Gramps,

Hey Gramps, I know this might seem odd, but are we supposed to forgive Satan? We are taught to retain a remission of our sins, we are to forgive all men. Does that include Sata?. I know that Satan will never do any good for us; he will always seek to hurt us, but would forgiving him set us on a new plane of spirituality? I mean, from the outside looking in, if you could forgive Satan, how much easier would it be to forgive others and yourself?

WyattTroy

Answer

WyattTroy,

The commandment to love our enemies is a cornerstone of Christian ethics. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus instructs, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” This teaching emphasizes the importance of compassion and forgiveness, even in the face of adversity. However, it is crucial to understand the context and implications of this commandment.

To grasp the commandment fully, one must first explore the nature of love itself. Love, in a spiritual context, is not merely an emotion but an active choice to seek the well-being of others. It is expressed through actions, kindness, and a genuine desire for the happiness of others. As noted in the teachings of the Church, love is often associated with the blessings and gifts that God provides to His children. In this sense, God’s love is conditional upon the acceptance of His gifts and commandments. Elder Russell M. Nelson, in a 2003 address, emphasized that divine love, while perfect and infinite, cannot be characterized as unconditional, as it is contingent upon obedience to divine laws.

Loving our enemies, therefore, does not imply a blanket acceptance of their actions or a desire for their well-being if they persist in wrongdoing. Instead, it calls for a recognition of their potential for change and a commitment to treat them with dignity and respect, even when their actions are harmful. This perspective aligns with the teachings of The Church, which emphasize that love can coexist with justice. For instance, divine chastening is viewed as an expression of love, aimed at guiding individuals back to righteousness.

When considering the question of whether we should love Satan, it is essential to understand his nature and role within the theological framework of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Satan, often referred to as the adversary, embodies rebellion against God and seeks to lead humanity away from divine truth. His actions are characterized by deceit, manipulation, and a desire to undermine God’s plan for His children.

According to the Doctrine and Covenants, there is a clear distinction between those who can be redeemed and those who cannot. The “sons of perdition,” which include Satan, are described as individuals who have denied the Holy Spirit after having received it and have actively chosen to oppose God. The scriptures state, “These are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the devil and his angels” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:32-38). This passage emphasizes the belief that Satan and his followers have forfeited their opportunity for redemption, making it impossible for them to receive God’s love in the same way that His faithful children can.

Given this understanding, the notion of loving Satan becomes problematic. While individuals are encouraged to love their enemies, this does not extend to loving those who have irrevocably chosen to oppose God. The love that God offers is conditional upon acceptance and obedience to His commandments. Since Satan has chosen rebellion and continues to lead others astray, he exists outside the realm of divine love as understood within the teachings of the Church. Thus, while we may strive to embody love and compassion in our interactions with others, this does not necessitate a love for Satan or a desire for his well-being.

A critical aspect of this discussion is the principle of agency—the ability to choose between good and evil. In the pre-mortal existence, all individuals, including Satan, were endowed with agency. However, Satan chose to rebel against God, fully aware of the consequences of his actions. This choice has led to his current state of enmity against God and humanity.

The concept of consequences is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Church. As stated in Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21, “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven… upon which all blessings are predicated.” This principle emphasizes that choices have inherent consequences, and those who choose to rebel against God must face the repercussions of their actions. Satan’s choice to oppose God has resulted in his eternal separation from divine love and blessings.

While Satan’s fate is sealed, the same cannot be said for humanity. The commandment to love our enemies serves as a reminder of the potential for change and redemption that exists for all individuals. Unlike Satan, who has irrevocably chosen rebellion, humans have the opportunity to repent and seek forgiveness. This hope for redemption is a central tenet of the gospel, emphasizing that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love as long as they are willing to turn back to Him.

Gramps

Gramps,

My schizophrenic son killed another person and is currently in prison.  I’ve always held onto the hope that because of his mental disorder, he would eventually be made whole and forgiven in the eternities.   However, as I read D&C 42:18 today, it appears that he will never be forgiven.  I know my son and know his heart.   As he has been on medication, he is so very sorrowful, ashamed, and remorseful about this action.   Will he never be forgiven?

Elaine

Answer

Dear Elaine,

I’m so sorry you, your son, and your family are experiencing this trial. I can only imagine how heartbreaking it must be for you. Doctrine and Covenants 42:18 and many similar verses sound very “cut and dried”. However, we must be careful not to judge things that aren’t ours to judge. I don’t just mean condemning your son, but also giving up hope for him. To give up hope is to give up on the Lord. Until the final judgement at the end of the Millennium, there’s reason to hope. I don’t want to give you empty or false hope – the scriptures are clear, this is a very serious sin. But here are some scriptures that help us to understand that even in this case, there’s reason to hope:

D&C 45:54 And then shall the heathen nations be redeemed, and they that knew no law shall have part in the first resurrection; and it shall be tolerable for them.

