Certainty of God's Forgiveness

Earlier this month I wrote about forgiveness of sins – specifically the question: how can I know when I have been forgiven of sins by God? As I have continued to study, pray about, and reflect on this question, some insights about how Latter-day Saints approach this question have become clearer. I think this question really has another question implied within it. It's not just about whether we can know if we've been forgiven, but also about whether we can know if we have truly repented. Even if forgiveness is certain, it will be of little consequence if we have not repented. We'll just go and commit the same sin again. Latter-day Saints have a scripture that is pretty clear on the repentance question: Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them. (D&C 58:42-43) For Latter-day Saints, confessing sins usually means admitting to…