Former Sins Return

     

 "And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God."  (D&C 82:7)  

This verse can be misused.  Here is an example of misuse:

      If a person had a problem with lying, repented of this sin, and stopped lying for 10 years, it would be quite an accomplishment.  If, however, he again told a lie, then all of their previous lies would be added back onto him.  Therefore he would be guilty of the previous lies plus the new lie.  This view probably misses the intention of the verse.  The verse does not categorize sins.  It speaks of sins in a general sense.  It simply says all former sins.  When a sin is committed, the guilt of all the former sins has returned.
      Spencer W. Kimball emphasized this verse in his book Miracles of Forgiveness.  In chapter 12, he also quoted D&C 58:43: "By this ye know if a man repenteth of his sins - behold, he will confess them and forsake them." pg. 163  On this page he wrote this subtitle: "Desire is not sufficient."  He also said, "True repentance prods one to action."  His next subtitle was "Trying is Not Sufficient."  He said, "To 'try' is weak.  To 'do the best I can' is not strong.  We must always do better than we can." pg. 165  On page 169, he had this subtitle, "Forgiveness Cancelled on Reversion to Sin".  On page 170 he described the situation like this:  "To return to sin is most destructive to the morale of the individual and gives Satan another hand-hold on his victim.  Those who feel that they can sin and be forgiven and then return to sin and be forgiven again and again must straighten out their thinking.  Each previously forgiven sin is added to the new one and the whole gets to be a heavy load."  The words "heavy load" accurately describe the circumstances.  On the same page he stated, "...those who try to taper off find it an impossible task.

      Jesus had these words to say about carrying a heavy load:  "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."  Matthew 12:28-30