The Lord knows whether your son “knew” the law or understood his actions. The Lord will take all into account when deciding the consequences of what your son did, based on your son’s understanding and repentance. Consider this from Sister Runia’s talk in the April 2025 General Conference:

I grew up taking diving lessons and learned that when judges score a dive, they watch the execution. Was the entry perfectly vertical, with toes pointed and a small splash? Then they do something extraordinary. They factor in the degree of difficulty.

 

Everyone is diving with their own degree of difficulty. And your Savior is the only one who truly knows the difficulty you are diving with. I want a relationship with the one person who gets me, who knows my heart and how hard I’m trying!

In Alma 24, and the surrounding story, it sure sounds like forgiveness is possible for those who murder:

9 And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed.

 

10 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.

 

11 And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain—

 

12 Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren.

I really don’t know how to reconcile this account with verses which say there is no forgiveness for murder, except that the truth may not be quite as cut and dried as “no forgiveness ever, under any conditions”. Even the General Handbook recognizes that “other situations, such as when a person has limited mental capacity” may indicate that the taking of life doesn’t equate to murder (see 32.6.1.1), and regardless, it provides a way for membership privileges to be restored (see 32.16.1).

Doctrine and Covenants 19:1-20 may give us another reason to hope – here are the most relevant verses, but I recommend you study the entire passage:

6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.

 

7 Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.

 

8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles.

 

9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.

 

10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—

 

11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.

 

12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment.

This changed our understanding, not only of this principle, but also of how the Lord works with us (note verse 7). It suggests that we sometimes incorrectly understand what the Lord means by a given scripture. Which brings me to my final point: part of holding onto hope, of not giving up, is for your son to repent, even as Alma the Younger describes:

Alma 36:18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

 

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

 

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

 

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

Repentance for killing another cannot be an easy thing, but I pray these verses help you and your son to see that he should repent and do his best to keep the commandments and live the best life he can, striving to come unto and follow our Savior. No matter what else is true, the best possible result for every individual is found in this same way: repent, and come unto Christ, and follow Him!

May God bless you and your family, Elaine, to hold tightly to each other, and come together to the Lord, that He may heal you, and help you all to live in faith and hope.

Gramps

Gramps,

Under the process of repentance, how would you know that Heavenly Father has forgiven you?

Paul

Answer

Paul,

Forgiveness, in a spiritual context, is not merely about absolving someone of wrongdoing; it is a transformative process that involves both the individual seeking forgiveness and the divine grace offered by God. In the scriptures, we find powerful affirmations of God’s willingness to forgive those who sincerely repent. For instance, Doctrine and Covenants 58:42-43 states,

Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

 

By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

This scripture highlights two critical components of forgiveness: confession and forsaking. Confession involves acknowledging one’s sins before God, while forsaking means turning away from those sins and committing to a new path. This dual process is essential for individuals seeking to understand their standing before God.

Repentance is often viewed as a daunting task, but it is fundamentally an act of faith. It is the acknowledgment of one’s shortcomings and the desire to change. Elder D. Chad Richardson emphasized the importance of self-forgiveness in the repentance process, stating, “The Lord, however, makes no exceptions when He declares, ‘I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.’” This includes forgiving ourselves.

The act of repentance is not a one-time event but a continuous journey. It requires patience and a willingness to grow. As individuals strive to align their lives with the teachings of Jesus Christ, they may find that their understanding of forgiveness deepens over time. The process can be likened to a gradual unfolding, where one learns to let go of past mistakes and embrace the grace offered through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Many individuals struggle with lingering feelings of guilt, even after they have repented. This is a common experience, as the adversary often seeks to remind us of our past mistakes, attempting to undermine our confidence in God’s mercy. Elder Tad R. Callister noted, “If you feel the Spirit—when you pray, read the scriptures, teach, testify, or at any other time—then that is your witness that you have been forgiven.” The presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life serves as a powerful indicator of forgiveness and divine approval.

It is essential to recognize that feelings of guilt do not equate to a lack of forgiveness. The Lord’s promise in Isaiah 1:18 reassures us that “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” This transformation is possible through sincere repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

Understanding how to know if one is forgiven can be a source of comfort and strength. Here are several key points to consider:

1. Sincere Repentance

The first step in knowing you are forgiven is to engage in sincere repentance. This involves not only confessing your sins but also making a genuine effort to change your behavior. As you strive to forsake your past actions, you can find peace in the knowledge that you are actively working towards aligning your life with God’s will.

