Rethinking Repentance and Forgiveness During Holy Week

Easter is just around the corner, and this week I'm getting thoughtful about how we experience and understand Holy Week. Why are so many of us in the Church increasingly focused on Easter as a season, not just a one-day celebration? I share some personal reflections on what Easter means to me, and why this time of year draws my heart back to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the gift of forgiveness.

But here’s the twist: Have we misunderstood how repentance and forgiveness work? I unpack the common belief that repentance is the "price" we pay for forgiveness—and why I think that’s totally missing the point. Inspired by insights from teaching BYU-Idaho Pathways students and reading Elder Andersen’s The Divine Gift of Forgiveness, I explore the idea that forgiveness isn’t something we earn. Instead, repentance becomes the way we turn our hearts toward God, not just a checklist to wipe the slate clean.

As you head into Holy Week, I invite you to rethink what it means to atone and be forgiven. It’s not about groveling or hoop-jumping—it’s about daily change, sincere turning, and becoming someone who loves the Savior more deeply.

Please share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You can email me at ken@chocolatecakebytes.com and follow me at 

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