I committed a terrible sin and I’m afraid to talk to my bishop. What are the consequences if I don’t tell him? Who are the people who would know about my sin if I were excommunicated?
3 Responses to “I committed a terrible sin and I’m afraid to talk to my bish…”
Webmaster
2009-11-16 01:49:47
I really, really hate spiders. I think that Satan appeared in the Garden of Eden not as a snake but as a spider. If I had to choose between a den of lions and a den of spiders, I would happily run with open arms the lions!
I served a mission in Brazil, where there are some really big spiders called caranguejeiras that live in lumber mills. These spiders make tarantellas look like little daddy longlegs. As luck would have it, I served in one area where the chapel was right next to a lumber mill! We used to have to chase caranguejeiras out of the baptismal font! ;)
Once a caranguejeira was climbing up the wall of our sacrament meeting room. Desperate to kill the little beast, some of the members of the ward slammed the high windows shut, crushing the spider. I'd try my best to commune with God during our Sunday worship services, but just as I was beginning to feel His unique kind of peace, I'd look up and see the disembodied fangs of the caranguejeira hanging from the window above my head. Those fangs seriously interfered with my spiritual development. ;)
Unconfessed sins are just like those spider fangs. You certainly could choose to keep your serious sins to yourself. You could choose to hide your sins from your bishop and deny Christ's atoning sacrifice in your life. Chances are that no one would ever find out. But how will you progress spiritually with the fangs of sin hanging over your head? Any consequence, even excommunication and eventual rebaptism, if needed, is worth it to recover the peace needed to resume your spiritual progress. Go see your bishop, friend. Begin the process of spiritual healing that you so desperately need. May God bless you on your journey.
Richard
2009-11-18 03:37:52
Well we read about unrepentant sins in D&C and Christ's own words... Seen here:
Therefore I command you to repentrepent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sorehow sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spiritand would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink (Doctrine and covenants | Section 19) Ouch
As to the reason you fear to repent I understand because I had those same fears until I went in and actually got through it and I found there really was no reason to fear because God wasn't shocked because of my sins. He already knew what I had done, he was just waiting for me to confess them so He could apply the atonement for me and wash my sins away. An unrepentant sin is now in your future. A repented sin is now in your past and you can work on, with your bishop, learning to forgive yourself and forget your guilt. We don't forget that we sinned, but the sting of it will go away through time, patience, and learning to forgive yourself.
And to answer your latter question no one but your bishop and those present would know of an excommunication. Yes he would need to tell the stake president so you are not called for anything on the stake level. But if your older than a minor or even an older teen I don't believe they even tell your parents, that is for you. If you were to get excommunicated or dis-fellowshipped, and had to take a break from taking the sacrament. A parent may ask about that, but even then if they ask you tell them you are working on removing your past sins with the bishop and Jesus. Confessing of sins is always the correct choice.
Pamela Dean
2009-11-21 09:31:03
Webmaster, what a beautiful response! I would just add the following... Fear of earthly things comes from the adversary. When we fear, we are not trusting in the Lord. The adversary wants you to be afraid to talk to your bishop, because he knows that if you do not do this, he has won the battle for your eternal soul. Do not give him that satisfaction! Trust in the Lord with all your heart, might, mind, and strength - and talk to your bishop. He can give you the guidance you seek and will do so in love and prayerfulness.
I served a mission in Brazil, where there are some really big spiders called caranguejeiras that live in lumber mills. These spiders make tarantellas look like little daddy longlegs. As luck would have it, I served in one area where the chapel was right next to a lumber mill! We used to have to chase caranguejeiras out of the baptismal font! ;)
Once a caranguejeira was climbing up the wall of our sacrament meeting room. Desperate to kill the little beast, some of the members of the ward slammed the high windows shut, crushing the spider. I'd try my best to commune with God during our Sunday worship services, but just as I was beginning to feel His unique kind of peace, I'd look up and see the disembodied fangs of the caranguejeira hanging from the window above my head. Those fangs seriously interfered with my spiritual development. ;)
Unconfessed sins are just like those spider fangs. You certainly could choose to keep your serious sins to yourself. You could choose to hide your sins from your bishop and deny Christ's atoning sacrifice in your life. Chances are that no one would ever find out. But how will you progress spiritually with the fangs of sin hanging over your head? Any consequence, even excommunication and eventual rebaptism, if needed, is worth it to recover the peace needed to resume your spiritual progress. Go see your bishop, friend. Begin the process of spiritual healing that you so desperately need. May God bless you on your journey.
Therefore I command you to repentrepent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sorehow sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not. For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spiritand would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink (Doctrine and covenants | Section 19) Ouch
As to the reason you fear to repent I understand because I had those same fears until I went in and actually got through it and I found there really was no reason to fear because God wasn't shocked because of my sins. He already knew what I had done, he was just waiting for me to confess them so He could apply the atonement for me and wash my sins away. An unrepentant sin is now in your future. A repented sin is now in your past and you can work on, with your bishop, learning to forgive yourself and forget your guilt. We don't forget that we sinned, but the sting of it will go away through time, patience, and learning to forgive yourself.
And to answer your latter question no one but your bishop and those present would know of an excommunication. Yes he would need to tell the stake president so you are not called for anything on the stake level. But if your older than a minor or even an older teen I don't believe they even tell your parents, that is for you. If you were to get excommunicated or dis-fellowshipped, and had to take a break from taking the sacrament. A parent may ask about that, but even then if they ask you tell them you are working on removing your past sins with the bishop and Jesus. Confessing of sins is always the correct choice.