I am in the repentance process for breaking the law of chastity and doing similar things. I’ve been doing really well, saying morning and night prayers and reading my scriptures every day like my bishop asked me to.
However, last night I was feeling really weak, and I did something I shouldn’t have. I was talking to my exboyfriend on skype and we took it too far.. (I’m not sure how much detail I should go into).
I instantly felt horrible, and I’ve felt horrible all night, waking up every hour and wishing that what I had done was just a dream. I was finally on my way to being clean again, and I messed it all up. I just feel terrible!
Do I need to talk to my bishop about this, or can I just keep it between me and God? I am so ashamed to tell my bishop that I messed up again.
4 Responses to “I am in the repentance process for breaking the law of chast…”
Manuel Leal
2011-06-05 22:55:52
Jesus Christ is central to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which bears His name.
Dear friend, I'm happy you posted your question here on my site. The good news is that you feel remorse for what you did, and that remorse, when properly applied, can motivate you to change your life. So many people are apathetic regarding sin and repentance. You, however, desperately want to make things right with God. That desire is certainly a divine gift.
I do encourage you to talk with your bishop. Perhaps your chat will be awkward at first, but the spiritual recovery that can come from that chat is certainly worth any momentary discomfort. Explain your remorse to the bishop; he'll be sympathetic and helpful. I don't want to normalize sinsin should always be a tragedybut be assured that the bishop hears these kinds of confessions all the time. Your confession will not shock him. He'll be grateful for the opportunity to help you.
Given the challenges you're facing, you might want to consider avoiding late-night, private conversations via skype with your boyfriend. Perhaps it would be best to use your computer in a place where a lot of people pass by, like a living room instead of a bedroom. If you want some privacy, you could use headphones.
I hope this answer helps. Please don't delay the repentance process, sister. Through Christ's atonement, your scarlet sins can be made as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).
Richard
2011-06-05 23:40:29
Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can be freed from our sins.
The Book of Mormon states, "And if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also." (Mosiah 26: 29)
And I've heard that the only sins that Christ's atonement won't cover are those ones we choose not to confess and work out.
You are reading your scriptures and saying your prayers and you are mortal and made another mortal mistake? I guess welcome to being alive and striving to do what is right.
"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things...." 2 Nephi 2: 11
Go talk with your bishop he will understand and love that you came in to speak again with him. You are on the correct path and Christ said in D&C 98: 40 "And so on unto the second and third time; and as oft as thine enemy repenteth of the trespass wherewith he has trespassed against thee, thou shalt forgive him, until seventy times seven."
You not being an enemy, but just a struggling mortal, I feel pretty confident that Christ (and your Bishop) will be more than happy to forgive you and accept you back onto the path of just trying until you "get it"
There are not losers in this life, only people who choose to give up and stop trying to move forward.
Shalon
2011-06-06 04:19:03
You'll feel better if you talk about it. Right now, you feel awful and you feel weak. Talking to your Bishop will strengthen your resolve, as well as helping you to forgive yourself. You don't need to feel horrible. Repentance that is genuine can heal that. I was once in a position similar to yours and I have to tell you, get it out. You can never put it behind you otherwise.
Pamela Dean Bonta
2011-06-06 10:52:09
My general rule of thumb for myself is that if I think I *might* need to see the Bishop about a transgression, I probably do need to see him. However, you sholdn't feel ashamed with yourself - disappointed, maybe, but not ashamed. Your Bishop and the Lord know that we are human beings, with human weaknesses. The Bishop's counsel and Christ's grace are there to help us overcome our weaknesses so that we can return to our Heavenly Father with a clear conscience.
I do encourage you to talk with your bishop. Perhaps your chat will be awkward at first, but the spiritual recovery that can come from that chat is certainly worth any momentary discomfort. Explain your remorse to the bishop; he'll be sympathetic and helpful. I don't want to normalize sinsin should always be a tragedybut be assured that the bishop hears these kinds of confessions all the time. Your confession will not shock him. He'll be grateful for the opportunity to help you.
Given the challenges you're facing, you might want to consider avoiding late-night, private conversations via skype with your boyfriend. Perhaps it would be best to use your computer in a place where a lot of people pass by, like a living room instead of a bedroom. If you want some privacy, you could use headphones.
I hope this answer helps. Please don't delay the repentance process, sister. Through Christ's atonement, your scarlet sins can be made as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).
And I've heard that the only sins that Christ's atonement won't cover are those ones we choose not to confess and work out.
You are reading your scriptures and saying your prayers and you are mortal and made another mortal mistake? I guess welcome to being alive and striving to do what is right.
"For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things...." 2 Nephi 2: 11
Go talk with your bishop he will understand and love that you came in to speak again with him. You are on the correct path and Christ said in D&C 98: 40 "And so on unto the second and third time; and as oft as thine enemy repenteth of the trespass wherewith he has trespassed against thee, thou shalt forgive him, until seventy times seven."
You not being an enemy, but just a struggling mortal, I feel pretty confident that Christ (and your Bishop) will be more than happy to forgive you and accept you back onto the path of just trying until you "get it"
There are not losers in this life, only people who choose to give up and stop trying to move forward.