2. Receiving the Holy Spirit

The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is a significant indicator of forgiveness. If you feel inspired, uplifted, or guided during prayer, scripture study, or service, it is a testament to your standing before God. The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in unholy temples, so feeling its influence is a sign that you are on the right path.

3. Trusting in God’s Love

God’s love is unconditional and everlasting. He desires for all His children to return to Him. As you work through your feelings of guilt and unworthiness, remember that God sees you as you can become, not just as you are. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated, “The Lord is always there to help us change our lives, if we only let him.” Trusting in this divine love can help alleviate feelings of inadequacy.

4. Seeking Guidance from Church Leaders

If you are struggling with feelings of unworthiness, consider seeking counsel from your bishop or another trusted church leader. They can provide guidance, support, and reassurance as you navigate your spiritual journey. Their perspective can help you understand the principles of forgiveness and repentance more clearly.

Gramps

Gramps,

I have lived a gospel center life and want to be with my wife, children, and grandchildren forever. But, I’m scared of death and seeing my mother, stepfather, and siblings again due to abuse. At 17 when I left home, I had very little contact, nor do I want to. Please help me to heal this pain, and fear. I’m 65 and very scared of death!

Ken

Answer

Ken,

My heart goes out to you.

It is a sad reality of life that so many people live with the aftereffects of abuse.  While it seems you’ve been able to heal enough to have had a loving, gospel-centered relationship with your wife and children, it is difficult to completely heal from such emotional/psychological scars.

First, let me give you some words of comfort.  The Lord will NEVER force you to be around people who will do any harm to you in the Celestial Kingdom.  Such an idea would make heaven a hell for many people.

Remember that the Lord has prepared a special place for you.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

 

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:2-3)

While I’m not certain how literal these mansions are, the concept of comfort and peace, and of “being at home with the Savior” is the promise He offered His disciples.  If you have lived in accordance with your covenants, if you have sought out the Lord’s will, and have strived to do His will in your life, then you are one of His disciples.  His promise is true.

A certain family therapist described a story of an anonymous family that experienced abuse in their home.  The father was abusive.  But he and the whole family were very good at keeping up appearances.  Because of the father’s example, the siblings were also abusive to each other.  The family was filled with secrets that remained rumors for many years.  They were finally exposed to all upon the father’s death.

As adults, the children went through much tribulation throughout their adult lives as they did their best to stay true to their covenants with the Lord and do all they could to not allow the abuse to continue to the next generation.

As the children moved away to all parts of the country and began their own families, they refused to behave the way they had when growing up together.  The siblings couldn’t be around each other without the memories of the abuse, which they, themselves, continued against each other.

Each family had their own way of dealing with the past.  They eventually got to the point where they could forgive each other.  But they still stayed apart because the memories of abuse were too traumatic.

The most difficult part of their “daily walk with the Lord” was trying to forgive their father.  As faithful members of the Church, they knew that the Lord wanted them to learn forgiveness for this tragedy that was not their fault.  How could they?

One child shared his “come to Jesus moment” when he was faced with all of his own sins in a fairly dramatic way.  It would have been easy enough to claim, “But that wasn’t as bad as my father!” which was true.  But he heard the Spirit speak to him.  He recognized that if his own children (who had been properly raised with good principles) knew of all his sins, they would have been disgusted with him as well.

He resolved that if he were to obtain forgiveness from the Lord, he would have to forgive his father.  He was aware of the scripture:

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

 

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

But how could he?  He agonized over this for many years.  He finally found peace with the following idea:

“While I may not be able to completely let go of it in this life, I can give it to the Lord.  If He finds that my father was truly repentant and gives him forgiveness, then I will trust the Lord’s judgment.  I also submit myself to the Lord’s judgment to forgive me.”

With this commitment, he felt a burden ease off of him.  Through his trust in the Lord, he felt completely free of all the abuse.  Memories still bubbled up from time to time.  But it was no longer a constant weight on him.  The forgiveness and peace in his life was clear.

I hope you can find some way to achieve peace through the Atonement of Christ as well.

 Gramps

Gramps,

What was the correlation between healing and forgiveness in Jesus’s time and what is the connection in our time between a person being healed and that person being forgiven of sins?

