Tuesday, January 9, 2024

John A. Widtsoe on Sin and Repentance in Latter-day Saint Theology

  

Sin, the violation of law, is held in abhorrence by the Church of Christ. The Lord cannot “look upon sin with the least degree of allowance.” (D. & C. 1:31.)

 

Nevertheless, while sin cannot be condoned, the way of repentance has been provided by which the sinner may win forgiveness. True repentance consists of two steps (a) Confession of the sin, and (b) Forsaking the sin and doing it no more. (D. & C. 58:43.)

 

Repentance entitles a person to forgiveness and the Lord remembers the sin no more against the person, for He is “merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts.” (D. & C. 58:42; 61:2.)

 

Even as the Lord forgives His children, so must we forgive our brethren and sisters. If they have offended us, we should be more eagerly ready to forgive them. We are not to sit in judgment upon our fellowmen. The Lord has so spoken. “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.” (D. & C. 64:10.) When a person has made restitution, all should forget his wrong, and it should not be gossiped about.

 

The act of forgiveness should not be delayed. Many of the most serious difficulties have come about because the parties concerned have failed to take prompt and kindly action. A little thing is magnified through clouds of gossip and imaginary constructions.

 

Naturally, if a person sin again after having been once forgiven, the next forgiveness will be slower in coming, and if the fault continues to be repeated, the time of forgiveness may be greatly delayed. Men must not tempt the Lord. Even in such cases, we, his fellow creatures, must not condemn him, but leave him with the Lord in whose hands is all justice as well as vengeance.

 

Members of the Church should attempt to settle their own difficulties, instead of bringing them before the Church. The Priesthood branch teachers should secure, if possible, friendly reconciliations among contending members. It is only when these, the best means, fail, that disputes should be brought before the officers of the Church for examination and judgment.

 

The repentant person acknowledges that he has been in sin, first to himself, then to the Lord and, also, to the persons he has offended or who have a right to know.

 

If the fault is only between him and the Lord, humble confession to the Lord is sufficient; it against a brother, acknowledgment to him is required; and if against the law, order and discipline of the Church, to the proper officers of the Church.

 

Confession of sin does not imply unnecessary humiliation of him who confesses. The good name, reputation and feelings of our brethren and sisters, whether in fault or not, should be carefully protected. If the fault has been of a public nature, the confession must be made publicly; if it be a secret or person offense, there should be only a secret or personal confession. It is against the spirit of the Church to spread news of a brother’s faults. (John A. Widtsoe, Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Salt Lake City: The Deseret News Press, 1937], 172-73)

 

Repentance. (1 John 3:4; James 4:17; Romans 2:12.) This is the second law or principle of the Gospel. Repentance is a natural result of faith. A living faith impels its possessor to turn away from evil and toward righteousness. Knowledge which does not so lead men can not be classed as faith. Repentance, indeed, is active faith.

 

Repentance has a two-fold aspect. First, the repentant man turns away from the evil revealed by his faith. He sins no more. Secondly, he turns towards that which is good. That is, he performs the duties that the law requires of him. A neutral man, who commits no sin, but fails entirely to do his duties, is only partially repentant. In other words, works are required of the truly repentant man, and are the marks of his repentance. Repentance and obedience are but as the palm and the back of the hand, parts of the same organ. Wherever we turn within the plan of salvation the necessity of works becomes evident. (Ibid., 214)