One of the most difficult problems many people have in returning to the Lord after a period of disobedience in the Mormon Church is putting the past behind them.
Forgiveness implies a unilateral act on the part of the offended one, and reconciliation implies unification between the offended one and the offender.
Sorrowing for one’s sin does not mean repentance for the sin. David also was responsible for the death of Bathsehaba’s husband, which is in itself a most grevious sin.
In the Book of Mormon it is written that we cannot wait and repent in the Millenium because we will be subject to the same passions and habits we are now.
Mormonism teaches that it may be known that a person has repented of his sins if he will confess them and forsake them. If a Mormon has forsaken sins and felt forgiven of the Lord, then His representative, the bishop, should not be a source of fear when approached for confession.
It is an untrue notion in the minds of some Mormons that bearing testimony, or reaffirming the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, will provide forgiveness for sins. Only true repentance, not bearing testimony or even making public confessions, will bring on forgiveness.