David

Answer

David,

Thank you for taking a moment to ask a question covering the juxtaposition of healing and forgiveness during Christ’s time versus healing and forgiveness during our time. Let’s first begin with these verses of scripture:

1. Mormon 9:9, “For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?

2. Matthew 9:6, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

These two scriptures highlight the following that God doesn’t change, and that the Son of man is the only person who can forgive sins. If God is an unchanging being then the correlation between Christ’s time and our time are the same, with one exception — Christ being a living mortal man of flesh and blood which we do not have now. The New Testament period can be broken into two parts, as it pertains to this question, 1) when Christ was living and 2) after Christ’s resurrection when Peter was given authority to lead as the prophet of Christ’s Church (at that time).

The second verse clearly shows that the miracle, at this time, was given as a sign that Christ (the Messiah) not only can heal (as did many other prophets in the Old Testament) but that he could also forgive sins simultaneously (which no prophet ever could as done in Matthew 9: 6). Forgiveness of sins (as it is today) is only done in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ — our Redeemer.

Let’s look at Matthew 8:3-4:

3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

 

4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

In this example, we see that a healing took place and the individual was then commanded to follow the law in order to be cleansed through the sin offering. It seems as though, in many cases, the Lord told them to follow the law as was written. Obedience to law brings forth blessings, and in this case obedience brings forth forgiveness. It appears while Christ lived that he could give forgiveness at the same time a healing occurred – through his voice.

After Christ died and was resurrected we can read the following (which would be the same for our day) James 5:14-15:

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

 

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (emphasis mine)

This verse would have the same application in our time as it did in James time, and during the living ministry of Christ. We are informed that when a healing takes place, which can only come through exercising faith in Christ that this faith in Christ also allows a forgiveness of sins. This correlation between healing and forgiveness may be a direct result of the Holy Ghost. Once we are cleansed, healed and made whole, then comes the fire (justification) by the Holy Ghost by which we then experience sanctification from the Lord’s Atonement (forgiveness). As to how this works, well I think that is one of the many mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

In that sense, the only difference I can see regarding the correlation of healing and forgiveness of sins when Jesus lived verses the time we live now is that when Jesus lived he could do what we could not. He, and he alone, could say simultaneously you are forgiven and healed at the exact same time. Otherwise, after his death, the apostles and prophets (any servant of Jesus Christ) could only heal, and inform what the Lord already stated as we have no permission or authority to forgive sins.

Gramps

Dear Gramps,

Thru my eyes I was a mean mother and daughter with addictions.  I can never make this up to those I have injured. I selfishly took from everyone. I am an old woman now, and for 25 years I have tried to be the best mother and grandmother I can be. Still l I cry almost daily for the pain I caused everyone.  I can’t let it go.  President Nelson said, “Counting blessings is far better than recounting our problems.” Do you think he meant our past also?  Thank you Angels with Gramps.

Marie

Answer

Marie,

The easy answer to your question is an emphatic yes. If we look to the Book of Mormon we can confirm this answer through the lament of Nephi, 2 Nephi 4:17-19,

“Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

 

“I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

 

“And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.”

A principle to ponder, remember, that every sin we have committed is in the “past.” The Lord’s atonement is infinite and eternal, and as such it covers the sins of our past, and the sins we will yet commit. Now, you might be thinking, “Well, yes, I understand what Nephi is saying but I didn’t live a life like Nephi. I am not as good as he was.” If so, remember Nephi was teaching a principle that the Lord wanted everyone who reads the Book of Mormon to understand. And that principle of truth is to “know in whom [we] trust.” We trust, in the Lord’s grace. His bounteous tender mercies and love that he can only offer us.

Let’s move past Nephi and lets discuss for a moment the life of Saul. Saul was a honest seeker of truth. He desired to do what was right before the Lord according to the knowledge he had. In accordance with that knowledge, although with “good” intention (he thought he was doing God’s will), he persecuted the Saints of his God. Not only did he persecute them, he helped the leaders of that time hunt them down and kill the Lord’s servants. Now, think for a moment, when Saul was visited by the Lord and asked, “Why persecutest though me?” What do you think might have been his first thoughts when he realized the magnitude of his decisions? Saul killed, help kill, his Lord’s servants. As a consequence, he was made blind, and thus began his repentance process.

Now, take a moment, when we think of past sins that might cause someone to say, “O wretched man that I am,” surely assisting with killing the Lord’s servants would be in the top ten. This and other decisions Paul made before he was converted may be the reason why Paul felt he was “less than the least” of his brethren, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,” ( Ephesians 3:8  ). As with you, he did all he could — his best — to repent and to move forward despite the decisions of his past.

