4 Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.
(Alma 39:4)
Excuses are damaging to us precisely because they obstruct repentance at its origin. The first step of repentance is recognition. It is impossible for us to repent and be healed without first acknowledging our sins and weaknesses. Excuses are a mechanism for self-justification. They can be very convincing, but ultimately they are destructive to us because they prevent us from seeking the help we truly need.
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