Sin
What is Sin?
Sin is disobedience to the commandments of God, most recognizably the written or enumerated commandments of God.
How do we commit Sin?
We learn from Paul that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” [1]. This is true, but what is the nature of sin, and how do we as people commit sin?
- Sins of Commission: According to Mormonism sins of commission are what most people would automatically think of as sin- stealing, murdering, taking the name of The Lord in vain, etc [2]. They are the acts of sinning, or committed acts by individuals and groups.
- Sins of Omission: According to Mormonism sins of omission are a bit harder to recognize in our daily lives, but they pertain to the actions we should perform but either forget or decide not to do; we omit them. This is the “Spirit of the Law” rather than the letter, and is therefore tied more so to our intentions as an individual. For instance, the Rabbi who passed the beaten man in the road omitted to act according to God’s will, while the Good Samaritan (while not obligated by a written law) helped the beaten man and saved his life [3].
- According to Mormonism sin can also be committed in our hearts, through thoughts, or the intent of our hearts. Christ taught this concept at the Sermon on the Mount, stating “I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” [4]. We are commanded to be clean inside and out, our intentions and thoughts included (which thoughts obviously will foreshadow our actions [5]). We can be forgiven of these sins as well through repentance and changing the desires of our hearts to become more like the Savior’s [6].
Footnotes:
[1] Romans 3:23
[2] Exodus 20
[3] Luke 10: 30-35
[4] Matthew 5: 28
[5] Mark 7:21
[6] Acts 8: 22
