Feedback Loops and Repentance

Simple diagram of a loop. A is the action, B is the change.

This requires two definitions, the first of which is a feedback loop. This is a system that takes action based on what its previous action's result was. So, if there's a spring and a motor, and the motor wants to be a specific place but the spring is resisting, a feedback loop would have the motor push until it is at its destination. They are used extensively in many environments, as instead of programming something to go exactly so far (and potentially falling victim to error of various kinds) the designer just needs to program something to go until it gets there. All that is required is action, measuring the result, comparing it to a goal, and taking action to get closer to the goal.

The second definition for today is what repentance is. Repentance is the faith driven change of heart that results in a change of actions from sins to acts of righteousness. There is a debate concerning grace in relation to works, but that is a thought for another day. Instead, suffice to say that having faith causes us to change who we are and obey the commandments, eventually becoming like Christ.

And now to combine definitions! The ultimate goal of repentance is to become perfect, something that is no easy goal to achieve. If we were required to become perfect in one day, that would be like the non-feedback loop program. Not only is it difficult to reach the goal, but it would be difficult to make sure you got there in the end. Instead, we go through repentance, changing each day a little bit and progressing towards perfection. The reason feedback is important is so that we know if we are heading in the right direction and feel the joy of success. All that's needed is to have somebody else to report to, and we achieve goals because of the small steps we take and we receive the recognition of those we hold dear. President Thomas S. Monson says that "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates." These two principles, measuring our performance (and making changes to improve the performance) and claiming responsibility for the performance (by telling somebody about our changes) will help us improve our lives, whatever the field we apply it to.