so that we could have eternal life? (In his love and mercy toward men, Heavenly Father gave his Only Begotten Son so that we might repent and receive a remission of our sins.)


Invite a young man to read the following statement by Elder Marion D. Hanks:

“The coming of Jesus Christ in the meridian of time was God’s supreme effort to make his love known and effectual among his children. The Father had always acted out of love, but the plan of things required a Savior whose life would be the highest expression of God’s love and whose sacrifice would represent a greater love for his Father and brothers and sisters than could be equaled. He made the sacrifice and finished his mission. …

“His disciples received from him not only the sense of his eternal power and godhood, but clear direction about how a child of God should live” (“Failing Never,” Ensign, Sept. 1975, p. 74).

Explain that Jesus Christ’s coming was an act of love and mercy and a gift of love to all men. His atoning sacrifice provided the way for us to once again enter into Heavenly Father’s presence and receive eternal life. Jesus, through his example, revealed to us what Heavenly Father is really like: quick to forgive, full of love and mercy, patient, long-suffering, kind, and just. Jesus Christ set the perfect example to pattern our lives after.

Forgiveness, the Hallmark of Discipleship

Scripture and discussion

Explain that Jesus taught his followers to forgive everyone and to love their enemies and bless those who curse them. He even explained that if a person fails to forgive, he commits a greater sin than the offender.

Ask a young man to read Doctrine and Covenants 64:9–10. Suggest that the young men mark these verses.

  • How serious is it to fail to forgive others?

  • Whom are you required to forgive?


Explain that Jesus set the supreme example in forgiving those who offend and hurt us. Bishop Robert L. Simpson said:

“Biblical history tells us that no mortal man has ever been subjected to the humility, the pain, the suffering that were experienced by the Savior of the world during his final hours of mortality.

“Following a number of false charges, he was betrayed by one considered to be among his closest circle of friends. He was then subjected to a so-called trial, which produced a sentence that was dictated by political convenience and public sentiment rather than justice.”

  • How would it feel to be betrayed by a friend?

  • How would you react to someone who falsely accused you of a crime?

Explain that Jesus Christ’s suffering did not end after he was falsely accused and betrayed by a friend. Continue reading:

“Then in rapid agonizing succession: there was a long struggle to Calvary as he bore the heavy cross; he was jeered at and spat upon by the multitude all along the way; there was the offering of vinegar, climaxed by the cruel spikes; and finally, there he hung, his body broken and bleeding, still taunted by his enemies; and it was in the midst of all this that Jesus pled perhaps quietly, with deep reverence, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. … ’ (Luke 23:34.)” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1966, p. 128; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1966, p. 1148).

Point out that the word disciple comes from the word discipline, meaning to act according to a prescribed pattern. Be sure to emphasize that a disciple of Christ is one who not only believes or follows but also acts and lives his life in harmony with the Savior’s example.

  • Why were the disciples afflicted and sorely chastened by the Lord? (There were contentions, strife, and quarreling among them rather than the forgiving spirit and oneness of heart that should characterize disciples of Christ.)

Scripture reading and discussion

Ask three young men to read the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23–35. You may want to have the young men read the parts of the following three characters:

  1. 1.

    The king, who first threatened and then forgave his servant.

  2. 2.

    The servant who was forgiven but would not forgive his fellow servant.

  3. 3.

    The fellow servant.

You may want to reread and discuss the message of Matthew 18:23–35 using the following questions:

  • Whom does the king in the parable represent? (Our Heavenly Father.)

  • Whom does the unmerciful servant represent? (Those of us who do not forgive easily.)

  • Whom does the other servant represent? (Anyone who has offended another.)

  • According to this parable, what must we do to gain forgiveness from our Father in Heaven?

  • What lessons for our lives are taught in this parable?

Forgive to Be Forgiven

Scripture and discussion

  • Have a young man read Doctrine and Covenants 64:9.

  • Why does the greater sin lie with the person who will not forgive his brother?

Help the young men understand that when we fail to forgive others, we fail to keep the greatest commandments, which are to love God and others. Therefore, by refusing to love and forgive, we retain the greater sin.

Quotation and discussion

Elder Marion D. Hanks asked, “Does it not seem a supreme impudence to ask and expect God to forgive when we do not forgive?—openly? and ‘in our hearts’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, p. 15; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, p. 20). Explain that by forgiving others we can be forgiven.

  • How can we forgive a person openly and in our hearts?

  • How can we overcome resentment, anger, or vengeance toward those who have offended us so that we can truly forgive?

  • How can prayer help us forgive?

  • How can understanding the Savior’s example help us forgive others?

Scripture and chalkboard discussion

Have a young man read Doctrine and Covenants 64:10.

  • Why must we forgive all men without exception? (In order to be forgiven by the Lord we must be quick to forgive those who offend us.)

Write Forgiveness at the top of the chalkboard.

  • Have you ever wanted to be forgiven for a wrong you committed against someone?

Ask the young men to share their feelings before and after being forgiven.


Give each young man a piece of paper and a pencil. Ask the young men to entitle the page “Do I Hold Grudges?” Have them number from one to eight down the page. Explain that you are going to give them a short quiz about forgiving in their hearts. All the questions should be answered honestly with a simple yes or no. Do not have the young men answer aloud; they should not reveal their answers to anyone.

Read the following questions:

  1. 1.


  2. 2.


  3. 3.


  4. 4.


  5. 5.


  6. 6.

    Do you ever talk unkindly to others about someone who has offended you?

  7. 7.

    Is there someone in your immediate family that you resent for something he or she has done?

  8. 8.


Have the young men think about those questions to which they had to answer yes. Explain that forgiving is not easy. It is one of our greatest challenges and tests our real love for others.

Picture and story

Tell the young men that the peace that comes from forgiving others is shown in a story once told by Elder Spencer W. Kimball. Explain that in 1918, three law officers were murdered when they attempted to arrest several criminals. Glenn Kempton’s father was one of the officers killed. Sometime later, the murderers were captured, tried, and sent to prison for life.


  • Why would it be hard to forgive such a man?

Brother Kempton described his experience to Elder Kimball this way:









Show picture 6, Glenn Kempton and Tom Powers. Then continue:




“As we drove toward home in the gathering twilight, a sweet and peaceful calm came over me. Out of pure gratitude I placed my arm around my wife, who understood, for I know that we had now found a broader, richer and more abundant life” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969], pp. 291–93).


Testimony and challenge

Testify that after we are baptized, the Savior forgives us of our sins if we repent. At baptism and each time we partake of the sacrament, we covenant to follow the Savior and do all he asks of us. One of the things he expects us to do is to forgive others. As we do so, he has promised us joy and peace, teaching us that both forgiving and being forgiven are essential to our eternal salvation.

Have the young men turn their papers over and write down one thing that they would be willing to do during the coming week to help them forgive and strengthen their love for someone else. Challenge the young men to develop the spirit of forgiveness in all their associations and especially with their own family members. (Be sensitive to the needs of the young men. The spirit of forgiveness should not prevent them from discussing with the bishop any ongoing abuse they might be receiving.)

Suggest they think about their lives. Has anyone injured them or offended them in any way? If so, challenge them to cleanse their souls of any bitterness by totally forgiving that person. Challenge them to overcome any negative and unforgiving feelings they have by seeking the aid of the Spirit.