Repentance as a Gift

I've had repentance on my mind a lot lately. Today I read this scripture:

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin - 1 John 3:5

It got me thinking: Christ took upon Him our sins so that - through fully accepting Christ as our Savior - He could bring us back to live in the presence of our Father in Heaven. Each time we repent, we can take a step towards receiving that goal now. With every step that we take towards personal virtue and purity, we become more comfortable in the presence of Deity, and we can better enjoy and receive the company of the Holy Ghost. We can allow Christ to take us closer to our Father's presence by trying to be better and exercising faith in His power to forgive us.

I'm grateful for the gift of repentance. I get upset with myself sometimes, especially when I feel like I'm making the same mistakes again and again. Because of my faith, believe I can change even the sins that I commit regularly (eventually). Over the past few years, I've made a stronger effort to better follow the Gospel and to improve my personal righteousness. I have felt a difference in my prayers and in my confidence in receiving answers to my prayers, as well as in my ability to recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost in my own life. I'm grateful for President Nelson's invitation to do better which has helped me maintain focus on improving myself.