As I share this, the Spirit brings back to my memory President James E. Faust conference talk, “The Weightier Matters of the Law,” when he shared the shame he felt because he did not help his grandmother out when he was young. Here are his words,

“When the wood box next to the stove became empty, Grandmother would silently pick up the box, go out to refill it from the pile of cedar wood outside, and bring the heavily laden box back into the house. I was so insensitive and interested in the conversation in the kitchen, I sat there and let my beloved grandmother refill the kitchen wood box. I feel ashamed of myself and have regretted my omission for all of my life. I hope someday to ask for her forgiveness.”

As we return back to Paul, I am sure he shed many tears for his past decisions, but something Paul said I hope will bring you comfort. In Philippians 3:13,

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”

My dear beloved sister, please move beyond the past, trust fully in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and continue to reach forth unto that which is before us. I hope this next verse of scripture brings peace to your heart ( Source )

“Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—

 

“Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;

 

“Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.”

Remember, in whom we trust.

Gramps

Gramps,

If a person was voluntarily excommunicated for adultery but repents with full restoration of blessings, having been faithful for over 30 years, including remarriage in the temple, is there any doctrine or conditions which would prevent that person from inheriting the Celestial Kingdom, including the right to live with the new sealed spouse (and other loved ones)?

Janet

Answer

Janet,

Thank you for taking a moment to ask this question. Let’s review scriptures and prophetic words that are relevant to what you have asked:

1. “Repentance is sometimes a painful process, but it leads to forgiveness and lasting peace. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). In this dispensation the Lord has promised, “He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42).”

2. Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

3. Doctrine and Covenants 58:42, “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.”

4. “Repentance is an act of faith in Jesus Christ —an acknowledgment of the power of His Atonement. We can be forgiven only on His terms. As we gratefully recognize His Atonement and His power to cleanse us from sin, we are able to “exercise [our] faith unto repentance” (Alma 34:17)”

5. Alma 34:17, “Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;”

6. “Jesus Christ promised us: ‘It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world’ (D&C 93:1–2).”

7. Excellent testimony and confirming words:

“A young man bore this testimony: ‘I think of all the pain I caused my parents —and myself —by not realizing that sin does not bring happiness. After high school I moved out and started drinking, smoking, and using drugs. I thought I was having a good time, but now I know I was really quite miserable.

 

“‘Then one day I stopped and thought, “What if my parents could see me now? What would they think?”

 

“‘It was then that I started to turn my life around. … I would never have made it without some good new friends and an understanding bishop —and without the help of the Holy Ghost. But with their help I was able to repent. And now I see how unhappy I was. I testify that repentance and righteous living bring happiness. And I know from experience that the Lord is always there to help us change our lives, if we only let him’” (quoted by Jay A. Parry in “Miracles Today?” Ensign, Jan. 1978, 56).

As we repent of our sins, we come closer to the true path. When we are on the true course leading to the celestial kingdom, we understand that all the laws of God are important. We become more like Jesus Christ and view sin as He does. We cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance (see D&C 1:31). In other words, we cannot stand any form of sin. This is our goal. Although we are not perfect, we must remember our goal and work to attain it.”

8. And my favorite verses of scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 45:3-5, “Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him— Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.”

It appears from these verses of scriptures and thoughts from our manuals that the Lord’s grace is as he has specified it to be — enduring, loving, charity, bounteous, forgiving, and infinite without end. The scriptures are clear, that if we have done all we can, confessed and forsook our sins, we have every reason to trust in God that the blessings of living with the Father and receiving all he hath can be ours, nothing would prevent it if we have indeed forsaken and confessed our sin.

Gramps

Gramps,

When King Benjamin was speaking in Mosiah 4 verse 3 it reads that the Spirit of the Lord came upon the them and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins.  I just want to know how can they have remission of their sins if Christ hasn’t been born yet. I am a member and I have read the Book of Mormon a few times. I would just like clarification.  Thank you.

Debbie

Answer

Debbie,

Your question is one many have had, and in the October 1996 General Conference, then Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke about the Old Testament practice of animal sacrifice and its limits, since the sacrifices were offered continuously:

In preparatory times of the Old Testament, the practice of atonement was finite—meaning it had an end. It was a symbolic forecast of the definitive Atonement of Jesus the Christ. His Atonement is infinite—without an end. It was also infinite in that all humankind would be saved from never-ending death. It was infinite in terms of His immense suffering. It was infinite in time, putting an end to the preceding prototype of animal sacrifice. It was infinite in scope—it was to be done once for all. And the mercy of the Atonement extends not only to an infinite number of people, but also to an infinite number of worlds created by Him. It was infinite beyond any human scale of measurement or mortal comprehension.

