New Year's Resolutions are Repentance

By Hollie Wells

You hear a lot of opinions about New Year’s Resolutions. Some people think they are silly and avoid making them at all. Some people see it as a real time and opportunity to change. Some resolutions are made in the spur of the moment and are not kept past the month of January, while some are deep determinations to change, improve, and narrow your focus. 

In the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we believe in change. Repentance is one of the foundational principles of His Doctrine. The Bible Dictionary definition of repentance includes “a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. We have also learned from Russell M. Nelson, who expanded on the Greek word for repentance, metanoeo, and said, “when Jesus asks you and me to ‘repent,’ He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe” (We Can Do Better and Be Better, October 2019). 

New Year’s Resolutions are all about making a change for the better in physical, intellectual, relational, and spiritual ways. Thus, I see New Year’s Resolutions as a form of repentance. While we do not have to wait for a new calendar year to come around to make positive changes, why not take the opportunity when it comes around? 

I encourage all to make a resolution that includes your temple and family history habits. Live close to a temple? Make a commitment to go weekly or monthly. Make a commitment to doing a variety of ordinances, not just the usual one or two you prefer to do. 

Change how you approach temple worship, perhaps adding a quiet drive there with no music or podcasts playing. Be more prayerful in the temple and go to seek revelation. Make a goal to index names or to print a family name each month to take to the temple. Change your scripture study, take the opportunity of studying the Old Testament to better understand ancient temple worship and how our worship today is related. 

Although there are New-Year’s-resolution-cynics out there who criticize people who go to the gym only for the month of January, I say that even if a habit is only kept up for a month then you are a better person for it. Even if your scripture study is more focused and deep for one month, you will have a better relationship with God for it. It is a beautiful time and season to make changes that you have been feeling the need to implement. Use this New Year as a springing-off point to improve your relationship with God and to grow to love His temple and His gospel more.