On Forgiveness, Peace and Love
At heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ is love. Through Christ’s Atonement, can we receive peace from letting go of the past and embracing a future, full of faith in the Lord. Jean Bingham said it best: “Jesus Christ is the source of all healing, peace and eternal progress.”
Victor Colón, a member of the Euless 2nd Ward (congregation), shares his personal experience with overcoming a difficult childhood and an emotional journey towards forgiveness and love.
Victor Colón, Fall 2022.
Here’s Victor’s story:
“I was born in July 1971 in Ponce, Puerto Rico and when I was 3-years-old, my family migrated to Hartford, Connecticut.
My family lived in the low-income area of Hartford. While growing up my father was never faithful to my mother. I witnessed the arguments caused by my father’s indiscretions. My father was a functional alcoholic, he drank daily from the time he would wake up, during his workday, and before going to bed.
As I grew older, I would understand the sadness and grief that my father’s behavior brought to our family. My father would not worry about the discipline or behavior of my brothers or myself unless it was during the time he attempted to stop drinking. Then he would be angry and take it out on my brothers and me.
When I was 14-years-old, my mother told me she was going to divorce my father. I chose to live with my mother as did my younger brother.
After the divorce, my father wanted nothing to do with us. It was a difficult transition. I went from living in a house with my own room and backyard to living in an apartment in one of the poor areas of Hartford.
As a teenager, I had to fight to stay out of the gangs that were in the city. My mother got involved in using drugs along with my aunts and uncles. Even my grandmother was involved.
The Dealer and the Debt
When I was 16-years-old, I was working nights after school and my mom was dating a man who got her into debt with a local drug dealer. I went to the drug dealer to pay some money on the debt owed by my mother and her boyfriend.
When the dealer opened the door and noticed it was me, he asked what I was doing there. He said ‘you are one of the good ones, I see you going to school, working taking care of your brothers.’
I told the dealer that I was there to pay him for my mother’s debt.
The dealer told me that I that owed nothing, and he would not accept the money I work so hard for and needed. He promised that my family would be safe and that he never wanted me to become involved in the world like he was. He said, “Go, be good.”
A Career in Corrections and No Contact
At the age of 23, I joined the Department of Corrections for the State of Connecticut, and for twenty years I worked in a depressing, violent environment. During my career, I had to lock up three of my uncles and my youngest brother in a jail cell—all of them for drug-related crimes. They were all arrested more than once.
When I was 28, I met my future wife Ema. We dated for a year and I asked her to marry me. Soon after, our son Sekope was born.
During this time, there was no religion in my life. I knew there was a god and would often ask why my life was so hard.
My mother and I had grown distant as I had changed the environment I had grown in. I surrounded myself with people that were not involved in substance abuse while my mother continued in the same areas. I knew that I did not want to raise my son in an area like the one I was raised in. My wife and I made sure our son went to the best public school available.
For 20 years, I had absolutely no contact with my mother of any kind. I completed my career in corrections on August 28th, 2014. It was the last time a wore my uniform and reported for duty.
A Fresh Start in Texas
In September 2014, my wife, son and I arrived in Euless, Texas. My wife began attending church. She was asked if she would help feed the missionaries, and she accepted. I would accompany her, but I did not want to focus on the messages the missionaries delivered.
My wife and son were asked to give a talk during Sacrament meeting at church. My wife asked me if I would attend, and I said, ‘of course I will always support the two of you.’ As we arrived, I was looking for a place to sit to see my family speak and the Bishop advised my wife that we should sit together on the stand.
As I sat up there with everyone, I had a peace come over me that I had never experienced before but had always been searching for. I felt love. I felt safe. I knew no one there was looking to cause me harm.
One time, during a dinner one of the Elders asked me why I was opposed to listening to the message or learning about the gospel. I answered that unless I can approach something with my heart 100%, I will not try my best on it.
He accepted my answer and said he could respect that. A few months later my wife spoke to me that she would like our son to take lessons from the sister missionaries. I said yes, of course, since we had not taught our son about God or prayer. My wife advised me that if I did not go, my son would not go, I answered that I would go with them, but I would not take the lessons.
We went to the lessons and my son was engaged after the first lesson. I began sitting with them and they provided me with materials to read and so I started to take part in the lessons as well.
A few months later Sekope and I were baptized and became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Colón family on their sealing day at the Dallas Temple, March 2017.
Sekope Colón’s graduation from Tarrant County College (TCC), May 2022.
Christ’s Atonement Helps Us Forgive
Since then, I’ve had five or six different callings (or volunteer jobs) in the church. I serve the best I can. My niece recently came to Dallas, Texas and said she would like to see me since we had not seen each other in 20 years. I agreed and we met for dinner. During dinner, a voice spoke to me the words, ‘If you do not forgive, how can you be forgiven?’ I knew the message was for me to forgive my mother for the past, so I told my niece she could give my phone number to her.
Two days later, I received a text message from my mother saying, ‘My son, please forgive me for what I put you through in the past and for not being there for you, I have never stopped loving you.’
My mother and I have been in contact with each other daily since then and she recently visited me in Texas to start our bonding process.
I know that without the gospel in my heart this would not be possible. The gospel of Jesus Christ has taught me forgiveness, to let go of the past and give the love of our Savior to others. This I have learned by reading, listening and experiencing the small daily miracles by our Heavenly Father.”
Article by Victor Colón
“Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley
Victor Colón serves as an editor and reporter for the Hurst Stake website. He is a devoted husband, father and priesthood holder. He enjoys science fiction movies and spending time with his family.