Part of the danger in pointing to other’s sins in disdain is that we use sin to isolate rather than to unite.

The satisfaction in pointing out other’s sins is a false “I would never do a thing like that!” But like the sharks at the “AA” meeting in Finding Nemo, if we say we don’t have a problem, it’s (chorus of voices) “Denial.” What is more “common to man” (1 Cor. 10: 13) than temptation?

An odd lie for Satan to tell: “Wow! I’ve never seen anyone be that bad before!” Isolation after doing something wrong is a kind of a pride; a feeling that I am unique in my badness, and rules (like forgiveness through Jesus) may not apply. 

I should never hide alone because of my sins. Sin and temptation should pull me close to both God and man. By being united them, I will know the value that God places on me (John 17: 23), overcome temptation, and be raised together with others to be with Jesus where He is (John 17: 24).

“Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?” (Luke 10: 40)

I’ve felt like that. And then the Lord said to me “If you want to be cumbered about, that’s your problem. Mary doesn’t have a problem, and I’m not bothered about anything right now either: we’re focusing on things way more important. Come sit down and join us!”

Father, forgive them;

for they know not what they do. (Luke 23: 34)

If I knew “what [I] do” I would be horrified at the exponential impact of my mistakes, flaws, and injustice. I would need to overcome that paralyzing fear with faith that “the works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated,” (D&C 3: 1), even if assigned to this floundering child. And I would stand in greater awe of the Lord’s work, knowing that His hand has been revealed by similarly short-falling saints.

“Huge savings” but none as huge as my own.

I was snatched from the pain of paying Full Price,

Gathered as a priceless treasure

Rather than a soul on the clearance Rack.

He swears if I let Him wear me,

The wrinkles will fall out.

Body and spirit should be working for the same thing (D&C 93: 33-34, Moro. 7: 6). When they want different things, one is better: sometimes it’s spirit (2 Ne. 4: 27), other times it’s body (Matt. 23: 27/ Matt. 5: 20). 

Let the leader lift the lagger.

Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. (Moses 6: 68)

I have an idea that becoming a son of God is more of a passive acceptance  like letting a wave roll over you, (think of Elder Bednar’s analogy of “immersing and saturating” with brine), than an active grasping. The difficulty in being passive is the natural fear that your identity will be distorted or destroyed by allowing the Lord to penetrate it. Being willing to lose your life (Matt. 10: 39), is being willing to drown in the wave of the Lord’s will (see Rom. 6), and to accept His Spirit as your Spirit, the guide of all your actions and emotions.