SaturdayLove Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 Well, I've got this question... I don't want to confess my sins to the Bishop because, First of all I don't like Punishment. also,I don't want to waste a year or even half a year on the repentance process, I don't feel that it's necessary. I told Jesus that I was sorry... so that should be that... Also If I were to confess to my bishop he would just think that I am a whore.. and I don't like to be thought of badly... Therefore, I think I have come up with a clever Idea... I want to be forgiven my sins and not get punished... Well I have been Baptized at 10 and now I'm 22.. but that's not the point.. I was wondering If this would work... i am planning to go to another country anyways.. When I go there can I join a Mormon church pretend that I don't know anything about this religion and just get baptized there??
pam Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 So you would be rebaptized and use a lie to have it done? What would be worse? Having to go through the repentance process and to be truly forgiven or have Heavenly Father know that you bypassed the system He set up by sacrificing His own son and lied to do it? Personally, I wouldn't want that on me at judgment day.
SaturdayLove Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Posted April 9, 2011 So you would be re baptized and use a lie to have it done?.Ok, so what if I don't lie....Say I don't mention anything about not knowing about the church and just ask to be baptized?
pam Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 That is still lying when it concerns the Lord. He knows better.
SaturdayLove Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Posted April 9, 2011 That is still lying when it concerns the Lord. He knows better.~ :<< Is there any way out of this? I do know that usually people are let off easy if the sin was committed a long long time ago.... So many if I wait until I'm 40 or 50.....I could come and confess... at that point long time would have passed and I wouldn't really have to be punished at forty for something that happened 20 years ago
pam Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 And what if you died 2 years from now? I realize at 22 many think they are still immortal. I know I did at that age. The process of repentance and going to the Bishop should never be looked upon as punishment. But as a loving way to get back on the path you should be on. While the Bishop is the judge in Israel over those he has stewardship over, I seriously doubt he would be thinking of you in terms that you mentioned in your OP. If you truly want to be forgiven and to have everything right with the Lord, just do the things you should and need to do. It's hardly a waste of your time.
slamjet Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 Step one in the repentance process: HUMILITY, something you need to work on, badly.
Guest SisterofJared Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 Frankly it would not work. I know someone who did it. He had gone inactive and married a nonmember. One day the missionaries knocked on their door, her husband answered and was interested. They had lived together without being married. She had never mentioned to him that she had been a member and when he became interested, they took the missionary discussions together and were baptized. Two weeks later the bishop told them, "Hey your membership records came in today, do you want to see them?" They went in his office and he handed each one of them their membership records. Hers was heavily underlined in black, and confirmed that she had been baptized at 8 years of age. Her husband was shocked, and the whole affair caused a lack of trust in him that took quite some time to overcome. The bishop was also dismayed, the woman was disciplined by the church and it was quite some time before she was allowed to take the sacrament. Her husband grew in the gospel, and was prepared to enter the temple before she was. She had not been excommunicated and eventually her disfellowshipment was lifted and when I knew her she was totally active at church. But yes, she had regrets. Understand that because you have strayed does NOT mean you will be excommunicated or even disfellowshipped. Sometimes a lesser discipline is given. Often someone who comes in sorrowing and with great regret and humility is asked to refrain from taking the sacrament, and having no calling, and visit often with the bishop to overcome the problem. But truthfully, your desire to try and fool the lord does not speak well of your humility and regret. Instead of trying to pull a trick on God, why not fall on your kneels and beg the Lord's forgiveness? Why not go sorrowing to your bishop, and know that whatever happens, the Lord will see you through it. With that attitude, you can be sure your repentance will be genuine, and the Lord will heal your heart and your spirit, and any future activity will be joyful.
pam Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 We cannot trick God. SOJ, I had also thought of the membership records as well. Just leaving the country doesn't erase the membership records already in place.