 

Jesus was the only one who could offer such an infinite atonement, since He was born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father. Because of that unique birthright, Jesus was an infinite Being.

Alma’s son Corianton. In Alma 39’s chapter heading we read that “Christ’s redemption is retroactive in saving the faithful who preceded it.” The relevant verses, 17-19, read,

And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?

 

Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?

 

Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?

In 2 Nephi 9:7 Jacob describes the atonement of Jesus Christ as “infinite” and it truly is, not only effective for all mankind, but also through all time. A few verses later from the one you referenced in Mosiah 4, verses 6 and 7, King Benjamin states the atonement was prepared from the foundation of the world. Recall how in the Grand Council in Heaven, Christ stepped up to carry out the Father’s Great Plan of Happiness. He would accomplish His Father’s work and since it is an infinite atonement, it applies to “all who would ever live upon the Earth.” (The Living Christ, the Testimony of the Apostles).

Gramps

Gramps,

If I have repented for my sins and I am still tempted am I still guilty?  I have not given in but I’m constantly reminded of my past.  Sometimes I feel the shame so strong I flinch.  Will I ever feel clean or will I suffer because of my past till I die?

David

Answer

Dear David,

I truly appreciate this question not only because I can sense this has troubled you for awhile, but because I know that you are not the only one who feels like this and I am certain there will be many more who’d benefit from this answer.

I hope that my words bring you hope and inspiration to do your best and move forward knowing you are a literal son of Heavenly Parents, who love and cherish you with the kind of love we’ve yet to fully understand.

You see, they have spent many, many days lovingly and patiently preparing a plan by which we could learn and grow to love them. In that plan, they have given us one of life’s greatest gifts: Moral Agency!

Being able to choose our actions, is by far, one of the most important aspects of the Plan of Salvation. Lucifer, who is the devil, wants nothing more than to have us bound by our choices, our wrong choices. He instills shame in our hearts and thus, makes us feel less than what we are, or whom we can become.

I know I have shared the following talk, on previous answers but, I think it is imperative to remind ourselves of the miracle that is forgiveness.

In a devotional given on January 13th 2009,  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland gave one of the most powerful talks in our time. So, I will be using his talk to answer your question addressing each section, in delicate detail.

You said:

If I have repented for my sins and I am still tempted am I still guilty?

In Elder Holland’s talk, he mentioned this:

“One of the purposes of history is to teach us the lessons of life. George Santayana, who should be more widely read than he is on a college campus, is best known for saying, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” (Reason in Common Sense, vol. 1 of The Life of Reason [1905–1906]).”

Repenting of our past acts is important: we are given the ability to remember just enough to ensure we do not repeat it. Sometimes, we remember too much and dwell on the past where it becomes as ball and chain which is attached to our ankle weighing ever so heavily giving us the feeling of shame (you describe it as guilt). Shame is a destructive feeling that Satan uses to snare us in a potentially eternal spiral down to the everlasting despair.

The Lord in Doctrine and Covenants 58:42 has stated: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.”

So, it is important to remember our past acts but not to dwell on them to the point of dragging us down. And to answer the last part of your question, no, you are not guilty IF you have truly repented.

You continued:

I have not given in, but I’m constantly reminded of my past.

I completely applaud the fact that you have not given in. I am proud of you and I am certain that God is even more grateful you are striving to keep His commandments.

Elder Holland’s talk, which it’s titled “Remember Lot’s Wife”  and as you know, Lot’s wife was not exactly obedient as she ended up being turned into a pillar of salt for “looking back”. Elder Holland stated the following:

“It is possible that Lot’s wife looked back with resentment toward the Lord for what He was asking her to leave behind. We certainly know that Laman and Lemuel were resentful when Lehi and his family were commanded to leave Jerusalem. So it isn’t just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future. That, apparently, was at least part of her sin…”

 

“At this point, let me pause and add a lesson that applies both in your own life and also in the lives of others. There is something in us, at least in too many of us, that particularly fails to forgive and forget earlier mistakes in life—either mistakes we ourselves have made or the mistakes of others. That is not good. It is not Christian. It stands in terrible opposition to the grandeur and majesty of the Atonement of Christ. To be tied to earlier mistakes—our own or other people’s—is the worst kind of wallowing in the past from which we are called to cease and desist.”

Dear David, I say to you, cease and desist!

Continuing:

Some times I feel the shame so strong I flinch.

