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

157 comments

  • How To Recover Cryptocurrency, Binary Option & Fake Investments funds Before engaging in any of these Bitcoin investing websites with your hard-earned money, I advise beginner bitcoin investors to conduct due diligence. By promising to make huge earnings, they win your trust and get you to invest more. However, as soon as you make a sizable investment, they purposefully lock your account and demand additional payments before releasing your winnings. I lost $178,000 in cryptocurrency that I had invested with a fraudulent organization, this was almost all of my savings. a particular thank you to Century Web Recovery, whose recovery company worked really hard to get my money returned. Century Web Recovery can be contacted if you ever find yourself in a situation like this.
    Website https://centurywebrecovery.pro email: century@cyberservices.com

    • mr azim pemji
  • Harnessing the power of the Brunoe Quick Hack can be an invaluable tool for recovering lost or inaccessible Bitcoin. This innovative technique, developed by renowned cryptography expert Brunoe Quick Hack, provides a highly effective method for regaining access to Bitcoin wallets and accounts that have become locked or compromised. At the heart of the Brunoe Quick Hack is a sophisticated algorithm that can analyze the complex blockchain data and transaction histories associated with a Bitcoin address, identifying potential vulnerabilities or weak points that can then be exploited to bypass security measures and restore control. The process is lightning-fast, often recovering access to a lost wallet in a matter of minutes, making it an essential resource for Bitcoin users who have found themselves locked out of their funds due to forgotten passwords, hardware failures, or other unforeseen circumstances. Leveraging advanced cryptanalysis and blockchain forensics, the Brunoe Quick Hack meticulously probes every aspect of a Bitcoin account, uncovering hidden pathways and hidden vulnerabilities that can be leveraged to regain access – even in cases where traditional recovery methods have failed. For Bitcoin holders facing the distressing prospect of permanently lost funds, the Brunoe Quick Hack represents a lifeline, a powerful tool that can restore access and retrieve those precious digital assets, allowing users to reclaim what is rightfully theirs. For more information, contact: Website: BrunoeQuickHack.COM
    Email: Brunoequickhack (AT) Gmail dot com
    Whtas App + (1) 705-784 -2635

    Thank you.

    • Harrison Ruby Sierra
  • I’m very very excited. Days back I found a review forum about how GHOST CHAMPION HACKER RECOVERY helped out in getting back loss funds. However, GHOST CHAMPION HACKER and company, did a tremendous job and helped me recovering my money out successfully, you can contact GHOST CHAMPION HACKER email GHOSTCHAMPIONWIZARDGmail dot com
    Telegram : https://t.me/WizardGhosthacker
    Is more better to read and check individuals reviews and testimonies Please you all should stay safe out there, The internet is full of crooks that’s why I endorse GHOST CHAMPION HACKER as the best crypto recovery specialist to recover all stolen digital assets
    EMAIL: ghostchampionwizard@gmail.com

    • KATE POTTERIES
  • In 2022, my best friend introduced me to a Telegram platform where she was successfully trading Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, making over $85,000 in just three months. Encouraged, I invested $25,000, saw a 30% ROI in my first month, and withdrew $10,000. Feeling confident, I upgraded to the premium plan and invested an additional $65,000. My investment grew to $350,000, and I decided to withdraw the funds to buy a property.
    However, the platform demanded an unexpected 25% commission, which was not in the original agreement. I managed to pay 20%, but they continued asking for more. When I couldn’t pay, they closed my account and stopped responding. My friend and I reported the incident to the police, who informed us that the company was based in India and that they would need to involve Interpol. After waiting three months with no progress, my friend found a blockchain recovery expert.
    Contacting them was the turning point. Within two days, they arranged a trial deposit, and the next day, I received a full deposit of $430,000, including all bonuses. They saved my investment, and I promised to share my story to help others in similar situations. Their communication was excellent throughout the process, and I highly recommend them.
    If you need help, here’s their contact info:
    Telegram: AssetRecoverNet
    Email: assetrecovernet@gmail.com
    WhatsApp: +1 (504) 302-3464

    • Ezra Pavati
  • I’m very very excited. Days back I found a review forum about how GHOST CHAMPION HACKER RECOVERY helped out in getting back loss funds. However, GHOST CHAMPION HACKER and company, did a tremendous job and helped me recovering my money out successfully, you can contact GHOST CHAMPION HACKER email GHOSTCHAMPIONWIZARDGmail dot com
    Telegram : https://t.me/WizardGhosthacker
    Is more better to read and check individuals reviews and testimonies Please you all should stay safe out there, The internet is full of crooks that’s why I endorse GHOST CHAMPION HACKER as the best crypto recovery specialist to recover all stolen digital assets
    EMAIL: ghostchampionwizard@gmail.com

    • KATE POTTERIES