SaturdayLove Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Posted April 9, 2011 Step one in the repentance process: HUMILITY, something you need to work on, badly.My HUMILITY, is fine... I already told Jesus that I was SORRY~
SaturdayLove Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Posted April 9, 2011 And what if you died 2 years from now? I realize at 22 many think they are still immortal. I know I did at that age.The process of repentance and going to the Bishop should never be looked upon as punishment. But as a loving way to get back on the path you should be on. While the Bishop is the judge in Israel over those he has stewardship over, I seriously doubt he would be thinking of you in terms that you mentioned in your OP.If you truly want to be forgiven and to have everything right with the Lord, just do the things you should and need to do. It's hardly a waste of your time.Well, Yeah... The dying thing kinda scares me... I suppose I can't repent in heaven after I die?? ~ Anyways does it have to be my own bishop?? I have friends in other wards... can I possibly go to one of their bishops and confess? That was when the confession is done I will never have to see him again............ Also, I don't think I could just go up and tell him.... I mean ever since I was like 7 and did something wrong I always got my friends to tell on me... and then the teachers would call me out and at that point I HAD TO TELL them....... So my last genius plan.. is That I go to my friends ward... and tell her to rat me out to the bishop... at the point he would already know and would call me out ... then I WILL HAVE NO ESCAPE AND WILL HAVE TO CONFESS >.<
SaturdayLove Posted April 9, 2011 Author Posted April 9, 2011 · Hidden Hidden The process of repentance and going to the Bishop should never be looked upon as punishment. But as a loving way to get back on the path you should be on. While the Bishop is the judge in Israel over those he has stewardship over, I seriously doubt he would be thinking of you in terms that you mentioned in your OP. If you truly want to be forgiven and to have everything right with the Lord, just do the things you should and need to do. It's hardly a waste of your time. Well, Yeah... The dying thing kinda scares me... I suppose I can't repent in heaven after I die?? ~ Anyways does it have to be my own bishop?? I have friends in other wards... can I possibly go to one of their bishops and confess? That was when the confession is done I will never have to see him again............ Also, I don't think I could just go up and tell him.... I mean ever since I was like 7 and did something wrong I always got my friends to tell on me... and then the teachers would call me out and at that point I HAD TO TELL them....... So my last genius plan.. is That I go to my friends ward... and tell her to rat me out to the bishop... at the point he would already know and would call me out ... then I WILL HAVE NO ESCAPE AND WILL HAVE TO CONFESS >.<
pam Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 You need to go to your own Bishop. He is the one that has stewardship over you. Obviously you are just looking at a way to bypass what you need to do. Again as others have said. You need a good dose of humility instead of trying to find a way to get around it. You do what you want of course. If you choose to lie, or not be truthful..just glad I'm not you.
estradling75 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 It will not work... And you are not being humble. Humble is doing what ever the Lord has deems necessary. In this case the Lord as laid out the necessary steps as going to your bishop. You can try to end run the system, but baptism means nothing if you go into it with a heart full of lies and deceptions. You will not get clean that way. And the church keeps records for a reason. You can attempt it but your will most likely be caught and have the Bishop pull you in anyways. Even if you fool us mortals you will not fool God. He will not be pleased with your attempt to say that you know better then him and try to lie, twist and corrupt his ordinances and will to get your way.
livy111us Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 Well, Yeah... The dying thing kinda scares me... I suppose I can't repent in heaven after I die?? ~ Anyways does it have to be my own bishop?? I have friends in other wards... can I possibly go to one of their bishops and confess? That was when the confession is done I will never have to see him again............ Also, I don't think I could just go up and tell him.... I mean ever since I was like 7 and did something wrong I always got my friends to tell on me... and then the teachers would call me out and at that point I HAD TO TELL them....... So my last genius plan.. is That I go to my friends ward... and tell her to rat me out to the bishop... at the point he would already know and would call me out ... then I WILL HAVE NO ESCAPE AND WILL HAVE TO CONFESS >.<You have to go to whichever Bishop has your records, which is currently your own. I applaud your willingness to repent and change your life, it is a hard thing to do. But, even though it will be difficult to speak to your own Bishop, you will feel such a burden lifted from your shoulders and the love of Christ enter your soul, that it will no longer matter to whom you confessed to. Bishops see so many cases of sin that I doubt yours will stand out in his mind at all. They deal with this problem on a weekly basis, but are a representative of Christ and will offer that same love to you. Trust me, this will be the best decision of your eternal life!
estradling75 Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 Sorry I missed the part about going to another Bishop. That will not work either. The other Bisphop has no authority to work with you. The best he can do is call or write your bishop and let him know... Which results in you being called in to face your bishop anyways. The bishop's job is to help you repent. So when you talk to the bishop he is going to take into consideration everything he know about you and what the spirit tells him and then work with you through the repentance process. One of those factors will be did you come in on your own to get right with god or did he have to drag you in. You said you are afraid of what your bishop might think of you, and you are afraid of being punished. I am going to take that last bit to mean you are afraid of what other people will think of you if/when they find out you are working through things with the bishop. That is a sad thing that shouldn't be an issue, but people are flawed, and you know your locals better then we do. In this case you have to ask yourself do you fear God or Man more? Their will be people that do judge you, but any one that judges someone harshly as they struggle to get right with God, is in need of repentance themselves
pam Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 And so a lie to an official of the Church who has a right to delve into our lives is tantamount to a lie to the Lord, and a half-truth to his officials is like a half-truth to the Lord, and rebellion against his leaders is comparable to rebellion against the Lord.Spencer W. Kimball Stating that you have told Jesus you are sorry and then ask about lying or telling half truths to get baptized is not showing true humility.