You are not any different than any other person whom has fallen. Not feeling inadequate is surely something we could all strive for and as president Holland has pointed out, it is important to stop dwelling on past mistakes. Do not give up. Do not fall but if you do, get up again and keep moving forward. Eventually, the great power of the atonement will carry you to pass through the threshold into eternal life.

Now, the end, the part that makes my heart hurt a little for you:

Will I ever feel clean,or will I suffer because of my past till I die.

As being someone who at one point or another has felt like you, I know from personal experience that you WILL feel clean and will not suffer the effects from previous wrong choices. You see! Jesus Christ has suffered all of our sins for us and He has promised that IF we follow him and accept him as OUR Savior, he will pay the price and eventually, we’ll be free from our guilt and pains of past acts.

I will end by sharing with you another favorite talk of mine, this one given by then, Acting President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Boyd K. Packer:

‘Satan is the deceiver, the destroyer, but his is a temporary victory.

 

The angels of the devil convince some that they are born to a life from which they cannot escape and are compelled to live in sin. The most wicked of lies is that they cannot change and repent and that they will not be forgiven. That cannot be true. They have forgotten the Atonement of Christ.

 

“For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him” (D&C 18:11).

 

Christ is the Creator, the Healer. What He made, He can fix. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the gospel of repentance and forgiveness (see 2 Ne. 1:13; 2 Ne. 9:45; Jacob 3:11; Alma 26:13–14; Moro. 7:17–19).

 

“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (D&C 18:10).’

David, I hope you have felt the love our Heavenly Father has for you and how much He longs for you to feel worthy of such love. He wants you to see yourself as He sees you: an amazing son. I share with you that IF you continue being faithful and continue to strive to live the Gospel, I promise you that you will see Him again some day. These are desperate times and Satan is ramping up his attacks but the work of Heaven is even more excited to see people like you go forward. I pray that you find the strength to know you are worth it.

With Love,

Gramps

Gramps,

When I was 4, I was repeatedly molested by my 17 year old cousin. I want to forgive him but don’t know how. I have been able to forgive him some but I don’t know how to forgive fully. Please help.

Lori

Answer

Gramps,

If you sincerely repent of a stupid stupid thing you did (adultery) are you forgiven? Can you still marry in the temple? Can you still gain a higher glory?

Cher

Answer

Dear Cher,

I am humbled to be able to answer this delicate question and as such, I will be both, tactful, yet, forward in my response in the hopes to be clear as to where the Lord stands with serious sin. Albeit, I am not perfect and I do not claim to be freed from sin. I am not from a place of judgement but of Love.

And that’s where I would like to begin: LOVE!

Our Father in Heaven has an immense love for all of His children that the human mind cannot comprehend. In John 3:16 we read

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Isn’t it wonderful to think that God, the Father of all Living is so involved in our eternal well-being that He gave his only Begotten in the flesh to save us from eternal misery? Can you imagine how great that is? Not only that, but, can you imagine that Our Lord and savior, even JESUS CHRIST loves us so much that he volunteered to be a sacrificial lamb so that you and I could have a choice and not be bound to obedience and be forced to follow someone’s version of eternity?

According to scripture, we shouted for joy (Job 38:7) when we heard this plan and when we understood the great love our heavenly parents have for us.

We know by modern revelation that there is nothing we do here on earth that can prevent us from attaining our eternal reward, except, denying the HOLY GHOST and the shedding of innocent blood.

So, having said that, LDS.ORG clearly states what the Law of Chastity is:

“Physical intimacy between husband and wife is a beautiful and sacred part of God’s plan for His children. It is an expression of love within marriage and allows husband and wife to participate in the creation of life. God has commanded that this sacred power be expressed only between a man and a woman who are legally married. The law of chastity applies to both men and women. It includes strict abstinence from sexual relations before marriage and complete fidelity and loyalty to one’s spouse after marriage.

 

In addition to reserving sexual intimacy for marriage, we obey the law of chastity by controlling our thoughts, words, and actions. Jesus Christ taught,“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:27–28).”

So, it is clear that this law is very significant and that it must be obeyed in order to obtain the Celestial Kingdom, and thus, this brings me to your question:

In short, yes, we can obtain the celestial kingdom so long as we dutifully and remorsefully repent and make the necessary changes to never do it again. Ezra Taft Benson called this “a reformation of life”

“I would not have anyone believe that there is no hope if there are some who have made such a grievous mistake, because repentance and forgiveness are also a part of the gospel. Thank God for that! But it must be real repentance. Such repentance is a deep, heartfelt sorrow for sin that produces a reformation of life. It is not just a confession of guilt.”

