God constantly barrages us with signs that we need to adopt better ways of being. Guilt is a consequence of sin,2 appointed as such before the foundation of the world as a universal signal to point all people toward Christ,3 independent of their opportunity to learn about him.
Sin is transgression against yourself.4 When you turn away from what you believe is best, you turn towards your own harm.5 Sin is doing less than what you understand as best.6 Why would you willingly do what would lead to less than the best outcomes? Any rationalization for sin is a lie, and will make you feel just as guilty as the sin you attempt to justify. Only through freely admitting even the worst parts of oneself can one draw nearer to God and be healed.7 Hiding creates a downward spiral of decay and blindness.8
Too many people seek escape from guilt through means that do not include improvement. Absolution for guilt cannot be separated from improvement from flaws. Any escape from guilt that doesn’t include improvement won’t last. If you feel guilty about something, you should interpret your guilt as God’s voice to you, inviting you to improve.9
What is right begins with what is real. The path to greatest joy is the one most aligned with reality. You can fight reality all you want, but you will never win. Jonah tried to run away from God’s will. Finding himself in the hellish outcome of his foolishness, he prayed to God in plain humility. He admitted, “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.” (Jonah 2:8) In order to make the best of any situation, you must first decide to get honest about what is really going on.
Guilt for sin in this life does not disappear after we die. In fact, the removal of the barrier between us and God at judgment vastly expands the guilt we will feel there for any deviation from the best we know here.10
Justification and freedom from guilt are inescapably coupled. Justification can only occur as you live up to what you understand is best.11 Those who become free from guilt through repentance can dwell in the presence of God in eternal peace.12
Footnotes
- 1. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.... (Hebrews 10:26) ↩
- 2. And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity. (Moroni 10:22) ↩
- 3. Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man. (Alma 42:18) ↩
- 4. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:36) ↩
- 5. He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. (Proverbs 19:16) A revelation I give unto you concerning my will; and if thou art faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me, I will preserve thy life, and thou shalt receive an inheritance in Zion. (D&C 25:2) The knowledge of the commandments of the Lord is the doctrine of life: and they that do things that please him shall receive the fruit of the tree of immortality. (Sirach 19:19) ↩
- 6. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) ↩
- 7. And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness. (Ether 12:27-28) ↩
- 8. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. (John 9:40-41) ↩
- 9. Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience. (Alma 29:5) ↩
- 10. Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness. (2 Nephi 9:14) ↩
- 11. Nevertheless, I give commandments, and many have turned away from my commandments and have not kept them. And now behold, I, the Lord, say unto you that ye are not justified, because these things are among you. (D&C 63:13, 19) ↩
- 12. ...he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom... (Mormon 7:7) ↩