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As you may know, we just lost our mother and so I share with you the sorrow of losing a parent. I am so very sorry that your father abused you and your mum. I cannot relate to how that must feel. I think you must be a specially sensitive person to feel so bad about not forgiving him for what
he did to you. Did he ever acknowledge his wrong and apologize? I think that might have been needed for you to truly forgive him.
I believe the important thing for you to do now is to forgive your dad in your heart and then pray to Heavenly Father that he will forgive him (see Matthew 5:44). Your saying to him that you forgave him is only a formality
and would possibly make you feel better, but if you really forgive him and you pray for him, I think you will find the peace and comfort you seek.
Our Church is very strong against abuse, but we also believe that we must forgive to be forgiven ourselves (see Matthew 6:14-15). Abuse, however, often creates deep scars, that are hard to erase. I am sure that the Lord
understands that and you would be very surprised to know how much he loves you.
Our understanding of Heaven is much different than is taught in other Christian churches. We believe that all will rise in the resurrection to be judged and all but a very small handful will receive some degree of glory and happiness. If your father will accept and follow Jesus Christ, even in the world of spirits, where he now resides awaiting the resurrection, he can be forgiven for all of his sins and receive the greatest of eternal rewards.
That the gospel of Jesus Christ is taught in the spirit world and our
departed can learn of him is made clear through modern day prophets, but was also mentioned by the apostle Peter, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put
to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (1 Peter 3:18 - 20) Even those who were drowned by the floods in the days of Noah, had a chance to hear the gospel taught and obviously, if they accepted it and repented, they would receive the benefits of Christ's suffering and
dying to pay for our sins.
If your father rejects the gospel and will not repent, he will suffer for his own sins, but will still receive a degree of eternal glory and happiness. That is what we believe and I am convinced is it is the truth of the matter. I am so grateful that the Church and gospel of Jesus Christ has
been restored and that we have living apostles and prophets today who receive revelation from God, so we can know the truth of these things.
Once again, the source of peace for you now is for you to genuinely turn to the Lord and seek the truth of his gospel.
As you may know, I was just in Scotland and I love that country. Both my wife and I have ancestors from there. If you will allow me, I would like to send some missionaries to talk to you. They can help you understand Where you came from, Why you are here and where you and your dad are going after death. Just email me back your address and phone and I will
contact them.
May the Lord bless you as you search for peace and for answers.
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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