Blotting out the name was serious for those who believed that their association with Christ’s name was essential to their salvation. Theologically speaking, “neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Without the name, the person is damned. Given this terrible consequence, the offender must receive every opportunity for sincere repentance. For this reason, Moroni instructs that, both before and after the statement of the penalty, repentance was allowed and recognized. The intent was to maintain the faithful community, not to exile people from it.
All of us fall short of perfection, or even of expectations. Repentance is one of the most marvelous of all of the principles of the gospel, and we must all take full advantage of sincere repentance. Needless to say, going through the form of repentance without a change of heart is unavailing. For that reason, Moroni specifies that it must be repentance “with real intent.”