Fruits of Repentance

I’m sure I’ve gone through this exercise before, but in reading Alma 34, I wrote a note saying the fruits of repentance are found in verses 31-41.   So what exactly are these fruits, and have I partaken of them myself?

V31 – Redemption - “Immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.”  I can truthfully say that as soon as I began my repentance process, that I felt the love of my Savior.  It was immediate!  My whole demeanor changed.  My attitude toward life changed. Is this not a result of feeling “redeemed”? 

V33 – If procrastinating the day of our repentance means we live in darkness, then wouldn’t the opposite be true?  We repent, and we see light! 

V35 – Spirit of the Lord - Again, think of the opposite.  If not repenting gives the devil power over you, then repenting brings the Spirit of the Lord upon you.

V35 – Sitting down in the kingdom of God to go no more out would definitely be considered a fruit.

V38 – Humility, the Holy Ghost, worshipping God, and living in thankfulness – Yes, being humble is a fruit of repentance.  Isn’t being around a person who is truly humble a good thing?  Are we not drawn to those who are humble?  Why?  Repenting brings the Holy Ghost into our lives.  Isn’t this light?  Aren’t we drawn to light?  Isn’t traveling through this life with a companion (the Holy Ghost) a great blessing (fruit) all unto itself?  How is worshipping God a fruit?  When we truly love God, and worship him, our thoughts are continually drawn toward him.  We aren’t filling our minds with things of no importance, but rather thinking of God.

V41 – Having a sure knowledge that we will some day rest from all our afflictions is indeed a fruit.  Doesn’t this knowledge relieve us of the burden of fear for our future? 

V41 – Patience and bearing the burdens of others is also a fruit.  It comes with the territory.  Where does this patience come from?  Having faith in a higher power and knowing that God is in the details of our lives certainly brings with it a calm that when things aren’t as we’d like them to be, there is a reason – a lesson is being learned.  That patience tends to be a light to those who are going through troubles of their own and you are better able to help bear their burdens.