runewell

That's not repenting.

Are you saying that repentance = really trying?

Chicken + waffle fries + lemonade = yum (good common ground)

So you agree with Paul that our works will not save us (and are not necessary for salvation?)

If he meant "repent", why didn't he just say "repent"? "Really trying" implies more than repent. Of course I am all for repentance and coming to Christ.

One of the criminals admitted, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” - they probably weren't preaching Christ seeing as he was right there. As for the "doing all they could do..." 2 Nephi 25:23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Antidepressant drugs are prescribed in Utah more often than in any other state, at a rate nearly twice the national average. http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/20/news/mn-28924

But isn't "Really trying ends up with capital punishment" equally absurd? How many people really believe that someone given a death sentence was doing all they could do?

Well since you don't know his background either (apart from what is written), I don't see how you can confidently conclude that #1 must be the case.

Well it must be the case that either: 1) The malefactor was really trying, despite getting a death sentence on a cross, since Jesus accepted him. OR 2) Really trying wasn't necessary, OR 3) Jesus was deluded or lying. Or is there a 4th possibility?

Read Old Testament stories, I wondered how the Israelites could be so stupid at times too. One moment they walk through the middle of the Red Sea, later they are creating a golden calf. But the truth is, we are just as stupid. Despite a connection to God we will still make mistakes because of our fallen nature.

I agree. My point is, Jesus didn't seem to think that anything else was required apart from this confession. If a confession of sin to Jesus is all that's required, then where does the really try come in? If something beyond that is required, then was Jesus somehow not aware of the total requirement?

I doubt think he would meet the "really trying" standard laid out in that general conference speech.

On the cross Jesus told a criminal hanging alongside him (who stood up for Jesus at that moment) that he would soon be in paradise (Luke 23:32-43) Presumably this guy had absolutely zero works going for him, but that didn't prevent Jesus from accepting Him. So why do we think we are held to a different standard?