“He Will Justify in Committing a Little Sin”

Brant Gardner

Nephi further describes the effect of the combination of the narrow quotidian focus on life with a theological conception of an accomplished mission of God. This erroneous philosophy reasons that knowing that an atonement for sin is available and accomplished diminishes the personal effect of sin. With the knowledge that sin was removed through the accomplished atonement, there is little that a temporary sin can do to the person. The sin is essentially temporary because it is committed, but then is removed through the accomplished atonement. Thus, the philosophy can reason that there is no permanent effect. While a sin might be committed, a conception that it has already been removed allows the sinner to believe that it has little personal harm - but is rather simply a bad article of clothing that will be discarded.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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