Murder and the Atonement

Dear Gramps,

We hear all the time that a man can’t be forgiven of murder, but many times in the Book of Mormon we see men being forgiven of murder when they accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. In D&C we read (132:27) “…which shall not be forgiven in this world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, AFTER YE HAVE RECEIVED MY NEW and EVERLASTING COVENANT.” So is murder an unforgivable sin always or only after one receives the new and everlasting covenant? Thanks a bunch,

Alison

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Thank you for your question,

There has only ever been one unforgivable sin in all recorded scripture, the sin of denying the Holy Ghost. The scripture you referred to has a sentence before the quote you mentioned about that very subject. (D&C 132:27) ” The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord.”

This whole section is about the qualifications to inherit the different kingdoms of glory.

Murder is a very grievous sin but the infinite and eternal nature of the atonement of Jesus Christ even makes provision for that. Full forgiviness requires restitution for the sin just like every other sin. I think it is interesting the wording of the line “in the world or out of the world” we have to remember that we continue to progress, grow, and learn after we leave this earth as well. Repentance is part of that process. If you look at the qualifications that the scripture mentions to not be forgiven in either world it mentions murder of innocent blood and assenting to the death of Jesus Christ after taking upon yourself the new and everlasting covenant. So murder in and of itself is not unforgivable.

Gramps