Get Started On Your Custom Engraved Scriptures

What are the Differences Between Mistakes and Sin?

My son recently watched a movie where a young boy, after having made some extremely poor choices, responded simply, “Mistakes were made.” While we sat together watching the film, this tagline grated on my nerves. We all make mistakes, but we have to own them, or we don’t learn and grow.

Let’s be clear though. What is the difference between a sin and a mistake?

In a talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks regarding the subject, he said, “Sins result from willful disobedience of laws we have received by explicit teaching or by the Spirit of Christ, which teaches every man the general principles of right and wrong. For sins, the remedy is to chasten and encourage repentance. Mistakes result from ignorance of the laws of God or the workings of the universe or people he has created. For mistakes, the remedy is to correct the mistake, not to condemn the individual.” 1

One of the main purposes of mortality is to learn by our own experience. We do that by choosing for ourselves, making lots of mistakes and trying again. We shouldn’t be chastised for growth. What a great insight as we serve in callings, have children or interact with any human ever!

Sin is intentionally disobeying the Lord or widening the distance between Him and ourselves. When we are choosing to break away from our God, we must recognize it and bring ourselves back to Him through the atoning power of Jesus Christ. Our sins can be swept away. The Lord promised, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) We can be renewed and made whole.

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. highlighted the distinction between an unintended act and an intended one in his famous observation that “even a dog distinguishes between being stumbled over and being kicked” (The Common Law [1963], 7). 1

Some mistakes may be as small as forgetting to wash the dishes on your night but as serious as stepping in front of a car. The consequences of a mistake may be lifelong. There are sometimes consequences that come along with sin that do not go away but the guilt and the pain of our disobedience can be taken by our precious Savior.

Simply put, we choose to sin but make mistakes by accident. The Lord knows the deepest desires of our hearts. He can identify whether we walk foolishly into something by error or by design. For this reason, it is imperative that we listen to the still voice of the Holy Ghost who will help us be right with our Father in Heaven through the perfect gift of His Only Begotten.

May we always be quick to forgive and slow to condemn as we experience growth through trial and error in our own personal journey of mortality.

“Sins and Mistakes,” Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, October 1996 General Conference 

Share this post


Leave a comment

1880 comments

  • THE BEST COMPANY THAT CAN HELP YOU RECOVER YOUR LOST BITCOIN BACK/WIZARD LARRY RECOVERY
    Hello, I wholeheartedly endorse wizardlarry(@)mail.com for whatever hacking requirement you may have, including improving school grades, recovering bitcoin, repairing credit scores, hacking social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Tiktok, etc.), removing criminal records, etc.  For all of your hacking requirements, you may rely on them.

    WhatsApp… +447 (311) 146 749

    Wizardlarry@mail.com

    Web…larrywizard43.wixsite. c o m/wizardlarry

    • Drake Garvin
  • FINALLY I GOT MY LOST BITCOIN BACK ALL THANKS TO TSUTOMU SHIMOMURA

    Hello everyone I want to use this Medium to say big thank you to TSUTOMU SHIMOMURA for they helped me recover my stolen crypto worth $250,000 through their hacking skills I tried it I was skeptic but it worked and I got my money back, I’m so glad I came across them early because I thought I was never going to get my money back from those fake online investment . you can contact them via WEBSITE: https://tsutomushackexpert.com/ or WhatsApp via: +12569564498, or Telegram @TsutomuShimomurahacker, and I’m sure you will be happy you did.

    • Jack osas
  • Many people assume that once digital assets like crypto wallets, private keys, or funds are lost, they’re gone for good. I used to think that too until I worked with Hackmetrix Cyberservices. They’re certified experts in digital asset recovery, helping individuals and businesses trace and reclaim funds lost to scams or fraudulent platforms. I personally lost $40,000 in Bitcoin to a scammer and thought it was hopeless. But Hackmetrix Cyberservices recovered every cent. If you’ve been a victim of crypto fraud, don’t give up there are professionals who can help. Contact them:
    Email: hackmetrix@cyberservices.com
    WhatsApp: +1 872-361-6523

    • Richard Strickland
  • I was recently scammed out of $53,000 by a fraudulent Bitcoin investment scheme, which added significant stress to my already difficult health issues, as I was also facing cancer surgery expenses. Desperate to recover my funds, I spent hours researching and consulting other victims, which led me to discover the excellent reputation of Capital Crypto Recover, I came across a Google post It was only after spending many hours researching and asking other victims for advice that I discovered Capital Crypto Recovery’s stellar reputation. I decided to contact them because of their successful recovery record and encouraging client testimonials. I had no idea that this would be the pivotal moment in my fight against cryptocurrency theft. Thanks to their expert team, I was able to recover my lost cryptocurrency back. The process was intricate, but Capital Crypto Recovery’s commitment to utilizing the latest technology ensured a successful outcome. I highly recommend their services to anyone who has fallen victim to cryptocurrency fraud. For assistance, contact Recovercapital@cyberservices.com Capital Crypto Recover on Telegram OR Call Number +1 (336)390-6684 via email: Capitalcryptorecover@zohomail.com you can visit his website: https://recovercapital.wixsite.com/capital-crypto-rec-1

    • Michael Davenport
  • Morphohackcyberservices. com
    Morphohack@cyberservices. com

    My Bitcoin investment was frozen in an offshore account, leaving me unable to access or withdraw my funds. I had entrusted my life savings to a forex trader who managed the offshore investment, but when I attempted to withdraw my money, he suddenly became unresponsive.
    Determined to recover what I had lost, I began searching for alternatives. A friend recommended Morphohack Cyber Service, praising their outstanding track record in cryptocurrency recovery.

    Within 48 hours of reaching out, Morphohack’s team identified that my Bitcoin had been distributed across multiple wallets controlled by the scammer. Despite the complexity of the case, they pressed on with their investigation and ultimately succeeded in recovering the full amount. I was incredibly impressed by their skill, persistence, and professionalism.

    Thanks to Morphohack, I regained access to my funds. I highly recommend their services to anyone affected by cryptocurrency scams or fraudulent investments.

    Best
    Lark Clifford
    Ottawa, Canada

    • Lark Clifford