Three Most Abominable Sins

Volume Three—Chapter Eighteen THREE MOST ABOMINABLE SINS

Alma and his missionary companion Amulek undertook a challenging mission to the apostate Zoramites (Alma 31-35). Alma’s son Corianton accompanied the missionaries and became inappropriately entangled with the harlot Isabel. As Alma admonished his son on his unseemly involvement with the woman, he summarized the three most abominable sins in the sight of God. He said, “Know ye not, my son, that these things [sexual sins] are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost? (Alma 39:5). Here Alma identifies the three most abominable sins in the sight of God. They are (in order of gravity) denying the Holy Ghost, shedding innocent blood (murder), and committing sexual sin.

#The Unpardonable Sin

Denying the Holy Ghost is the ultimate blasphemy. It is the unpardonable sin. It consists of willful rebellion by one who has reached a lofty state of spiritual development. He denies the existence of the sun while standing in its full light. He denies the Holy Ghost when he comes out in open rebellion against the Lord and his kingdom. Such a person is denied the privilege of repenting. He is a traitor to God and is sealed up to Satan as surely as the sons of God are sealed up to Christ. He has “denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto [himself] and put him to an open shame” (D&C 76:35).

“Unpardonable” means that his sin cannot be paid for either by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ or by the personal suffering of the sinner. The only sin that is unpardonable is sin against the Holy Ghost. The individual guilty of this sin will not be forgiven. He or she will become forever a son of perdition. Indeed, it would have been “better for [him] never to have been born” (D&C 76:32).

Which people here in mortality are capable of committing such a sin? What behavior can result in this awful penalty? Joseph Smith taught that before an individual could commit this sin, he must “have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against him. . . . He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it.” He must possess “perfect light” (TPJS, 358). Such a person must have received knowledge and power beyond what the vast majority of us have received. Spencer W. Kimball taught: “The sin against the Holy Ghost requires such knowledge that it is manifestly impossible for the rank and file to commit such a sin” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 23). This knowledge must be acquired in mortality. An individual cannot become a son of

Perdition in the post-mortal spirit world. Joseph Smith taught, “A man cannot commit the unpardonable sin after the dissolution of the body” (TPJS, 357).

It seems likely that the individual who qualifies is one who has entered into the highest priesthood covenants that can be entered into here in mortality, including that of being sealed up to eternal life. Then he must be found guilty of more than mere passive dissent. He must come out in open rebellion against the Church and kingdom and even against the Savior himself. He rebels against the Savior to the point that he seeks after the blood of Christ, and he would, if possible, shed his blood anew.

Only those who commit this sin will know the nature of its consequent eternal torment. “The end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof . . . wherefore, the end, the width, the height, the depth, and the misery thereof, they understand not, neither any man except those who are ordained unto this condemnation” (D&C 76:45-46, 48). Once an individual is condemned to become a son of perdition, the penalty is final. The Prophet Joseph taught that it is incorrect to teach that the sons of perdition will be redeemed at some future day (TPJS, 24). While we cannot know the specifics of their plight, it is sobering to remind ourselves that all intelligences will live forever and will always maintain their agency. Is it possible that all freedoms will be denied them? One can only imagine the awfulness of existing in these circumstances.

#The Unforgivable Sin

After teaching his son Corianton about the unpardonable sin, Alma taught him of the gravity of the sin of murder: “Whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness” (Alma 39:6).

Murder is the deliberate, cold-blooded killing of another without justification. This is not an unpardonable sin. It is referred to, however, as being unforgivable. It is unforgivable in that the sinner can never find complete forgiveness. It is also unforgivable in that the redemptive blood of Christ is not initially available to those who, aware of God’s law, have maliciously shed the blood of innocents. Deliverance comes only after the murderer personally atones with much personal suffering. This will occur in some unknown way and for some unknown length of time. Then and only then is the Lord’s mercy extended to him. He will be delivered from hell. He will receive a kingdom of glory—likely the telestial. He will not be exalted. He will not obtain eternal life in the kingdom of God. Thus, his spiritual death or his separation from God is permanent. This is why murder is referred to as a “sin unto death,” referring to spiritual death. The Lord said: “He that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come” (D&C 42:18). The murderer will never find complete forgiveness.

Denying the Holy Ghost is a sin that is both unpardonable and unforgivable. The shedding of innocent blood is pardonable but not forgivable. When, like King David (see Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27-31), the murderer has suffered for his sin and has paid the full demands of justice to “the uttermost farthing” (Matthew 5:26), he may then confess Christ, turn to him, and through his atonement be pardoned. They will not become innocent, but their suffering will end. David was promised his soul would not be left forever in hell. So, also, other murderers who turn to Christ after suffering for their sins will not be left forever to suffer in hell. They will eventually be redeemed from the power of Satan and receive telestial glory. We may say they are “guilty but set free.”

We are discussing the deliberate, cold-blooded, and unjustified killing of one human being by another. There are obviously various degrees of murder and hence various degrees of guilt. The Lord will judge. Spencer W. Kimball wrote: “Even among willful murderers there are grades and categories. . . . There are those who kill in drunkenness, in rage, in anger, in jealousy. There are those who kill for gain, for power, for fear. There are those who kill for lust. They certainly will suffer different degrees of punishment hereafter” (The Miracle of Forgiveness 129-30).