Palerider Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 How do you know you would be "punished" ???
MichaelPAGuy Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 Ultimately our church is a global church, no matter where you go your records are bound to follow.
Lost_one Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 I'm excommunicated, due to doing something stupid. It's hell being excommunicated, But if I had my time again, I would still confess. My son will be 8 in two years. The likelyhood that I will have all my blessings back in time to baptize him myself is impossible. It breaks my heart to think of someone else baptizing him, But I still feel that telling the truth was the right thing to do. I couldn't imagine baptizing my son with a huge sin over my head. It would feel as though I was disrespecting my son, as well as mocking God.
slamjet Posted April 9, 2011 Report Posted April 9, 2011 My HUMILITY, is fine... I already told Jesus that I was SORRY~Your OP shows otherwise. It takes more than baptism to make it to exaltation. It takes humble, willing heart full of faith and willing to put your will onto the alter before God to do with as he pleases. If you think that you can just do an end-run around the repentance process so that you don't have to take the punishment, you are sorely lacking in knowledge of what the Atonement is all about. D&C 101:1-5 1Verily I say unto you, concerning your brethren who have been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance— 2I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions; 3Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels. 4Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. 5For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified.You go right on ahead and run away from the consequences. You go right on ahead and deny the chastening of a just and loving God. In the end, you will not have exaltation. You cannot set the rules for yourself. They have already been set by God. The question is, do you have humility and faith enough to do what you need to do to repent and allow the Church to do what it needs to guide you along that path?I hope you do because I can tell you from personal experience, you cannot run away nor can you set the agenda for a just and loving God.
SaturdayLove Posted April 9, 2011 Author Report Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) @ Lost One How long does excommunication last?? More than a year?? but than again it doesn't really matter... I've been hiding out for 2 years already anyway....... What do you have to do to get excommunicated?? You see it Turns out that ... I Fornicated with 2 men. I was 20 they were probably close to 30 or over. I didn't mean to... It's just I am a really weak person, and was to scared to beat them or do anything about it... so it happened a few times... Finally they got deported from the country.. so I am relived ... but I still have to confess... but I reall don't want to get punished,,, Edited April 10, 2011 by Just_A_Guy
slamjet Posted April 10, 2011 Report Posted April 10, 2011 First, there's no guarantee that you will be excommunicated. Second, it depends. I'm on year seven, but it's been a long, slogging road where most of it was taken up with me being rebellious. And don't look at it as punishment. Look at it as giving you room to repent, get your life back in order and saving your soul. Just go talk to your Bishop and get your repentance process started.
estradling75 Posted April 10, 2011 Report Posted April 10, 2011 @ Lost OneHow long does excommunication last?? More than a year??but than again it doesn't really matter... I've been hiding out for 2 years already anyway....... What do you have to do to get excommunicated??You see it Turns out that ... I Fornicated with 2 men. I was 20 they were probably close to 30 or over. I didn't mean to... It's just I am a really weak person, and was to scared to beat them or do anything about it... so it happened a few times... Finally they got deported from the country.. so I am relived ... but I still have to confess... but I reall don't want to get punished,,,I don't mean to sound trite but it takes as long as it takes. Repenting is not like baking a cake in the oven. Certain Temp over certain time then Bing your done, No...It takes as long as it takes you to deeply and truly show that you've changed and willing to do what the Lord asks of you.I can promise that doing it the Lord's way is the fastest and easiest way to go. Not that I want you thinking this is going to be fast or easy, its just better then any other options you have.
Palerider Posted April 10, 2011 Report Posted April 10, 2011 @ Lost OneHow long does excommunication last?? More than a year??but than again it doesn't really matter... I've been hiding out for 2 years already anyway....... What do you have to do to get excommunicated??You see it Turns out that ... I Fornicated with 2 men. I was 20 they were probably close to 30 or over. I didn't mean to... It's just I am a really weak person, and was to scared to beat them or do anything about it... so it happened a few times... Finally they got deported from the country.. so I am relived ... but I still have to confess... but I reall don't want to get punished,,,No one here knows what will happen to you. You are fearing the worst and yet you have no clue whats gonna happen. You are not willing to accept punishment for what you did....that tells me you are not ready to repent. If you truly had a broken heart and a contrite spirit you would go and speak with your Bishop and not be concerned with whats going to happen....thats just my opinion....
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