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Omission and Comission - Page 2

What principle?

That does not change the rules of omission or commission, what you are in fact talking about there is priorities. Just because you choose one to perfect does not disqualify omitting the other. Choosing to omit one may also make it worst off, hence we should do a little of everything and perfect those we can rather than omit any. An example of this would be which is more important visiting a family in need that we have been assigned to or attending the next ward pot luck dinner? Some people may say they only have time for the dinner. It is a matter of choice. Both may be important, but one would definitely be a spiritual omission. All in my perspective.

Comission Omission

I don't understand why we should be choosing between doing one or the other. We know what must be done, the point here is why we choose to do the 'easy' ones, not to do it at all or do the ones we feel more comfortable doing. And this is because....we cannot remove the selfishness that comes directly from having the natural man inside of us.
I think many people think that we are going to be judged only by our thoughts and actions but I think we are going to be judge also by the things we haven't done even though we had a knowledge about it. And when we are face to face with the Lord .... let's better have a good excuse for not having put our priorities straight. You see? I don't think is a matter of perfecting one aspect of our lives, but is a matter of perfecting the aspects that mattereth the most.

Omission and Comission Studies Doctrine Mormon

I guess I am just saying that none of us is perfect. So, none of us can do everything that we are supposed to do all the time. So, choices are made, absolutely. Whether they are conscious choices or not, it doesn't change the fact that we can't always do everything we should. If we could, there would be no need for a Savior. So, to LDS, for example, Visiting Teaching is essential. I can't imagine her ever not visiting those to whom she is assigned. That doesn't mean, however, that there isn't something else she doesn't do quite as well. Maybe she doesn't read her scriptures every day. Or, maybe she fails to have compassion for someone. My only point is, although I don't think we necessarily make a conscious effort to not do certain things, for some people, they can be overwhelmed when they consider all the things they don't do that they should. So, for them, if they concentrate on mastering one thing at a time, then in time, they will look back and see they have progressed rather than if they just are so overwhelmed they give up.

I don't necessarily disagree with you in theory. I am just not sure it really works this way from a practical view. Again, I don't think they choose to omit so much as they just don't choose to do. I think there is a difference, subtle though it may be. I don't think many people wake up on the first of the month and say..."I think I won't bother with my Visiting Teaching this month." Yet, the month passes and because they didn't make it a priority, in the end it is omitted. Now, if they had a strong testimony of the importance of Visiting Teaching, not just for the person being visited, but to the Lord himself, I think it would be less likely to be omitted and I think as we progress in the gospel, these important principals become more "known" to us in our hearts. See, I really do think if a person is sincere in their desire to do what is right, they will improve as the age.

I do fully agree, though, that many members are quite content doing just enough. Just enough to get the Temple recommend, just enough so that it appears to others that they are an active, fully committed member. They will not progress fully, in my opinion. However, not everyone who commits the sins of omission fall into this category. Many are progressing even though they have not yet been perfected.

Edited: tenaheff on 20th Aug, 2004 - 2:48am

Page 2 Comission Omission

I am not saying anyone needs to be perfect neither is the subject of this thread about being perfect. The subject is omission and commission. This means that there are things we commit (do) and things we omit (not do), which ones we do and not do is a matter of choice. Regardless of the choice we will be accountable for it. So it is important to observe what we choose to omit and commit in our daily lives less we excuse ourselves and find that we have lost the greater part.

Comission Omission

I do understand what you mean and yes, we cannot be perfected in all areas but my point is that most of us choose the areas that are for our own benefit and not the ones that are about serving one another, loving one another, and helping the needy and the afflicted. That's my whole point. We do things based on our own desires and satisfactions instead of forgetting about ourselves a little bit and do as I said before, what mattereth the most. When we were baptized we made a covenant to to mourn with those that mourn; and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things...

Now, the question is are the activities or things we do to perfect ourselves fulfill this covenant? because if not, then we are missing the whole point. I may be a great Relief Society Teacher and I teach about caring for the poor but myself do not do what is needed to help the poor....in what way it profiteth me? in what way I can say I'm perfecting this area in my life?.

