Hi. I’ve been a member for about 7 months, but something still bothers me. I’m 21 years old, but when I was 16 I got pregnant. My mom bought some pills for me to make me abort my child. I used them, but my child was born a month later, at 6 months. He lived for three days and died because his lungs weren’t developed. Now I feel like I committed an unforgivable sin. Can I ever get back to my Heavenly Father? Before I was baptized, I confessed to the mission president, who authorized my baptism. But my feelings convict me anyway. Am I already condemned? Thanks.
3 Responses to “How can I overcome the guilt from having an abortion?”
Leonardo Leal
2013-08-11 15:32:17
For members of the church, Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer through whom salvation is made possible. (Reflections of Christ)
Hi sister. I'm sorry to learn that you're still struggling with the memories of this past sin. It's not clear to me if you fully understood the purpose of the pill your mom gave you, nor is it clear to me if your mom gave you the option of refusing to take it. Regardless of your personal culpability, though, you confessed your past sin when you were baptized. You've done everything you can to make this right, sister. You don't need to feel guilt any more.
The most important doctrine of our faith centers on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Think about that. God loves you so much that He sent His son to pay for your mistakes! Through Christ's sacrifice, we can be cleansed of our sins. As Isaiah once said, "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" (Isaiah 1:18).
You've been cleansed, sister. Your sin has been made like white snow. It shouldn't trouble you any more.
Sometimes, we remember our sins even when God has forgotten them. We lack faith in Christ's atonement. We think God isn't powerful enough to save us. These are lies that Satan tells us, sister. Don't listen to them! Turn instead to Christ's light. He's so happy with the spiritual progress you've made.
I think this video might help you. It's such a beautiful story:
A life of sin can be cleansed and changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
God bless you with the spiritual peace you need. He's forgiven you. You need to forgive yourself.
Luiz Botelho
2013-08-18 11:52:34
Hi sister. President Boyd K. Packer confirmed, "Save for the exception of the very few who defect to perdition, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, NO TRANSGRESSION, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the Atonement of Christ."
(Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness, 7)
Sometimes past sins can really affect us and put us down because even if we were forgiven, we can't forget it. That's the Lord's way from protecting us from doing the same mistakes again.
When you confessed this to the Mission President, guided by the spirit, he felt that you could be baptized and that means the Holy Ghost confirmed that your repentance was genuine. But one of Lucifer's best tecnics is to make us feel sad and unworthy for things we did in our past and we cannot believe this, simply because its not true.
The mission President allowed you to be baptized because he felt that you were worthy... HE IS a judge in Israel... Not Lucifer.
Keep praying sister and you will feel the Lord's Spirit comforting you. Be sure that the child that passed way In that day is now happy and he/she forgives you... Because God Did.
God Bless you,
SNaplds
Grandpa Chet Cox
2013-08-17 07:53:44
Your question has been answered long ago. What you're feeling now is doubt from the Evil One and his followers. Ask yourself, What is too difficult for the Lord to make clean?
The most important doctrine of our faith centers on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Think about that. God loves you so much that He sent His son to pay for your mistakes! Through Christ's sacrifice, we can be cleansed of our sins. As Isaiah once said, "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" (Isaiah 1:18).
You've been cleansed, sister. Your sin has been made like white snow. It shouldn't trouble you any more.
Sometimes, we remember our sins even when God has forgotten them. We lack faith in Christ's atonement. We think God isn't powerful enough to save us. These are lies that Satan tells us, sister. Don't listen to them! Turn instead to Christ's light. He's so happy with the spiritual progress you've made.
I think this video might help you. It's such a beautiful story:
(Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness, 7)
Sometimes past sins can really affect us and put us down because even if we were forgiven, we can't forget it. That's the Lord's way from protecting us from doing the same mistakes again.
When you confessed this to the Mission President, guided by the spirit, he felt that you could be baptized and that means the Holy Ghost confirmed that your repentance was genuine. But one of Lucifer's best tecnics is to make us feel sad and unworthy for things we did in our past and we cannot believe this, simply because its not true.
The mission President allowed you to be baptized because he felt that you were worthy... HE IS a judge in Israel... Not Lucifer.
Keep praying sister and you will feel the Lord's Spirit comforting you. Be sure that the child that passed way In that day is now happy and he/she forgives you... Because God Did.
God Bless you,
SNaplds