If you were to list every debt you currently carry—mortgage payments, credit cards, student loans—you might feel a profound sense of relief when you finally pay the last one. The idea of being entirely debt-free is powerful. But what if I told you that the greatest debt we owe one another isn't financial, legal, or even emotional, but something infinitely more valuable? Something that cannot be paid off, lost, or foreclosed upon?

As returned missionaries, we learn quickly that the most powerful currency in the field isn't our polished talking points or our latest missionary discussions; it is simply love. It’s the love that fulfills the law. It’s the kind of love that defines us as Latter-day Saints.

This week’s reflections, inspired by Jeff Cavins, challenge us to look beyond the ledger book and consider the debt we truly owe: the debt of selfless love. Paul reminds us in Romans 13 that while we can become debt-free from men and banks, we will always owe one another something—and that something is love. It is the mandate to put the other person’s eternal life first.

The Debt of Christlike Forgiveness

When we think of "putting the other person first," it can feel incredibly hard, especially when we are frustrated with a family member, a coworker, or even a friend who has let us down. We all have those moments—the forgotten commitment, the sharply worded email, the comment that lands just wrong.

The Gospel reading for this week, Matthew 18, gives us a playbook for exactly this situation. It’s a masterclass in conflict resolution and Christlike behavior. When someone sins against you, the Lord doesn't tell us to retaliate or to bottle up the resentment. Instead, He guides us to go to the person, alone, and talk to them about it. This is the first crucial step: addressing the issue directly, but always with the intention of restoration, not accusation.

This isn't just theoretical knowledge for our missionary preparation; this is the core of being a disciple anywhere, all the time. It is the work of building Zion in our small circles.

A Mission-Prep Skill: Taking the Pain to the Cross

The hardest part of this teaching is what to do when the conversation doesn't go as planned. What if the person refuses to listen? What if they are defensive? The scripture passage guides us through escalating steps: first, alone; second, with two or three witnesses; and finally, involving the church. This structured approach helps us maintain boundaries while never sacrificing the principle of love.

But even when we feel bruised, frustrated, or completely misunderstood, the message remains the same: we must take that pain. We must take that suffering and join it to the cross of Christ. That is the greatest act of love—forgiveness—and it requires us to consciously choose to release the debt of hurt.

The power to forgive is the power to truly minister. It's the power to make the covenant a reality in our daily lives.

This week, let’s challenge ourselves to view conflict not as a battle to win, but as an opportunity to practice radical empathy. How can we apply the gentleness and patience of the Savior when someone disappoints us? This is where our discipleship is truly tested.

If you are struggling with a difficult relationship, remember that Christ taught us to forgive seventy times seven. That is not just a suggestion; it is a pattern of divine power that we can access. Don't carry the debt of bitterness; hand it over to the Savior.

If you are ready to practice this radical empathy, we invite you to join us in our weekly discussion group on the principles of Christlike charity. It is the perfect place to build the spiritual muscles required for this journey. Come prepared to learn how to apply the principles of the gospel in your relationships.