Is it possible to shed innocent blood and end up being cast into outer darkness with Satan and his angels? Of course it is. If the individual guilty of murder, or even other less abominable sins, remains unrepentant (remains “filthy still”) and steadfastly refuses to acknowledge the Savior and his atoning sacrifice, then he will become a son of perdition.

The apostle John taught: “There is a sin unto death . . . and there is a sin not unto death” (1 John 5:16-17). Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “There are sins for which there is no forgiveness [denying the Holy Ghost and murder], neither in this world nor in the world to come. There are sins which utterly and completely preclude the sinner from gaining eternal life. Hence there are sins for which repentance does not operate, sins for which the sinner must suffer and pay the full penalty personally” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 231).

#Sexual Sin

All other sins are pardonable and forgivable. The Savior spoke of these when he said, “I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death” (D&C 64:7). Sexual sin, though most abominable in the sight of God, fits into this latter category.

As he lectured his son Corianton, Alma finally came to the subject of Corianton’s sexual sin. He said: “And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up [distress] your soul, if it were not for your good” (Alma 39:7).

We are not given a full understanding of just why sexual sin is so serious. It may be pardonable and forgivable, but it remains the third most serious sin behind the sin against the Holy Ghost and murder. Its seriousness seems to lie in the fact that one who commits sexual sin is tampering with the procreative powers. The following scripture underscores the vast importance of the gift of eternal procreation. Speaking of those who enter into the “new and everlasting covenant,” particularly those who have this covenant “sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise,” the Lord said: “They shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them” (D&C 132:19-22). If an individual fails to qualify for this marvelous exaltation, that will be the “end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase” (D&C 131:4).

The key phrases “continuation of the seeds,” “they shall have no end,” and “increase” all suggest the concept of continuing power of procreation. This procreative power separates God from the angels. He has allowed and offered the use of this power to men and women in mortality. The manner in which we make use of this privilege and the attitudes we develop about this power determine whether we will have the opportunity to possess it during the eternities. The misuse of this power is consequently a most critical and dangerous offense.

Speaking of those who enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, President Joseph F. Smith wrote:

The man and the woman who engage in this ordinance of matrimony are engaging in something that is of such far-reaching character, and is of such vast importance, that thereby hangs life and death, and eternal increase. Thereupon depends eternal happiness, or eternal misery. For this reason, God has guarded this sacred institution by the most severe penalties, and has declared that whosoever is untrue to the marriage relation, whosoever is guilty of adultery, shall be put to death. This is scriptural law, though it is not practiced today, because modern civilization does not recognize the laws of God in relation to moral status of mankind. The Lord commanded, “Whosoever sheddeth innocent blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” Thereby God has given the law. Life is an important thing. No one has any right to take life, unless God commanded it. The law of God as to violation of the marriage covenant is just as strict, and is on a parallel with law against murder notwithstanding the former is not carried out (Gospel Doctrine, 273).

“Adultery” is a sexual sin committed by a couple who have sexual intercourse when at least one of the two is married to another either in or out of the temple. When an inappropriate sexual relationship falls short of actual intercourse or when neither of the two is married, we refer to their sin as “fornication.” Is fornication as grave a sin as adultery? The First Presidency in 1942 stated: “The Lord has drawn no essential distinctions between fornication, adultery, and harlotry or prostitution. Each has fallen under his solemn and awful condemnation” (Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay, “The Message of the First Presidency.” Improvement Era, November 1942, 758). President Harold B. Lee taught that “the Master used interchangeably the words adultery and fornication in defining sexual impurity, and it has been severely condemned in every dispensation by authorized church leaders” (Stand Ye In Holy Places, 332).

Joseph Smith wrote: “If a man commit adultery, he cannot receive the celestial kingdom of God. Even if he is saved in any kingdom, it cannot be the celestial kingdom” (HC, 6:81). This statement was later modified by President Spencer W. Kimball who added the words “and remains unrepentant” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, 350). There can be no mistaking the gravity of sexual sin.

While repentance is possible for sexual sins, the process is most rigorous and demanding. It is vital that one who is attempting to repent experience true “godly sorrow.”1

The sexual relationship between man and woman has been compared to a horse. It is beautiful, magnificent, and meant to serve man, but you must maintain control. Give it its head, and it will run with you. It is profoundly true that giving in to sexual urges outside of marriage almost always destroys love. Appropriately bridling passion, on the other hand, increases love.

One bit of sound counsel seems to have originated with the church CES instructor S. Michael Wilcox: “Don’t go to Caiaphas’s palace.” We often think we are wise enough and strong enough to control our urges, and we find ourselves in places and situations where we become overwhelmed. The apostle Peter refused to believe that he would ever betray the Lord (Luke 22:31-34). Then he went to Caiaphas’s palace.

See a discussion of godly sorrow in chapter 3, Godly Sorrow.