Hello, I have a question that has been haunting me for a while, and I hope to be clear enough in stating it.
Q: are we held responsible only for sins that we have actually committed or also for sins that we would have committed if we had the practical chance to commit them?
I try to explain myself better by a real example: one day I felt down and alone and it came to mind that I could accept an invitation to go to a party where I could have drank many alcoholic drinks. I had already decided to do so, I had excercised my free agency and chosen consciously I was going to do that even though I knew it was wrong.
Then, as I tried to start the car to go there, the engine suddenly didn’t work. Hard as I tried, there was nothing I could do to make it work, so I had to give up on the party. Now, later that day I told my mom and she told me she was grateful this little accident happened so that I didn’t have the chance to go there and be involved in sin.
But my question is: didn’t Jesus say that when one man lusts after a woman he has already committed adultery in his heart? So doesn’t this apply to my case? If so, it would mean that even if I didn’t go, I will be held accountable exactly as if I did go. So, since I am already condemned I guess I could have just called a friend asking him to drive me there… So I could have had some fun at least.. And being subject to the same kind of accountability anyway.
Or is my reasonment wrong, and my mom’s right?
I am utterly confused. I am looking for some enlightment on this topic, thank you 🙂
4 Responses to “Hello, I have a question that has been haunting me for a whi…”
Carlos Bravo
2012-03-19 01:13:28
Hi Daniel. I'm happy you posted your question here. In the end, God will judge us based on our actions and also on the desires of our hearts. It is excellent that your car broke down, because that did prevent you from committing a serious sin, but you are right that you also need to work to change your heart through Jesus Christ so you loose even the desire to sin. Really, this is something we all need to work on, since we all have our own, personalized temptations in this life. We all need to work on overcoming the "natural man," to borrow language from the Book of Mormon.
Hope this answer helps.
Richard Nance
2012-03-18 19:01:40
Hello Daniel, I'm glad you've asked this question it is a great subject to address. First off I desire to review the Doctrine of our Lord, Jesus Christ, as recorded by His prophet, as spoken by His own mouth, as follows:
31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.
32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.
38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 11:31 - 39)
Much earlier Our Savior's Prophets stated in their own day the next step in the puzzle after we accept, repent, and are baptized by one in authority, and given the Holy Ghost.
14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.
15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31:14 - 15)
Because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end.
(Book of Mormon | Alma 38:2)
SO in a way you and your mom are both correct, yes we transgress when we think to do evil in our hearts, and also yes the Lord will fully forgive those that see their folly and seek repentence.
42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:42 - 43)
If you have additional problems I would take that again to our Jesus for says He:
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
(Book of Mormon | Ether 12:27)
Forgive yourself, repent, and seek to take the correct path that you do know deep down. (see if you need help: "Forgiving oneself" by Elder Chad Richardson)
Remember Jesus saves, so let Him save you!
Anonymous
2012-03-18 19:58:27
You have made one mistake. Don't make it two. You should be thinking of redeeming, not fulfilling
Anonymous
2012-03-22 17:34:29
One of Satan's great lies is the thought that if I have already sinned I might as well sin more because I'm condemned. In your case you had a bad thought and yes that is something you should change and repent of but it doesn't follow that because you have one sin (in this case the thought) you might as well have two sins (tho thought and the action. ) In the case of drinking and going to a party it might have ended up at lots more than two because once you are drunk then you will do other things you will have less control over. So never fall for the line of thinking that "I'm condemned so I might as well sin and get a little happiness". Remember wickedness is never happiness in any form.
Hope this answer helps.
31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.
32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.
37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.
38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 11:31 - 39)
Much earlier Our Savior's Prophets stated in their own day the next step in the puzzle after we accept, repent, and are baptized by one in authority, and given the Holy Ghost.
14 But, behold, my beloved brethren, thus came the voice of the Son unto me, saying: After ye have repented of your sins, and witnessed unto the Father that ye are willing to keep my commandments, by the baptism of water, and have received the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and can speak with a new tongue, yea, even with the tongue of angels, and after this should deny me, it would have been better for you that ye had not known me.
15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 31:14 - 15)
Because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end.
(Book of Mormon | Alma 38:2)
SO in a way you and your mom are both correct, yes we transgress when we think to do evil in our hearts, and also yes the Lord will fully forgive those that see their folly and seek repentence.
42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 58:42 - 43)
If you have additional problems I would take that again to our Jesus for says He:
And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
(Book of Mormon | Ether 12:27)
Forgive yourself, repent, and seek to take the correct path that you do know deep down. (see if you need help: "Forgiving oneself" by Elder Chad Richardson)
Remember Jesus saves, so let Him save you!