Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Question

 

Hi Gramps,

Are there any sins that, even if repented of, will keep us from gaining exhaltation? I believe murder might be one of those sins but are there any others? Thank you for your insight.

Anonymous

 

Answer

 

Anonymous,

In answer to your question, let us review vital scriptures that provide us with understanding of your question. The first scripture we emphasize is in our New Testament, ” Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

“And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.”

These verses of scripture give us the insight that there is one form of sin that, for sure, is unforgivable, “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.” As we further search the scriptures, we recognize that David committed an unpardonable sin when he sent Uriah to the front lines. Through modern revelation we are told King David, “therefore…hath fallen from his exaltation.”

In light of these verses of scripture, one might then assume that murder is unforgivable. But when we read Alma 24:10 in the Book of Mormon, we learn more about God’s forgiveness, even concerning murder. “And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.” Thus, can we truly say that murder is always an unforgivable sin? No.

We also recognize, possibly within a Celestial law, that adultery may be a sin if repeatedly committed. This may cause a person to fall from his exaltation as indicated in this scripture, “Thou shalt not commit adultery; and he that committeth adultery, and repenteth not, shall be cast out.

“But he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive;”

 

“But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out.”  D&C 42:25-26

As I have searched and pondered the scriptures and studied God’s forgiveness, I have come to understand five elements which impact our ability to find forgiveness through the Atonement of Christ: 1) Knowledge. 2) The desires of our heart. 3) Our age and accountability before the Lord. 4) The covenants we have made at baptism and in the temple. 5) Our second estate and the law we are living (Terrestrial or Celestial). As to our sins being unforgivable, we know of only one that is surely unforgivable, “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.” Others appear dependent upon the individual and his particular circumstance when a sin is committed.

Gramps

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 Ask Gramps - Q and A about Mormon Doctrine. All Rights Reserved.
This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org.

Pin It on Pinterest