Does sin reduce one's potential?

[splash]

Dove- thanks for sharing your experiences and thoughts!

[Traveler]

Worth and Value are about what God would do for us - send his Son to suffer and die. The worth of souls is great in the sight of God. Each soul is precious and valuable to the Father who created them.

Potential (while related) is about what we can become. In the next life our potential is to become perfectly clean through the benefits of the Atonement. In this life potential is about what we make of our time here. You may have more potential than I do, it is different for us all. That potential can change based on the decisions we make through our life.

The only point I am trying to bring to the surface in this discussion is that regardless of our personal potential or value - there is greater potential and value in repentance. Even to those that have not sinned - their potential and value is made greater in repentance.

Contrary to popular opinion - I do not believe repentance is turning away from sin - even thought turning away from sins commuted is a part of repentance. I believe repentance in the means by which our core essence is made harmonious with G-d.

That soul in harmony with G-d is no less or greater in any way that I can understand because of their past that they have put from them. That some may have found harmony easier or more difficult - I cannot see makes them in more or less in harmony for it. I just do not get it.

The Traveler

[splash]

I think living a better life in the future is part of repentance. One of the points of repentance is to do better in the future. A big part of repentance to me is the message of hope. There is hope in the Atonement. We have the opportunity to be cleansed from our sin and live better in the future.

I don't think we should beat ourselves up forever about the past. At some point, you just have to move on and focus on the future. I think a hard part of repentance is forgiving yourself. I don't think Christ would want us to be depressed/stuck in the past after we have repented. Christ will forgive us, we should forgive ourselves/others too.

I also think there is so much more to people than their sins. I think Christ sees much more in us than our sins. He does not give up on us either. He is always there and gives us the chance to repent and go forwards.

Some sin cause us to miss out on goals/potentials. But, there are other goals/opportunities/potentials we can attain in the future. I do think the sooner we repent, the better chances for the future.

I don't think its healthy or good to dwell on all the possible missed or known missed opportunities of the past. We don't always know the missed opportunities and that's a good thing. We can (and should in my opinion) apply the lesson of missed opportunities for sin to the future. It can really motivate us to live a better life- we don't want the chance of missing out in the future. We want all the goodness, rigtheousness we can get. I think that's a healthy/positive way of thinking for the future. After repentance we can make better choices in the future, be blessed for keeping the commandments, have wonderful opportunities and be very happy.

"And now, verily, I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge, go your ways and sin no more.."(D&C 82:7).

"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn three: go, and sin no more. Then Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (St. John 8: 11-12).

"He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more" (D&C 58:42).

Edited December 17, 2011 by Pegasus_
Typos: I am oh so prone to them