“Nobody’s perfect!” — we all say that, but what it really translates to is:
“We all sin.”
All of us.
Me. You. The last person you spoke to. The person you think that has a perfect life. Your loved one. Your church leader. The prophet.
Save our Savior, every single person on the earth has sinned and commits sins.
So… what sets righteous people apart?
There’s a giant spectrum of righteousness, so how do we move closer and closer to our Elder Brother’s example, if we are all sinning anyway?
Saints are sinners who repent.
People who feel remorse from a sin and then have a desire to never do that again.
And their desire is so strong… that they change their nature. They refine that rough edge just a little bit more.
As Joseph was returning from his mission to Missouri, there was drama and contention between some of the men.
And, in a surprisingly transparent moment, the Lord told the men about Joseph:
“He has sinned.” D&C 64:7
It interesting to see that written out about the prophet of the Lord, huh?
Joseph sinned.
But what allowed Joseph to still hold the keys of the kingdom and not be removed?
“Nevertheless, he has sinned; BUT verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness”. (D&C 64:7)
So what made Joseph unique?
He would sin. And then he would bring that sin to the Lord through confession. And then he would ask for forgiveness.
The Lord wants to help us to change, so this sounds like the ideal situation.
He asks us to talk about sin with Him in our prayers.
And then He asks us to leave that sin behind as we ask for forgiveness in return.
Everyone sins.
So do we let the sin fester? Do we enjoy and indulge?
Or do we immediately confess and ask for forgiveness?
Because, I think that that decision makes all the difference.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
