Speaking of
confession of sins (cf. D&C 64:7; John 20:23), Marion G. Romney said the following
in his October 1955 General Conference talk:
My brothers and sisters, there are many among
us whose distress and suffering are unnecessarily prolonged because they do not
complete their repentance by confessing their sins . . .
I would assume that we are to confess all our
sins unto the Lord. For transgressions which are wholly personal, affecting
none but ourselves and the Lord, such confession would seem to be sufficient.
For misconduct which offends another,
confession should also be made to the offended one, and his forgiveness sought.
Finally, where one's transgressions are of
such a nature as would, unrepented of, put in jeopardy his right to membership
or fellowship in the Church of Jesus Christ, full and effective confession
would, in my judgment, require confession by the repentant sinner to his bishop
or other proper presiding Church officer—not that the Church officer could
forgive the sin (this power rests in the Lord himself and those only to whom he specifically delegates it) but rather
that the Church, acting through its duly appointed officers, might with full
knowledge of the facts take such action with respect to Church discipline as
the circumstances merit.
One having forsaken his sins and, by proper
confession, cleared his conduct with the Lord, with the people he has offended,
and with the Church of Jesus Christ, where necessary, may with full confidence
seek the Lord's forgiveness and go forth in newness of life, relying upon the
merits of Christ. (Conference Report, October 1955, pp. 124-125, emphasis added)
On this
issue of God using human agents as instrumental (not the efficient) cause of forgiveness, see Chapter 5: Insights
into John 20:23, Christology, and the Confessing of Sins (pp. 78-89) of my
book, After the Order
of the Son of God: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Latter-day Saint
Theology of the Priesthood (an online version of this chapter can be
found on my blog here)