Forgiveness expert Dr. Loren Toussaint on the health benefits and blessings of forgiving

<p><a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/2018/1/16/23213417/getting-to-know-president-russell-m-nelson-of-the-first-presidency">President Russell M. Nelson</a> has spoken repeatedly about forgiveness  — pleading with Latter-day Saints to <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/04/47nelson?lang=eng">end personal conflicts</a>, <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/2/23667152/president-russell-m-nelson-encourages-forgiveness-on-palm-sunday">free themselves from a grudge they may be harboring</a> and <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/7/7/23786997/president-nelson-forgive-others-seventy-times-seven-world-forgiveness-day">forgive someone who has wronged them</a>.  “There is nothing easy about forgiving those who have disappointed us, hurt us, cheated us or spread false rumors about us,” <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/2023/4/2/23667152/president-russell-m-nelson-encourages-forgiveness-on-palm-sunday">President Nelson said</a>. “However, not forgiving others is poison for us. Grudges weigh us down. Angry disagreements separate us. Animosity and hatred can divide families.  “And yet, the Savior’s counsel is clear: ‘If ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you’” (<a href="https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/6?lang=eng&amp;id=p14&amp;adobe_mc_ref=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/matt/6?lang=eng&amp;id=p14#p14&amp;adobe_mc_sdid=SDID=0132F3770B4ACC49-017EC2E069794687%7CMCORGID=66C5485451E56AAE0A490D45%40AdobeOrg%7CTS=1691454753%23p14">Matthew 6:14</a>). While forgiveness is important spiritually, a growing body of research shows how forgiveness also affects mental and physical health. <a href="https://www.luther.edu/faculty/loren-toussaint">Dr. Loren Toussaint</a> is a professor of psychology at Luther College, the chair of the <a href="https://discoverforgiveness.org/">Discover Forgiveness  Advisory Council</a> for the <a href="https://www.templetonworldcharity.org/">Templeton World Charity Foundation</a> and president of <a href="https://theforgivenessfoundation.org/">The Forgiveness Foundation</a>. He joins this episode of the Church News podcast to discuss the benefits of forgiveness. </p> <p><a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/podcast">The Church News Podcast</a> is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a> across the globe. Host <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/author/sarahdeseretnews-com">Sarah Jane Weaver</a>, reporter and editor for <a href="https://www.thechurchnews.com/">The Church News</a> for a quarter-century, shares a unique view of the stories, events, and most important people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by <a href="https://kellieannhalvo.com/">KellieAnn Halvorsen</a>.</p>