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3 Nephi 30:1-2
1 Hearken, O ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that I should speak concerning you, for, behold he commandeth me that I should write, saying:
2 Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel.
This is Mormon saying Jesus commended him to write this, and by doing it in the first person, it is a “thus saith the Lord” scipture . Does this imply that one can be forgiven for Murder? How do you reconcile this with D&C Section 42:18
18 And now, behold, I speak unto the church. Thou shalt not kill; and he that kills shall not have forgiveness in this world, nor in the world to come.
The believer in me would point out that in 3 Nephi Jesus is speaking to the Gentiles or people who are not of the church community. Theirs is a much lower standard according to the limited light and knowledge that they had… provided that they repent of their ways and join the church community. The D & C scripture is explicitly addressed unto the church. To whom much is given, much is required.
That verse also is in the same book that describes as the most converted and righteous people ever a group described as having murdered people regularly. Fwiw, I have NO problem with forgiveness for murder by people who are steeped in a culture of killing. If they can’t be forgiven, there is no hope for child soldiers who kill as a simple aspect of their life in brutal situations – or terrorists raised from the womb to die through suicide bombing as a guarantee of glory in the next life.
If God can’t forgive them, God can’t forgive me – and forgiveness itself is gutted and has no real meaning.
Personally, I choose to think it would be better to face the earthly consequences, go through the repentance process & act as though you are forgiven than to assume that you will never be forgiven. In the end, God judges.
I remember hearing an announcement in conference once that John D. Lee had his blessings restored so I guess anything is possible. I don’t know how to reconcile the two scriptures, but I have several paradoxes like that in scripture. I do believe that forgiveness of murder is possible. “… And whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.” Alma 39:6 I think the real question isn’t whether god will forgive for murder, it’s whether we will. For some people that’s a hard “no,” for others a conditional “yes,” and others still an “I’m not sure.” I maintain that many Mormons are going to experience a shocking surprise (of the eye popping, “how could it be so?” variety) at who is – and perhaps who isn’t – in the Celestial Kingdom.
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