Sins of omissions are something we need to repent every day in our lives:

"Satan strives to convince one that sins can be hidden from others, yet it is he that causes them to be revealed in the most compromising circumstances. His objective is the enslavement of God's children. All of his enticing, alluring temptations have as their root the destruction of the individual. In fact, each of us needs consistently to repent and obey so that the gift of the Savior will satisfy the demands of justice for even our small errors of commission or omission.(Elder Richard G. Scott).

In the end I think is not only a matter of what we did wrong, after all if we truly repent we can be forgiven, the point is what can be done when we haven't do it at all? what are we going to answer to the Lord? that we were more concerned about a leadership meeting than to feed his sheeps? that we were more concerned about going to a saturday activity than comfort a person who was in need? that we didn't know some people were in need just because we never even bother to visit them? that we thought these things were more important?!

I personally think that a person who has done something wrong will have a better chance than someone who has not do anything about it. Remember the Parables of the Talents?. This is a great example of what I'm talking about.

The Savior explained this beautifully when he told the Pharisees:

"23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and canise and cummin, and have domitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (Matthew 23:23)

Here an excellent quote by Elder Maxwell that illustrates exactly what I was trying to say:

"These deficiencies just illustrated are those of omission. Once the telestial sins are left behind and henceforth avoided, the focus falls ever more on the sins of omission. These omissions signify a lack of qualifying fully for the celestial kingdom. Only greater consecration can correct these omissions, which have consequences just as real as do the sins of commission. Many of us thus have sufficient faith to avoid the major sins of commission, but not enough faith to sacrifice our distracting obsessions or to focus on our omissions.

Most omissions occur because we fail to get outside ourselves. We are so busy checking on our own temperatures, we do not notice the burning fevers of others even when we can offer them some of the needed remedies, such as encouragement, kindness, and commendation. The hands which hang down and most need to be lifted up belong to those too discouraged even to reach out anymore.

Actually, everything depends-initially and finally-on our desires. These shape our thought patterns. Our desires thus precede our deeds and lie at the very cores of our souls, tilting us toward or away from God (see D&C 4:3). God can "educate our desires" (see Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939, p. 297). Others seek to manipulate our desires. But it is we who form the desires, the 'thoughts and intents of [our] hearts" (Mosiah 5:13).

The end rule is "according to [our] desires "¦ shall it be done unto [us]" (D&C 11:17), "for I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts" (D&C 137:9; see also Alma 41:5; D&C 6:20, 27). One's individual will thus remains uniquely his. God will not override it nor overwhelm it. Hence we"d better want the consequences of what we want!



Edited: LDS_forever on 20th Aug, 2004 - 3:51am

Omission and Comission

I realize this, what I am saying is that as long as there is sin, there will be sins of omission.

Now, perhaps these omission sins are more prevalent because it is easier on the conscience this way. If I actively choose to get drunk, I have actively made the choice to do so. My guilt would be great. I couldn't hide from it.

If I just don't get around to my Visiting Teaching or I don't read my scriptures daily, my guilt isn't as "front and center." I can just justify it, like I have done in my other posts, by saying "I am not perfect, I am doing the best I can."

So, although, I will be accountable for both types of behavior, I am more acutely aware of my accountability for the first one.

Omission Comission - Page 2

Why are using being imperfect as a collective reason or justification for not making certain omissions as relevant as others or as commission? Again, this is not about perfection, us being imperfect is like saying 'the sun will rise tomorrow', we all know this, but it is not an excuse or a reason or justifying in-action. Let's use your example about drinking... you are drinking and thus committing a transgression, but at the same time you are omitting the other part, living healthy, eating right. You see it is not a matter of 'oh well, I am imperfect so I will get to it when I get to it', this sort of thinking is what causes us to live a lifetime of omission. I have tried to explain this the best ways I know how, but I doubt I can do more, maybe someone else will shed light on it better than I can.

Omission Comission Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 2

JB, my last post was agreeing with you, not disagreeing. I was trying to say why I think it happens. I wasn't saying it is o.k. for it to happen.