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

1722 comments

  • ARE YOU A VICTIM OF CRYPTOCURRENCY INVESTMENT FRAUD, FOREX OR NFT SCAM? SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH AN ETHICAL HACKER ASAP TO GET STARTED.

    Workmanship fee is to be settled AFTER successful recovery.

    Let us show you the art of Ethical Hacking….!

    ASOREHACKCORP is a private group of financial regulators, private investigation and funds recovery body. We specialize in cases as regards ETHICAL HACKING, CRYPTOCURRENCY, FAKE INVESTMENT SCHEMES and RECOVERY SCAM. We are also experts in CREDIT REPAIR, we analyze what’s impacting your score.

    All software tools needed to execute RECOVERIES from start to finish are available in stock.
    Kindly NOTE that the available tools does NOT apply to CREDIT FIX.

    Be ALERT to FABRICATED reviews and testimonies on the internet, do not get scammed twice.

    Contact our team as soon as you can via the email address below to book a mail meeting with an ethical hacker.
    asorehackcorp (@) gmail (.) com

    Stay Safe out there !⁴

    • Cryp7o Intelligence
  • Best Cryptocurrency Recovery Company/Hire Wizard Larry Recovery
    Wizard Larry Recovery helped me recover my cryptocurrency that had been duped in less than a day. It can be quite discouraging and disappointing to fall for a Bitcoin investing scam. Unfortunately, recovering misplaced money can be difficult because of the nature of cryptocurrencies. Nonetheless, you can improve your chances of getting your money back by acting appropriately and promptly. Wizard Larry Recovery firm is a trustworthy firm for recovery. They are incredibly dependable and quick at recovering money.
    Contact address below
    
    WhatsApp…+1(616) 292-4789 OR +447 (311) 146 749
    Email………..Wizardlarry(@)mail.com
    Website……. http://larrywizard43.wixsite.com/wizardlarry

    • Emilia Johnson
  • A few weeks ago, I experienced one of the most devastating moments of my life, I watched my entire Bitcoin, BNB, and SOL holdings vanish within hours. I had fallen victim to an inferno drainer attack, a malicious tool that silently emptied my wallets. In total, I lost about €109,000.At first, I couldn’t believe what was happening. I felt helpless and confused, questioning how something like this could even be possible. I was convinced that my crypto was gone forever, and with it, years of savings and hard work. But then, a friend mentioned Morphohack, a professional crypto recovery service. I decided to reach out, though I wasn’t sure what to expect. From the start, they were extremely professional. They listened carefully, assessed the situation, and explained exactly what had happened, confirming that I’d been targeted by an advanced drainer tool.
    The good news? They told me my crypto was still traceable and recoverable.
    To my amazement, within just two days, Morphohack successfully recovered my stolen assets. Their team handled the entire process with skill and care, keeping me informed every step of the way.
    I’m sharing this to warn others, these types of attacks are real, and no one is immune. Be cautious with your wallets and if the worst happens, don’t give up hope. If you’ve experienced a similar loss, I highly recommend Morphohack. They’re not just experts in recovery, they understand how to protect what matters most. I was able to contact them via E-mail address at MORPHOHACK@CYBERSERVICES. COM

    • Jorge Herman
  • Swift Assets Recovery helped me recover $450,000 I lost to a fake crypto investment scam. I was devastated and thought the money was gone for good, but their team was professional, supportive, and incredibly skilled. They guided me through the entire process and successfully recovered my funds. I’m beyond grateful for their help and highly recommend them to anyone who’s been a victim of online fraud.Reach them on email:(swiftrecoveryservice006 (@)gmail . com) or WhatsApp number: +1 (352) 436-7955 Or Telegram @SWIFT_HACKING Website https://swiftspyassetsrecovery.com

    • Anna Torres
  • I verified this morning that the bitcoins I had in my wallet had been hacked out of my wallet but with the help of Team Redeemed Hacker Pro, everything that was hacked had returned back to my wallet. I wish to spread the word that you can work with the Team Redeemed Hacker Pro (RHP) to get your money back from scammers or any hacking processing/situation. I lost $378,000 in Bitcoin as a result of being hacked, and my wallet and account were disabled due to this. Despite talking to the service line, I was unable to get my hacked funds back, which was an issue for me. I’m a happy woman to have all of my money back in my wallet and in my hands, thanks to the (RHP) team. Team Redeemed Hacker Pro follows through on their commitments and uses sound technology to address the issue. Below is their contact information:
    Email: Redeemed.h.p@hackermail.com .
    website: https://temp-viljfeztaahbonivekem.webadorsite.com/

    • Esther Madnus