Should one attend the Temple when they're in unrepented sin?

[Samuel the Lamanite]

All of us know that we don't have to be perfect to righteously attend the Temple. But let us say that you know that you've a sin of omission and/or commission and really don't want to repent of it right now... should you still attend the Temple? WHY or why not?
If we go in an unrependent state, does that put us under the rule of Satan as he clearly warns us? Are we mocking God?

To clarify, one is not even in the process of repenting but NOT quite there.

[gkearney]

Depends on the sin does it not? I mean if your thinking ill of your neighbor for working on his car too early in the morning the perhaps going to the temple will help you to see the error of your ways and hasten your repentance. If hoewever you're sleeping with his wife that is a different matter indeed

[Samuel the Lamanite]

G: Level of sin truly is a factor. Food for thought. In God's presence, can we be with and level of sin or does He require us to be sinless?

Second, if we have a grievance wheter real of perceived against another whether a member or not and we haven't forgiven him and have no intention to before enetering the Temple, then what? I would suggest that God has clearly stated on many occasions that IF I can't forgive even when I haven't been asked to forgive another, that I have netualized the Atonement because will NOT forgive me. Its seems to me that going to the Temple is being in the "presence" of God and we need to be sure we are sinless.

What say ye?

[creator]

We should definitely be WILLING to forsake all of our sins and forgive others. We don't have to be perfect, and I'm sure each of us has our own sins and weaknesses that are sometimes a continuous daily battle trying to overcome... so perhaps the key is that we are willing, and progressing... the Temple is certainly one of those places that can help us to become more like Christ as we continue to learn from it and apply that learning.

[Samuel the Lamanite]

Brian: Is willingness really enough? Don't we actually have to be taking steps to repentance: making significant progress? Faith without works is dead being alone.

My position/opinion is that I don't go to the Temple with unrepented for sin or well on my way through actions to show that you're truly repenting. This is my standard of personal worthiness. Am I setting a too high standard?

IMO, going with unrepented sin makes a mockery of the Temple. IMO, the spirit of the Temple can actually be diminished, never eliminated, when those who have unrepented sin attend. Let's go one step further. What if this person is asked to be the witness couple?

What say ye?

[SpeedRacer]

If you would no longer be able to answer the questions on the interview appropriately, you should probably not go. That is my baseline.

[Amore Vero]

I would suggest that God has clearly stated on many occasions that IF I can't forgive even when I haven't been asked to forgive another, that I have netualized the Atonement because will NOT forgive me.

Its seems to me that going to the Temple is being in the "presence" of God and we need to be sure we are sinless.

Sam, do you believe we can & are expected to be perfectly sinless before entering the temple? I'm not sure even any Prophets have been such.

On forgiving, I believe we should try to forgive as much & soon as possible, but sometimes people commit such serious sins against another or sometimes such sins continue for years or a lifetime & the person never stops the persecution & sinning against them.

Thus I believe Heavenly Father gives us all the time we need to work through those kinds of things & deal with them & gradually learn to forgive that person or persons. Especially if the person has not repented yet for sinning against us.

We can still be righteous even if we haven't fully forgiven another yet. For I do not believe it is a sin to not be able to forgive yet, especially if the person has not apologized & truly repented & made full restitution to us yet.

Of course the sooner we can gain enough spiritual strength to forgive, the better we will feel, but I believe we can still feel the Spirit even if we haven't quite forgiven someone yet who hasn't repented & I believe we can be worthy to enter the temple also, even though we are still working on forgiveness & other minor personal weaknesses, for temple attendance 'aids us' in doing these things.

I believe the real criteria for entering the temple is if we are living 'righteously enough' to have the Holy Spirit with us. And I believe that we can have the Spirit even though we are not completely perfect & sinless yet.

Do you feel otherwise?

[creator]

If you would no longer be able to answer the questions on the interview appropriately, you should probably not go. That is my baseline.

agree.