“Nevertheless Fear God”
Our God is merciful and grade.. He is slow to anger and eager to accept the repentant sinner. But that same God is faithful in his punishment of the haughty evil-doer, he that sins knowingly against light and does despite to the spirit of grace. “Our Heavenly Father is more liberal in His views,” Joseph Smith observed, “and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive.” On the other hand, the Prophet noted, the Lord “is more terrible to the workers of iniquity, more awful in the executions of His punishments, and more ready to detect every false way, than we are apt to suppose Him to be.” (Teachings, p. 257.)
The true doctrine in this field was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the revelation that became known as the Preface to the Doctrine and Covenants:
“I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance; nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven; and he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts” (D&C 1:31-33).