Abhorrence

Abhorrence is defined as "a feeling of extreme repugnance or aversion; utter loathing; abomination." In Alma 13:12 it states that the people who had been sanctified by the Holy Ghost "could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence." I have been thinking a lot lately about how I view sin and the effects of sin on our happiness and ultimately our salvation. I have seen and felt very strongly the effect of sin. I know that it is a feeling that I utterly loathe. But how can we have so much abhorrence for sin that we completely avoid it? Does it take us feeling the guilt and pain of sin for us to abhor it?

What I have gone through over the past 8 months, and what I continue to go through, has made me have an absolute abhorrence towards sin. Although I have learned lessons that have changed my life, the pain and sorrow I have felt is not something I ever want to feel again. Sometimes, because of our own bad choices, we have to learn the hard way. But I believe that we can avoid the pain and sorrow of sin, especially major sin, if we decide right now to look upon it with abhorrence. View it as something that we loathe and despise. I testify to you that the pain and the sorrow that follows major sin is not worth it. Although we need to learn from mistakes and sins, we can avoid so much heartache by simply deciding beforehand to make the right decision. Pray for the ability to look upon sin with abhorrence. Pray for the temptations of the devil to be obvious and to be able to look the temptations straight on and say NO. We can decide right now to do as the Prophet Joseph Smith said and "overcome the evils of our lives and lose every desire for sin."

Now I know that we cannot be perfect. But we can strive for it. We will make mistakes, but we can become better. We can avoid the major mistakes by loathing the very thought of them and by focusing on our Savior and his teachings. I want to be able to share my experience with others to help them know that wickedness truly never brings happiness. There is no happiness in the plan of Satan. He desires us to be miserable. He desires us to be evil. Avoid the mistakes that I have made by deciding right now to hold to the rod and never let go. Fight your temptations head on without fear and say no. And if you have made big mistakes there is hope. There is so much hope and peace awaiting you if you willingly and with humility come before the Lord and lay your life at His feet. He can heal all of our spiritual wounds. He can take on our burdens. He is the answer. I know that the Savior lives and he loves us. There is no escape from the consequences of sin. But there is a way back. You can be forgiven. You can feel peace and happiness. The Atonement of our Savior is the answer. I know this to be true.