The people of God in the ancient Americas were strict to keep the Church free from contaminating sin. Members who were accused of serious transgression before a disciplinary council, and who refused to confess and repent so that their sins could be blotted out, had their names blotted out instead, and they were not numbered among the people of Christ. The same option is available to latter-day members of Christ’s Church: we can have our sins blotted out or our names blotted out; it is our choice.
Then and now, when we sincerely repent and seek forgiveness, our sins are forgiven. Moroni 6:8 ought to be one of our favorite verses. We can be forgiven of every wrongdoing except one. Both the Savior and the Prophet Joseph Smith affirm that the only sin for which any of us cannot be forgiven is denying the Holy Ghost; it is the only unpardonable sin. The Savior said, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” (Matthew 12:31). And the Prophet reiterated the promise that there is only one sin beyond the redeeming power of the Atonement; essentially, it is the only sin that involves refusing to accept the efficacy of the Atonement. He said: “All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition. What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; and from that time he begins to be an enemy.”3
Then and now, the Spirit guides meetings and the individuals who pray, sing hymns, and prepare and deliver talks—and those who hear them.
“They Were Forgiven”
The people of God in the ancient Americas were strict to keep the Church free from contaminating sin. Members who were accused of serious transgression before a disciplinary council, and who refused to confess and repent so that their sins could be blotted out, had their names blotted out instead, and they were not numbered among the people of Christ. The same option is available to latter-day members of Christ’s Church: we can have our sins blotted out or our names blotted out; it is our choice.
Then and now, when we sincerely repent and seek forgiveness, our sins are forgiven. Moroni 6:8 ought to be one of our favorite verses. We can be forgiven of every wrongdoing except one. Both the Savior and the Prophet Joseph Smith affirm that the only sin for which any of us cannot be forgiven is denying the Holy Ghost; it is the only unpardonable sin. The Savior said, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” (Matthew 12:31). And the Prophet reiterated the promise that there is only one sin beyond the redeeming power of the Atonement; essentially, it is the only sin that involves refusing to accept the efficacy of the Atonement. He said: “All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition. What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; and from that time he begins to be an enemy.”3
Then and now, the Spirit guides meetings and the individuals who pray, sing hymns, and prepare and deliver talks—and those who hear them.