Yes, we should forgive.

The Lord tells us very plainly that we should forgive others, and the scriptures give us lots of examples.

Take the Old Testament prophet Joseph, for example. Even after all his brothers had done to hurt him, Joseph saved their lives! (See Genesis 45.)

So here’s a crazy question for you. What if the person you are trying to forgive continues to try and hurt you? Does forgiving them mean that you have to let them hurt you?

Nope! As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland put it, the Lord “did not … say, ‘In order to forgive fully, you have to reenter a toxic relationship or return to an abusive, destructive circumstance.’”¹

The Lord wants us to be healthy and safe. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries: saying no to activities and people who hurt you and saying yes to those who inspire and build you up. We can stand up for ourselves while holding forgiveness in our heart.

Note
1. From “The Ministry of Reconciliation,” general conference, Oct. 2018.