Some times we regard the all too lightly the principle of repentance, thinking that it only means confession, that it only means feeling sorry for ourselves. But it is more than that. It is a deep, burning, and heartfelt sorrow for sin that will drive us to our knees in humility and tears— a deep heartfelt sorrow for sin that produces a reformation of life. That is the right test: a reformation of life. Only then may the God of Heaven in his mercy and his goodness see fit to forgive us. HE—not the priesthood on earth—is the judge. Priesthood holders can only carryout certain requirements. They can require certain things set forth in the revelations, but true forgiveness comes from above.”

-President Ezra Taft Benson  (God, Family, Country: Our Three Great Loyalties, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1988, p. 196.) (emphasis added)

Isn’t it wonderful that all we need to do is recognize that we ought to change and accept the atonement of the Savior and change, reform our behavior and line it up to that of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course, I do not mean to imply that it is easy, which I know it’s far from it. But the effort and struggle is worth it.

Do not give up! Do not allow the adversary convince you that there is no hope, because there is. His Name is Jehovah, The Prince of Peace. The King of Kings, The mighty One. Even JESUS CHRIST!

Once you have disclosed your sins to the appropriate priesthood holder (i.e. your bishop), and once you have gone through the deep heartfelt sorrow president Benson spoke of in my last quote, then and only then will you know the peace and assurance that in the House of the Lord, you will be able to feel of his forgiveness and know you’ll be welcomed there with open arms, just like when the father received his son the prodigal one (Luke 15:11-32).

May God bless you and your efforts in achieving your eternal potential.

Gramps

Dear Gramps,

My brother was tragically killed one year ago. Although, he was born under the covenant and baptized at the age of 8, he was not taught the gospel standards as a child and lived in a home that did not have high regard for the Church. I have two questions: One active family member has commented that my brother is in a state of torture for not living the gospel standards. My brother was an amazing husband and father, a law-abiding citizen but lived a worldly life. How might I respond to this remark as the only other active member in my immediate family? I need help with damage control. I want the gospel to bring peace and comfort at this difficult time, not anger. Second how might I go about explaining the work done in the temple to his wife who has had multiple negative experiences with this LDS family member regarding the church. I feel it is especially difficult since my brother has already been baptized and cannot be sealed to her at this time because she is not a member. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sister

Answer

Dear Sister,

I feel that the family member who made those negative comments about your brother may be in more danger of living in a state of torture for his unchristian-like attitude, than would your brother for his inactivity. If your brother was born under the covenant, rich blessings are in store. Elder Boyd K. Packer, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the April 1992 general conference, referred to a statement on this subject by the prophet Joseph Smith—

“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared–and he never taught a more comforting doctrine–that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving fathers heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God (Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, p. 110.)” (Elder Boyd K. Packer, Our Moral Environment, Ensign (CR), May 1992, p.66)

It may be interesting to note that the sealing of wife to husband in the temple is a conditional sealing, depending on the faithfulness of the marriage partners, but there are no conditions attached to the sealing of children to parents–and the word of the Lord us sure–it is never violated—

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same (D&C 1:38).

So, knowing that the Lord, although just, is also kind, loving and forgiving, and that His very purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39), I have confidence that your brother is fulfilling all that may be required of him for his eternal salvation in God’s celestial kingdom.

The thing is that life does not cease at death. There is much to be done in the spirit world to prepare all spirits for their final destination in one of the three degrees of glory prepared for them by the Father. From (1 Cor 15:40-44)—

40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

 

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.

 

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

 

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

 

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

Concerning damage control in your family, there are two very powerful things that you can do to help remedy the situation–first, you can pray for them–The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). The other powerful thing that you can do is to live the example of a worthy, Christian life. Show that you love the Lord, His church and kingdom. Your example is the most powerful sermon that you can preach. To try to convince other family members by argument is generally counter-productive, engendering protectionism and animosity. But if you act in an accepting, loving way toward your family members they will begin to want to copy the way you are. The gospel is effectively preached only when the Spirit is present– otherwise it is not understood or accepted. So the missionaries or the home teachers are the appropriate ones to present the principles of the gospel to others–not that we should not also take advantage of every opportunity to testify of the Savior and the restoration of the gospel. But this is done as moved upon by the Holy Spirit.

Concerning explaining the work of the temple to your brother’s wife, I would suggest that you defer delving into that explanation until after she becomes active or has returned to activity in the Church. Then, at the appropriate time you could accompany her to the temple, and all her problems would be solved. All things cannot be done in a day. So we wait and pray with faith, having full confidence in our Father in Heaven that He will hear our anxious prayer and do all that can be done for His righteous children.

Gramps