Breathe In, Breathe Out

Breathing has two very important purposes. It brings in oxygen, and it takes out carbon dioxide. The cells in the body use oxygen to create energy, but the process generates carbon dioxide as a waste byproduct, which must be breathed out or it can become toxic if too much builds up in our bloodstream. The word inspiration literally means to breathe in, and so, every time we study and ponder the scriptures, pray, and otherwise invite the spirit into our hearts, it's like we're breathing in oxygen. Having the Spirit with us can give us energy and fortitude to follow God's commandments. But just like with our physical bodies, living day to day in a fallen world as weak and fallible creatures causes us to generate the Spiritual equivalent of carbon dioxide, which we must breathe out or it will poison our souls. Repentance is the spiritual equivalent of breathing out, and just as we are usually neither embarrassed nor ashamed to breathe out, we should not feel any sort of reluctance to repenting. Repentance is as natural as seeking the companionship of the Holy Ghost - both are needed to survive just as breathing in and breathing out are needed to survive.